"" Look what has happened to my daughter, doctor"" "What has happened to Geeta?" "Geeta has been so ill and you didn't even inform me I'm not a magician to wave a wand and cure the patient immediately" "How was I to know that it was such a serious disease?" "I thought it was just a fever." " But you ought to have informed me" "" Before going abroad, Thakur saheb entrusted the responsibility..."" "" of this family to me. lf something goes wrong, what will I tell him?"" "" Munshiji, don't just stand and watch my face"" "" Call the nursing home for oxygen." "... wait, I'll make the call"" "lmmediately send a cable that Geeta is seriously ill... and that Thakur saheb must return to India immediately" "" My daughter will recover..." "won't she, doctor?"" "Geeta..." "" l'm back, Geeta. I'm here"" "Wherever you set foot..." "My shadow will walk with you" "My shadow..." "A memorial for Geeta" "It looks like the lnspector" "" Greetings, Inspector saheb." " Greetings." "How are you, Munshiji?"" "is the Thakur saheb at home" " Yes. ls it something important?" "" Yes, it's important. lt's necessary for me to meet him"" "But he doesn't consider it necessary to meet anyone lt's like this..." " Ever since his wife died... neither does he meet anyone nor does he go anywhere I know that." "Just tell him that Inspector Daljit is here" "That's no good." "Neither can you meet him nor can he meet you" "" Greetings, Inspector." " Greetings"" "" Are you here to meet the Thakur?" " Yes, it's very important..."" "or I wouldn't have bothered you." " l'm glad you have come" "He'll at least find a distraction." "Please come" "Missing me... should your tears ever flow..." "Missing me... should your tears ever flow..." "They will be stopped right there... by my tears" "Every place you head to... my shadow will move with you" "Wherever you choose to go... my shadow will go with you" "This is how he has been" "He's always gazing at Geeta's portrait and listening to her song" "He just doesn't eat anything" "He prefers to remain like this" "Son..." "The lnspector wants to meet you" "Please sit down." " Thank you" "Do you recognise her?" "This is Geeta's photo." "With you...?" " No. lt's not her photo" "Please listen carefully to what I wish to say to you" "" Presently, we're dealing with a very strange case"" "We recently had an encounter with a gang of bandits" "" During the encounter, two bandits were killed..."" "and a fleeing girl was arrested" "Arrest them!" "Don't let them escape" "" Does anyone of you recognise them?" " No, sir"" "You needn't be afraid." "They're dead" "Don't be scared." "Go closer and take a look" "" What's there to be scared of?" " Forgive me, sir..."" "only the police don't know them" "" Or else, every child in the village is scared of them"" "They're bandits from Suryavar Singh's gang" "They're feared far and wide." "They've killed hundreds of men" "" But, sir... you have accomplished only half the job yet"" "Why only half?" " You ought to have got their chief" "" lf he lives, he'll form another gang."" "There's nothing to be scared of" "They won't form a gang anymore" "Get down" "Move" "Anyone of you knows this girl?" "Anyone of you knows her?" "Raise the lamp" "I know" "Very well too" "" At the Goddess's fair last year, she was dancing near the temple"" "It was night time" "My ear-ring fell down..." "My ear-ring fell down... at the marketplace in Bareilly" "My ear-ring fell... at the marketplace in Bareilly" "" My lover came home quietly, with his gaze lowered"" "" He insisted on making me wear the ear-ring"" "" l begged him and told him not to force me"" "" l begged him and implored, but he wouldn't let go of my wrist"" "What happened then?" "Then...?" "My ear-ring fell... in the scuffle we had" "My ear-ring fell..." "" in the marketplace at Bareilly"" "I once stood on the roof of my house" "He joked and told me to come down" "" Either come down, or throw me your ring as a souvenir"" "There on the roof... I blushed and felt so very shy" "What happened then?" "The ear-ring fell... while we fell in love" "The ear-ring fell... at the marketplace in Bareilly'" "" ln the garden, my lover sorted out my knotted tresses"" "" He held me tightly and said he was smitten by me"" "" l lowered my eyes, but I said nothing..."" "" l said nothing, I only smiled..."" "" when my lover teased me we got into a fight..."" "there was a fight" "What happened then?" "" The ear-ring fell..." "why must I say how"" "" The ear-ring fell in the marketplace at Bareilly"" "She's a bandit!" "Don't let her go!" "She's no woman." "She's a witch!" "She's a slur on womanhood." "A slut!" "" Silence, Chaudhary!"" "" Constable, record Chaudhary saheb's testimony"" "Seize and list the things from where this woman was arrested" "She looks just like Geeta" " But she says she's Geeta" "" You know my wife is..." " l know that very well, Thakur saheb"" "But this woman has told the police that she's your wife" "My wife...?" " Yes" "" lt's clear, Thakur Saheb"" "She bears a strong resemblance to your wife... and she's taking advantage of it." "She wants to enact this farce... and escape the noose" "So I've arranged an identification parade at the police station tomorrow lf you could come there with the people in your house... her lies could be exposed and it would strengthen our case" "Open the door" "You... come here" "Yes." "Come here" "Go on" "Sit down there" "She looks just like Geeta" "" Whenever the mistress was upset, that's how she always sat down"" "What's our mistress doing here?" " Moron!" "Are you high?" "" She's a bandit, the mistress's look-alike"" "She wants to take the mistress' place" " Doesn't she have a place of her own?" "Moron!" "You're going to sink me too!" "Let's go" "I ask you one last time." "Will you be able to the recognise the Thakur?" "" l told you, I'm his wife"" "" Thakur saheb, please come in"" "Well?" "It's not him." " So who else is it?" "I don't know" "You may go" "No 2" "Isn't that the Thakur too?" "" You're lying!" "Who's he, if not the Thakur?"" "How would I know. I..." " You said you are his wife!" "" lt isn't him, I say!" "It isn't !"" "You may go" "No 3" "I'm glad you've come!" "Take me away!" "Tell them that you know me" "Tell them that I'm your wife." "He thinks I'm lying" "Am I not your wife...?" "" l was tired, waiting for you"" "I counted every passing moment I longed for you to come and take me away" "Why're you so late...?" "Why're you looking at me like that?" "What's wrong?" "It's me..." "Geeta!" "Your wife!" "So Thakur saheb... is this woman your wife?" "Or isn't she?" "No" "No!" "Please don't leave me!" "For God's sake!" "It's me..." "Geeta!" "I'm your wife" "" Please don't leave here." "For God's sake, take me away!"" "Listen... I can't live without you." "Please don't leave me I'll die