Random Musings and some more..

ending my hiatus

2008-05-27T17:00:00.003-05:00

I finally decided to end the long hiatus, and get back on the blogosphere. The hiatus, well, it was caused partly due to sluggishness on my end and partly because I simply did not have access to the wonderful, virtual world of the wWw. I am not going to go into too many details of where I was traveling, as it is not really relevant. Plus, I personally find it a little tedious to read others travelogues.

By the way, is it just me or have people suddenly started traveling a lot? Especially after blogs were launched? I wonder if blogs have created this massive irrepressible urge to hit the road, and to pen down every corner, nook and pebble that you encounter? Has travel become the most active hobby in the last couple of years, with tourists proudly displaying 'where I have been' widgets in their virtu-soci-al networks?

I am exaggerating, ofcourse.

However the phenomenon of social networks is interesting, isn't it? Given a chance, we would not hesitate to put our entire life out for the world to see, which compliments our core nature - that we are social animals after all! We create a fiasco about privacy, but at the same time are curious about what everyone around else is doing and share our intimate secrets with complete strangers online. Whether we are sleeping, eating, drinking....or even traveling we derive secret joy in letting people know. Why? Well, because we are contributors to the new-world hobby of 'how many places have I been to', of course!

Traveller

2007-08-31T16:55:00.000-05:00

I'd like to share this beautiful poem narrated by our professor today, which I think is quite applicable to INSEADers.

Traveller,
There is no path.

You make the path as you walk.
As you walk, you make the path.
And when you look back
You see the path
That you will never travel again.

Traveller,
There's no path.
Only the wake of ships
upon the ocean.

-----
And here goes the original Spanish version by Antonio Machado

Caminante.
No hay camino
Se hace camino al andar.

Al andar se hace camino
Y al volver la vista astras
Se ve la senda
Que nunca has de volver a pisar.

Caminante
No hay camino
Solo estelas en la mar.
-----

while I am in India

2006-12-23T09:49:00.000-05:00

After the numerous parties and a teary send-off, I finally made it to Mumbai. And I fell sick as a part of what seems to be a standard body-resetting procedure. In IT jargon, I would coin the term as a 'cold-boot', personally it was just a flu. However lately I have been doubtful about this flu attacks, especially after I land in India. If I plot my visits to India in the past 8 years and juxtapose them with the flu attacks, I am sure the -flu' periods will be marked by a steep bell curve, comparable to the stock market during the .com boom.

It is similar to the .com boom in yet another aspect - that I've never been able to nail down the culprit for this flu. I think its a 'bhel-puri' (indian term for a mix of various things) of the pollution, the humid weather, and the density of the city. My doctor thought I was over reacting and gave me the local antibiotic saying 'chalta hain!' ('Its ok' ..literally translated to 'it walks!')

While those antibiotics are kicking in, I did notice some new things in Mumbai -
a. The gyms have a strict 'no shoes' policy inside the gym (including running on the treadmills)
b. Commuting a distance of 18 km may take around 90 minutes by road and 60 minutes by train (and maybe your life!)
c. I found a small pack of Nescafe for Re.1 ($0.04). Just when I thought the rupee was loosing value. I wonder how much it must cost Nescafe to package and ship that Re.1 pack.
d. I actually saw a toothpaste called 'Salt'. Perfect with some scrambled eggs, I suppose.
e. The local cable operators have quite a monopoly on the content. Imagine watching TV, where the top 1/4 and the bottom 1/4 of the screen is covered with flashing commercials.

This city seems more crowded this time around. More cars, more people, more malls -- all in the same area. Its a chaotic assimilation of people, concrete and metal. And somewhere in this concrete jungle, I am recovering from my flu!

a new begining...

2006-11-15T00:25:00.000-05:00

We were in New Orleans a couple of weekends ago. One evening, we had gone to see a movie about the hurricane in New Orleans re-opened IMAx theater. As I was buying tickets, I asked the lady at the counter if she had seen the movie. "I didn't ," she replied, "I lived it". That was my first encounter with a Katrina victim. During the course of the weekend we met many more such Katrina victims who had lost everything, and were now fighting back, hopeful that one day they would be able to bring back the glorious days. A new hope, a new begining!

I've posted some pictures on Flickr (link, on the right).

After coming back, I ended up catching 'Babel' in the local theater. The movie was quite interesting - it shocked me, only to make me feel sorry and then frustrated. The movie reminded me, in some vague way, of New Orleans.

On a similar note, I am finishing up Thomas Fridman's 'From Beirut to Jerusalem'. A great book if you would like to know in depth about the Israel-Palestinine conflict.

Halloween is here...with the Freeland-er? and the Jessica Lall case

2006-11-02T13:57:00.000-05:00

Halloween, the night when the ghouls allegedly roam the streets, brooms are meant to be used for things other than mopping, and the air is full of hanuted whispers, starts off with a flurry of costumes that would stir the minds of even the most unimaginative.

Our Halloween started different; with the 'death of the Freelander'.

We were coming home after watching 'The Prestige' where Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale trick you with their slick magic, a real treat, when the car overheated. It would've been almost magical, had it been in the movie. In reality, it was a bit spooky and annoying. After coming back (with the car parked and the tow-company on its way) I started doing some googsearch. What I discovered was simply horrifying!

As it turns out, Freelanders are known to have problems with their K-Series engine in which case the cylinder liners drop too low causing the engine to be replaced (there is no economically viable repair procedure). Even more shocking is that this problem is known by the Land Rover company and is specified in their technical advices. The average life of a Freelander engine is between 60-80 K miles. Our Freelander engine died at 35,000 miles. R.I.P, I said...never again!

While we were mourning the freakish death of our freelander, somewhere in India, Sabrina Lall was mourning the ongoing case of her sister's murderers.This week marked another twist in the high-profile Jessica Lall case in India.

For those who don't know, Jessica Lall was a young,aspiring model who was shot dead simply because she refused to serve a drink at the posh Tamarind Center Cafe. All she did was follow the 'law'. She paid the price...with her life. Read more about the case here.

Jessica was shot in 1999. Seven years later the New Delhi High Court is still trying to serve justice. But, with the family emotionally torn and people's confidence in the justice system shattered, ...the question remains whether justice will really be served? Can a woman refuse drinks again in New Delhi without the fear of getting shot? Can a father be assured that he'll get justice for his daughter's murderers while he is still alive? Who knows...

These people don't need pumpkins. Their life is scary enough.

Bad morning, Good night!

2006-10-25T22:58:00.000-05:00

Ever had one of those days that start out as crappy but end on a good note? Today was such a day. Before I start rambling about it, here is last weeks recap -

Last week was good. Payal turned 30, for which she got a surprise party from all of us and a proposal from her boyfriend - Gaurang. Yes, Payal and Gaurang are officially engaged. I joke with her that her path2engagement can best be summarized as '50 first dates' meets 'Break/Up' meets 'Meet the Parents'. At least she doesn't have to change her last name after marriage(both she and Gaurang have the same last name). My heartiest congratulations to the Bhatt's!

Talking of engagements, just realized that its been exactly two-months since Sylvia and I got engaged ... and it feels just like yesterday. I am told thats a good thing. At least we introduce each other as 'my fiance(e)' nowadays...

Coming back to today, the day started on a bad note. My loan for INSEAD was rejected by HSBC. I guess I was bummed out not so much by the rejection, but by the fact that HSBC did not give me a convincing reason. A bit disheartening. Oh well...I guess its time to start looking at other avenues.

On a brighter note, it seems that the apartment situation in Singapore is finally getting resolved. Hopefully, if things go well I will have an apartment and two roommates by the end of next week (fingers crossed).

p.s. in case you are wondering about the picture, its me globe trotting next year:)

Super Size HER!

2006-10-21T16:47:00.000-05:00

Meet E-T.

While one part of the world is struggling with obesity, here is the other side - the yang of the yin, the -ve of the +ve, the south of the north - bare bones. Since when did 'thin' share the same bed with 'gollumish'. Is this a new trend? Or just a passing Haloween fad?

I wonder if after some time we would end up with these two extremes in all facets of life. Would the clothes just be XX-Large and Invisible? Would the dinner portions be all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-watch? would the drug companies sell pills to loose-weight only to gain it back again at a faster pace? Makes me wonder about the purpose of living if you can't eat. Without food, Life as we know it, would be quite bland, wouldn't it?

At least there is a new rule that warrants runway models to be a certain weight. Although it won't be long before someone screams discrimination at least till then they are required to eat. Who would've thought that 'eating' would be a requirement? Try imposing this requirement with the kids in Africa. I am sure they won't mind it.

Talking of the kids in Africa, I was quite surprised around the whole Madonna adoption controversy. I wonder what she did wrong? There were others, including some well known celebrities, who adopted kids from remote parts of the world before her. And they managed to do so quite smoothly. So why is international media all over Madonna?

One of the plausible explainations could be that she is 'her'. Media and Madonna, are interwined like the vines wrapped around the Kapok tree. Both need each other, both thrive on each other. I just hope that in all this Malawi-Madonna-Media (oddly enough, they share the same initial) the kid gets a decent childhood. After all he didn't ask for all this, did he? He wan't the one to say 'Super Size me!'.

Act II

2006-10-18T18:29:00.000-05:00

Fade In.

It finally hit me as I opened my mail. Just like that.

It wasn't a scene from 'American Idol' when the winner is announced. Nope. Nothing revolutionary. Nothing dramatic. And certainly no sudden, seizurish jumping movements. It was, in fact quite serene. If I was an artist I would've painted that moment on a canvas like the sun rising over an ocean with a sail boat sailing towards it, reaching out, yearning to be bathed in the first rays. It was that simple. It was that clear.

I was looking at the air ticket. A one-way ticket to Mumbai,India. A ticket that symbolized the end of my eight year journey in USA, a journey that was a symbiosis between me and America.

Its funny how, at big moments like these, you start to search for an explanation, some sort of a clue, among small things. Take the number eight for instance. When I was young we moved from Mumbai to Nizambad. It lasted for eight years after which I moved to USA. Eight years later and, here I am, off to another country. 2006 (adds up to 8) was probably the best year of my life. INSEAD happened in August 2006, the eight month. August 26 (adds up to 8) was the day when Sylvia and I got engaged. Maybe, these are just coincidences. Or maybe not.

