Kamala

Scene 1:

Dark clouds are gathering in the sky and it is about to rain. The stormy winds have already caught the coconut trees in a restless swaying dance. Kamala, the maid servant in her teens, wearing a dark red tattered cotton saree flapping in the wind, stands in front of an open window and stares at the sky feeling the cold refreshing breeze on her face. This is the first time it’s raining this year and how could she miss this unearthly play of the Gods. Reminiscing her childhood often came easy to her as she closes her eyes thinking about the endless green meadows, the playful stream by their hut, the chirping sound of the free birds, the throbbing life in those tiny butterflies, the fantasy of those fireflies glowing in the dark, and the wild mango forests she had spent all her infant years in. [brief flashback shots]

Her day dream suddenly broke with the sound of a door crashing in a gust of wind growing stronger every passing minute. The lady of the house, Savitri snaps at her from her room, “Kire Kamala! Kokhon theke bolechi janla dorja gulo bondho korte! Kichu bhenge gele ki hobe?”

Kamala turns her head and says, “Haan maima... korchi...”as she starts closing the window with a slightly dull face.

Savitri says in a low voice, ”Meye ta ke bole bole ar parlam na. Kothaye je or mon thake sarakkhon?”

 

Scene 2:

It’s raining heavily outside, and Savitri is sitting lonely on her bed with her back resting on the headstand, her head slightly leaning backwards watching the rain blankly through her window pane. Her room is adorned with Jamini Ray paintings, antique menageries, and wooden vintage furniture exhibiting a mark of inherited affluence in her household. Kamala comes from behind and asks her leaning at the door, “Ajke ki ranna korbo maima?”

Kamala keeps staring at her expecting a reply. After a long pause Savitri turns her head slightly and says calmly, “Kal shobji wala onek kota bhindi diye geche... Sheta kor ge ja...”

Kamala walks towards Savitri and sits on the bed besides her saying, “Tumi shob shomoye eto koshte thako maima... amar bhalo lage na...”

Savitri looks at her and says, “Amar koshto ki ar tui bujhtey parbi?” She stares back at the window pane and after a long pause she says, “Barota bochor amader biye holo, amar ektao shontan holo na... Shey koshto ki tui ar bujhbi?” After a pause, she looks down on the ground with wet eyes and says, “Jaa... tor mama eto din por bari phirche... ranna ta shere ne ja...” Kamala nods her head, gets down from the bed and walks outside the room.

 

Scene 3:

The rain has reduced to a mild drizzle by now. Kamala is cooking inside the kitchen, the pressure cooker whistle goes off and the next moment some metal utensils fall on the ground making a loud crashing sound. Savitri comes running to the kitchen and snaps at Kamala again, “Koto bar bolechi tokey thik kore bashon gulo rakhte...? Useless kotha kar...! Ekta kaj o thik kore korte parish na... Ki korte je tor mama toke amar ghaarer upor rekhe chole jaye?” Before she could finish what she wanted to say, the door bell rings and both of them look towards the door. Savitri silently utters, “Shekhar!”

 

Scene 4:

Savitri opens the door and her husband, Shekhar steps inside with a smiling face. [Camera POV from each other] Savitri hugs Shekhar as if she won’t let him go this time. The wet dripping umbrella in Shekhar’s hand falls on the ground with the jerk of Savitri’s almost forceful hug. Shekhar is visibly happy returning home after a long time as he hugs Savitri back, and over her shoulder looks towards Kamala standing at the kitchen door, smiling shyly and looking straight towards him. Shekhar and Kamala exchange their sweet innocent smiles at each other, as Savitri clasps her hands tightly around Shekhar and says, “Amake erokom eka rekhe ar kokhono jabe na bolo...”

 

Scene 5:

The rain has stopped for a while. Shekhar is sitting and reading a newspaper on the sofa. Kamala comes towards him with a cup of tea and keeps the cup on the centre table in front of him. “Mama tomar cha... Maima tomake ghore dakche...” She turns around to go back, when Shekhar holds her hand, looks up at her and asks her to sit. Kamala hesitates at first feeling a bit shy, but sits on the sofa eventually.

Shekhar looks at her face and asks, “Kire Komo... Amar katha mone porto? Ami ashar por amar sathe kono katha bollina je?” Kamala nods her head and then tilts it sideways. With a small pause, Shekhar smiles and picks up the cup of tea. “Maima ke beshi jalash ni toh?”

Kamala says “Nah”, keeping it short.

Sipping his tea, Shekhar asks, “Toke jei boi ta kine diye gechilam... porechish?”

Kamala replies, “Haan porechi mama...”

Shekhar smiles and keeps the cup on the table, leans closer towards Kamala and puts his hand on her hand. Kamala’s hand cringes slightly, with a strange emotion mixed with pleasure and anxiety, “Kamala... ami chai tui onek lekha pora kore boro hosh”

[Camera closes in on their hands holding each other][fade out]

 

Scene 6:

Savitri is sitting in the same position on her bed; her back resting on the headstand and her head leaning on one of the bed poles, her eyes looking at Shekhar, who is also sitting on the bed beside her, holding her hand and intently looking towards her. It has started raining again and distant thunders are heard faintly from outside.

Shekhar says, “Sara ta jibon ki ey bhabei katabe Savitri? Dukkhe koshte, eto raag abhimaan ey? Amar katha bhebe dekecho ek baaro?”

Savitri smiles at him sarcastically, “Tumi thakle toh bhabbo tomar katha... Ei toh kota din acho... tarporei toh abar chole jabe... Oi poramukhi ke rekhe amar sathe...”, denotes towards Kamala with her expression.

Shekhar slowly looks down at the bed and waits for some time before saying anything. After a long pause he speaks, “Tomake ekta katha bolbo kichu din dhore bhabchi...”

Savitri interrupts and says, “Ishwarer kache ar kichui chaini kono din... ek amar nijer shontan chhara... amar koshto hoy Shekhar... tumi bojho na... amar koshto hoy... ami ar parchhina... ar parchhina...”, she breaks down weeping.

Shekhar takes Savitri in his arms and consoles her with her head resting close to his heart. After a short while Shekhar says, “Savitri... tomake ami onek din agei shontan diye rekhechi... kintu tumi bojhoni... bujhtey chaoni”

Savitri lifts her head looking at him and says, “Ki bolcho?”

Shekhar turns his head away and says calmly, “Amar jokhon olpo boyesh tokhon gramer barite amar mashir meyer sathe amar somporko ghotechilo... Amar boyesh tokhon ekush...”

Savitri looks confused and speechless.

Shekhar turns towards her and says, “Kamala amar meye... Kintu o sheta janena... Or maa or jonmer shomoye mara jaye... Tai o amake mama bole daake...”

[Close-up on Savitri’s face] Shekhar continues, “Katha ta ar keu janena”. Savitri’s lips start shivering, her eyes start trembling, and silent tears start rolling down her face. [Camera fixed on her face and speechless expression] Shekhar’s voice says, “Savitri... Kamala amader meye!”

[Slow transition to black screen fading out][Emotional flute plays in the background and distant thunders are heard louder than before]

 

~ TITLES ~