without you!" "" Aunt, don't you recognise me too?" "It's me... your very own Geeta!"" "You aren't Geeta." "She never called me aunt" "" Yes, I forgot." "Everyone else in the house called your aunt"" "" When I once called you aunt, you rebuked me"" "You said I must call you Ma." "I started calling you Ma lsn't that right?" "" Sargam, please say something!" "Tell him that you know me"" "Remember?" "There hasn't been a day in 3 years... when we haven't spoken in the day" "What are you looking at me for?" "Tell him that you know me!" "Don't you recognise your mistress?" "My mistress was an angel." "Don't even utter her name with your filthy tongue" "" Come on, aunt" " Don't leave me here." "Please!"" "Hear me out..." "I'm Geeta!" "" You know, Rakesh is always lost in his wife's memories"" "That's right." " Her funeral pyre..." "" hasn't even cooled yet, and you've started all this"" "I'm terribly sorry to have asked the Thakur and you to come here" "" But believe me, I'm helpless too." "I must get over these formalities"" "I have a request." "Please don't call Rakesh here again I want him to overcome his sorrow" "" lf you keep calling him here, he will never be able to overcome his grief"" "" l'll do my best, believe me"" "I have all the sympathies for the Thakur" "" As far as possible, I won't ask him to come here again"" "Thank you." "Good bye." " Good bye" "The kohl in my eyes... shines like lightening" "" Embrace me please, my love"" "As if they hold intoxicating wine... my two eyes are full of mischief" "They shall keep hiding... behind my eye-lashes I shall feel shy... and give you an intoxicating look" "I'm madly in love I'm the woman of your dreams" "" Coming from our previous lifetime..."" "I'm your beloved" "" Accept me as yours in this lifetime too"" "The kohl in my eyes... shines like lightening" "" Embrace me please, my love"" "The Thakur has said it in plain words that she's not his wife" "The proceedings in the court begin tomorrow lt's necessary for us to get to her" "Come what may" "What a nut you are!" "I told you I didn't put my hand in anyone's pocket" "You're here again...?" "What has she done this time?" "" She put her hand in a man's pocket, right outside our police station"" "" When he caught her at it, she started abusing him"" "" Lock her up in the cell." " This guy's blind, Inspector"" "" Ask him to put on glasses!" " Move it, old lady..."" "Get up" "Case No. 227." "State versus Suryavar Singh" "The charges levelled against you will be read out to you" "You are charged for colluding with bandits..." "" Ganga Singh and Ishwar Singh who fell to police bullets,..."" "" and Suryavar Singh, who is a fugitive of the law..."" "with whom you formed a gang with the intention of robbing and killing" "" On the night of January 24, in village Alouni..."" "you raided the liquor shop of one Jhumarmal Paumal" "Under the pretext of performing a dance... you and your gang assembled the villagers at one place... and helped your other accomplices to rob the place" "" Besides, you stabbed and wounded the village chief with your dagger"" "" Under Sections of 1 20, 396 and 326 of the Indian Penal Code..."" "you will be tried in court I have concluded my arguments in this case yesterday I have even presented the eye-witnesses" "" lf the accused has something to say in defense, she may go ahead"" "You have heard the charges framed against you" "Do you confess to your crimes?" "Please do not speak in gestures" "The court would like to hear you narrate your version" "Do not be afraid." "Until your crime is proved... the court will consider you innocent and blameless I once again ask you:" "do you confess to your crime?" "" No, I have not committed any crime." "I'm innocent"" "I'm not the woman against whom these charges are being framed" "" l'm the wife of the renowned lawyer, Thakur Rakesh Singh"" "" Your Honour, Thakur Rakesh Singh's wife is dead"" "Thakur Rakesh Singh was called to the police station for identification" "And he stated there that the accused is not his wife" "Let's concede that Thakur Rakesh Singh does not take his woman for his wife" "But whether this woman is indeed his wife or not..." "" will be decided by this court, not Thakur Rakesh Singh"" "" lf you wish, you can appoint a competent lawyer to contest your case"" "I've just said that my husband is himself a renowned lawyer I don't need any other lawyer" "Thakur Rakesh Singh will come to this court only as a witness lt's obvious that he cannot fight this case for the accused" "Would you like to consult another lawyer?" "No" "" You can present your own defense, if you wish to"" "I'd like that" "Do you have any witnesses?" "My witness is none other than my husband Thakur Rakesh Singh issue summons in the name of Thakur Rakesh Singh" "You people are heartless." "My son is already suffering... and you want him to appear in court." "He has already said it... in the police station that he does not know that woman" "And you bring summons for him." " l can't help it." "That's the law I only follow orders" "Where is the Thakur?" "I must serve these summons to him" "He's in his room upstairs." "Follow me" "What was that woman saying at the police station?" "She said she was our mistress." " Wonderful" "" ln which case, we must bring her home"" "Moron!" "Our mistress is dead." " So who was she?" "She's a bandit." " But she said she's our mistress" "That's because she wants to take our mistress' place" "" We must help her then, isn't it?" " What nonsense!"" "The Thakur is lonely" "" lf she comes over, the Thakur will be happy again"" "Idiot!" "How many opium pills have you swallowed?" "Three." " Have another and make a move" "What was the lady saying in court?" "Didn't you get it?" "Do you want me to explain?" "Suppose your father had died." " Let him die" "And your Mom is young and rich." " But she isn't" "Who?" " My mother" "Suppose she is." "And someone claims to be her husband." "Then?" "I'd clobber the bastard..." " Enough!" "Enough" "Do you get it now?" "So make a move" "Sargam..." " lt isn't a season for that!" "It's time for this Sargam." "Take a look" "Munshiji..." "She's asking for me!" "Bankeji..." "Me too!" "We aren't so ignorant" "We'll find a way" "Where does she go from there daily?" " Let her go" "" This is where she'll come back, isn't it?"" "And she'll say..." "Munshiji..." "" To me, she'll say, " Bankeji..."" "Now make your move" "" Munshiji, what was the lady saying in court?"" "" Doctor, one spoonful of sugar?" " Yes, just one spoon"" "Right too" "" We get great tea at your place, sir." "What brand do you use?"" "I won't tell you the name." " Why not?" "It at least brings you over somehow lt's good for my health to spend some time with you" "Thank you." " We get to discuss so many things" "Or it's the same