The past eight years are filled with great moments and friends, such as -- walking in the freezing New Jersey winter to save a buck during my NJIT days; lazy Sunday afternoons spent with friends drinking beer rooting for the Giants; infamous two-bedroom Kearny apartment, the walls of which, at one point accommodated over ten people; the first snow and then the fall colors; first job, first car, and first real paycheck; first time I hit 100 mph and then the second time I hit 100 mph; running 26.2 miles and then biking through NY .... friends from Asha, Naya Andaaz, Streetnoiz, Open-Mic,NJIT and from Businessedge...

Sometimes I wish I had Dumbledore's pensive where I could relive these memories when I want. Wouldn't that be nice? I guess until I find it, all these memories are coming with me, as I say Goodbye or rather Adios to America and bonjour!, hello! to France & Singapore...

...to a new journey

Fade Out.

(to be continued... after 8 years)

300 million + 1

2006-10-17T21:48:00.000-05:00

Pen is mightier that the sword...but sometimes numbers can be just as powerful.

Although this particular blog would've been written at any other time, it just felt appropriate to pen it down now. It is analogous to a person turning a number on her birthday; this number, big or small, single or double digits, makes one reflect on their past and gives them a little window of glimpse into their future.

So, the fact that America turned 300 million people old yesterday made me ponder about the past and wonder how the future would look like.

The past, or rather the past few years have been interesting, to say the least.From Clinton to Foley, from the dot.com bust to web2.0, from the war of the worlds to the Iraq war, from Madonna kissing Britney and Christina to Madonna adopting a baby, from Survivor to surviving Fox news, from super-size me to anorexic super models, from 40-year old virgin to sex and the city, from MySpace to Real Estate bust - it almost feels that we have been through a turbulent roller coaster ride. And if we are going at this speed now, where would we end up 200 million people later?

Would we have flying cars? Would we be able to teleport ourselves from one city to another? Would we love ourselves so much that we would clone us? I don't know. But I do know one thing that America, India and China together constitute close to half the world's population. And with America's oil consumption and India and China's growing consumer base, soon enough we would be struggling for each drop of oil. Unless we don't need oil anymore.

Maybe that's what I see through the little key hole into the future. We truly become oil-independent, and set the path for others to follow. A path surrounded by trees with fresh clean air. A path so calm that you can hear your heartbeat. Maybe I am dreaming or trying to listen to my heart beat Or maybe I am looking through the wrong key hole - one thousand years ago, into the past.

But, then maybe I am actually looking at tomorrow. At least, I hope I am!

A choice ... culture or money?

2006-10-16T23:14:00.000-05:00

'A for Apple' ..the first thing I learnt in school. That stuck in my head just like wet cow-dung sticks to the wall when thrown like a baseball. As I advanced to the 1st grade my teacher taught me that 'An apple a day, keeps the doctor away'. Shortly after that, I learnt 'one bad apple spoils the entire basket of apples'. After this I associated the letter 'A' to the grade of A+, which meant that a treat at home.

Even though I chuckled as the little kid in the movie 'Meet the Fockers' associated A to Assh-o-lle, today it dismays me that how close this is to reality. Sometimes you come across assh-o-lles when working together. They are the 'bad' apples who do not fit together in the basket, which makes you wonder 'why are they in the first place?'

Some feel that the bad apples can be tolerated at the cost of other good apples as long as the doctor is kept away. In other words, as long as the bottom line is met and they rake in the money, the rotten apple is ok. I disagree.

I feel that even though this may be true in the short period, it can have only two outcomes. One, cause all other apples to rot, and voila! you have an entire basket of rotten apples. Ain't that just wonderful. Or, two, it will cause the other apples to leave the basket in dismay.

Now, you are stuck with the bad apple. Both these conditions cause the bottom line to plummet. In my opinion, if you need to keep the basket fresh with your culture then either remedy the bad apple or...get rid of it. The bottom line is not worth sacrificing the culture.

After all, A also stands for 'action'.

2006-10-12T17:07:00.001-05:00

2006-10-12T14:30:00.001-05:00

2006-02-24T12:15:00.000-05:00

pictures from athens and barcelona

2006-02-24T12:10:00.000-05:00

some friendships are made over a long, tenacious, excruciating practice for the marthon...others are made, well, simply over a glass of beer in a foreign country.

hopping around in Berlin's beer garten with some friends - old and new

2006-02-24T11:54:00.000-05:00

Which way does the wind blow, literally.

Johanna and Julia are involved in the hot debate of the fiscal advantages of creating man-made beaches on the river bank in Berlin as Katie plays the role of the curious audience ...

Ketul Patel Gets Married

2005-02-20T22:42:00.000-05:00

FADE IN:

SCREEN - Introduction

SCREEN

Background of the galaxy, with words appearing in Star War's style.

' A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, there is unrest in the Galactic
Senate. Several hundred solar systems,under the leadership of the Rebel Leader,
Count Dooku, have declared their intentions to secede from the Republic. Senator
Amidala, the former Queen of Naboo, is returning to Coruscant to vote on the
critical issue of creating an army to assist the overwhelmed Jedi...

By the way, this is not her story, nor is it a story about anyone from that
galaxy. Instead this story takes place right here...

ZOOM IN - we see out galaxy

TEXT appears : ...in our galaxy...

ZOOM IN - we see the plane Earth

TEXT appears : ...on our planet Earth...

ZOOM IN - we see the map of USA

TEXT appears : ... in fact right here in America...

ZOOM IN - we see a top view of New York

TEXT appears : ...in Manhattan.

ZOOM IN - we see a busy NY street

TEXT appears - This story is about Ketul...

ZOOM IN - freeze on the back of one guy. The image becomes animated.

TEXT appears - ..a happy go lucky guy, who is about to get married.

TITTLE appears - Ketul Patel gets Married?

(replace the question mark with an interrogation mark)

TITLE
Ketul Patel Gets Married!

TITLE (CONTD)
a one-act play by
(add a 'n' in front of 'one')
a None-act play by

TITLE(CONTD)
Amit Akhelikar and Palak Doshi

FADE OUT.

SCREEN - Ketul's mom and dad - mockumentary

Black Screen. Text appears at the bottom of the screen:

Six days ago....

FADE OUT.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY (SCREEN)

A MAN and a WOMAN are sitting on two chairs. They are Ketul's DAD and MOM. They
are facing the camera. The man is in his mid fifties. He is wearing a kurta-
pajama and CHEWS a paan(beetle leaf). The woman, mid forties is wearing thick
glasses and KNITS a shawl.

DAD
(looking at the camera)
Ready? Are you ready? OK.
(pause)
We come here twenty-one years ago, leave everything we
have, take the bus from paanch gaam to ahmedabad. Then
take the train to mumbai and finally come in the
plane.
(pause)
I had a big paan shop in paanch gaam. You ask anyone,
even today. Ask them if they know of 'Makrand
Hasmukhlal Patel's paan dukaan. I tell you they will
say yes. Why? Because it was the best paan, haa. Ekdum
first class, A-1 paan.

MOM
(mumbles..incoherently)
Koney pan khabar nathi. Ramu, our doodhwaala also did
not know about it....

DAD
(to MOM)
Soo vaat karey chhey?Shanthi raakh ney. Everyone knows.
(to the camera)
You know, there was a small problem. I had to keep it
very..
(winks)
..you know...

MAN (VO)
Low Key?

DAD
Yes, yes.Low Key. There were so many problems. Every
week I have to give 'hafta'.
(looking at the camera)
Do you know what hafta means?
(pause)
Tamey khaber chhey, hafta soo chhey?
(pause)
Arey baba shake your head if you do not know.
(pause)
I will tell you anyway. Every week these goonda log
come and collect money. They say it is for my
protection. I ask protect from whom? They say, it is
protection from them. If I ask anything else, they will
burn my shop down.
(pause)
But, I did a smart thing. I burnt down my shop, collect
the rokda from insurance and come on a flight
(doing the action of a plane taking off)
..straight to America.

MOM
This man here come to ask about Ketul.

DAD
Oh, that is correct. Ketul come with us when we come
here. He was seven years old. We send him to a school
here, and then college. Now, he finished his college
and he work in a very big company now. I forget the
name, soo naam hatu...something pauchu..soft...
(pause)
....maro soft...

MAN(VO)
Microsoft?

DAD
Yes, yes..Microsoft. Very big company...

MAN(V.O.)
Did he go to India after he came here?

MOM
Oh yes. He did. He came to India with me. There is this
girl, Hetal Patel. Daughter of Mr. Amrathlal Patel. Bau
Saras chokri chhey.I took him with me to see her.
(pause)
It is his lagan now in six days. Ketul's wedding.

MAN(V.O.)
Who is he getting married to?

MOM
..her name is..

DAD
(interrupting mom)
..yes, yes. I forgot to mention. He is getting married
next week. I would have invited you
(looking into the camera)
but this is not like India you know...where everybody
walking in without invitation with thir mama, chacha
and dikraa log.
(pause)
Sorry haa bhai, but the list on invitations are already
full. I did not even invite Raj and Akash.
(pause)
Ek number naa tapori chokraa log chhey....

FADE OUT:

Black Screen. The following text appears at the bottom:

Six days and a few hours later.....

FADE OUT:

FADE OUT.

STAGE - Raj and Akash's introduction

STAGE

Restaurant setting.

Raj is sitting at a table in a restaurant. He is dressed in a suit. He keeps
looking at the watch impatiently.

The WAITER walks over to Raj.

WAITER
Would you like something to drink, sir?

RAJ
No thank you

WAITER
Would you like to take a look at our wine menu, sir?

RAJ
No. I am fine.

WAITER
How about our cocktail menu? We have a wide selection
of cocktails.

RAJ
(annoyed)
No, thank you.

WAITER
I'm sure you'd like our margaritas.

RAJ
No. I don't think want anything.I am not staying here
that long. I am just waiting for someone.
(pause)
But, since you insist, can I have a glass of water?

WAITER
(coldly)
Just... water, sir?

RAJ
You know what.I'll have some ice with it. Yeah. That's
what I want, a tall glass of water with four cubes of
ice in it.

WAITER
(to the audience)
Another one. Just wants water. I thought this had ended
with the other guy. There goes my tip.

The waiter gives Raj a cold look and walks away.

Just as the waiter exits the stage, Akash walks in casually.He is wearing a
suit, but his tie is tied loosely around his neck.

