3-Character Trio Cast 6 - 9 Minutes Pure Comedy
The Proposal in Reverse
Full Shooting Script in Industry Courier Monospace Format
INT. SMALL CAFÉ CORNER - AFTERNOON
Soft afternoon daylight. Ek SMALL TABLE window ke paas. Ek decorative PLANT table ko baaki café se awkwardly separate karti hai.
NIKHIL (31), slightly too-tight blazer mein, sweaty palms ke saath table par baitha hai. Ek RING BOX uski pocket mein hai. Uske saamne COFFEE CUPS, MENU CARD, NAPKINS, aur ek BOUQUET.
TANYA (29) enters, phone haath mein, smart casuals, suspicious eyes.
TANYA
Tum itne pehle aa gaye? Suspicious.
NIKHIL
Main... bas... tumhara wait kar raha tha.
TANYA
Hmm. Aur blazer itna tight kyun hai?
NIKHIL
(smile rehearse karta hua)
Fashion. New trend.
Tanya baithti hai. Phone table par rakh deti hai. Menu uthati hai.
TANYA
Coffee sasti hai ya bas packaging achhi hai?
NIKHIL
Tanya, aaj main kuch important...
TANYA
Pehle batao, weekend pe tumhare paas time hai ya bas excuses?
Nikhil gulps. Ring box pocket mein tap karta hai.
NIKHIL
Main actually...
Phone buzzes. Tanya screen dekhti hai, ignore karti hai.
TANYA
Bolo.
NIKHIL
Tum... bahut beautiful lag rahi ho.
TANYA
Ye opening line thi ya delay tactic?
Nikhil forced laugh.
NIKHIL
Nahi, sach mein...
Ek sudden, loud bang of bangles. SONAL (55) enters, glittery salwar suit, over-accessorized, cheerful intrusion in human form.
SONAL
Arre wah! Yeh toh romantic corner hai!
Tanya smiles like she planned this.
TANYA
Aunty, meet Nikhil.
NIKHIL
(standing, nervous)
Namaste, Aunty.
SONAL
Namaste-beta. Baitho. Khade kyun ho? Shaadi mein bhi aise hi khade rahoge?
Nikhil sits immediately.
SONAL (CONT'D)
So, salary kitni hai?
NIKHIL
Aunty, main...
SONAL
Savings?
TANYA
Aunty, pehle coffee?
SONAL
Coffee baad mein. EMI pehle.
Tanya smirks into her phone.
NIKHIL
(trying to steer)
Main actually aaj...
He reaches for the bouquet. Tanya notices.
TANYA
Bouquet? Kisliye?
NIKHIL
Bas... mood ke liye.
SONAL
Mood ka budget alag hota hai, beta.
Nikhil opens menu card like a shield.
NIKHIL
Main sirf yeh kehna chahta tha ki...
SONAL
Haan, bolo. Interest rate se start karo.
TANYA
Aunty, you’re enjoying this too much.
SONAL
Main enjoy nahi kar rahi, test kar rahi hoon.
Nikhil freezes.
NIKHIL
Test?
SONAL
Haan. Meri Tanya koi random hero se shaadi nahi karegi.
Tanya sips coffee, utterly calm.
TANYA
Relax, Nikhil. Continue.
NIKHIL
Continue kya? Mujhe proposal karna tha, interview nahi!
Sonal claps once, delighted.
SONAL
Oho! Proposal! Dekha, Tanya? Seedha point pe aaya.
TANYA
Aaya toh hai. Ab dekhte hain survive karta hai ya nahi.
Nikhil blinks.
NIKHIL
Survive?
TANYA
Tumne socha main itni suspicious kyun thi?
She picks up her phone, turns screen toward him.
ON PHONE SCREEN: Nikhil's draft proposal message, jeweler chat, ring box emoji, restaurant search history.
Nikhil goes pale.
NIKHIL
Tum... tumhe pata tha?
TANYA
Haan.
NIKHIL
Aur aunty?
TANYA
Surprise guest. Family round.
SONAL
Main toh bas dekhna chahti thi, yeh tight blazer wala ladka pressure mein kaise behave karta hai.
NIKHIL
Toh... yeh sab setup tha?
TANYA
Proposal reverse mein hoga, Nikhil.
NIKHIL
Matlab?
TANYA
Pehle family approval. Phir ring.
Sonal nods approvingly.
SONAL
Aur pehle bill kaun dega, yeh bhi important hai.
Nikhil, defeated, slowly takes out the ring box.
NIKHIL
(to Sonal, formal)
Aunty... permission?
Sonal takes a dramatic sip of coffee.
SONAL
Pehle bill.
Tanya laughs. Nikhil laughs despite himself.
The three burst out laughing together.
FADE OUT.
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