old story of crime and criminals" "" Believe me, I spend a whole day standing in the court"" "" You're right, it takes patience." "I'm fed up with just one case"" "What are we to do with this woman?" "We've examined over a dozen witnesses." "And every kid in town knows... that the Thakur's wife is dead." "But this woman continues to say... that she's the Thakur wife." "She's just not scared" "Why would a woman who isn't scared of bullets..." "" be scared of a lawyer's arguments?" " That's okay, Inspector."" "But she has made a very big mistake." " What?" "She has got Rakesh Singh to attend the court as her witness" "But she doesn't know what a great lawyer she's dealing with lt'll be difficult for her to face him even for 2 hours" "Come on" "Rise" "Thakur Rakesh Singh" "" Say it on oath, " l will speak only the truth and nothing but the truth"" "" l will speak only the truth and nothing but the truth"" "Your name?" " Thakur Rakesh Singh" "Do you recognise the accused?" "No" "Take a careful look at her." "She claims to be your wife ls that true?" " lt's a lie" "My wife is dead" "So the accused's claim of being your wife is not true?" "The accused's claim is absolutely false and baseless" "" What bigger proof do we need than the witness, the accused flaunts..."" "who denies in no uncertain terms that she's his wife?" "Which means that the accused is indeed a killer and a bandit" "The charges pressed against her are absolutely right I request the court... not to let the accused waste any more of the court's precious time" "Would you like to question Thakur Rakesh Singh to defend yourself?" "I have some questions for him I hope he will answer them truthfully" "" l don't want to waste time, Your Honour"" "Everybody knows that my wife is dead." "And I don't want anyone... to raise questions about my late wife." "It would hurt my feelings" "" l tell you once again, Your Honour." "I don't know this woman"" "" Thakur Rakesh Singh, just as the court gave you a patient hearing..."" "I wish to give this woman an opportunity to present her defense" "All you have to do is to answer the questions she asks you" "What do you want to ask him?" "I want to know... I mean... what will I ask him?" "" Your Honour, I can't understand what this woman wants to ask me"" "I want to know..." "how is this possible?" "You can't do this I think she doesn't want to ask me anything" "She's wasting the court's time" "You need not be afraid." "Relax." "And ask him whatever you want to" "You will be given an opportunity to have your say" "Do you remember..." " What?" "It's three years since we were married" "You were never married to me" "" Yes, it's three years since I was married"" "Our wedding was held according to vedic rites" "So what's new?" "All weddings are held according to vedic rites" "We were married on the 7th of March I was married on the 7th of March" "Why do you look away when you answer my questions?" "Look at me when you answer me." " l don't think that's necessary" "Just ask your questions. I'm giving the court my reply" "" For the sake of your wife, you don't even want to look at me"" "Think of how she looked" "You lovingly called her Geeta and sometimes Geete" "You could lay down your life for her." "You loved her with all your heart I implore you in her name." "Place a hand on your heart... and tell me... am I not the woman you were thinking about?" "Your wife..." "Geeta" "Answer me... am I not the same woman?" "Am I not?" "There's no doubt... that you look just like my wife" "Your face looks just like Geeta's" "Wherever you choose to tread... my shadow will walk with you" "My shadow..." "Missing me... should you ever shed tears..." "" they will be stopped from flowing..."" "by my tears" "" Any direction you choose to take..."" "my shadow will follow you" "Wherever you go... my shadow will go with you" "My shadow..." "Should you be ever be sad... I'll be sad too" "Whether you see me or not... I'll forever be with you" "Wherever you choose to go... my shadow will move with you" "Wherever you go... my shadow will walk with you" "My shadow..." "" Mr Lawyer, it's morning already"" "" Wake up, you've got to attend court"" "Looks like you won't get up on your own. I'll have to awaken you" "What are you doing?" " So wake up" "I'd say you go to sleep too." " You have so much of work to do I'll do it at the next hearing." " Next hearing indeed" "" You take the house for your court, do you?"" "" Not the court, my love." "I take it for something else"" "What?" " A temple of the goddess of beauty." "And you are the goddess." " Stop flattering me" "" Wake up, your tea's getting cold." " l don't want any tea"" "So what do you want to drink?" " What do they drink in the heavens?" "Nectar" "So let the nectar flow from your lips!" "is the court on a holiday?" "You're upto mischief in bed" "The court is working." "But I'm not going today" "What will you do all day sitting at home like a woman?" "In bed..." "I'll chat with you" " Shameless man!" "What will people at home say?" " She'll say you're so beautiful... you have me in your clutches as soon as you've arrived" "Maybe that's why she suggested it." " What?" "To visit the temple with you." " You can go to the temple" "Why're you dragging me there?" " You don't understand" "So explain it to me" "To make a wish." " To make a wish?" "You're so dumb!" "" You mean, to wish for a baby?" "A little Thakur?"" "But what has the junior Thakur to do with the temple?" "That wasn't my idea." "Aunt Radha suggested it" "At aunt Radha's behest I married you." "So I'll go to the temple also" "You're so lovable!" " Did aunt say that too?" "" Don't ask me all that." "Just get up, will you?"" "" One little nap, okay?" "Make some tea for me..."" "I'll join you in five minutes." " lf you don't ... I'll pour cold water on you" "" Wake up, sir." "You've got to attend the hearing today"" "Where did you spring from?" "Go and send your mistress" "" l don't know what to do, doctor"" "You see the condition of my boy." " l do" "He stands glumly before Geeta's picture... and spends hours at her memorial" "He shuts the doors and listens to her voice for hours" "And this case has now begun." "What will he go through?" "Please don't worry." "I'll handle everything" "" Doctor, can't we send him away somewhere?" "London, France... anyplace"" "Going away will take his mind off these things" "He won't need to go anywhere." "This case is a false case lt'll get over in a couple of hearings" "Thieves can't get away" "" Mr Public Prosecutor, you agree that this woman..."" "resembles Thakur Rakesh Singh's wife?" "No one disagrees that she's a look alike" "But she claims to be Thakur Rakesh Singh's wife" "And we have proved that his wife is already dead" "Anyone could have known what you asked Thakur Rakesh