AKASH
Yo. Sorry I'm late man. Believe it or not, it was the
traffic this time

RAJ
With you, its always the traffic. Its never you..

Raj gets up and gives Akash a hug. As Akash is about to sit down, Raj says.

RAJ
What are you doing? We have to be there in thirty
minutes? We should leave ..now.

AKASH
Chill dude. It's an Indian Wedding. And all Indian
weddings start at the IST - Indian Stretchable Time.
Everybody follows the same standard.

RAJ
That's not true. We are in New York, not in India.

AKASH
But, we are still Indian, aren't we? When was the last
time you'd gone to an Indian function that started on
time? Let me guess....never. Because they never do.

RAJ
Stop exaggerating. There are events that started on
time. Look at this one for instance.
(looks at the audience)
We started on time, didn't we? Thank you. He just needs
an excuse to get a drink.

AKASH
Now that you insist..how can I say no.
(raises his hand)
Waiter.

RAJ
(throws up his hands in exasperation)
So, how are things with you? I haven't seen you in two
years. You still loosing hair?

AKASH
I was never loosing hair. You have me confused with
someone else or maybe you are confusing me with your
own reflection.

RAJ
Ouch...did I just hit a soft spot. Or should I say a
bald spot.

AKASH
Whatever man.

RAJ
So how is work? And life? And the love life?

AKASH
One word for all - sucks. I'm telling you my friend
there is no such thing as gravity, the world just
sucks.

RAJ
Don't get into my character.Leave the philosophical
dialogues to me.
(pause)
What sucks?

AKASH
Work is crazy. There is no life after work in
investment banking. Its all blended in into a long day
of work.

RAJ
First of al, what are you doing being an Investment
Banker. I would've never thought that you, of all
people I know would be good at numbers. The only
numbers you were good at were the girls phone numbers.

AKASH
Gone are those days. I have no use for a number now,
unless it is green. The power of the green. Its very
addictive.

RAJ
You know, I've lost a few friends to banking. I never
see them anymore. And now you've joined the league.
(pause)
Do you even get a chance to spend all that money? How
much money do you really need?

Akash is about to say something when the waiter walks in with a glass of water.
He keeps the glass on the table.

AKASH
(to the waiter)
I'll have a Jack and coke.
(to Raj)
What are you drinking?

RAJ
Water. I don't drink, remember?

The waiter walks away.

AKASH
You mean you don't drink anymore.

RAJ
No. I mean never drink.

AKASH
(laughs)
Yeah right..

RAJ
What? what are you laughing about? What's so funny?

AKASH
That you never drink. C'mon don't tell me you forgot
our graduation party? You were so drunk that night that
that bouncers had to get you off the floor..

RAJ
No I wasn't drunk.
(to the audience)
This is just one of his stories. I didn't drink that
night. In fact I didn't even touch alcohol.

CUT TO:

SCREEN - Ketul's first girl - SONIA

INT. NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT (SCREEN)

Close up shot of RAJ.

RAJ
(slurred voice)
Three more shots of wise men

The camera zooms out and we see Raj is standing at a bar. Ketul and Akash are
standing next to Raj.All the three are quite drunk.Hip-hop music can be heard in
the background.

AKASH
Slow down yaar.This is not water.

KETUL
Its not too wise to have too many wise men.

RAJ
I am just doing what seems logical. Let me ask you a
question..

Akash and Ketul groan.

AKASH/KETUL
(together)
Not again.

RAJ
How many are we, right here, right now at this moment?

AKASH
Three ...

RAJ
That's three best friends. And, what drink of ours
would this be?

KETUL
The third drink

RAJ
And how many liquors does wise men have in it?

AKASH
Three different ones..

RAJ
What year is this?

KETUL
Nineteen ninety eight

RAJ
So..

AKASH
So??

RAJ
So, it all falls into place. Third drink, three of us,
three drinks in wise men and the year 1998, the numbers
of year add up to be..
(counts numbers on his fingers)
twenty seven...
(looks surprised)
..screw the year. We are still three, and three drinks
in wise men. It's a sign..

AKASH
Yes a sign. A sign, that someone is going to have a
very bad hangover tomorrow..

The bartender places three shots in front of them. They down the shots and turn
around to check out the girls.

RAJ
I can't believe it. This is it guys. School is over and
now we have to start working.

AKASH
Talk about yourself. I am very happy doing what I do
now, yaar. Being a DJ is the best, total TP guys. I
work a few days a week and the remaining days total
masti. You can meet so many women...

KETUL
Which obviously you haven't yet.
(pause)
You can't be a DJ all your life.

AKASH
Who said about being a DJ all my life. I am not going
to spin at forty.
(pause)
I just don't see myself fitting into this corporate
culture. Who wants to wear a suit to work every day,
when you can work in jeans.

RAJ
I think I want to wear a suit to work. It's a
transition in your life, just like anything else. But,
I don't want to work for anybody. I'd rather be my own
boss..

KETUL
That means you are not going to work at all...

Ketul and Akash laugh.

RAJ
(to Ketul)
And what are you going to do Mr. Patel?

KETUL
As you said, I am going to transition. I just don't
know yest, into what. Haven't thought about anything.
I have no clue where I might end up.

AKASH
You might just transition into a mandap doing the
pheras and getting married.

KETUL
No dude. No marriage. At least not yet.

RAJ
Woldn't it would be cool if we all got married
together, on the same day.

AKASH
As long as we all don't end up falling in love with the
same girl. Raj, I think you will be the first one among
us to get married.
(to Ketul)
So, while you dream about Mrs. Raj Sinha, I am going on
the floor to look for the lucky Mrs. Akash Choudhary.

KETUL
I'll join you. I have a feeling I am going to meet Mrs.
Ketul Patel tonight.

RAJ
Shouldn't we have a shot before that.

RAJ/KETUL
(in unison)
No!

CUT TO:

Raj, half drunk, dancing with a girl. She looks at him and then walks away.

The camera focuses on Akash, who joins a group of girls dancing by themselves.

The camera moves to Ketul. He is standing at the bar looking at the dance
floor.He appears to be very drunk. A girl is standing next to him. Ketul looks
over at the girl. He taps her on the shoulder.

The girl turns around.

KETUL
(slurred)
Hi.

POOJA
Hi.

KETUL
How you doing?

POOJA
Good.

KETUL
That's good. My name is Ketul. Ketul Patel.

POOJA
I know.

KETUL
Oh, you know.
(looking at the bar tender)
She knows.
(looking into the camera)
She knows.
(looking at the girl)
So, what else do you know about .. me?

POOJA
That you like your eggs sunny side up, that you broke
your tooth after you fell off your bike when you were
eleven, that you cannot eat with a chop stix..

KETUL
How do you now all this? Have you been talking to my
mom?

POOJA
No I have been talking to you, idiot.

KETUL
Since when?

POOJA
Since nineteen years. It's me Pooja, dummy.

KETUL
Pooja?

POOJA
Yes, Pooja.
(pause)
Were you hitting on me Ketul?

KETUL
Oh Pooja. Hiii. Me hitting on you? No way. Are you
crazy. I was just trying to warn you, you know, about
how drunk guys might hit on you.

POOJA
So, you are drunk?

KETUL
No. Yes. Just a little.
(pause)
C'mon cut me some slack here. School is finally over.

POOJA
Have you decided what are you going to do next?

KETUL
I'll figure it out eventually . What about you?

POOJA
I am going to London for a while to visit Shilpa aunty.
And, while I'm there I might check out the a few
schools.

KETUL
When are you leaving?
(looks over her shoulder)

POOJA
In a few days.
(looks behind her)
That is Sonia. She is a Junior, pshycology major,
single..

KETUL
..and very cute. I'll be right back.

Pooja laughs. The camera stays on her.

CUT TO:

The camera focuses on Ketul who is dancing very close with Sonia. She is wearing
a red dress. They dance very closely. Ketul whispers something in her ear. she
nods her head and they walk towards the camera. The camera moves back as they
walk away from the dance floor. The music gets softer. The camera stays on them
as they sit down on a couch.

KETUL
How you doing?

SONIA
I'm doing..good.
(pause)
You know your moves on the floor.

KETUL
I do alright, I guess. You are a good dancer yourself,
Sonia.

SONIA
Really?

KETUL
Yes. And you are the most beautiful girl I've come
across.

SONIA
Are you saying that, just because you want to kiss me?

KETUL
Yes, just because I want to kiss you.
(laughs)
I'm just joking. You are gorgeous. Your hair, your
eyes, your lips...
(moves closer to Sonia)
...you lips...your lips

SONIA
Wait. They are watching..

KETUL
Who is watching?
(looks at the camera)
Oh..they are watching. Let them see. We are not
committing a crime are we?

SONIA
No. I feel a little awkward...

KETUL
Oh....
(looks directly at the camera)
Can you guys look somewhere else..while we...you
know....
(pause)
Please?
(pause)
I guess you are not going to listen are you? Well, I'll
have to do something then.

SONIA
What are you going to do?

KETUL
Don't worry sweetheart. I've seen too many Bollywood
movies to know what to do now..

Ketul takes a big rose bouquet and keeps it in front of him and Sonia, as they
disappear behind them.

CUT TO:

STAGE - Raj and Akash talk about Sonia

STAGE

RAJ
I remember Ketul was quite a player in college. I am
surprised it took him so long to get married.

AKASH
Didn't I say that he would be the first one among us to
get married.

RAJ
Do you think he married the girl he was dancing with.
What was her name?

AKASH
Sonia? I don't know. But, that would be something eh.
We can then tell stories to their grand kids about how
they met.

RAJ
Yeah, only I don't remember anything except the fact
that I did not dance with any girls that night, Ketul
scored big time.
(pause)
You know, he wasn't always like this. I still remember
the first time I met him at his seventh B'day party. He
was a very shy guy...

CUT TO:

SCREEN - Young Ketul's B'day party

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY (SCREEN)

The setting is Ketul's 7th birthday celebrations. It is a house party and there
a lots of kids around. Ketul is standing behind a cake. There is a #7 candle on
the cake. Ketul's dad is holding the camera, and we hear him Voice Over now and
then.

The camera zooms in on Ketul. He is looking at the cake.As the camera zooms out
we see two boys standing to his right. There is a girl standing to his left.
Everyone starts singing the happy birthday song. Before the song is over, the
girl blows the candle.

