Ajji
Argument
Hospital room
Hospital room
Mannu
Navin helps his Ajji. They argue about Navins outlook to life. Mannu meets Ajji
Navin nursing Ajji
Navin Parmani
TV
Navin
No one's free. Do you need to pee?
Ajji
I wanted to, but I'll wait.
Navin
I'll help you.
Navin fetches the bed pan from below her bed.
Ajji
No, no... I can wait for a couple of minutes.
He walks toward the bathroom.
Navin
No one's coming in a couple of minutes. They'll take at least half an hour.
Navin washes the bed pan in the sink and returns to her bedside.
NaVIN (CONT'D)
You're so liberal - minded, then why are you feeling embarrassed?
Navin squats by her bed, wipes the pan clean and lines the edge with cotton. Placing the pan aside, he removes the bedsheet that covers Ajji. Tenderly, he removes the pillow that supports her broken leg. With the bedpan in one hand, he lifts her legs with the other and carefully slides it into position. Using both hands, he further adjusts her position. He takes a step aside as she urinates. Once she's done he removes the bedpan and keeps it aside. He places the pillow below her broken leg and spreads the sheet over her. Taking the bedpan to he bathroom he empties and flushes down the contents. He rinses the bedpan in the sink and washes his hands. After replacing the bed pan below the bed he returns to his computer. He works for a few seconds before breaking the silence.
Navin (CONT'D)
Saying that I'm ignorant and uneducated is one thing, but if you call me a sucker for money, wouldn't it hurt?
Ajji
I challenge you...
Navin stops his work and makes his way to her side.
...only so you learn to live.
Ajji sits up in bed.
NAVIN
Your way of looking at life cannot be the only way, can it?
AJJI
Okay, then tell me your idea of living?
As Navin speaks he works a lever at the foot - end of her bed that inclines her headrest.
NAVIN
I eat well, drink well... people around me respect me.
AJJI
Is that enough?
NAVIN
It's good enough for me.
AJJI
Life is so magnificent! There's so much to explore.
Navin returns to her side.
NAVIN
I'm not interested! Does that make me a bad person?
AJJI
If you don't want to understand then don't talk rubbish.
NAVIN
So, you tell me... (Sits down) What does one need in life? Happiness... and some compassion... Isn't that enough?
AJJI
It's enough, yes. You can't reduce it to 'good' or 'bad'. It's about experiencing the entire spectrum of thought and emotion, about connecting with society.
NAVIN
But, I am compassionate!
AJJI
You don't even know who needs your compassion. Or what consequences your actions have. What is the point of such compassion? Society should benefit from your existence!
Navin stands up.
NAVIN
This is exactly what ticked off mom. All this idealistic jargon from your pretentious friends!
AJJI
Another misunderstanding! They weren't pretentious. They were activists!
NAVIN
Sacrificing one's life for a cause is a huge expectation from anyone.
AJJI
See, this is why I don't persuade you. Like I might have done with your mother. She was blessed with everything. (Angrily) But did she share anything?
NAVIN
And how have you changed the world? When the nation was fighting for freedom you'd leave mom with the neighbours and go off spreading condom awareness in villages. Was that your revolution? If your work had made any difference, then where did these billion people come from?!
AJJI
We've been fighting slavery and repression for three generations just to see my grandson be a slave to the Americans?
NAVIN
Have you gone senile? These foreign companies are my clients!
AJJI
Look at your manners!
(Her voice breaks)
Calling your own grandmother senile!
Navin claps his palms together in an aggressive mock-namaste.
NAVIN
(angrily)
Ok, I apologize. We'll confront this when one of us understands the other.
Navin leaves the ward.
AJJI (O.S.)
(screaming)
The country was independent by then!
Ajji brandishes the TV remote.
Get your history right!
Navin meets Mannu at the ward door.
NAVIN
Mannu! Take care of Ajji for a while. I'll be back in a bit.
MANNU
But what will I do in there? Shall I ask her to recommend me a book?
NAVIN
Are you crazy?
MANNU
Why?
NAVIN
She will cross examine you for every page.
Mannu enters the ward and pulls up a chair beside Ajji's bed. She's wathcing TV. He has a slightly amused look on his face and looks from the TV to her a couple of times.