Singh" "And it does not prove that you're his wife" "Very well l'll now ask him questions which will prove that I'm indeed his wife" "" Remember, after our wedding, a part of my sari was jammed in the car's door?"" "And you had it freed" "When our car had driven far away from the city..." "" we saw the Moon, looking beautiful in the skies"" "You would look at the Moon and then at me" "You suddenly took my hand and said..." "" O Moon, you are going to be eclipsed"" "You will soon hide" "But the Moon here with me..." "" is the Moon which brings love and happiness"" "" You stand no comparison with her"" "is that she says true?" " lt's true" "" All this is already published in my novel " Sushma"" "She must've taken this extract from that book" "" Thakur saheb, let's agree that this girl has read your book"" "But how would she know that this what you told your wife?" "My chauffeur was driving the car." "He must've spoken about it somewhere" "That's possible" "is this hear-say too... ?" " What?" "That which I'm going to ask you." " Go ahead" "Do you go to the temple?" "No" "Have you never been to a temple?" "Never" "" Oh yes, I remember"" "I went to the temple once." " Who forced you to go there?" "My wife did" "Should I tell you how and why your wife took you to the temple?" "" Since you remember everything, you will also recall..."" "that I came to awaken you that morning" "You wanted to sleep for some more time" "" But I didn't agree." "I said, if you didn't wake up..."" "I'd pour cold water on you" "You forced me to sit down and tried to placate me lt was then that I got you to agree to visit the temple" "Do you remember?" "I remember it well..." "because I'm your wife!" "Nobody except me could know about this" "" Nonsense!" "Of course, there'd be people who knew"" "Word about it had spread in the locality and people laughed at me" "They had got to know that I had been to the temple to pray for a son" "You have been asking him things everybody would know about" "Ask him something that must've happened only between the two of you" "Take off your shirt" "" Take off your shirt, I say"" "I'll tell you something about yourself which even you don't know" "" To the right on your back, you have a mole"" "" What farce is this, Your Honour?"" "She's asking a decent man to take off his shirt in packed courtroom!" "You ought to be thankful that he's only being asked to take off his shirt" "" Why should you object to take off your shirt, Thakur Saheb?"" "" You didn't employ a servant when I was abroad, did you aunt?"" "" Not at all, son"" "" You haven't spoken about it after your dose of opium, have you?"" "Please leave" "" l remember, sir." "When you were away, there's a burglary in the house"" "A burglary?" " Yes." "But nothing was stolen" "What rubbish are you talking?" "Go away" "" Aunt..." " Yes, son?"" "How could she have known that I have a mole on my back?" "How did that woman get to know that the boss has a mole on his back?" "I didn't tell her." " You're the best too!" "" When you're dead, I'm going to stuff your body and keep it in a museum"" "I hope you and I will be together?" " Shut up!" "Bankeji..." "Munshiji..." "She's crying" "What else will the poor girl do?" "She's so very sad" "Neither you nor I pay her any attention" "" She can't talk to herself, can she?" "Youth is crazy, Bankeji. lt's crazy"" "So what are we supposed to do?" " That's just what I'm thinking about" "She calls out to both of us" "That grace of hers..." " What's grace?" "It's something girls possess." " Not boys?" "Moron!" "How many pills have you swallowed?" "None as yet." " So have one now." "And make a move" "Your move" "How did she get to know that the Thakur has a mole on his back?" "How did she get to know that the Thakur has a mole on his back?" "I give up. I've seen the best of lawyers at work... but I haven't seen anyone twisting things like this woman does" "" ln 25 years of my practice, I haven't come across a more complicated case"" "" But it's so interesting, I'm really enjoying it"" "" You're enjoying it, Mr Lawyer." "But think of the poor Thakur"" "He has lost his wife recently." "And there's a woman who lies in court... that I'm your wife!" "It would drive anyone mad" "" l've told you, Your Honour." "My wife is dead!"" "I don't know this woman!" " You do know me." "And very well too!" "But you're refusing to recognise me" "Why don't you admit that I'm your wife?" "Can't you understand what I'm saying?" "Are you blind?" "" Are you blind, deaf, dumb...?" "Here I am, right before you"" "" And you say I'm not your wife!" " Yes, you're not my wife!"" "You're a cheat." "An impostor!" "You want to take my wife's place" "You want to torment her soul." "But I won't ever let you do that I'm not answering any questions." "This case is over for me!" "Thakur Rakesh Singh I can't be stern with you because of your state of mind" "But should you do something like this again..." "Can you throw light on how this girl could know so many details about you?" "" l'm myself amazed, Your Honour"" "I can say nothing." "Nothing" "" To prove the fact that I'm his wife, I wish to present some evidence"" "What evidence?" "I'll give it to him." "If the court permits... I'd like to meet him in privacy" "" This lady wants to meet you in privacy, Thakur saheb"" "Do you have any objections?" "" No, Your Honour"" "I'll meet her" "" Please wait..." " What's up, Inspector?"" "The Thakur and the girl are discussing something in privacy" "Please go in from that door" "The court would like to know what you and she discussed in privacy" "She told me things only a wife would know about her husband" "" Despite that, she can't be my wife"" "Because my wife breathed her last in my arms... and I personally lit her funeral pyre" "" lf she's claiming to be my wife, she's lying and deceiving the court"" "" As you said, she told you things..."" "only a wife would know about her husband" "How would you answer that?" "The answer is that this woman resembles my wife." "She's a look-alike" "She's trying to take advantage of that to avoid going to the gallows" "" But I wish to end this story once and for all, Your Honour"" "" l wish to prove that this woman is a cheat, a fraud... she's not my wife"" "I would therefore request the court to allow me to cross-question her" "You are here as a witness." "How can you cross-question the accused?" "That's bad in law" "" l'm a lawyer too, Your Honour. I wish to appear on behalf of prosecution..."" "so I can ask the accused some questions" "Because this is a very strange and complicated case..." "" l give you the permission, in order to solve it"" "Court is adjourned till tomorrow" "It was on this day that happiness had come to this house" "Geeta came here as a bride" "The mansion was full of guests" "We used to celebrate