Ketul gets upset and pushes her. She pushes him back, hard. Ketul falls off the
chair.

CUT TO:

STAGE - Raj and Akash reminisce

STAGE

RAJ
I remember. He used to run away from all the girls
when he was young. It has been such a long time, and it
just seems like yesterday.

AKASH
I wouldn't know. I met you guys in college. So, tell me
what happened at the party?

RAJ
That was the first time I met Ketul, on his 7th
Birthday. Actually it was the other way around. Ketul
met me and my friends - Pooja, Neil and Farhan. We
thought he was just the weirdest boy. He could not
speak a single word of english. Hadn't it been for the
cake , we all would've never gone there in the first
place.
(pause)
I'm glad that I went. Who would've known that we would
become such good friends. Until ofcourse we met you in
college.

AKASH
Hey, hey, hey. Then the friendship just became
stronger.That was the best thing that happened to you
guys. I liberated you guys. Otherwise you guys still
would've been watching those stupid Hindi movies and
playing teen patti every day. You should be thankful to
me..

RAJ
You should thank us. When I first met you in the
Chemistry class, you were such a FOB. You had all the
signs - the accent, the parathas in your lunch box and
the constant staring at any girl in a short skirt.
(pause)
I'm glad it has changed now.

AKASH
I still look at girls in skirts. Thats something which
will never change.
(pause)
It was funny how you and Ketul called me a FOB, while I
thought you were bigger FOB's than me. You knew every
dialogue for every Hindi movie, right from Sholay to
Dil Chahta Hain. And Ketul..for the longest time...he
used to dance to every hindi song.

RAJ
Ha ha. I remember that. Wasn't it at the Christmas
Party at Monica's place, that he broke into a dance
routine.

AKASH
Yes. He was dancing to 'Woh Ladki Hain Kahan', you
know...with those funny bird-like hand movements
(Akash imitiates a bird's flapping action)

RAJ
Ha ha. Right. I remember that night. Do you still have
the tape?

AKASH
What tape? The one that Monica took.

CUT TO:

SCREEN - Christmas party at Monica's place

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (SCREEN)

Its Christmas eve There is a Christmas tree in the background. MONICA is holding
a digital camera and is asking everyone their new year's resolutions. Raj,
Akash, NIDHI (Raj's girlfriend) and Ketul are sitting on a couch and a chair.
During this entire scene we hear Monica's voice only. Soft music can be heard in
the background.

MONICA(V.O.)
(turning on the camera)
Ok everyone...let's hear it. It's time for new year's
resolutions...

AKASH(V.O.)
Monica, this is X-mas eve jaan not the new year's eve.
Remind me again why do we have to go through this
naatak six days in advance..

MONICA(V.O.)
(focusing on Akash)
Because, I am not going to be here for New Year's eve
and I want to capture this memory..

AKASH
How about we tape it later and send it to you..

MONICA(V.O.)
Sweetheart, the last time you took the video on my
B'day, it cam out like Blair witch project meets Star
Wars..

RAJ(V.O.)
(doing a mimic of Star Wars Intro)
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there is
unrest in the Galactic Senate..

MONICA(V.O.)
...I do NOT want a sequel to that now...

RAJ(V.O.)
...today, there appears to be unrest in Monica
Banerjee's house..

AKASH
Jaan..that was just an accident...

RAJ
Dude...what is the big deal. Lets do the resolutions
now. At least we'll have six days before they become
effective. We can still change them...

NIDHI
Doesn't that defeat the purpose then? I mean..

MONICA(V.O.)
Everyone quiet. We have our first resolution.
(points the camera to Akash)
Raj..why don't you go first?

RAJ
Yeah..umm..why don't I?
(clears his throat)
My new year's resolution is to stop the extinction of
the Bengal Tiger

KETUL
You will go to Bangladesh for that?

RAJ
No idiot.
(pause)
The Bengal tigers are from India.or rather were. Now
they are almost extinct..

AKASH
Kyaa pangaa hain yaar...lets not go international with
the resolutions. Last year you were going to stop the
depleting levels of the Mediterranean sea. Forget
Europe, you didn't even go beyond New York..

RAJ
Fine, lets stay local. So what is my resolution this
year...
(looks at Nidhi)
..I resolve to be a better listener
(smiles at Nidhi)
..and to accept the fact that I cannot really cook.
(pause)
and to come to terms with reality that I will never
meet Aishwarya Rai..
(pause)
and I resolve to keep Nidhi happy...

NIDHI
That's so sweet..can I go next?

MONICA(V.O.)
Ofcourse..

NIDHI
My resolution this year is to make sure Raj doesn't
change his resolutions in the next six days..

MONICA(V.O.)
Ha ha. Bravo..
(pause)
So who's next? Akash?

AKASH
Fine..I'll go.I resolve to re-implement all the last
year's resolutions, this year.

MONICA(V.O.)
Akash...

AKASH
What?
(pause)
Fine. Let's see..can I steal Raj's resolution?

RAJ(V.O.)
No you can't!

MONICA(V.O.)
C'mon, be serious Akash..

AKASH
Ok. I resolve to work on my GMAT this year..

MONICA(V.O.)
And..

AKASH
and..to face the reality that being a DJ is not quite
the career path I'd like to take..

MONICA(V.O.)
and..

AKASH
And?

MONICA(V.O.)
And!

AKASH
oh yeah..and I resolve to quit smoking from January
first, two thousand.

MONICA(V.O.)
Awesome
(we see the camera move closer to Akash, as
she leans over and kisses him. We do not see
the kiss.)
There is no backing out now, you are on tape.
(pause)
Ketul...its your turn now.

KETUL
I don't have any major resolutions. I guess I just need
to start going out more, i guess. Meet more people you
know.

MONICA(V.O.)
Oh. I completely forgot. I have this friend and she's
very cute, and she's single...
(we see Akash shaking his head)
you guys should totally meet.

KETUL
I don't know about blind dates..

MONICA(V.O.)
You just said you want to meet more people. She is
charming and bubbly and very talkative. You'd like her.
I'll call her right away..

AKASH
(getting up)
I'm going out for a ..ahem...breath of fresh air.
(looking into the camera)
I have six more days, right?
(looking to his right)
you guys wanna come?

RAJ/KETUL(V.O.)
Sure.

MONICA(V.O.)
I'll call Pallavi right away..

Monica places the camera on the table. We see Akash, Raj and Ketul walk towards
the closet, take out their jackets . We hear Monica's voice in the background.

MONICA(V.O.)
Pallavi? Hi..its me Monica...

The three guys open the door and walk out of it.

STAGE - Ketul, Akash and Raj in the driveway, smoking

STAGE

NEED TO ADD DIALOGUES. This is the only scene on stage where all the three are
together.

SCREEN - Christmas party at Monica's place

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (SCREEN)

The camera is still in its original position, pointing towards the door. We see
Raj, Akash and Ketul entering the door. They take off their jackets and walk
towards the couch.

MONICA(V.O.)
Ketul.I jsut talked to Pallavi and guess what? She is
really excited to see you. How is your schedule the day
after tomorrow?

KETUL
Er..that day..

MONICA(V.O.)
I knew you were free. So, I just told her you would see
her at The Olive Garden. Seven thirty pm sharp. Don't
be late...

Focus on Ketul's face.

FADE OUT.

STAGE- Ketul meets Pallavi

STAGE

Its a restaurant setting. Ketul is sitting at a table on the farther end of the
stage. The waiter walks towards Ketul.

KETUL
What time is it?

WAITER
It is 7.45 , sir. Would you like something to drink?

KETUL
No thank you

WAITER
Would you like to take a look at our wine menu, sir?

KETUL
No. I am fine.

WAITER
How about our cocktail menu? We have a wide selection
of cocktails.

KETUL
(annoyed)
No, thank you.

WAITER
I'm sure you'd like our margaritas

KETUL
I'll have another glass of water if you don't mind.

WAITER
(to the audience)
Just water? Who comes to restaurants for water? I hope
he tips me at least.

Waiter gives him a cold stare and walks away.

RAJ(V.O.)
Did Ketul go on that blind date? I can't believe that.
I can imagine him sitting at the table, waiting for
that girl..what was her name?

AKASH(V.O.)
Pallavi..

RAJ(V.O.)
Right, Pallavi. I can imagine him waiting for her at
the table..nervous. And we know what he does when he
gets nervous?

AKASH(V.O.)
Drinks water like a fish.

Ketul takes a sip of water.

AKASH(V.O.)
He went on the date. You know how Monica is. She is the
blind date nazi. Who can say no to her. Even I..
(pause)
..I was on mute in front of her. I wonder what poor
Ketul must have been thinking.

KETUL
(talks to the audience)
Monica does come across too strong sometimes; I am sure
she means well.
(pause)
Why? Why do I do this all the time? Why do I say 'Yes'
when I really want to say 'No'? One word - NO - and I
would've been at home watching the game. But, I just
can't do it.

RAJ(V.O.)
Poor Ketul, he can never say NO. And,Monica she is a
fire cracker.I couldn't understand for the longest time
what you two were doing together. Wasn't she on your
case to quite smoking?
(pause)
So, did you finally quit?

AKASH(V.O.)
I did. I quit her.
(pause)
Actually, she broke up with me. I still don't know why?
(pause)
Anyway, Ketul did go on this blind date. He wasn't
quite keen on going, but I guess he felt obligated to
Monica and me, since I was dating her at that time. If
only he knew she would break up with me two days later.

KETUL
(talking to the audience)
I don't think Akash and Monica will ever break up. I
think they'll marry each other eventually.

AKASH(V.O.)
Before he went, we agreed on the three-call protocol.
You remember the protocol?

Ketul takes out his cell phone and keeps it on the table.

RAJ(V.O.)
I remember that. You call him three times, giving him
three chances to get out of the blind date.
(pause)
Did he pick up the phone?

Ketul's phone rings. Ketul picks up the phone.

KETUL
Hello? Akash?

AKASH(V.O.)
Your first chance to escape lover boy..

KETUL
Escape from what? She is not here yet.

AKASH(V.O.)
How long have you been waiting for?

KETUL
About twenty minutes, I think.

AKASH(V.O.)
You crazy. You should go home.

KETUL
I should? You think so. Maybe I should.

