The Lunchbox Page #2

---

We didn't have much

at the time.

When she was born,

luck smiled on us.

Everything is so expensive today,

luck isn't enough.

Why do you send me

cauliflower every day?

Have you bought a stock?

Rajeev.

And what if Yashvi had a

little brother or sister?

You had one.

And...

Don't send me cauliflower everyday,

it gives me gas.

Cars, buses, airplanes:

All trapped in Mumbai we are.

This road is jam

since this morning.

You see that tower?

A woman jumped from there this morning

with her little girl.

She jumped with her daughter?

What was her name?

I don't know. I don't know.

Surely some domestic problems.

You know someone

who lives there?

Did she survive?

Hello.

This morning

my husband went to the office...

Hello, sir. How are you?

I'm busy.

And my training?

It's lunchtime.

Check back later.

I was told to expect nothing

from you.

I'm Aslam Shaikh.

I'm an orphan.

I gave myself that name.

All I know I taught myself.

And I will also learn this myself.

I'm done. Thank you very much.

Listen.

Come here.

Go to my desk.

There are claims files

of Ahmedabad sector.

Calculate the amounts

and send it to accounts department.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

I'll be right back.

No, don't come back, go to work.

Yes sir, thank you very much.

This morning my husband went to the office

and Yashvi school.

I listened to the news on the radio.

At the death of my brother,

everyone said:

He should've been brave.

He failed his exams, so what?

He should've been brave.

What this woman might've thought?

Maybe she removed her jewelry at night...

Bracelets, earrings,

wedding necklace...

What her daughter might've asked?

Mom?

It must have been difficult

reaching to the roof.

It takes a lot of courage to jump?

Dear Ila, please don't

say it like that.

Things are never as bad as they seem.

One day I was on the train

on my way to work,

And then suddenly I felt something.

Someone touching me...

down there...

Are you laughing?

Yes, Auntie.

I thought of a joke.

Tell!

I forgot.

- You forgot?

- Yes.

Soak five almonds every night.

And eat them in the morning.

It strengthens memory.

Noted.

How are you?

- Are you going to the station?

- Yes.

I get off at Central Station

Bombay.

I live in Dongri.

And you?

At Bandra.

If you don't mind

can I ask you a question?

Yes.

At the office, people said that...

you kicked a cat while walking.

The cat went under a bus, and you kept

walking. Didn't even look back.

Is that true?

It wasn't a cat.

It was actualy a blind man.

He was asking me directions,

so I pushed him under a bus.

So... you better be careful.

Thank you.

Give me a cigarette.

I'll pay later.

That was a joke, right?

Have you always lived in Bandra?

Yes, always.

I moved constantly.

At first, I was at Muhammad Ali Road.

Then I went to Dubai,

then in Saudi.

I was traveled between Saudi and

here many times in between.

But after meeting Meherunissa,

I stayed.

I cut vegetables here

and I cook when I get home.

Where did you learn to do that?

I used to work in a hotel in saudi.

In a hotel?

Kitchen, room service,

accounting...

All in one.

It's boring there.

No entertainment,

work... prayer, prayer... work...

Here I have free time.

I cook for Meherunissa,

we eat when she gets home.

- And then we sometimes go for a walk.

- Very well.

I love her more than anything.

What do you do in evening?

I watch TV sometimes.

Why don't you come with me?

- Where?

- My house.

I will make you a "Pasanda".

- A what?

- "Pasanda".

- What is it?

- A dish made with lamb.

You cut it like that.

- From the lamb?

- Yes.

My specialty.

I will come.

- Now.

- Right now?

Yes, please!

No, I have work, another time.

Next time, promise?

I will be waiting.

Next time.

- See you soon.

- Goodbye.

Hello.

My husband came home late yesterday.

He returned to work

after a call.

Yashvi went to sleep as well.

After my marriage, I brought some things

from home without letting mother know.

I found an old diary.

It contains recipes

by my grandmother.

I found one.

It's the right season.

I think you'll like it.

Excellent!

How are you?

Can I sit?

Please.

Thank you.

Want a taste?

Are you sure?

Yes.

What happened?

Where do you get this meal?

From a restaurant near my home.

Why?

It is delicious.

Book a meal for me.

They will close down soon.

With food so delicious?

There is no value for talent

in this country.

You are right, sir.

It must be magic in hands.

Everyone can cook,

but there must be magic.

Dear Ila,

your grandmother's recipe was very good.

Even better than my favorite dish,

eggplant.

Yesterday, I also

found something.

Old emissions my wife recorded.

You probably were

not yet born at the time.

My wife loved them.

I wanted to watch,

who knows why.

I have watched for hours.

Episode after episode.

After spending the night.

I understood what I was looking for.

Every Sunday while she watched,

I stood outside,

fix my bike or smoke.

I threw him a glance

from time to time.

And I saw his reflection on the screen,

still laughing at the jokes...

she knew by heart.

If only I had continued

to look at the time...

I forwarded all payment orders.

An apple and a banana for you.

Go ahead.

No, sir.

I insist.

Okay.

What is that?

A leaf.

Can I have some water, please?

Then, right?

I love it.

Thank you.

Today, we no longer send

letters. As emails.

More letters?

This is the era of emails.

Hello.

My mother loves old serials.

Small , I watched for hours.

I wanted to tell you something.

Each cigarette smoke,

it is 5 min of life and less.

My father has lung cancer.

When he suffers too,

he said he would have to smoke more

for not to deal with this pain.

Don't blame me.

Yes, Auntie?

You have my carrots?

They are there.

Here!

They cost only 10 rupees.

What have you taken other?

As usual.

What other food can you cook

based eggplant?

Can fry them, stuff them,

bake...

It follows a new treatment.

It helps,

but he sleeps all day.

Mom? Where's the TV?

There are currently more good emissions

nowadays.

You need money?

It comes out.

This treatment is very expensive.

It's OK, I got it.

But how?

Where do you find the money?

If my son was there,

I would not have to beg.

I'll talk to Rajeev.

It's no go.

I ask 5000.

It is the family of the bride.

What was the air

to ask all this money?

You can pay little by little.

No.

I have money.

I got it.

Well, okay.

But don't tell your father.

The 5000 should be sufficient

for this month.

Next month else be found.

You wanna see it?

I wake up?

It's late, we must go back.

Okay.

Dear Ila,

You will not believe

what happened to me yesterday.

The evening, on my way to the station

with Shaikh,

my colleague,

the urge took me

look at the paintings of an artist.

They are all identical.

But if you look closer,

we note that each

is slightly different.

Here a car and more

there a man who dreams in a bus.

Rate this script:1.0 / 2 votes