this day in such grand style every year" "We had so many guests even last year" "The lady sang such a beautiful song at the party" "And today... there's nothing" "" Neither do we hear her melodious voice, nor her chirpy laughter"" "Everything is so lonely" "What must my boy be going through" "You're very fond of taking pictures?" "My camera just won't see reason" "" lt says, " Just take pictures of this beautiful girl"" "What will you do with all these pictures?" "" A few pictures of an arrogant beauty"" "" lt was what was found after I died"" "Wow!" "So you're a poet too?" "I don't know what you're going to make out of me" "" Darling, if I were a poet, I'd ..." " You'd what?"" "Would you say something like..." "" Lest the shadow of her eyelashes pierces my heart"" "Wonderful!" "What next?" "" l tell the one who lingers in my eyes"" "Excellent!" "That's wonderful" "" What couplet would I recite, if not this one?"" "You...?" "You'd say something like this..." "" The doe-eyed beauty has stolen my heart"" "" The innocent looking, fortunate one, has stolen my heart"" "The doe-eyed beauty... the innocent looking one... has stolen my heart" "" The doe-eyed beauty has stolen my heart"" "Your voice resonates... like spring making its way through the mountains... or pining for the love on earth... a star from the skies descends" "You've pinched that one!" "You ought to say..." "" She came smiling and swaying, with her tresses open"" "" Even the nightingale pauses when her anklets tinkle"" "" She entranced me with innocent looking eyes..."" "The doe-eyed beauty... has stolen my heart" "" Every desire of hers, shall be fulfilled"" "No desire will I deny her I'm madly in love... how can I ever get a hold on myself?" "" Watch out, prisoner of love!"" "" Once she holds you captive, you can't escape"" "" A million ties be severed..." "but not this bond"" "" She has robbed me of my sleep, making false promises to me..."" "The innocent looking one..." "" The doe-eyed beauty has stolen my heart"" "Why're you silent?" "I don't know what I'm going to say today I'm tongue-tied." "My voice is stifled" "You wouldn't say that if you really loved me?" "What would I say then?" "" When she takes off the veil before the Moon..."" "" the moon blushed in shame and fell at her feet"" "" The stars would wonder what is wrong"" "The doe-eyed beauty..." "" a naughty girl has stolen my heart"" "" A doe-eyed beauty, an innocent looking girl..."" "has stolen my heart" "" Munshiji, she came and went away." "She didn't even call out to us today"" "You're a nut!" "It's the man who must make the first move" "We've got to find out whom she really loves" "Suppose she chooses me?" "So what?" "Where d'you apply the butter?" " On the bread" "" That's it." "You marry or I marry, it's one and the same thing"" "I've thought of something" "" Just swallow your pills." "It isn't for you think, okay?"" "" What's wrong if I do, once in a while?" " All right, speak"" "" lf you like my idea, it ends the fight." " Are you going to speak or not?"" "Sure I will." "And we will remain friends forever" "Won't you speak?" "Damn you!" " Right away I think we ought to get married together" "Good idea. I love it" "We can share the expenses" "" You can bring the lentils, I'll get the flour"" "" You buy her a salwar, I'll get her a choli"" "You pay the rents and I'll look after whatever else" "" Say it on oath. " l'll speak the truth and nothing but the truth"" "I've only spoken the truth." " Please repeat it after me" "" l'll speak the truth and nothing but the truth"" "Your name?" " Geeta" "" Your name is Raina, not Geeta." " My name is Geeta, sir"" "" Whatever your name is, these proceedings are..."" "being carried out against you in the name of Raina" "So you must answer to the name of Raina" "Must I lie even after swearing to speak the truth?" "" These are legal proceedings, you see." " l'll do it, if you say so"" "My name is Raina" "This case against you has been going on for a long time" "Why didn't you call any of your relatives?" "I did." " Whom?" "My husband." "You" "You know I'm not your husband." "Do you have other relatives?" "" Did your wife have other relatives?" " l'm doing the questioning, not you"" "" Answer my question." "Apart from the husband, do you have other relatives?"" "She wants to know if your wife had other relatives" "My wife was all alone." "Her parents were dead" "Did she have any brothers or sisters?" "Please note that and let the proceedings continue" "Inspector Daljit Singh arrested you from the hills of Lalgarh is that true?" " Yes" "How did you get there?" "Some bandits had abducted me." " So bandits had kidnapped you!" "Which means the bandits got into your house quietly..." "" your servants were fast asleep, you made no noise..."" "and you quietly left with the bandits. ls that it?" "That's not how it was." " So how was it?" "I had gone out of my house when the bandits ambushed me" "They gagged me and carried me away." " On which date did it happen?" "When?" "The 16th of October." " At what time?" "At 1 1 :30 p.m." " So the bandits already knew... that you'd step out of the house at 1 1 :30 on the 16th of October... and they'd easily abduct you." " l don't know anything about that" "" All right." "Now tell me, when you were kidnapped by the bandits..."" "why didn't your family report it to the police?" "You were abroad then." " l was abroad... but your family was very much here." "Answer my question" "" When you were kidnapped, why didn't your folks report it to the police?"" "I don't know anything about that." " You don't know it." "But I do" "The fact is that you are not my wife." "My wife was seriously ill then" "" Everybody at home was attending to her." " No, that's a lie!"" "" lf this is a lie, what is the truth?" "What?"" "Can you prove that the bandits had indeed kidnapped you?" "" Do you have any proof, I ask!"" "I don't have any proof." "Where will I find the proof?" "" Of the bandits who kidnapped me, two fell to police bullets"" "And one escaped" "The accused says two of her accomplices fell to police bullets... and one isn't yet apprehended." " They were not my accomplices!" "I have nothing to do with them." "I don't even know them!" "You don't know the ones you lived with?" " l didn't live with them" "You were part of their robbery and pillage I did nothing of the sort." " You know things about me you... aren't even remotely connected with." " l'm connected in that I'm your wife!" "" You are lying!" " l have witnesses, and I'm lying?"" "" And you're not lying, you have no witnesses!"" "I don't know anything..." "I know nothing" "Except that I'm your wife." "I'm your Geeta... your Geeta" "If you are my wife... lf you are indeed my Geeta..." "" you must certainly believe in duty?" " l do, you know that"" "" As