AKASH(V.O.)
Ofcourse you should. No one waits for more than five
minutes. Get the hell out of there.
(pause)
Am getting another call.I'll call you right back.

KETUL
(talks to the audience)
He's right. I should leave. What do you think?
(pause)
I think I'll get the check.
(raises his hand)
Waiter!

WAITER
Yes sir?

KETUL
Can I have the..er..check please?

The waiter looks at him for a second, slowly takes the empty glass of water and
puts it on his tray, turns around and walks away.

Pallavi walks into the scene.

PALLAVI
Ketul? Hi, I am Pallavi. I am so sorry I am late. I had
a last minute meeting. You know how things go at work?
(pause)
I hope I didn't keep you waiting for long.

KETUL
No. I..I..just got here.

Pallavi sits on the chair next to Ketul.

PALLAVI
That's good. I was afraid that you might've left. Did
you order anything yet?

KETUL
Haven't had the time to order anything.

The waiter walks onto the scene and leaves the check at the table.

KETUL
(to the waiter)
Can we take a look at your drinks menu?
(to Pallavi)
Would you like a drink?

PALLAVI
I'd like that. I love Margarita's

WAITER
(to Pallavi)
Would you like to take a look at our wine menu?

PALLAVI
No thanks.I think I'll..

WAITER
How about our cocktail menu? We have a wide selection
of cocktails.

PALLAVI
Ok. I'll look at the menu.

The waiter walks away.

AKASH(V.O.)
When Ketul first saw Pallavi, he wanted to leave.

RAJ(V.O.)
Why? Was he nervous?

PALLAVI
Are you nervous?

AKASH(V.O.)
You bet. He was a nervous wreck.

KETUL
Nervous? Me. No. Not at all.

PALLAVI
(pointing at the check)
What's that? It looks like a check.

KETUL
(looking at the check)
It does, doesn't it? It not a check. NO. Its...just a
message.

PALLAVI
A message? Someone left you a message here?

KETUL
Yeah...weird.

PALLAVI
Is that someone from work.

KETUL
That's right. Its a message from work.

PALLAVI
But, why would they leave a message here?

KETUL
Exactly my question?
(looking at the audience)
Why would someone leave me a message here?

PALLAVI
Are you working today?

KETUL
Ofcourse. I am working today. Today is a work day. I am
on call.

PALLAVI
On a Sunday? You work on Sunday's?

KETUL
Its a Sunday.
(looking at the audience)
Why the hell am I working on a Sunday?
(pause)
You guys are no hel, really.
(looks at Palalvi)
Because..because of the time difference.
(looking at Pallavi)
The client is in Tokyo.So, is is Monday there.

PALLAVI
Tokyo? That's nice.I've never been there, but I've read
a lot about it and I've seen it in a few movies. It's a
beautiful city. Everything seems so small out there,
the people, the roads even the buildings. And it's not
only in Tokyo but the whole country of China seems that
way.

KETUL
Country of China? But, Tokyo is..

PALLAVI
The capital of China. I know that much..
(laughs)

The waiter walks in with the menu and hands it over to Pallavi.

PALLAVI
I'll have a ...cosmopolitan.

WAITER
And for you sir? Is it going to be water again?

KETUL
Yeah. I'll have water.

The waiter walks away.

AKASH(V.O.)
He said it was funny how she kept changing here drinks
all the time.

RAJ(V.O.)
Did you call him again?

AKASH(V.O.)
I called him..

Ketul's phone rings.He looks at it and turns it off.

AKASH(V.O.)
..but he didn't pick it up.

RAJ(V.O.)
He must've liked Pallavi...

AKASH(V.O.)
I guess...

PALLAVI
Was that a call from work?

KETUL
Just a friend.
(pause)
So, what do you do?

PALLAVI
I am a sales executive at the cosmetic firm - Minus. I
love my job It's great. One good thing about it is
that you have to look good all the time and you don't
pay a dime for that. It's every girls dream.

KETUL
That must be fun. I'm an in IT.

PALLAVI
So, do you all that cool stuff people see in movies?
You know, people flying, and little clown fish talking
and all the mummies coming back from life. I just love
that movie - The Mummy. Isn't it just cool how dead
people come to life, just to die again?

KETUL
You like action movies?

Ketul an Pallavi go on mute, act as if they are talking.

AKASH(V.O.)
At some point, they started talking about movies. What
else can you talk about on a blind date?

RAJ(V.O.)
C'mon. Maybe she liked movies as mush as Ketul did. Its
not possible for them to talk about movies for a long
time. Unless her favorite movie was..

PALLAVI
Jerry Maguire.That's my all time favorite movie.

KETUL
What a coincidence? I love that movie.
(mocking a dialogue)
'You complete me'

Both laugh.

RAJ(V.O.)
Let me guess what happened when you must've called the
second time.

Ketul's phone rings. He does not pick it up.

RAJ(V.O.)
He didn't pick it up right?

AKASH(V.O.)
No, he didn't.You know how he gets about that movie. He
sees himself as Jerry Maguire. Once he told me, that
the movie is the story of his life. I said, 'Fine. Lets
assume it's the story of your life. Then I'm going to
ask you one thing and one thing only my friend- 'show
me the money'.

RAJ(V.O.)
He is like a little boy when it comes to that
movie.Only if every girl knew that . All she needs to
do is go to the blockbuster at the corner of 22nd and
4th, grab the DVD and a bag of popcorn, and Ketul is
all her's. This is one of the best-kept secret after
the mummification.

PALLAVI
So, do you do this often? Blind dates, I mean.

KETUL
You are the first one. What about you?

PALLAVI
I don't mind really. It is the same as meeting someone
at a bar or at a lounge. Its dark there so you can
hardly see them, you are drunk so your judgment is all
off and then on top of that you have to scream at the
top of your voice even to ask the name of the person. I
would rather meet someone like this.

KETUL
Do you date a lot?

PALLAVI
Er..no. Not a lot. I was dating this guy once. I had
met him at a bar and he seemed like a nice guy.
Obviously I am not seeing him now else I wouldn't be
here. He was a total waste of my time.

KETUL
What happened?
(pause)
I mean, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to.

PALLAVI
No, no. It's ok. I don't mind. I found out that jerk
was seeing someone else behind my back.

KETUL
Two-timing?

RAJ(V.O.)
So, do you still talk to Monica?

AKASH(V.O.)
No man. She flipped out when she found out I was dating
this other girl.

PALLAVI
Yes...all the time he was going out with me. He was
seeing this other chick. I don't understand how some
people can do that.Where do they find the time to do
that?

AKASH(V.O.)
She never told me how she found out about it though.
Not that it matters...

KETUL
Beats me. I am surprised how Akash does it too..

PALLAVI
Does what?

KETUL
What?

PALLAVI
Akash does what?

KETUL
Nothing. Nothing at all.

Both of them go silent. Pallavi seems to be thinking something. Ketul's phone
rings.

KETUL
Hello?

AKASH(V.O.)
Last call to get out of there.

KETUL
Hello Mr. Kobiyashi. How are you today?

AKASH(V.O.)
Do you really want to know?

KETUL
Oh. Sure. I can log on in about fifteen minutes, if
that's ok.

AKASH(V.O.)
Is it a boring date, or did you say something stupid?

KETUL
The second option.
(pause)
Ok then. I will talk to you in a bit. Bye.

Ketul hangs up the phone.

PALLAVI
You have to go?

KETUL
I am sorry. Work called.
(pause)
It was really nice meeting you.
(pause)
I will call you.

PALLAVI
You will?

Lights fade out on Ketul and Pallavi. Akash and Raj in the spotlight.

RAJ
So, he never told you what went wrong with the date?

AKASH
Never talked about it. For some reason, he kept saying
he was sorry. Didn't say for what. Just kept saying he
was sorry .Weird.

RAJ
That's weird. Was he sorry that he made you call so
many times? What was he sorry for?

AKASH
Who knows. That's him. His apologies come way before he
does something stupid.
(pause)
Anyway, how was you quest to find Ms. Right? Or Ms.
Left?

RAJ
Nidhi and I broke up a few months after the christmas
party. So, much for the resolutions. She seemed a
little materialistic. Wanted a guy who drove a BMW and
all that good stuff. When she realized I am never going
to get rid of my blue Honda Civic, she got rid of me.

AKASH
Jeeze. You still driving that piece of junk. You are
almost married to it. And to top it, you have this
stupid number plate - 'YODA'.
(pause)
Good luck getting girls with that.

RAJ
What's wrong with it? I just happen to like star wars.
The car serves the purpose. Gets me around.

AKASH
You didn't date anyone after Nidhi?

RAJ
No, not really. I did try to go out and meet people,
but it was just hard.

AKASH
Hey...did you ever try this online dating website. They
had this commercial playing every day. What was it
called .. I am trying to remember the
name....VirtualMate....VirtualShaadi...

CUT TO:

SCREEN - INFOMERCIAL - VirtualMandap.com

SCREEN

Infomercial of VirtualMandap.com

The following text appears on the screen..

'Are you single?..We know you are. '

'And we know how it feels to be single. You think you are alone, but we know
that you are not the only one.

You have tried getting a cute dog...

You have offered to take your cousin's two year old for a walk...

You have tried every trick in the book...

But, to no avail.

No need to be disappointed, because Virtual Mandap is here.

We serve 752 singles on this planet..

and 14 on the Starbase 173 space station...

So...what are you waiting for...

Your soul mate is just a click away..

VirtualMandap.com

FADE OUT.

STAGE- Raj and Akash talk about Ketul's online profile

STAGE

AKASH
VirtualMandap.com. That's it. Did you ever try it?

RAJ
No. I was never convinced about that approach. Are
times so bad, that you have to rely on the virtual
world to find you real love?

AKASH
It's just another way to meet people. You don't have to
be so critical about it.
(pause)
Plus, you are too modest to write about yourself
anyway. I can imagine your profile 'Single, balding
Indian, who drives a blue hinda civic with 'YODA'
license plates and has a crush on Aishwarya Rai..'

RAJ
Very funny. An your profile would read ' Single, bald,
Indian guy, who is looking for his insignificant
other...

AKASH
Anyway, guess who finally put his profile on the site?

RAJ
Ketul?

AKASH
Yes...our own Ketul Patel.

RAJ
I would've never imagined him to take this bold step.

AKASH
Yes. he ventured into the land where no Patel has
ventured before.

RAJ
Wait a minute? Did you..

