2 Female Actors (F + F) 5 - 8 Minutes Pure Comedy
The Chai Line
Full Shooting Script in Industry Courier Monospace Format
INT. TINY TEA STALL - NOON
Bright noon light filters through an awning. Steam hangs in the air. A kettle WHISTLES constantly. Two stools. A cash box. A sugar tin. Tea glasses. A reusable cup.
BARKHA (34), formal wear, fast-talking, checks her watch for the third time in ten seconds. SUMI (34), in a simple sari and apron, calm and observant, stirs chai with strong, practiced wrists.
BARKHA
Sumi, wahi wali chai. Exact.
Thodi kam sugar. Foam zyada.
Main late hoon.
SUMI
Aap roz late hoti ho.
BARKHA
Aaj zyada late hoon.
SUMI
Aaj zyada chai lagegi.
Barkha freezes.
BARKHA
Kya matlab?
SUMI
Matlab emotional support extra.
BARKHA
Main customer hoon, therapist nahi.
SUMI
Customer ho.
Par roz chai ke saath apni life ka aadha drama bhi yahin chhod jaati ho.
Uska packaging charge lagega.
BARKHA
Yeh koi rule hai?
SUMI
Naya rule hai.
Sumi pours chai into a glass, then into Barkha’s reusable cup.
BARKHA
Maine bola tha half spoon sugar.
SUMI
Aap bolti ho half.
Expression se full depression mangti ho.
BARKHA
Foam kam hai.
SUMI
Aapke office mein bhi kya itna hi foam hota hai?
Upar se soft, andar se hawa.
BARKHA
Oho. Personal attack.
SUMI
Boundary set kar rahi hoon.
BARKHA
Main boundary samajhti hoon.
SUMI
Tabhi to roz cross karti ho.
Barkha checks her phone. A MISSED CALL flashes.
BARKHA
Dekho, main sach mein late hoon.
SUMI
Pehle chai peeyo. Phir duniya ko bhaago.
BARKHA
Mujhe bhaagna padta hai.
SUMI
Aapko aadat hai.
Barkha takes the cup, annoyed but sipping.
BARKHA
Waise aaj chai theek hai.
SUMI
Theek nahi. Premium hai.
BARKHA
Premium ka rate?
SUMI
Aaj cash nahi. Full payment.
BARKHA
UPI?
SUMI
Nahi. Truth.
Barkha laughs despite herself.
BARKHA
Truth ka QR code hota hai?
SUMI
Aapke paas nahi.
Sumi reaches under the cash box and pulls out a thick bundle of folded chits and paper scraps.
BARKHA
Yeh kya hai?
SUMI
Aapke unfinished conversations.
Barkha stares.
SUMI unfolds one note and reads.
SUMI (CONT'D)
"Main bas itna kehna chahti thi..."
She unfolds another.
SUMI (CONT'D)
"Mujhe lagta hai main is job mein..."
Another.
SUMI (CONT'D)
"Aaj main resign kar..."
Barkha goes still.
BARKHA
Aap... yeh sab?
SUMI
Har din.
Aap yahan aati thi, bolna shuru karti thi.
Phir office ka call, boss ka message,
phir woh face—same face, bas thoda aur chhota.
BARKHA
Aapko kaise pata?
SUMI
Kyuki aap chai nahi, himmat lene aati thi.
A beat. Street noise hums. Kettle whistles.
BARKHA
Main bas...
SUMI
Aaj pehli baar chai ke baad mat bhaagna.
Pehle apni line complete karna.
Barkha looks at her phone. The screen shows OFFICE CALL.
She hovers. Then rejects it.
BARKHA
Main aaj resign karne wali hoon.
Sumi closes her eyes for one tiny second, smiling.
SUMI
Mujhe pata tha.
BARKHA
Kaise?
SUMI
Jo log roz chai pe aake apni zindagi ka draft chhodte hain,
woh ek din final version leke aate hain.
Barkha exhales, almost emotional.
BARKHA
Toh emotional support ka charge?
SUMI
Paid ho gaya.
Sumi taps the cash box.
SUMI (CONT'D)
Boundary fee alag.
BARKHA
Kitna?
SUMI
Ek aur chai.
Barkha laughs, then sits on a stool for the first time.
BARKHA
Theek hai.
She takes a slow sip.
BARKHA (CONT'D)
Waise...
SUMI
Haan?
BARKHA
Aaj main bhaagne wali nahi hoon.
SUMI smiles, already pouring another cup.
SUMI
Good.
The kettle WHISTLES again as steam swallows the frame.
FADE OUT.
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