a Hindu, you must also be believing in our texts"" "I do." " So tell me..." "" if you're a married woman, where is your matrimonial necklace?"" "My matrimonial necklace...?" "When the bandits kidnapped you... were you wearing the necklace?" " No" "You claim to be a Hindu woman" "" And yet, you take off your symbol of marriage when you go out?"" "Can you tell the court why you did that?" "I can't ." " Why not?" "Because..." "Because you don't have the necklace" "" Because you never had it, nor will you ever have it"" "Because the necklace is with me!" "This is my wife's matrimonial necklace lt's a practice to burn the necklace with the body" "But I broke this age-old custom" "When people were carrying my wife's body away... I took this necklace off her neck" "" Because, without her, I had no support in life"" "" And this necklace has been with me every moment, ever since"" "I can prove that the necklace belongs to me" "How?" " When my husband was going abroad... the necklace had snapped." "Nobody apart from my husband and I... knows about this." "Taking the breaking of the necklace as a bad omen... he was putting off his visit abroad." "I reasoned with him with all my love" "" As a result, he agreed to go abroad"" "He took the necklace to the goldsmith and had it fixed immediately" "Don't do it." " Guess who it is I know." "Let go." " Utter my name first" "Gangu!" "" Kalwa, the laundryman"" "I don't know" "" Don't you know, really...?" " Spare me, Thakur Saheb!"" "You utter my name at last." "But half of it actually" "You're so shameless!" "What if someone sees us?" "" You've done it, my love." "You bought me out"" "I could even say that in court." " You're late... and you're using sweet words I do all the slavery and yet listen to your taunts" "What slavery have you done for me?" "Here you are!" " ls it fixed?" "Now tell me where it snapped." " l can't tell!" "But I'm not going abroad." " There you go again" "You don't know." "The breaking of the matrimonial necklace is a bad omen" "As if you ever believe in such things?" "I've got to beg to you to visit a temple" "You must go abroad." " On one condition." "Come closer" "You're going with me" "Your studies are all over then" "Ask him. ls this true?" "Or isn't it?" "" Well, Thakur Saheb?" "is what the accused says, true?"" "She's right" "Court is adjourned till tomorrow" "" Inspector, if science had not made such progress..."" "" l'd have told you that she isn't a woman, she's a spirit"" "How did the necklace snap?" "And where was it fixed?" "When was the Thakur supposed to leave for abroad..." "" it's amazing, she has all the answers!"" "" That's okay, but I don't find anything amazing about that"" "When servants in the family mingle outside... the tiniest of things is not a secret anymore" "" For example, we have about four or five goldsmiths in town"" "" She must've asked one of them." " l believe, Inspector..."" "that woman is a ghost!" " Munshiji" "" Believe me, sir." "I'll tell you a true story"" "It happened in my own village." "There was this beautiful woman..." "" who married a wrestler." "She lived with him for years, bore him children..."" "and it was discovered that she wasn't a woman at all" "She was a demoness" "" To be honest, I have all the sympathies for the Thakur"" "" To begin with, he has lost his wife." "And from morning to evening..."" "he's faced by a woman who looks just like his wife" "God alone knows what he's going through" "Forgotten tales... I'm recall again" "Wherever you walk... my shadow will walk with you" "Wherever you tread... my shadow will walk with you" "My shadow..." "Missing me... should you ever shed tears... they will be stopped.... by my tears" "Any direction you choose... my shadow will walk with you" "Should you ever be sad... I'll be sad too" "Whether you see me or not... I shall always be with you" "Wherever you go... my shadow will walk with you" "Wherever you tread... my shadow will walk with you" "A forgotten story... I now recall" "I'm amazed how that woman could even think of it" "Whether she achieves something or not from her line of defense... she'll surely get the benefit of doubt I don't think it has happened suddenly." "It's a well-planned conspiracy" "They get to know every detail about his family" "Maybe you're right." "But who lets them into the details?" "Before or after you went abroad... did you employ someone new or have a guest at the house?" "No" "Surprising." "She talks so confidently about you... as if your life were an open book for her" "A book...?" "Hurry up." "The master's angry." "He's turning everything upside down... looking for something." " Let's go" "What's all this?" "" What happened, son?" " l can't find the diary!" "Where is it?"" "Which diary?" " Geeta's diary" "The diary she wrote every day." " l don't know son" "Has someone touched Geeta's things?" " No" "Nobody has touched her belongings." "Everything is as it was" "Then where is the diary?" "" l told you, sir." "There was a burglary in the house, when you were abroad"" "Maybe the diary was stolen..." " Yes." "You're right" "That's when the diary must've been stolen" "That woman has the diary" "" No wonder she knows so much about me, my house and Geeta"" "She knows it all" "It's two years since we were married" "But my husband loves me as much as he did on the day of our marriage" "What are you doing?" "It's wrong to read a personal diary!" "Give my diary to me." " One moment..." "listen to me" "You're mine." "And so's the diary." "So why not read what's mine?" "Please give me my diary." "I'm not going to fall for the trap" "Since when are you writing the diary?" " l always wrote it" "Did you?" "I caught you today" "Let me see what my wife has to say about me" "Don't bother me!" "Give that to me." "" l wonder what good deeds I have done that my husband loves me so much..."" "so much... he takes my breath away ... Really?" "" l have an idiot for a husband" " Have I written " idiot" ?"" "Anyone who loves his wife so much is considered to be an idiot I only made a correction." " Idiot is fine." "Write it too" "" l will, after I've read what you've written here"" "" He's going abroad for further studies tomorrow"" "I'm so happy..." "I can't describe it" "" He wasn't willing to go." "I forced him to"" "So you forced me?" "" l want him to be a great lawyer so the world respects him"" "" l'm happy, and I'm sad too"" "" l've never been separated from him after our marriage"" "Not even for a moment" "" For a whole year, he's going away." "Miles away from me"" "" How will I bear the separation?" "How will I reason with my heart?"" "Are you really going?" "For a year?" "" A year's nothing, Geeta." "I'll come back before you realise it"" "Whatever you have stated in this court till now... goes to prove that you're