Scene I: Day 1: We see Vishnu, a 29 year old man, struggling to get off a crowded Metro train, on his way home from work. He is exhausted and irritated…like the hundreds of others around him. He is tired, mentally and physically. Looking into a S-Class Mercedes with an expression that says, ‘I wish I had this’, he checks his appearance in the car’s glass window and moves on. His attention is caught by a few college girls riding pillion on their boyfriends’ bikes and having a good time. He looks around and takes in the sights and sounds of his city (Chennai/Mumbai). Yes, everybody seems to be happy; everybody but him.
Scene –II: Vishnu arrives at the beach to relax. His tight tie has been loosened and his sleeves rolled up. He comes here every evening to watch the waves and to be by himself. The waves have a soothing effect on him and he gradually begins humming old classics (movie songs).On the way back from the sea shore, he stops to have his favorite –chat. While he is enjoying his favourite ‘ragda cutlets’ he is approached by a young beggar girl whom he ignores.
Beggar: “Brother, brother...brother”, hoping to see him take out his purse.
She then starts begging the other customers.
B: “I’m hungry, brother, please brother”.
This gets Vishnu’s attention.
Stall owner: “Go, go…go away right now! Don’t feel sorry for her sir, she is a good actress. One more plate sir?”,looking at a seemingly prosperous and overweight customer who is busy wolfing down his snack, standing next to Vishnu.
The little girl turns back her head in response to the call of her other urchin friends and runs happily toward them, seemingly unaware of her wretched condition.
Vishnu: “Two bhel puri parcel”. Looks at the beggar girl in the distance and adds, “Very little masala powder”
The little girl is seen begging other people. After paying his dues, he goes upto the little girl and offers her the parceled bhel puri. The little one takes the packet and stares at him for a few seconds.
V: “Bhel puri, bhel puri…eat!”
She unwraps it greedily, eats a bit and likes it. The first time she has tasted bhel puri.
V: “Like it?”
She nods her head in the affirmative.
Watching her eat, he suddenly comes back to his original thoughts or whatever it was that he was thinking about when he was disturbed by the little urchin. Vishnu looks past the girl and decides it’s time to go. He stands up to go when,
B: “Can you give me some money?”
Vishnu has no answer. But he manages an affectionate smile which conveys his recognition of the young girl’s innocence. He walks away quickly. The girl watches him go, and then continues eating. We hear the little girl calling out to Vishnu,
B: “If you give me some money I‘ll buy more bhel tomorrow myself”.
Vishnu is seen smiling and nodding his head, meaning to express his disbelief at how quickly even children lose their innocence.
Scene –III: On the way back to his room, he passes through a small crowd offering evening prayers at a local Lord Ganesha/Vinayakan temple.Vishnu is seen looking at the goings on at the temple and at the extreme devotion on the face of a few devotees, with irritated amusement.
V to a paan shop guy: “One sweety (meaning one sweet paan).I think most of our country’s problems would vanish if we put even half our time, devotion and effort into something productive. I just don’t understand this irrational belief.”
The paan waala (a cheeky young muslim boy) comments, tongue in cheek:
“Inside is lord Ganesh himself, whom they come to say hello to. You shouldn’t say such things other wise you will lose your eyes and incur ‘paap’! ”
This sarcasm is not lost on Vishnu. Vishnu grins and shakes his index finger at the boy in a playfully threatening way,“Very clever you are boy, teaching me my own religion are you, you little squirt”
The boy continues to be cheeky...“Now why would I dare do that to the Lord Vishnu himself?”
Vishnu gets inside the pan dabba and tickles the boy till he begs for forgiveness.
“Sorry brother, sorry brother, I was just joking…he!he! ..ha!ha!, with tears of laughter rolling down his cheeks”
Vishnu watches the steady stream go in and out of the temple as the temple bells ring out in the background. He pays the boy his dues and after placing the paan in his mouth tells the paan boy, while walking away,
“If someone had asked me before naming me, I would have suggested they give me a more modern name”.
The boy looks up and calls him ‘Rambo’ and giggles. He avoids a ball of paper thrown at him by Vishnu.
Scene – IV: Vishnu walks into his unkempt room; a typical bachelor pad. Vishnu walks in and plunks down onto the mattress on the floor. He stares at a poster of Swami Vivekananda on his wall and focuses on the quote, ‘You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself’, at the bottom of the poster.