AKASH
What? I just gave him a little nudge. A little dhakka.

RAJ
I know you had something to do with it.
(pause)
So, what did he write in his profile? Did he meet
anyone through the site?

AKASH
Slow down.Slow down. Yes, he did create his profile.

CUT TO:

SCREEN - Ketul Enters his online profile

INT. KETUL'S STUDY - NIGHT (SCREEN)

We focus on Ketul He looks as if he is in deep thought. The camera turns and we
see he is sitting in front of a computer. Ketul opens a browser.

Close up on the address bar.

The following URL is typed in:

www.virtualmandap.com

Close up of a finger hitting ENTER.

Website is displayed.

Close up of mouse cursor clicking the link:

Create NEW profile

New profile page is displayed

Close up of Name field. The following text is entered in it:

Ketul Patel

Close up of the field 'HEIGHT'

The following text is entered in it: 5'9"

(pause)

The text is deleted and the NEW text is entered : 5'11"

Close up on Description field.

(add description)

STAGE - Ketul meets Aditi

STAGE

AKASH
After several edits, he finally got his profile up on
the site.

RAJ
Did he get a lot of response?

KETUL
Honestly...NO.
(pause)
The first few weeks were very disappointing for him. No
one contacted him, and all the girls he was contacting
rejected him.

RAJ
Poor guy. Must've been feeling like a realy looser.

AKASH
Yeah, ekdum Kelaa.

RAJ
(to the audience)
Kelaa, its a Bombay slang that means a total looser.
(to Akash)
Did he remove his profile from the site then?

AKASH
He was about to, when this one girl contacted him. Her
name was Aditi. Ketul was very excited about it. They
started exchanging emails, and after two emails they
were talking over the phone.

RAJ
That's fast.

AKASH
You have to be. There is no point wasting time on this
online dating sites. You have to follow a the basic
'Akash Rule'
(pause)
Two emails...two phone calls...and then have to meet in
person. Because, you might have great emails, but lousy
conversations. Or you might have a great conversation,
but no chemistry when you meet the person. Why waste
time pursuing a dead end. Just meet the person and find
out...

RAJ
That seems a bit too intense. What if the person is far
away?

AKASH
Trust me man. It always works.

RAJ
I am assuming you shared your profound knowledge with
Ketul as well.

AKASH
Of course. That's when he decided to meet the girl.
They had exchanged two emails, had talked over the
phone once, and then decided to meet.
(pause)
What was the name of the girl...

CUT TO:

Spotlight on far right of the Stage.ADITI is standing next to the waiter.

ADITI
Aditi. You have a reservation under the name of Aditi.

WAITER
Please follow me Madam.

The waiter leads Aditi to a table. She takes a seat.

WAITER
Would you like something to drink, madam?

ADITI
I'll have an apple martini.

WAITER
Would you like to take a look at our wine menu, madam?

ADITI
(look at him)
I just ordered, didn't I?
(pause)
Thank you.

The waiter walks away.

RAJ(V.O.)
How did that date go?

AKASH(V.O.)
I wouldn't know. we never got a chance to talk about
it. I joined school after that, and haven't spoken to
him since. I know you talked to him after that, didn't
you?

The waiter comes back with the apple martini. He places the glass on the table.

ADITI
Would you happen to know the time?

WAITER
It is 7.45 PM, madam.

ADITI
Thank you.

The waiter walks away. Ketul walks on the scene.

KETUL
Aditi?

ADITI
Yes. Ketul, right?

KETUL
That's me.

Ketul takes a seat.

KETUL(CONTD.)
Sorry to keep you waiting. I was stuck in..

ADITI
Traffic? Really? Isn't that such a convenient excuse to
use?
(pause)
Anyway, I took the liberty of ordering myself an apple
martini. Hope you don't mind.

KETUL
No. Not at all.
(signals for the waiter)
I'll get something for myself.

The waiter walks on the scene.

WAITER
Water for you sir?

KETUL
Yes. Actually on second thought..
(looks at Aditi)
I'll have a double vodka and tonic.

The waiter looks at him with surprise and walks away.

ADITI
So, here we are. Did you have any problems finding the
place?

KETUL
I've been here before. It's a nice place. There are
some crazy drivers out there, though.

ADITI
Tell me about it. I had the worst time getting here. I
was driving, you know, not too crazy, just going in my
lane. And all of a sudden this blue Honda Civic cuts me
off. Right out of nowhere, comes right into my lane.
No warning, no signal. Just like that. Boom. Pissed me
off.

The waiter walks on the scene and keeps Ketul's drink on the table, and walks
away.

ADITI
So, what was I saying?

KETUL
The blue Honda civic..

ADITI
Yeah. You know what I did? Nothing too crazy. I just
followed the car, blaring my horn until the moron got
off an exit. Must've taught him a lesson.

KETUL
How did you know it was a guy?

ADITI
Because his number plates. No girl would have those
number plates.

Ketul holds his glass to his mouth.

ADITI
His number plates read YODA.

Ketul spills his drink and starts coughing.

ADITI
Are you OK?

KETUL
Yeah, yeah. I am fine. I am fine.

ADITI
Ok. You look a bit different from your picture online.
And, didn't you say you were 5'11"?

KETUL
That must've been a typo..

ADITI
Either that or should I just assume that everything is
short by a few inches?
(pause)
Oh, relax. I am just joking.

KETUL
(faking a laugh)
Ha ha.

ADITI
How long have you had your profile on the website?

KETUL
Just a few days. A friend of mine convinced me to put
it online.

ADITI
So, you do what your friends tell you to?

KETUL
Yeah. I mean, not in that sense. I don't do everything
they say. Take a few pointers here and there.

ADITI
So, you are basically incapable of making your own
decisions?
(pause)
That was a joke.

KETUL
(faking a laugh)
Ha ha. You are funny.

ADITI
I know. Thanks. Did you meet any other girls through
the site?

KETUL
Er...er.No. Not really.

ADITI
Don't tell me I am the first girl you met?
(pause)
Oh my God. That's it, isn't it? I am the first girl you
are meeting.

KETUL
Yeah...I guess you can say that.

ADITI
So I should feel obligated?
(pause)
Or maybe I should feel pathetic?
(pause)
Joke.

KETUL
(faking a laugh)
Ha ha.

ADITI
You weren't this quiet over the phone, yesterday.

KETUL
I'm just...just..

ADITI
Don't worry about it? Let me ask you a question? Do you
believe in love?

KETUL
I think so. I mean, I've never been in love before, but
I would like to fall in love. Don't you think its the
most beautiful feeling ever?

ADITI
That's bullshit. There is no such thing as love. It's
like a headache. When you don't know what is causing a
pain, you call it a headache.
(pause)
Same thing with love. If you can't name your feeling
its called love. No one can define it. But, everyone
has experienced it.

KETUL
But, isn't it a beautiful feeling. Don't you have a
stupid grin on you face when you are in love with
someone?

ADITI
Its commercialized. Movies, books, cartoons and even
the internet. Everyone is cashing on this feeling.
(pause)
Take this for instance. All we know about each other is
how tall we are, even that is in question now. I know
that you like dogs and you know I hate cats.
(pause)
And here we are sitting in front of each other, waiting
for that magical moment to fall in love.

KETUL
You don't think there is such a thing as love?

ADITI
There isn't. Its called compromise. You like certain
things about the other person, and you just compromise
on the things that annoy you.

KETUL
Am I annoying you right now?

ADITI
No. Trust me, you will know if I am annoyed.

KETUL
I guess I'll hear a blaring horn then..

Sound of a car horn in the background.

KETUL
That was a joke.

ADITI
Anyway, so what is your every day like?

KETUL
Just like any other day. I get up, go to work, come
back. Sometime I meet my friends, sometimes I just
chill at home.

ADITI
And what do you want to do in life?

KETUL
My goal in life...hmm. Well, I don't have anything
major planned. The main aim is to be content in life.
What about you?

ADITI
I am very ambitious. I am a lawyer right now. I have
planned my life and also my husband-to-be's life.

KETUL
You have set goals for the guy who marry's you.

ADITI
Yes. I do. Lets be real here. Power is everything. And
power comes with money. I would like to be in that
powerful position soon. And, I am sure with my husband
on my side we can reach there much faster.
(pause)
I can imagine myself living in one of those mansions up
in East Hampton, driving a Benz with a few other parked
in the garage...

KETUL
(clears his throat)
I drive a Totyota Corolla.

ADITI
Small things like that, change. As long as its nothing
major, say for example you like dogs. That would be a
problem now, wouldn't it?

CUT TO:

SCREEN - INFOMERCIAL - Dog is a man's best friend

SCREEN

Blank Screen - Text appears

'A dog is a man's best friend'

Blank Screen - Text appears

'Its hard to meet the ONE'

Show a guy walking on a boardwalk. A very cute girl walks next to him. The guy
tries to get the girls attention. She comes close to him. The guy smiles. She
gets closer. He smiles. She slaps him on his cheek.

Blank Screen - Text appears

'How do you know if you are the ONE'

Close up of Neo (from Matrix) saying,"I am not the ONE"

Trinity saying,"But you are the one Neo"

Morpheus saying,"He is the one"

Blank Screen - Text appears

'You take the help of your best friend'

Show the same guy walking on a boardwalk. A very cute girl walks next to him.
The guy tries to get the girls attention. She comes closer to him. The guy
smiles. She comes closer to him. The guy smiles. Suddenly, she gets down on her
knees, and we see she is petting a cute poodle. The guy smiles.She gets up,
smiles and gives him a kiss on his cheek.

Blank Screen - Text appears

'Dog IS a man's best friend'.

We have all kinds of dog's for rentals, based on the person you want to impress.
Poodles for blondes, Dashchunds for Brunettes and doberman's for bald people.

A friend in need..is a friend indeed after all!

CUT TO:

STAGE - Raj and Akash talk about Ketul's trip to India

STAGE

RAJ
(looking towards the screen)
Dog's for rent? How stupid is that?

AKASH
Why? It might work. Girls do like to pet cute dogs. Its
a great conversation starter, just like having a hookah
in your apartment. No one cares if you smoke it or not,
but they want to know all about it.

RAJ
What if the girl I'm trying to impress hates dogs? Or
even worse what if she is allergic to them? There go my
chances of asking her out.
(pause)
Plus, who is going to take care of the dog? It's not
like India where you let them off on the streets, they
do what they have to do, and you just turn a blind eye
to it.