my wife I've always said that I'm your wife" "Let's suppose you are my wife" "" Remember, you used to write a diary?" " Yes, I do"" "" You used to write in the diary about every incident, big and small?"" "" Yes, I used to write the tiniest of things in the diary"" "You also wrote about the love between you and me?" "Yes" "All those things about me which you have stated in court..." "" ought to be in the diary too?" " Yes, I wrote that too"" "You used to take such good care of the diary... you wouldn't even let me touch it" "Right?" " Absolutely" "" lf you really valued the diary so much, if you kept it so safely..."" "it means you must still be having the diary with you." "Right?" "" You're my wife, aren't you?" " Yes"" "You loved the diary." " Yes" "You kept it very secure." " Yes" "Which means you ought to have the diary right now too" "" Try and recall... the diary's with you, isn't it?"" "Why don't you speak?" "Where is it?" "" When I left the house, I didn't carry the diary with me"" "So it must've been at home then?" " Yes" "" lt ought to be at home right now?" " Certainly, it should"" "So where is it?" "In my safe" " No" "Maybe on top of the cupboard." " No" "" ln my suitcase then..." " No, no, no!"" "I've searched every inch of the house" "" Cupboards, suitcases and trunks..." "I've ripped all of them"" "But there's no trace of the diary" "That's where l kept the diary." " That's what I want to know." "Where?" "Where did you keep it?" " l don't remember" "You don't remember!" "You don't !" "You loved it more than your life." "You always kept it with you" "And you can't remember where you kept it?" "I'll tell you why you can't remember." "It's because you are not my wife!" "No..." "That's right!" "You are not my wife!" "You are not!" "You are a fraud!" "You came as a dancer to the village... you are the one who attacked Patel with a knife" "You were the one who stole at my house" "You stole my wife's diary and got to know every secret of my life!" "You are my wife's look-alike." "You look just like her" "You're taking advantage of that to save yourself from the gallows... you're playing with my life!" "You want to take my wife's place" "" Today, however, I taken the mask off your face"" "You are exposed." "You can't fool the court anymore" "You can't pull wool over the law's eyes I have proved it in court today..." "that you are not my wife" "You are a bandit!" "A murderer!" "A killer!" "Yes!" "I'm a killer!" "A murderer!" "A bandit." "A bloody bandit!" "I'm going to shoot all of you I'm going to kill everyone" "Let me go... but please don't kill him don't kill him!" "He's the one I love" "He's innocent!" "" To you I come..." "and I weep"" "" My tale of woes I narrate..." "and I cry"" "" To you come I come..." "and I weep"" "" Whenever I have been lonely in life..."" "" you are my goal, to you, I come"" "" l lower my head..." "and I weep"" "" To you I come..." "and I weep"" "" Whenever I faced a tearful evening..."" "" whenever a pall of gloom descended everywhere..."" "" l lit lamps of my memories..." "and I wept"" "" To you, I come, and I weep"" "" This sorrow of separation I can no longer bear"" "Without you... I can no longer live" "" l have lost so much in love." "I weep"" "" l weep, as I narrate my tale of woes"" "" To you I come..." "and I weep"" "Your name Sardarji?" " l'm Ranjit Singh" "He's Chaudhary Karnail Singh." " Where are you coming from?" "" What a question!" "From my house, of course"" "" Which city are you from?" " Tarn Taran, district Amritsar"" "Please sign here." " l don't know to sign" "" l'm a farmer. I've sold my produce and here I am, sight-seeing"" "I can put my thumb-impression." " Please" "Where...?" " Here" "Keys for Room No. 10" " Which way?" "Show the gentleman the room." " Let's go" "" l bet, the Thakur will someday be one of the best lawyer in India"" "You're right." " What a turn he gave this case" "He has turned it on its head." " During his argument... he convinces the culprit that he has weakened and has lost the case" "" The twist the case takes thereafter, the accused is left stunned"" "Not just stunned." "The accused goes mad" "" Take this woman, for instance." "Remember I told you...?"" "This woman has made a mistake by summoning the Thakur to the court" "And where is she now?" "In the mental hospital" "How is she now?" " The doctors say it's a... temporary phase." "She'll be all right." " And what happens to her?" "That which must happen to her" "She has admitted it in court that she's a bandit" "" You mean, she'll be hanged?"" "" Doctor, are you going to hang me?" "When will you hang me?"" "Hang you?" "What for?" "Nobody's going to hang you." " But I want to die" "As soon as possible" "" But before I die, I want to meet my husband once"" "He's a very nice man" "Sure. do meet him." "I'll see that you meet him" "" l want to meet him just once." "Before I'm hanged, just once"" "" Where's my diary, doctor?" "Where is my diary?"" "I want my diary!" "My husband thinks I'm a fake" "He won't let me go home." "He won't talk to me!" "" l want to go to him, doctor..." "where is my diary?"" "Where is it?" "I want my diary..." "Relax... sit down" "You will have your diary I think she can be cured." "And very fast at that" "Here's what I want you to do" "We're walking into the jaws of death." "The place is swarming with cops... and there's a reward on your head." "It's not easy to get to her" "And what will we achieve even if we get to her?" "We can't help her in any way." "We'll get caught too" "Shut up!" "You guys are worried about your own skin" "You don't see how many people that lone woman is taking on" "" On one hand, the public prosecutor poses awkward questions..."" "everyone is against her." "She has no one to offer any sympathy" "" She's a woman, after all." "How long will she fight them?"" "So tell us what we are to do" "" We must send word to her that we're around, in this very city..."" "so that she isn't scared and stands her ground" "The Thakur will have to admit it some day that she is indeed his wife" "Let's see how this girl is doing" "But I don't know what I will do here." " You're right too" "" lf you are idle like this, you're bound to be scared"" "You ought to be doing some work" "" Look, how dirty the window panes are"" "" Nurse, get her piece of cloth"" "Clean the window panes" "" lf you work, you will soon tire." "And that will help you sleep well"" "Am I right?" "Doctor!" "Doctor!" "What happened?" " He knows everything." "Get him!" "Catch him before he runs away." "He knows I'm the Thakur's wife" "" Doctor, catch him!" "He'll escape." " Who will escape...?"" "The bandit... catch him" "Shut up!" "Come with me... come" "Sit down" "" Look, you're a very nice girl." "You mustn't say such things"" "Do you understand?" "" lf you