LOVE IS DEAF

INT - Three-Bedroom Apartments - NIGHT

A fully decorated house reveals as people start entering. The house is cheerful and buzzling with people as in a corner near a kitchen a middle-aged woman is sitting. She is gloomy and doesn't fit into the occasion. Some sadness is pulling her and she is not talking to anyone. An old woman comes next to her and takes a seat.

RANI
There is no point in being like this. What has happened has happened. You can not change the past. Please be active with our guests.

ISWARYA
You can be all cool about it mom. I don't know how to take it easy. He was part of the family. This was the exact date last year that he died. I cannot be so easy going like you. He meant something to me.

RANI
You can keep pondering over things like this and be sad. There is so much brightness out there and you are just missing out on it. Just come out and talk to Paramu Chitappa. He will make you laugh so much you will even forget that Raja died.

ISWARYA
Sorry, mom, I cannot be like you. All I have left of him is his memory and I don't want to forget that.

The air fills with the noise of fireworks revealing it to be Diwali. A 1000 wala goes off just muting the rest of the conversation to mute. Then they both suddenly stop talking and tears roll out of the eyes of Iswarya.

ISWARYA
This is what killed him in the first place.

There outside to burst the next set of 1000 wala a 15-year-old wearing Kurtha is lighting a Match stick.

EXT - Car Par - NIGHT

A match stick lights revealing to light a cigarette and then the hand extends to another cigarette as it reveals 2 middle-aged men having a smoke in their car park. One of them starts to speak.

AJAY
Raghav, just have a look out of my wife. I am sure if she catches me with another cigarette, i will be tied to the next 1000 wala that goes off.

RAGHAV
Then quit for god sake man. At least let me smoke peacefully.

AJAY
Speaking of wives, Why is Iswarya not coming out, Isn’t she the one who will be the most excited on Diwali?

RAGHAV
Since the accident last year she started hating this festival. After his death, she has been very depressed. I tried my level best to revive her back but it seems impossible. I have an idea for it. That is why I am waiting here.

AJAY
What are you planning to do?

RAGHAV
You will find out for yourself.

Raghav takes another drag of the cigarette and then blows it in the air.

EXT -Streets - NIGHT

Opening a packet of the Lakshmi crackers, A 15-year-old boy pulls two pieces out of the plastic cover and gives one piece to a 12-year-old girl.

AHANA
Why is Chithi very unhappy today? What happened to her?

BHAIRAV
Last year during Diwali Raja died. Since then amma has been the same way.

AHANA
But it happened a year back. Why is she still upset over it?

BHAIRAV
Do you think I have not asked her the same question? She just doesn't answer. I just gave up after a while. Even I was upset. But now I am alright. I hope she is as strong as me.

Saying it he lit the Lakshmi cracker in his hand and threw it up as it burst in the mid-air.

INT - Three-Bedroom Apartments - NIGHT

Iswarya still sad, with her waterlogged eyes stares at a place for a long time and then gets up as Ajay enters the house and comes directly to speak with Iswarya. Following him came a middle-aged fair woman with suspicious eyes.

AJAY
Iswarya, let bygones be bygones, we have a family here to enjoy this festival with. You can’t be this unhappy. This affects even the others too. You have got to understand that.

NARTHAKI
Ajay, Did you smoke?

AJAY
Definitely not. I Promised that I would never smoke. Why would I?

NARTHAKI
How do you Lie so easily? I could smell you from the moment you entered the house.

AJAY
It's not the most…

There enters Raghav with a Basket in his hands and everyone around him are curious about what is there in the box.

RAGHAV
Iswarya, I hope this will take away all your sadness. Here take it.

Pulling Ajay back Narthaki whispers into Ajay’s ears

NARTHAKI
This is not over….

Ajay’s face turns red with fear while Iswarya curiously takes the box and opens it slowly revealing a small mongrel breed pup inside the box trying to come out. As Iswarya put her hands inside it started licking all over her hands.

ISWARYA
Ajay, you know How Raja died. His heart stopped as he heard the sound of the fireworks outside. I don't want another dog to go through the same. Please take it away.

RAGHAV
I know that dear. That is why I adopted him from the Dogs relief camp. This dog cannot hear even if a nuclear explosion goes off. It is Deaf.

Iswarya looking at Raghav starts to smile and covers her mouth and starts crying. She just runs and hugs Raghav as he embraces her. As we reveal the inside of the box where the Brown and white mongrel pup is curled up and sleeping peacefully in its “Silent” world.

Fin