AKASH
That's why you don't own them. You rent them
(pause)
India reminds me, didn't Ketul go to India to check out
a few girls.

RAJ
Oh yes. I forgot about that. On his mother's insistence
he finally agreed to see this one girl in India. Her
name was Hetal Patel.

CUT TO:

SCREEN - Ketul goes to India

EXT. AIRPORT - DAY (SCREEN)

Show a plane taking off

CUT TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY (SCREEN)

Ketul and HETAL walk into a room. We can hear people talking behind them in
hushed voices. As Ketul and Hetal enter the room, the door closes behind them.
Ketul walks in the front and Hetal follows him. Hetal sits on the bed. Ketul
sits next to her. She gets up suddenly. Ketul gets up after her. He motions her
to sit on the bed. He walks to the corner of the room and pulls a chair in front
of her. He sits on the chair.

KETUL
So, here we are.

HETAL
Yes.

KETUL
I have never done this before. I don't know what to
say. Any ideas?

HETAL
No.

KETUL
Ok. Well, let me try. So, Hetal what do you do?

HETAL
(looks into the camera)
I have graduated B.E. first class with distinction.
Eighty Seven percent. When I come home I help my mother
with cooking. I can cook Gujrati khaman, Marathi Puran
Poli and Punjabi Roti. I can dance. I know Bharatnatyam
and Kathak. I can also knit, draw and sing.
(pauses and takes a deep breath)

KETUL
I was..

HETAL
And, I like to read.

KETUL(V.O.)
Oh, there is more.

HETAL
I have read all books from Agatha Christie to The life
of Pi. I also watch movies. I like Hindi and English
movies.My favorite movies are Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Ghum
and ..

KETUL
That's fine. I didn't ask about the entire family, and
the neighbors and Mr. Mulchandani who lives around the
block. I just wanted to know what you do, Hetal.

HETAL
I do all of this.

KETUL
You are telling me that in a normal 24 hour day, you
can manage to do all this and still get some sleep. I
knew there was a time difference between America and
India, but didn't know the days were longer here.

HETAL
I don't do this every day.

KETUL
You seem to be very smart and talented. Why are you
getting married? Don't you want to study further?

HETAL
I want to, but marriage is the next step in every
girl's life.

KETUL
And then?

HETAL
Then come kids.

KETUL
And then?

HETAL
Then comes their marriage.

KETUL
And what about your life? Your education?

HETAL
Do you really want to know?

KETUL
Yes, I do.

HETAL
I finished my Engineering this year. And, dad said I
can get married to a guy form America and go there and
pursue my Master's.
(pause)
So, marriage just seemed like an easy way to get to the
states.

KETUL
I am shocked.And I am glad you told me.

HETAL
You won't tell my dad would you?

KETUL
No. Not at all. Actually, thanks for being so honest.

HETAL
You seem like a nice guy. I don't know why, but I felt
like telling this to you.

KETUL
Thanks. Don't worry. I won't tell anyone.
(pause)
Did you ever consider the possibility that your future
husband may not support your further studies.

HETAL
No. I never thought of that.

KETUL
What if he says you have to be a house wife?

HETAL
That would be horrible.
(pause)
Then what can I do.

KETUL
I think, you should write your GRE's. Its a Graduate
Record Exam. And if you score well in it, which I am
sure you will , then you can start applying to
universities.

HETAL
I can?

KETUL
Its a very simple procedure. You send in your
application, they get back to you with the papers and
then you go and apply for a visa. With a few months you
are on your way to America. Pursuing you dream.

HETAL
What about the fees?And where will I stay?

KETUL
If you get good makrs, the universities give you a full
scholarship. You don't have to worry about money at
all.
(pause)
Then, you lead your life on your terms. You make your
decisions, and choose who you want to get married to.
(pause)
Here take down my email address and phone number. If
you need anything..anything at all...give me a call.

HETAL
I should do this then?

KETUL
Absolutely, you should.

Hetal gets up.

HETAL
I'll tell my dad that I want to study further. I don't
want to get married right now.

Ketul gets up.

KETUL
You should.

HETAL
I should tell them right now.

Hetal walks towards the door. Ketul holds her arm.

KETUL
Er..can you wait for five minutes. Let me get out of
here, before you tell your parents.

HETAL
Ofcourse.
(she shakes his hand)
Thanks a lot Ketul. Thanks a lot.

Ketul walks out of the door.

CUT TO:

Ketul walking out of the house. In the background we hear Hetal's dad screaming.

CUT TO:

EXT. AIRPORT - DAY (SCREEN)

Show a plane landing

FADE OUT.

SCREEN - Last Scene - Montage

STAGE

RAJ
Last I heard, she came here to America, the girl Ketul
met in India.

AKASH
Did they meet here then?

RAJ
I really have no idea.

AKASH
So, basically we don't know who he is getting married
to, do we?

RAJ
Not a clue.

AKASH
Does anyone know who he is getting married to?

RAJ
(walks towards the audience)
Do you know? But, then how would you. You don't really
know Ketul.

AKASH
I think we should do a quick recap.

The curtains slowly start to close, as the screen come to life.

SCREEN

Close up shots -

DAD
Ketul will marry the girl, I will select for him. He is
a very obedient dikraa.

CUT TO:

MOM
Today's kids are very fast. They choose their partners.

CUT TO:

MAN 1
(text at the bottom : random man off the 6th
avenue)
I think Ketul will marry the girl from India...what was
her name? Oh, that's right I am not supposed to know
that because I'm just a random stranger.

CUT TO:

HETAL
Yaaay! I got my visa and I am going to New York for my
Masters. I hope Ketul picks up the phone when I call
him...

CUT TO:

A Plane taking off.

WOMAN 1
(text at the bottom : random woman ....
Sorry. Not so random woman..)
I was Ketul's prom date. He wanted to kiss me all
night. No, we are not getting married. But, he is
getting married.

PALLAVI
(she is wearing the same outfit she was
wearing on the date)
(text: Footage taken right after the first
date...)
I think Ketul had a great time on our date.I had a
wonderful time. Would I see him again? Absolutely.

KETUL
I think I am in love...

ADITI
He is great. I can see us going a long way. I'll call
him if he doesn't call me. I am the one wearing the
pants in a relationship, anyway...

KETUL
I didn't even realize when I fell in love with her. It
didn't happen overnight. I've know her for a while..

SONIA
(text: a few hours ago)
I dated him for a short while after he graduated. Who
would've thought that he would even remember me? And,
today is the wedding. Can't wait...

RAJ
What am I doing up here? I was supposed to be on stage.
(pause)
What the hell, since I am here anyway.Are you all
curious to know who he is marrying? So, am I..

AKASH
(pushing Raj to the side)
I am more curious to know how he met the girl...

FADE OUT.

STAGE - Ketul's Wedding reception

STAGE

The curtains open, and we see a reception setting. A few people are present on
the stage. Pallavi, Aditi, Sonia and Hetal are also present at the reception.
Ketul's Mom and Dad are present there as well. There is loud music playing in
the background. Everyone is walking around.

Raj and Akash walk in from the farther end of the stage.

Ketul and the bride are on the stage, but their faces are not visible.

AKASH
There he is. Let's find out who the lucky girl is..

Raj and Akash walk towards Ketul and the bride. Raj shakes Ketul's hand. Akash
whispers something in Ketul's ears.

AKASH
(loudly)
Wait a minute.
(Everyone stops moving and the music stops)
Pooja? Who is Pooja?

Spotlight on Ketul and Pooja on stage.

We see the image of younger Ketul and the Girl at his B'day party. Ketul pushes
the girl. She pushes him back hard.

Screen goes blank.

On stage - Ketul gives Pooja a slight nudge, she pushes him back real hard and
he falls off the podium.

Lights on. Everyone starts moving and the music starts again.

Akash and Raj walk towards the front of the stage.

AKASH
(loudly)
Hold on. Not so soon.

Everyone stops moving and the music stops.

AKASH
She was in London for further studies, wasn't she?

RAJ
That's the last I remember.

AKASH
Then how the hell did they meet?

RAJ
(talking to the audience)
Beats me. Do you guys know how they met? I have no
absolutely no idea.

The same Waiter walks by.

AKASH
Maybe he knows how they met.
(to the waiter)
Hey, you have a minute?

WAITER
A minute? That's not on the menu sir. But, would you
like to take a look at the wine list?

AKASH
Oh, cut the crap.
(pause)
Do you know home Pooja and Ketul met?

WAITER
Ofcourse I do. See, Ketul used to bring his first dates
to the restaurant. Lot of pretty girls, some of them
were very smart. But, he never brought any girl there
twice because there were no second dates.
(pause)
After a while he had completely lost hope, and thought
that he would never find the girl of his dreams. He was
very sad.
(pause)
One day I was asked to be the waiter at an event, a
very different kid of an event.The concept was very
cool. Everyone was asked to bring their own friend with
them. That was the very first event.
(looking at the audience)
Chance Encounters. Yup, I was there when the event
happened for the first time last year. Ketul was there
and so was Pooja. Only, they had no idea about that.
That is, not until they bumped into each other...

(lights off)

Spotlights on at the farther end of the hall on KETUL and POOJA. We see them
bumping into each other.

WAITER(V.O.)
..and all Pooja had to do was to give him a little
nudge

Pooja gives him a little push.

WAITER(V.O.)
...and Ketul fell for her. Head over heels.They have
been together since that day.

Ketul and Pooja hold hands.

WAITER(V.O.)
..and soon they decided to walk down the altar.

Ketul and Pooja start walking towards the stage.

WAITER(V.O.)
..and now look where they are.

Ketul and Pooja climb up the stage and disappear backstage.

RAJ
Wow. That's amazing. I need to go to one of those
events.

AKASH
Is there another chance encounters happening anytime
soon?

WAITER
It's happening right now and you are in it.
(pause)
Now, if you will excuse me I have some drinks to serve.
Not everyone drinks water here.

The waiter walks away. Everyone starts walking in the background. The music
starts. Ketul and Pooja walk towards the front of the stage.

KETUL
(to the audience)
I know my dad can be a bit blunt sometimes.
(pause)
But, thanks for coming to my wedding.