Scene –V: Day 2: Vishnu wakes up in his room. Taking out his purse from under his pillow, he flips it open to look at his dead mother’s photo. This is a daily habit. He gets up to fetch his newspaper-The Hindu’. The headline – EARTHQUAKE SHAKES PAKISTAN -is the previous evening’s massive earthquake in a Pakistani province. Vishnu reads the entire article with interest as he walks toward his toilet. A while later the paan dabba boy brings Vishnu’s daily morning drink- tender coconut water and comes into the room.
V, continuing to read the paper: “Sir, do you know what’s happening in the world today?”
Boy: “Rakhi Sawant has been kissed by another guy”, in a very matter of fact tone of voice.
Vishnu looks at the boy with a stern expression on his face and asks him to come closer (so he can get hold of the boy and tickle him).
“Come here!”
B: “Hey, I’m dead serious man, turn your TV on”.
Vishnu stares at the boy and realizes that the boy was probably telling the truth. Weren’t these the insignificant happenings the media was constantly paying attention to?
Vishnu goes to the cupboard to get his purse.
V: “Big brother, hold on a moment”.
B: “Why don’t you use my credit service like ‘all the others’ and save me some time? The tea is getting cold outside”
V: “Hey, I’ve told you a hundred times before...I like to settle things right away. I’m not ‘like all the others’. It’s one of the few good habits I have and something you must also learn. If you ask me one more time, I’ll buy coconuts from your competitor (grinning)! Besides, you are a businessman, what greater pleasure than to see ‘Lakshmi’ today and now?” He puts on his rudraksha neckpiece.
The boy gets irritated and restless and mutters under his breath.Vishnu’s mobile rings (a new and famous English song is the ring tone) and Vishnu continues searching for change in his purse while answering the call. While this is going on, we see the tea boy, slipping out as he is getting late for his other customers. The last thing he hears Vishnu speak into the phone is,
-“Uncle, how come you are calling?”
Scene-VI: Day3: A funeral by a river bank for Vishnu’s dead father. Vishnu is seen lighting the pyre with swollen eyes tired from crying. Looking into the flames he recalls his father’s teachings and specifically the sloka on how it is only the body which perishes and not the aatma. He is comforted by his uncle. Vishnu spends the day by the river side and the next day wandering the village outskirts, all by himself...thinking…
Scene –VII: Day 5: Vishnu’s uncle sits down with Vishnu and hands over to him all his father’s items of value and his last wish (written down ) viz.. that Vishnu should take over the priesthood of the local temple.
Uncle: “Brother left us without warning; he was perfectly healthy till the end. You must be thankful that brother did not suffer a slow and painful death, something which most people my age dread”
“Anyway, I am sure his soul must be content and at peace, having led a good and honourable life made rich by the various acts of help and charity he had the opportunity to perform. And I ‘m sure you’ll fulfill his last wish” .Vishnu looks up at him surprised. He knows what his uncle was hinting at.
Scene –VIII: Day 6: ‘The Indian Ambassador to the
Scene –IX: The Indian Cabinet meets. The National Security Advisor begins to speak. He makes a presentation about the earthquake in
“With your permission sir, I confirm that the media reports about our Ambassador being summoned at 2 am, yesterday,
External Affairs Minister: “It is surprising that the American’s believe this enough to actually point a finger at us. RAW must give us some inputs on how the Americans, inspite of their vast Intelligence resources have been suckered into believing what is obviously Pakistani mischief…anyway, the American President is scheduled to speak to the PM tomorrow and maybe things will be clearer then.”
NSA: “It is rumoured that a few countries including the
The Prime Minister: “Thank you gentlemen, we’ll continue tomorrow after my talk with the President”. He whispers something in the Defense Minister’s ear.
Scene –X: Day 6: Vishnu opens the doors to the small shrine which his father used to maintain. He does some general cleaning, very mechanically, with no love or devotion toward the idol. He does it more because it was expected of him and also because the land and the shrine, though considered village property, was technically his ancestral property which he had to take care of. Some devotees approach him,
Devotee: “So, will the daily rituals start from today Vishnu? We miss your father and the lovely service he used to conduct every day at dawn and dusk”
Vishnu, playfully: “Do I look like I’m a priest? Besides, you need somebody old and wise like my uncle to do all this for you. If someone like me did all this, you would all be distracted. Think about all the young girls…their minds would be hard-pressed to tear themselves away from my sheer animal magnetism, Unholy thoughts would arise….I cannot allow that! ”
He frightens the old couple further by saying, “Not only that, but I have been having demonic experiences off late and I think I have become a fan of the devil!”