continue to behave like this, I'll be angry and I won't talk to you"" "Get that...?" "" Heard something, Inspector?" " What happened?"" "The bandit Suryavar Singh is in town I knew he would come." " Did you?" "Long ago." " And why is he here?" "Two reasons why he's here" "The first is to finish the Thakur" "So that this woman can inherit all his wealth" "" On the other hand, if this scheme doesn't work..."" "he'll himself kill the woman." " What for?" "He's afraid that we might get the woman to tell us everything about his gang" "Send men to stand guard at the Thakur's house" "And ask the Thakur to be careful" "" Sargam, go upstairs and tell Rakesh that the inspector is here to see him"" "Come... sit down I have good news for you." " What?" "You're absolutely all right" "They'll come and take you away tomorrow morning" "Who?" "Thakur saheb?" "I don't remember where l kept the diary" "And he won't believe me." "Till he believes me..." "" Look, we're giving you a discharge because you have recovered"" "" lf you keep talking like this, we'll have to keep you here"" "But doctor..." "You know who you are." "You know very well that you're not his wife" "" Despite all your tricks, nobody could believe you"" "And why?" "Only because you are not Geeta." "You are Raina!" "You needn't be afraid." "You must accept the wrong you have done" "You must leave yourself to the mercy of the court" "You're a young woman." "You have a long life ahead" "Why mustn't you leave the dark world of loot and plunder... and start a new life?" "So you have escaped from the asylum?" "Police station...?" " Please don't call the police" "Give me just a minute" "For Geeta's sake" "What is it?" "I wish I had not lied" "" One lie, that ruined my life"" "What lie?" " The lie I used... to enter your life I never told you." " Why didn't you?" "Because I had fallen in love with you" "" l thought, if I told you the truth,..."" "the fair name of your family would be tarnished" "" l thought you would hate me, that you would leave me"" "What truth is that which could have tarnished my family name?" "That would make me hate you and leave you" "The fact is that my mother was a loose-moralled woman I even had a twin-sister." "An absolute look-alike" "She looked just like me" "" Like my mother, she went wayward too and ran away from home..."" "" to join a gang of bandits After she had left,..."" "my mother intended to push me towards her evil ways too" "" l was so fed up, I decided to commit suicide"" "When I was about to kill myself..." "" you appeared, as my new life, and saved me"" "I'm really your wife" "" That woman who died in your arms, whom you even cremated..."" "wasn't me... it was my twin-sister lt happened when you were abroad" "One night" "It was late in the night I was reading a book and I don't know when I went to sleep" "You...?" "What do you want?" "Open the door" "Hurry up" "Nisha..." "Geeta... I haven't eaten for two days" "My enemies are after me" "Please save me" "Please give me shelter for a night I'll leave tomorrow" "I'll never bother you again" "" l'll never show you my face." "One night, please...?"" "She was running a high temperature I was afraid what I would tell someone who came upstairs" "Nobody knew about Nisha." "Not even you" "I was awake all night" "" ln the morning, I was scared that someone would come upstairs..."" "and the secret would be exposed" "" Aunt..." " What is it, dear?"" "I've decided to fast today." " What's special about today?" "I want to fast for my husband." " What a noble woman we have" "" He's abroad, and my dear girl is worried about him back home"" "I want to read the Holy Gita till I see the Moon" "Don't let anyone come upstairs." " Very well." "Go on" "Nobody will come" "" That night, Nisha's condition worsened"" "" instead of subsiding, her fever had increased"" "I didn't know what to do lt was difficult to hide her in that condition" "" l knew, at daybreak, someone or the other would come upstairs"" "Nisha's secret would be exposed." "I was very scared" "" lf l had called a doctor, the whole household would have got to know"" "Then I thought of going out myself and fetching some medicines... so that Nisha would feel better and leave in the morning I gave her a sari of mine and said..." "" Nisha, wake up and wear my clothes." "I'm going to bring some medicines"" "" Even if someone comes upstairs, keep lying down." "Get up"" "" Wear this, Nisha." "Even if someone comes, he'll think I'm lying here"" "If you had indeed given her a sari of yours... where are the clothes your sister was wearing?" "The clothes are right here." "Come with me" "They're in there" "My diary!" "I've found my diary!" "I had kept it on the table where l also kept Nisha's clothes" "" When I hid the clothes, the diary must've been carried with it"" "" Yes, I remember now..."" "Hats off to you" "When did you keep the clothes there?" "And when did you keep the diary?" "" That's a nice drama you've enacted." " No,.. this is no drama"" "Shut up!" "I know your men are in town" "You got someone to hide the diary in the clothes... and he informed you in the asylum that the job was done... and you escape from the asylum to show that the diary's right here!" "" What is this if not a drama?" " Believe me, I'm not lying"" "" Believe me, I'm speaking the truth!"" "Look at this" "This is my mother" "And that's my twin-sister." "Nisha" "And this is me... it's a picture of our childhood" "Any news?" " We're still at it" "Let's go either ways." "But remember... I want a cross-fire when I start firing" "" Do we have men outside?" " Oh yes, sir"" "" He's dead-meat, if he steps out." " So let's go"" "Thakur!" "The bandit Suryavar Singh is in the courtyard" "Stay there." "Don't come down" "" No, don't kill him!" "Don't kill him!"" "No..." "Don't kill him!" "Don't !" "He's been hit by a bullet." "But why did the girl interfere?" "Hold the fire!" "It'll kill the girl" "Thakur saheb... I want to meet only you" "Step back." "Stay here lf you guys are still suspicious... here you are" "I'm the Thakur." "What do you want to say to me?" "Thakur saheb... I wanted to tell you that... your wife is alive." " What are you talking?" "" lt's true, Thakur saheb." "Your wife is alive"" "She's your wife" "And this woman... the one you have built this monument for... is my Nisha" "She was my wife" "Nisha was angry with me" "She wanted me to give up loot and murder" "" One day, she ran away from me and came to the city"" "I came to the city to take Nisha back..." "" and in a case of mistaken identities, I carried Geeta with me"" "Sister Geeta..." "" because of me, you've had to go through a lot of trouble"" "Please forgive me" "Nisha..." "Everywhere you go... my shadow will follow you" "Everywhere you go... my shadow will follow you" "My shadow..."