SHOLAY: THE TRUE STORY
by kavikarmakar@yahoo.com



A deviation of the storyline from the 1975 smash hit movie "Sholay". A movie
that all Indians know - each Dialogue and punchline from the movie is part of
common lore. Note: Most characters and situations would seem odd, unless
you're an Indian and have seen the movie a gazillion times.

"Jab tak terey paer chalenge, uski saans chalegi". (He lives as long as you
dance.) The thought ran again and again in her mind.

Basanti had been dancing with a fervour never seen in these lawless lands.
Perhaps four hours had passed, but her tireless legs continued to pound the
hard granite rock with a beat that had the motley group of bandits bewitched.

The vile dacoit Gabbar had captured the valiant Veeru through a vile trick,
and had tied him up between two old granite pillars in the broken old temple.
And then he had threatened her that he would kill Veeru if she stopped
dancing. Basanti, a devotee of Maa Sherawali, began her dance. The dance was
about a lover's anguish transformed into retribution for those who had
separated the lover from her paramour.

Gabbar, Samba, had all thrown down their weapons and were watching her dance
with rapt attention. Veeru's hands were tied and stretched between the two
pillars. His body sagged with exhaustion, but the tentpole in his trousers
indicated his arousal.

Jai, Veeru's stolid but inseparable pal, had heroically tried to rescue them
both, but in a scuffle with Gabbar's goons, had fallen into the raging river
and had been swept away.

Veeru was tied up, at the mercy of Gabbar and his cohorts. The dance of
Basanti was keeping him alive. The bandits showered her with lewd words; many
had tried to tear off her simple attire. Nothing held her back from the dance.
It was as if Maa Sherawaali herself was acting through her. Some had thrown
broken bottles where she danced. But the glass had been ground to powder under
those incredible iron legs.

The valley reverberated with the sounds of her feet striking granite. Windows
rattled in distant villages.

The bandits lost their vigilance and huddled around her, salivating. Gabbar
himself had opened his trousers and was wanking away furiously!

Basanti's dance had reached a crescendo ... ta ... takita ... takita ...
takita ... She danced over to the one nearest to her, and kicked him in the
chest. The bandit flew back to hit a big boulder and lay dead. The next one
fell like a rotten tree, when she kneed him in the guts. One by one, she
felled them all.

Until there was Gabbar. He with his pants down. "Bahut ichcha hai meri naach
dekhney?" (You are so keen to see my dance?) "Buh Buh Basanti ... uh...ub ...
buh..." His hands went back to his erect shaft.

Basanti screamed ... "Ab main tujhey aisa sabak sikhaungi, ki tu bheek bhi
nahi maang payega ... Tujhey ek keedey ki tarah apney pairon taley raung
daalungi ... Gabbar ... yeh haath mujhey dede ... de ... mujhey ye haath de
dey". (Now it's time for a lesson - I will leave you helpless, incapable even
of begging.. I'll crush you like an insect beneath my feet, Gabbar ... .. Give
me your hands!)

She kicked him on the chest and threw him down. She proceeded to crush his arm
bones systematically, her thick, strong legs pounding, crushing, grinding his
bones, until what lay attached to his shoulders were only useless pieces of
flesh. As she broke him, and crushed his will, Gabbar begged and pleaded with
her. Finally, Basanti said, "Tujhey main chhod rahi hun Thakur ke liye ... "
(I leave you for the Thakur ... )

Basanti cut the ropes that bound Veeru. He was filthy and exhausted. She
carried him in her arms to the stream and washed him. Still flush in her
victory dance, she took Veeru on the very banks and made love to him again and
again.

Veeru held onto Basanti as she rode her mare Dhanno in a gentle canter back to
Rampur.

Thus Veeru and Basanti lived happily ever after, with an ever increasing
family. The kids were told many tales of their heroic battles against Gabbar,
by who else than their Uncle Jai! For his tale didn't end at the river.

Jai had caught hold of a branch and kept afloat until the waters reached the
broader span at Rampur. Radha, the widow in serene white saw him and leapt
into the waters to rescue him. She had been a strong swimmer since childhood,
and had no difficulty in carrying Jai out of the waters. She'd nursed him to
back good health.

Jai started to spend time with her, especially in Thakur's sprawling mango
orchards. In one such sojourn, she'd made Jai experience the meaning of bliss,
as he lost his virginity to her.

Jai and Veeru married Radha and Basanti respectively, with the blessings of
Thakur and many villagers. There was great pomp and enjoyment during the
wedding, prompting Rahim Chaacha to express "Itna shor-sharaba kyun hai bhai
?!"