The old couple walk away perturbed and Vishnu enjoys a chuckle. He looks at himself in a mirror and does an imitation of a typical priest reciting mantras.
Scene –XI: Pavitra, his uncle’s daughter is seen arriving at the village. She comes upon the young fashionable priest singing an English song while cleaning the shrine’s interiors.
“Vishnu…”He is shocked to see her and a bit embarrassed at getting caught doing ‘priestly’ things.
“Huh, hey Vada paav (a play on the first three letters of her name).!!!”They are equally excited to see each other.
Vishnu: “So how’s my Pav Bhaaji? Getting very sexy after going to Mumbai I see!”
Pav: : “How are YOU Vishnu? I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to uncle’s funeral, I was …”
Vishnu –misty eyed-cuts her off by saying,
“Don’t …Pav! If you were not able to make it, you were not able to make it. What’s happened, has happened has happened!! Let’s go home and catch up” …he shuts the shrine doors, picks up her luggage and puts his arms around her neck playfully. They walk home.
Scene –XII: Day 7: The PM is heard talking to the President of the
PM: “
He is cut off and he listens to POTUS for sometime.
PM: “I request you to reconsider your decision. It is an embarrassment for
He listens again and then says, “That would be appreciated Mr.President, we’ll talk again, good night! Goodbye!”
The Cabinet stares at the PM who is blankly watching a news channel showing live coverage of the dead and the injured in Pakistan whose next of kin is strangely enough mouthing Anti-India protests and burning his effigy.
PM: “They want unconditional access to one of our research facilities in the coming few days!”
Scene –XIII: The White House- Oval Office: The hawkish
“Goddamn it Jack, why the hell are we so soft with them?” He is close to the President and therefore on very informal terms with him.
“The pricks have the toy and the recent earthquake in
POTUS: Angry - “Bill, I know how the goddam game works and I am quite well versed with the bullshit proof our guys at Langely sometimes come up with to suit their own agenda. I’m not going to get gun-ho without being absolutely convinced that it is them! Anyway, I have given them some time to reconsider our request. That’ll give us some time to take another look at our ‘evidence’.”
POTUS: Now calm: “The so called evidence may prove
SoD: “Is this gut feeling somehow influenced by your well known fondness for the Mahatma and Idli Sambar… huh Jack?
Scene XIV: Vishnu and Pavitra are on their way to a lovely spot Vishnu is taking her to have a picnic lunch. On the way he introduces Pavitra to many of his village mates and vice versa. They are shocked by her dress sense and by the fact that this ‘priest’ is openly flirting with this girl. Vishnu’s uncle also sees them and is not pleased.
Uncle: “Everything done?”
Vishnu: “Almost...everything important is done!”He then walks away cheerfully while his Uncle calls out to him:
U: “Everything is important”. Uncle stares at him in disappointment.
Scene XV: A special IAF aircraft lands at Palam airport (
Scene XVI: PMO: NSA: “Shall we begin? Ok, sir, let me start with a brief introduction to the project going on at DR79(the facility the US has asked for access to).Seven years ago, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) started translating some old palm leaf manuscripts, found during the British times, which were long forgotten in the ASI archives. One of the translators… he just happened to be someone with a bit of knowledge in theoretical physics. The palm leaves describe what is supposedly ‘holy knowledge’ passed on to a king by the great lord Vishnu himself.”
PM: “What is this? I wanted a…”
NSA: “I know what you’re thinking sir, but please…let me continue. The translator was, much to his amusement, astonished to find a detailed description of how the king could build an ‘egg’ to protect his people from the demons. Now, there were many things he did not understand of course, but he did realize that what was being described were principles of physics which the world even today calls ‘theoretical’. One thing led to another and the translated version landed up at the ‘special projects’ section of the DRDO”
Defense minister: “Why are we not told about ‘special projects’ like this?”
NSA: “National security sir! With governments changing every few months, it was decided that unless specifically asked for or unless it was an emergency, the existence of this project would be kept a secret, even from the PM. I’m sorry sir, but I’m sure you’ll understand. I myself came to know about this only yesterday, after asking for specific information”
PM: “Tell us more, please”
NSA-looking at his vibrating mobile – “Sir, the one person qualified to answer all your questions has just arrived”,and he goes to receive him by opening the door to the room. It is the head of the secret project – Mr.Rao
Rao: “Good afternoon gentlemen, sir (looking at the PM and then at the Defense Minister).I have been brought up to date on the situation. I’ll be as clear and brief as possible”, he says in his cheerful and excited manner,
“The project is basically an attempt to create a working model based on our interpretation of the ‘holy knowledge’ our forefathers have described. Infact some
However looking at the lack of amusement on the defense minister’s face he gets back to being serious,
“This sir is THE most important secret
PM: “Mr.Rao, please, let us decide what’s going on. We are all aware of the good things you and your team are doing in the interest of the nation and we hold you in high regard. But this is not the time to gloat over our accomplishments. Tell us what this technology is! We have been told about ancient literature and Vishnu and technology to create…what was it, oh yes, a holy egg…explain to us so we can understand!”