MANNU
(Chuckles)
Why are you watching this? It's only on 1, 2, 3 and 84.
He picks up the remote and changes the channel.
Here!
Navin
No one's free. Do you need to pee?
Ajji
I wanted to, but I'll wait.
Navin
I'll help you.
Navin fetches the bed pan from below her bed.
Ajji
No, no... I can wait for a couple of minutes.
He walks toward the bathroom.
Navin
No one's coming in a couple of minutes. They'll take at least half an hour.
Navin washes the bed pan in the sink and returns to her bedside.
NaVIN (CONT'D)
You're so liberal - minded, then why are you feeling embarrassed?
Navin squats by her bed, wipes the pan clean and lines the edge with cotton. Placing the pan aside, he removes the bedsheet that covers Ajji. Tenderly, he removes the pillow that supports her broken leg. With the bedpan in one hand, he lifts her legs with the other and carefully slides it into position. Using both hands, he further adjusts her position. He takes a step aside as she urinates. Once she's done he removes the bedpan and keeps it aside. He places the pillow below her broken leg and spreads the sheet over her. Taking the bedpan to he bathroom he empties and flushes down the contents. He rinses the bedpan in the sink and washes his hands. After replacing the bed pan below the bed he returns to his computer. He works for a few seconds before breaking the silence.
Navin (CONT'D)
Saying that I'm ignorant and uneducated is one thing, but if you call me a sucker for money, wouldn't it hurt?
Ajji
I challenge you...
Navin stops his work and makes his way to her side.
...only so you learn to live.
Ajji sits up in bed.
NAVIN
Your way of looking at life cannot be the only way, can it?
AJJI
Okay, then tell me your idea of living?
As Navin speaks he works a lever at the foot - end of her bed that inclines her headrest.
NAVIN
I eat well, drink well... people around me respect me.
AJJI
Is that enough?
NAVIN
It's good enough for me.
AJJI
Life is so magnificent! There's so much to explore.
Navin returns to her side.
NAVIN
I'm not interested! Does that make me a bad person?
AJJI
If you don't want to understand then don't talk rubbish.
NAVIN
So, you tell me... (Sits down) What does one need in life? Happiness... and some compassion... Isn't that enough?
AJJI
It's enough, yes. You can't reduce it to 'good' or 'bad'. It's about experiencing the entire spectrum of thought and emotion, about connecting with society.
NAVIN
But, I am compassionate!
AJJI
You don't even know who needs your compassion. Or what consequences your actions have. What is the point of such compassion? Society should benefit from your existence!
Navin stands up.
NAVIN
This is exactly what ticked off mom. All this idealistic jargon from your pretentious friends!
AJJI
Another misunderstanding! They weren't pretentious. They were activists!
NAVIN
Sacrificing one's life for a cause is a huge expectation from anyone.
AJJI
See, this is why I don't persuade you. Like I might have done with your mother. She was blessed with everything. (Angrily) But did she share anything?
NAVIN
And how have you changed the world? When the nation was fighting for freedom you'd leave mom with the neighbours and go off spreading condom awareness in villages. Was that your revolution? If your work had made any difference, then where did these billion people come from?!
AJJI
We've been fighting slavery and repression for three generations just to see my grandson be a slave to the Americans?
NAVIN
Have you gone senile? These foreign companies are my clients!
AJJI
Look at your manners!
(Her voice breaks)
Calling your own grandmother senile!
Navin claps his palms together in an aggressive mock-namaste.
NAVIN
(angrily)
Ok, I apologize. We'll confront this when one of us understands the other.
Navin leaves the ward.
AJJI (O.S.)
(screaming)
The country was independent by then!
Ajji brandishes the TV remote.
Get your history right!
Navin meets Mannu at the ward door.
NAVIN
Mannu! Take care of Ajji for a while. I'll be back in a bit.
MANNU
But what will I do in there? Shall I ask her to recommend me a book?
NAVIN
Are you crazy?
MANNU
Why?
NAVIN
She will cross examine you for every page.
Mannu enters the ward and pulls up a chair beside Ajji's bed. She's wathcing TV. He has a slightly amused look on his face and looks from the TV to her a couple of times.
MANNU
(Chuckles)
Why are you watching this? It's only on 1, 2, 3 and 84.
He picks up the remote and changes the channel.
Here!
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