Rao, with a twinkle in his eye and a grin on his face, “Oh, why, it is the very shield of Vishnu himself!”
Scene XVII: A few days later: Vishnu is seen swimming in the lake/pond having fun, looking at Pavitra very flirtatiously.
“Won’t you come and enjoy Mother Nature; very cool, very refreshing”, he asks, hinting that she join him in the water.She grins,
Pavitra: “Dude this is not Mumbai. Our people will get the wrong ideas.”
Vishnu: “Maybe they’ll get the right ideas”...grins
Pavitra, ignoring the last statement: “Besides, he! he! you are the official priest!”
This makes Vishnu blow his fuse.
Vishnu: “Don’t call me that! I’m not a priest! Father was, uncle is, but I’m not a priest! I can understand if these people think I am, but how can YOU even consider my becoming the priest? This bloody inheritance and the look in everybody’s eyes especially uncle’s… looking forward to my accepting my fate and settling down here, it’s driving me crazy! Do you for even one second imagine that I would simply throw away my city life just to ring these bells every morning and evening? A priest! There is nothing more ridiculous I can think of.”
Silence ensues. Vishnu calms down while Pavitra is stunned by his outburst
V: “Father was innocent enough to think that I would take over after him, but he never understood what I wanted. He never listened to me. Till the last time I met him he would give me a condescending smile each time I argued with him about how much we have lost because of this damn ‘curse’. Never enough money for anything! What good is ‘punyam’ in this world? Who is bothered about the after life? Maybe daddy is encashing all his punya points up there! To him this was the noblest profession of all. You see, the Church officials are well funded and looked after but our priests basically are at the mercy of donations and a proper job somewhere…why can’t we also…”
Pav: “You mustn’t say such things Vishnu, especially not about your father”.
Vishnu, calm now and with tear filled eyes, “I know, I know…but I just can’t help it. Even now, after he is gone, he binds me to do what he wanted through his ‘last wish’ letter. The only reason I’m still here doing what I ‘m doing is because of tomorrow’s ceremony. After that, father’s soul will supposedly be free to move on to heaven… and I back to my life. I should have told everybody right away that this is not for me. What sort of a priest will I make if I myself don’t believe in these things? ”
He begins to sulk and ignores Pavitra.
This goes on for some time with him slowly mellowing down as it begins to drizzle. Vishnu gets out of the water and runs along with Pavitra to find shelter.
Scene XVIII: Evening: Vishnu is seen fussing over Pavitra,
“Common now, eat properly. I won’t accept any stories of your latest diet!”
Pav: “Nothing like that, I ‘m enj...”
Vishnu: “Shh... you shouldn’t talk while eating. I hope you like my cooking”
She indicates that it is just fine. After she finishes, he then introduces her to his new friend, a puppy. She cuddles the puppy for sometime and then turns in for the night. Vishnu hugs the puppy and says,
“So Tingu, how do you like the village and the people? I’m sorry I brought you to this village, but don’t worry, it’s only a short stay; you’ll soon be back with all your friends in the city. By the way what have you planned for your future? Any chicks in your life hero?”
Pavitra’s amused, but she pretends to be asleep. Of course, Vishnu knows that she is not really asleep and she knows he knows that. She realizes he is indirectly talking to her through the puppy and Vishnu knows she knows.
Scene XIX: Next day: 13th day ceremony for Vishnu’s father: Vishnu’s uncle is the officiating priest: He beautifully explains from the Garuda Purana all about death and the significance of the rituals they are performing. The ceremony is performed carefully and every aspect of it is explained. This goes on for sometime. After a few hours, when the uncle notices tears in Vishnu’s eyes he asks the few people who have gathered to leave them alone. Pavitra too walks away. Uncle explains that the departed have to drink the tears shed for them by near and dear. He asks him to stop shedding tears as it was useless to do so.( Dialogues need to be written after consulting a priest)
The ceremony approaches its conclusion with the last act being the offering of the ‘pindam’ (rice ball) when Vishnu freezes as he looks ahead. He sees something which brings tears to his eyes and at the same time makes his hair stand on end. The uncle notices this.
Uncle: “Do you see something son?” in a calm and collected voice.
Vishnu does not answer but the uncle continues to instruct him and asks him to perform a Namaskaram to the sun and to perform a namaskaram to ‘him’. Vishnu breaks down and prostrates before what he sees begging, for forgiveness.
“Forgive me, forgive me…… please forgive me”
Scene XX: A few days later: After several rounds of talks between the two countries have passed:
The PM is once again seen and heard talking to the
PM: “I assure you that there is nothing which threatens or has been used to harm US interests being developed at DR79 or for that matter anywhere, by us. I have personally been briefed by the head of the complex”
POTUS: “Mr. Prime Minister, neither I nor anybody else can do anything to cool down tempers on my side if you don’t co-operate and allow unconditional access. Inspite of my love for India, this administration cannot simply sit twiddling our thumbs while the kith and kin of all the dead soldiers are baying for blood. Congress will surely expect me to act. And the media here is not helping either. All we want to do is to perform a check.”
PM: “Sir, what you are asking for is not a small matter. I reiterate that
POTUS: “I’m sorry to hear that Mr.PM, even after us talking to each other so many times. I will be forced to fulfill my duty as President to safeguard American National Security.”
The US SecDef is very pleased to hear this.
PM: “Mr. President, I have my duty towards my nation too. Will the
“Goodbye Mr. Prime Minister, my people will be in touch with you”, says POTUS before disconnecting.
The PM looks at his inner circle with a shocked expression and comments, “We have just been threatened with possible military action!”
NSA of US: “Excellent sir, that is just what they need! It might be best to inform the Joint Chiefs now.”
POTUS: “No, wait a while.”
NSA
Scene XXI: Next morning: Vishnu is seen concluding his morning rituals with a new found dedication and interest. The change in him is evident. The people who come to the shrine are equally surprised to see the changed man who goes out of his way to keep to the traditions of the temple and to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Scene XXII: Vishnu and Pavitra are seen sitting beside a pond and talking.
Pavitra: “So, till when are you here?”
Vishnu: “This is my home and I’ll be here for the next 50 to 60 years. Yes I’ll definitely keep coming to Mumbai to visit you and all my friends”.
She is shocked to hear this change in his decision.
P: “Have you gone mad? How can you say something today and something else the next day?”
V: “For the first time in my life, I am absolutely certain about something.”
She can see that he is dead serious and that this he is not in one of his playful moods.
P: “What happened yesterday after all of us left the place of the ritual?”
He looks at her for sometime, smiles….and tells her,
V: “You must be already thinking that I am partially nuts to stay back after all that I said. Now if I tell you what happened, you will book a bed for me in Mumabi’s most famous psychiatric hospital.”
P: “No, no, I believe you Vishnu, I always have. (Vishnu is pleasantly surprised to hear this) Tell me!”
V: “Ok, don’t interrupt me. At the end of the ritual, just after I finished offering the rice balls, I saw father standing on the river surface!”
She stares at him wide-eyed.
“Yes Pav, I swear on him... father was standing just 20 feet away, from where Uncle and I were sitting, on the surface of the flowing water, looking at me. I could mentally hear father thanking me and then he vanished! It was the most unforgettable and emotional point in my life (Vishnu is in tears). I am very clear now about what I want to do with my life but at the same time I am totally confused…..I don’t know what to believe in anymore….29 years of ‘knowing’ that all talk about God, spirits, soul etc is just pure fantasy and that there is no scientific proof or evidence of it has been shaken by a 10 second vision of father. I want to start believing that everything our scriptures talk about and teach is true. There is no question about what I saw…he was as clear and as real as you are, sitting here next to me…and yet there is this one side refusing to believe that what I saw was real. I have been constantly asking myself if it was a mirage, a day dream, hypnosis by uncle, a trance like state, stress induced mental projection …no, this same side which demands proof of existence of ‘things’, is now rejecting what I saw.”
He sheds tears looking at the sky.
“For the first time in my life, I believe in my destiny, I believe in my fate, inspite of my confusion!”
Scene XXIII: An intelligence report indicates that there is some unusual activity at a Pakistani airbase. It seems the Americans have dispatched some of their aircraft. Also noted is the approach of a
Scene XXIV: Another ‘Pindam’ ceremony for long dead parents of Mohan (Scientist at the defense facility on the outskirts of Vishnu’s village) has just concluded. Vishnu is sitting by the side of his uncle, helping out.
Uncle: “Do any of you see anything?”
All of them except the little daughter nod their heads to mean no. She is happy to see ‘something’ she recognizes. Vishnu notices this and smiles.
Daughter: “Grandmother, where have you been to all these days?”
The parents are shocked and ask her to keep quiet.
U: “Be silent please, let the child speak!”
D: “Grandmother and grandfather are standing there, why aren’t you looking at them, come let’s go get them. Grandfather is talking to you daddy, listen…..”
Mohan: “Sir, what is she saying, what is happening?”
U: “Please perform a namaskaram to the Sun and then towards where the little girl is looking.”
The family obeys him.
D: “Bye”, starts weeping, “Come back grandma!”
Then the Priest explains the significance of the ritual and about the soul and its behaviour after death. Vishnu steps in to explain what just happened and his own similar experience and adds what he knows from the ‘Garuda Purana’ and quotes a few lines... Mohan is moved.
Scene XXV: The PM’s meeting: Agreement that
PM: “Should we stop all activity just to show that we want to co-operate as much as possible?”
Rao: “Sir, the NSA says it’s too late. Please have faith in our scientists.”
PM: “What do you mean by that?”
Scene XXVI: Two days later: Late in the evening: Mohan is seen rushing to Vishnu
M: “ Vishnu…Vishnu … swear not to reveal what I am about to tell you”
V: “What is it sir?”
M: “First swear!”
V: “I do! I do! ”
M: “Listen very carefully to what I say Vishnu. Our installation is actually a secret defense facility developing highly classified technology. The
V: “I’m not clear, what is connected to what?”
M: “The Americans think we induced the earthquake and they think such technology resides here! The Americans wanted to inspect this facility and we refused access. Their fighters have been arriving in
V: “The
Scene XXVII:
V-nervous,agitated and out of breath: “Sarpanch sir, please don’t ask why, just trust me please. Have all the men in the village gather at the shrine in 15 minutes. This is a matter of life and death.”
After a while they all gather at the shrine which is a good 3 kms from the facility.
V: “Everybody please listen closely to what I have to say. We are in great danger. In a few hours we can expect the area near the ‘government building’ to be bombed!”
Surprise and shock all around.
“I need all of you to get all members of your families along with all your cattle and sheep and chickens and of course all your money and items of value which you can easily bring along and I want you all to return in 30 mins time. There is no telling when it might start. The Army is expected to arrive shortly to help.”
There is mild panic and irritation on some faces and genuine fear on the face of the others.
Someone in the crowd: “Who told you this?”
V: “My father appeared in my dream and warned me!”
Pavitra: “What are you doing?!”
V: “Trust me Pav .You said you always have….trusted…now is the time I need it more than ever!”
Scene XXVIII: The External Affairs Minister is seen literally pleading into the microphone saying,
“You can’t do this………call it off, we will open the facility for inspection if only we could discuss this further”, and we hear a cold reply (of the US NSA) saying...
“I’m sorry minister you had your chance and there is nothing else to discuss, good night”,The line is cut.
“The attack is imminent”, says the Defense Minister to the PM.
DM: “Our boys will put up a good fight, sir!”
PM: “Has the area around DB79 been evacuated? I want no innocent lives lost!”
Army Chief: “It’s underway sir!”
PM: “Do we have any idea of the kind of losses we can expect if we go up against the Americans?”
DM looks at the Air force Chief(AFC),
AFC: “Sir, we are a well trained air force. There is no doubt about that in any body’s mind. But against the
PM: “I understand what you mean sir. Thank you for your straightforward views. We will not engage their aircraft.”
DM: “Sir? How can we simply sit doing nothing? They are attacking us! ”
PM: “What is the point in foolishly sending our boys in harms way? Once the facility is destroyed they will go back.Besides they are not trained to deal with the most powerful nation on earth. Their technology is simply too much. We stand no chance. I would rather lose the facility and face national humiliation and the wrath of the opposition parties than to have to face the families of dead pilots.”
NSA India: “Sir, this may not be advisable. We can’t simply sit without doing anything!”
Rao: “Let the lord help us Mr.Prime Minister!” .The PM and the cabinet are shocked and look at him questioningly. This is the second time this eccentric man has said something like this.
Scene XXIX: Drinks are being served in a room and there are two men toasting to a successful intelligence coup, with the help of the Chinese. It is the inside of the Pakistani Presidential palace. Laughter …
“Looks like their Deepawali is about to begin. The poor bastards don’t know what’s happening!”
Scene XXX: Orders being received on the phone by the manager of the facility about what he has to do.
Manager: “Please repeat the order sir! Are you sure sir? Yes, understood, thank you!”
“Boys, it’s time to test our work!”
Scene XXXI: Vishnu is seen organizing things to make things comfortable for his flock. Realizing that most of them are illiterate he tells them mythological stories of people being protected in times of distress. Very interesting stories beautifully elaborated.A slight drizzle starts…
Scene XXXII: We see nine F-22 raptors taking off with full military thrust from a Pakistani Airbase. ‘Wolfpack’ leader confirms to control that ‘escort’ is on its way. Confirmed to him by control that ‘Blacknights’ were on their way to rendezvous point too.
Scene XXXIII: The generator of the special project machine is running full steam and the staff is getting the hell out of the place.
Scene XXXIV: Vishnu looks at the area where the defense installation is, expecting a blast anytime now.
Mohan: “Vishnu, come with me, it’s not safe here. There is place for you and your family in our bunker. Comon, I have to rush back!”
Vishnu: “Sir, it is my family’s….no, my duty to help protect my people in whichever way I can. If there is not enough place for all of them, then …..no sorry sir, but thank you!”
Mohan is shocked but impressed with the priest’s sense of duty. Foolish perhaps, but commendable!
V: “Children and elders to be placed in the middle, then the ladies and then the men please.. come on hurry up, we have no time. Remember, we are safest here. Do not panic, do not run away. Stay here and things will be OK.”
Vishnu’s uncle who has overheard Mohan’s conversation with Vishnu is in a deep trance praying to the lord to protect them.
Scene XXXV: The ‘Black Knights’ are
Scene XXXVI: Vishnu starts praying earnestly to his father and asks everyone to sincerely pray that this bad time go away and that no harm may come to them. He asks Pavitra to pray too.
Scene XXXVII: Pentagon command centre: C-JC’s(Chairman of the Joint Chiefs) is following the scene live -courtesy DARKSTAR –the unmanned spy drone- on a big screen as is everybody who is anybody in the defense hierarchy.
Scene XXXVIII: Information comes in confirming that enemy aircraft have penetrated Indian airspace but whose exact location or bearing has not been pinned down; almost certainly stealth aircraft. We see the Indian Prime Minister shedding a tear, partly out of helplessness and partly out of shame.
Scene XXXIX: All the villagers are scared. Someone gets up to get something when a murderous blast rips through the quiet night air.
Vishnu screams: “Get down and stay there, be calm!!!! Pavi….!”
Everyone turns to see more blasts somewhere near the facility. The bombs are being dropped incessantly.
Suddenly someone says, “Look…!”
C-JC’s looking at a screen: “What’s th…?”
Everyone turns to look and they see part of a strange blue semi circular halo wherever the explosion happens. Mohan understands what is happening and is filled with pride and awe at the same time, as are Vishnu, Uncle and Pavitra. Vishnu screams with delight, mouthing a few expletives and immediately corrects himself looking at the other people who are any way too distracted. The bombing stops having any effect as the explosions are happening way above the facility, as the bombs come in contact with the surface of this ‘shield’.
Scene XXXX: ‘Batman’: “Eagle One, package not delivered, repeat, not delivered. Being neutralized by some strange shield of light, black nights have halted package delivery.”
The confusion in his head is made out by his voice.
Eagle One-Command centre: “One special delivery at new co-ordinates, deliver now.”
He is immediately asked by command centre to follow co-ordinates to bomb a heat source which he is told looks like the power centre which lies far away from the facility. It might be outside the force shield. One B-2 goes for the kill and within no time the power source is blown to bits. Now the ‘black knights’ gets ready for another try and Vishnu hears the buzz of the shield no longer.
Mohan, in the meanwhile: “We did it, we did it! It works Vishnu, the shield of Vishnu works, we are …we are invincible now….Vishnu, did you see that…they have run away…couldn’t do anything, ha!”
Vishnu: “That noise is …gone…”
Mohan : “ uhmm?? The buzz?”
Vishnu: “I think….”
Mohan: “They have bombed the generator! The shield is down Vishnu, that’s it, we’re finished”
Vishnu explains what has just happened to his uncle. Uncle understands and beckons Vishnu to come with him to a corner.
Uncle: “You really want to help everybody don’t you boy? And there is nothing more you can do to help them is there?”
Vishnu: “Yes and no there is nothing more I can do. I feel so helpless uncle.”
Uncle in tears: “Vishnu, ours is a special lineage and we are priests for a reason. Please, at least now, just listen to this old man and do what I beg you to do and don’t brush off my request as that of a superstitious old man.”
Vishnu: “I won’t uncle…don’t cry, tell me what I must do”
Uncle: “Repeat the Vishnu mantra Vishnu; you remember it I’m sure.”
Vishnu: “How can I? Father made sure it was drummed inside!”
Uncle: “Go inside Vishnu (pointing to the shrine). Repeat it till I ask you to come out. Go….!”
V: “It’s no use uncle, it’s no use….”
U-Anger and pleading combined: “Vishnu listen to me, you’re the only one who can, go... just believe in your family’s beliefs and duties.”
Vishnu notices a baby crying, absolutely terrified by the tense atmosphere and the loud bombing sounds. He prays hard. He remembers what his father had mentioned to him about faith. It was said that there was a reason to believe in what they believed in and that none must question that… for when faith is gone everything is gone.
Outside the shrine, uncle looks around; there is a strange but powerful energy in the air. Only he feels it.
Almost as if on que, there is an unusual gust of wind along with mighty thunder. Vishnu comes out,
Vishnu: “Uncle, do you feel something?” Uncle stares at him wide eyed.
Scene XXXXI: POTUS to the C-JC’s, after putting down the phone: “Stop the attack, stop the attack, cease fire ASAP”
Sec Def: “Jack, what the hell….”
POTUS: “Just do it! The Chinese and the goddamn Pakistani’s are upto no good.”
It seems the Chinese have fooled them into believing that the Indian’s were the bad guys.
Scene XXXXII: ‘BlackKnights’ are on their way back from bombing the generator but now they loose all contact with command Eagle One and their cockpit systems act funny. Suddenly they see a soft glow in the night sky in front of them. It’s a huge ball of light….not knowing what it is Batman orders a full scale attack on primary target. All the bombs are being dropped and then, suddenly we see a thunderous explosion of orange light, more mighty than anything heard by the villagers on a stormy night and a magical orangish glow blankets the sky above the village. Everybody is stunned by this blanket of light which has descended on them from the heavens. The ‘bigboy’ bombs burst like tiny firecrackers and get extinguished.
Now what the pilots see is an awesome sight. There, in the sky in front of them is a gigantic swirl of heavenly light outlining a dancing form shape in slow motion. They hear static along with a sound beat every Indian recognizes inside their cockpits, and it terrifies them enough for Batman to temporarily forget what to do.
“Holy mother of God” he whispers under his breath….”BTB (back to base) ASAP…BTB ASAP!” he shrieks, a shadow of his once calm and ice cold confident tone.
Scene XXXXIII: Vishnu falls to his knees as he sees this surreal form (of lord Vishnu) which it seems only he can see. Vishnu’s heart opens up to the lord and sobbing like he has never before, cries out and comes out with a sloka in the lord’s praise all while his eyes are a well of tears. Truly, this is a life changing event in his life.
Scene XXXXIV: POTUS profusely apologizes to the PM explaining the misunderstanding. The conversation ends with POTUS promising immediate help in whichever way possible. The PM very graciously accepts the American apology and uses this opportunity to reiterate that
Scene XXXXV: Loud applause for the team working on the project by the Cabinet members. After their exit from the room,
Mohan: “Sir, I saw it with my own eyes, the shield’s generator was destroyed and the shield went down. There was no way in hell that the system could function. And even if it still did, there was no way it can cover such a vast area... you know that very well sir!”
Rao: “Mohan...keep this to yourself and don’t spoil our chances of increased funding.”
He walks away and Mohan stares at his back, openmouthed.
Scene XXXXVI: The American pilots are debriefed and they are too scared to open their mouths. One of them hands over a drawing.
Scene XXXXVII: POTUS: “What happened out there?”
SoD: “The boys are….a little stressed sir, we are yet to complete debriefing. But there was a strange sighting and this is what the lead pilot drew for us.”
He is handed an ‘EYES ONLY –PRESIDENT’ folder which he opens to find the drawing made by the lead pilot outlining the dancing Shiva form.
Scene XXXXVIII: Vishnu prays to the ‘LINGAM’ in the shrine, closes the shrine doors and walks away.
- THE END -
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