POOJA
(to Ketul)
Our wedding.
(to the audience)
Thanks for coming. Please enjoy the open bar and in an
hour we will open the dance floor.
(pause)
But, before we head back, here is a little something..

Everyone on the stage breaks into a dance.

(need to select song)

All the actors come in the front and bow to the audience one by one.

Lights off on the stage.

Ketul's cartoon appears on the screen.

The following text appears on the SCREEN

'Ketul Patel does get Married'.

'And he lived happily ever after!'.

replace the exclamation mark with a question mark.

'And, he lived happily ever after?'

'Did he?'

Zoom out on the cartoon..

We see a busy Manhattan street...

Zoom out on the street...

We see New York..

Zoom out on New York...

We see USA's map...

Zoom out on USA..

We see Earth..

Zoom out on earth..

We see the Milky way...

Zoom out on the Milky way..

We see the galaxy...

The following text appears in Star Wars style..

This is Ketul Patel's story. And while he was busy getting married...

Several hundred solar systems,under the leadership of the Rebel Leader, Count
Dooku, have declared their intentions to secede from the Republic.

There is still unrest in the Galactic Senate.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....

FADE OUT.

The Wait ... (an original screenplay for a short film)

2005-01-07T01:54:00.000-05:00

FADE IN:

Black Screen. Text appears in white:

"Death destroys a man, but the idea of death is what saves
him." - E.M.Forester, Howards End

Text fades out. Black screen.

On black screen we hear sound of heart beats followed by
silence.

Background noise - someone coughing, a baby crying, faint
murmur.

INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM - DAY

FADE IN:

Wide Angle. A typical waiting room of a hospital. Camera
moves slowly. On the wall there is a sign 'St. Joseph
Medical Center'.

Under it we see a series of name plates with green background
and white letters on them.

'Dr. D.K. Reddy - Internal Medicine - 1st Floor'

'Dr. Art Hendricks - Pediatrician - 2nd Floor'

'Dr. Sophia Francis - Gynecologist - 3rd Floor'

'Dr. Rupert Smith - Internal Medicine - 2nd Floor'

'Dr. Scott Alstein - Family Practice - 2nd Floor'

'Dr. Philip Berk - Family Practice - 2nd Floor'

'Dr. Charles Braun - Infectious Diseases - 1st Floor'

'Dr. James Calman - Infectious Diseases - 1st Floor'

'Dr. James Chang - Dermatology - 2nd Floor'

'Dr. Sarah Caan - Internal Medicine - 1st Floor'

AMAR(O.S.)
Twenty Minutes. That's absurd. I
had an three O'clock apointment and
its past Three now. You want me to
wait for another twenty minutes?
2.

NURSE(O.S.)
I am sorry sir, but Doctor Braun is
with another patient right now. As
soon as he is done with the patient,
I shall let you know.
(beat)
In the meanwhile please take a seat
in the waiting area.

The camera moves from the signs, and we see AMAR standing at
the window. He is wearing a suit and a tie. He looks
FLUSTERED. He shakes his head and walks away from the window.

Amar sits down on a chair in the waiting area. He shakes his
leg anxiously and looks at his watch. He shakes his head and
looks around. There is a lot of background noise in the
room.We hear a faint murmur, someone coughing, a baby crying
in the background.

Bored, Amar picks up 'Vogue' magazine from the table in
front of him. He flips through the magazine.

Amar's POV - we see the pages of the magazine being turned.
Stop at one page. It is picture of a beautiful women wearing
lingerie. Scan the woman from top to bottom, down her legs.

The background noises slowly fade away. The room goes so
silent that even a PIN DROP can be heard.

Amar's POV - Slowly look up from the magazine.

Sound of heart beats.

Amar's POV - We see legs of a woman sitting front of Amar.

We hear faint club music in the background.

Amar's POV - Focus on the girl's feet.She wears an open toe
shoe and her nails are painted red.

Slowly the music starts getting louder, until we feel we are
in a club.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
please contact me at amiakh@gmail.com if interested in the screenplay
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two of a kind

2004-06-01T16:44:00.000-05:00

“Every single time”, he said.
“What?” she asked.
“You do it every single time”
“Do what?”
“Show up late”
“Only by a few minutes”
“Technically, ‘Thirty minutes’ does not fall in the ‘few minutes’ category”
“Oh, please! It not as if…”
“As if?”
“…as if you have other important things to do.”
“How would you know?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because…”
“Because?”
“Because!!”
“Because is not a sentence, Mister.”
“Because, you are never on time. So how would you know?”
“Jeeze! Can you please close the window?”
“It’s nice outside”
“I am feeling cold. Can you? Please?”
“Fine”, he said as he pressed the window button.
“Thanks. This is the nicest thing you have done for me this morning,” she said.
“What about me waiting? Wasn’t that nice?” he said.
“What wait?”
“Aah! Some things just never change, do they?”
“I agree. Your driving, for instance.”
“What’s wrong with my driving?”
“Nothing. I never said anything was wrong with it”
“That’s what you meant.”
“No. That’s how you interpreted it as.”
“It sounded like that.”
“I just said nothing has changed about it.”
“What hasn’t?”
“Well, you still change lanes every five minutes.”
“That’s because, someone was late, and someone has to make up for lost time”
“You aren’t gaining much time by doing this. You know that, right?”
“Every second counts.”
“I am sure they won’t mind waiting a few minutes for us.”
“I hate to keep anyone waiting”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really.”
“Interesting.”
“Why?”
“Because, I remember someone was late on their first date.”
“I am surprised.”
“That you were late?”
“No. That your memory is still intact”
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t change the topic.”
“I am not. I had told you why I was late”, he said as the car shifted to the left lane.
“Yeah. But, I still have my doubts”
“You do?”
“Ofcourse. I never bought the ‘I ran into my aunt’ routine.”
“But, I did.”
“Bullshit. She decided to come here all the way from Milwaukee and just hang around on the streets.”
“Well, I guess she missed me.”
“Missed you so much that she left that same day.”
“What can I say? You are a woman. You should know about this. The variations of moods.”
“There was no aunt. I think you were chicken.”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“Yes you were. You were nervous because you were going to meet me for the first time.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Deny it. It won’t change anything. It took you eleven months to ask me out. Eleven months! Even babies do not take that long.”
“I just wanted to be sure, you know.”
“Whatever. Just accept it. You were scared shitless of seeing me on our first date.”
“Ok. Let’s say I was a little nervous. But, your getting mad made that worse.”
“You were late by an hour, Mister. You should be glad I was still waiting for you.”
“You couldn’t had left. You had to let out the anger on someone, right?”
“I think I should have left. I must’ve been high or….”
“…. maybe in love.”
“Hah! Dream on, Mister.”
“I was, until we met. Then it was more like a nightmare. That was one hell of a fit you threw that day.”
“You deserved it.”
“This is like the stock market”, he said as the slowed down the car.
“What? The traffic?” she inquired as she noticed all the cars slowing down.
“Yeah, that, and your moods.”
“My moods?”
“Yes. One moment they are high up there, and the next moment they stumble.”
“Like a graph. It’s a science. You just need to know how to read it.”
“Exactly. Just like the stock market.” he said, as the car picked up a little speed.
“Rubbernecking?” she said.
“Probably.”
“Do you remember…?”
“…yes I do.”
“Everyone had slowed down to thirty miles.”
“Yeah”
“And, I was still unaware.”
“It wasn’t until the cops came that I realized we were providing free entertainment.”
“I was so embarrassed.”
“You should be. That was my first ticket.”
“I wasn’t embarrassed because of that. Its just that I never thought…”
“... that the cops would come?”
“No. That I was kissing you, while we were pulled over on the shoulder.”
“Kissing is the last thing we did.”
“ I know.”
“It was quite a thrill.”
“Yes it was.”
“Yeah.”
“Watch out,” she said, as a car crossed lanes in front of them.
“ I am looking,” he said looking at her.
“Not me. The road.”
“Since one of us is busy watching the road, I figured the other one could watch you,” he said
She smiled.
“And, she smiles,” he said.
“So, what time do you think Pooja and Rahul are reaching?” she asked.
“They should already be there”
“That will be a new record.”
“True, Rahul is always late.”
“I know.”
“Remember the first time, when we were waiting for him.”
“Yes. He was late by more than seven hours.”
“True. We were so happy to see him.”
“Yes.”
“And two years later when Pooja entered our lives.”
“That’s when they first met. Rahul and Pooja. Though, I had my apprehensions,” she said.
“Really? I didn’t,” he said, “I knew they would get along just fine.”
“I wasn’t quite sure”, she said.
“It worked out just fine. Look where they are now.”
“Yeah. It has been such a long time, and it just feels like yesterday.”
“I know,” he said, as he looked at her.
“Weren’t we supposed to take eighty two?” She asked.
“Eighty two, what?”
“The exit.”
“Yes. Why?”
“Because I think we just passed it.”
“Damn.”
“You should pay more attention to the road, mister.”
“Thought you were the navigator.”
“Since when?”
“Since…. forever. You have been navigating my life for a while now.”
“Aren’t you glad?”
“About what?”, he said.
“That your life is in very safe hands.”
“Well, technically the heart was handed over the first time we met. And, life is where the heart is.”
“Ha ha. That was a good one.”
“Thanks!”
“And quite original. I don’t think I heard that one before.”
“But, again you hardly ever listen”, he said as he took the next exit.
“Ofcourse”, she replied.
“Ofcourse, as in ‘Ofcourse I don’t’ “.
“No. I listen.”
“Liar”
“Prove it!”
“Do you remember when I proposed to you?”
“Oh c’mon. That was under different circumstances.”
“When I had asked, you had replied, ‘That was a bad movie, too.’”
“I thought you had said, ‘Willow Rain’”
“I had asked ‘Will you marry me?’”
“It was windy”
“I was on my knees”
“I thought you were tying your laces”
“You know what was the first thought that came to my mind when you said that?”
“What?”
“I thought ‘Oh my God! The girl I am going to marry has a problem with her left ear’”.
“Ha Ha. Now, only you can think of something like this while proposing to a girl”
“I had to do it all over again.”
“That was so romantic”
“Well, as they say ‘Practice makes a man perfect’”
“At least you got a trial attempt. A lot of people don’t get that”
“The second time I proposed, I was prepared for any answer.”
“Then why did you almost faint when I said yes?”
“Because….”
“Because?”
“Because!!”
“Because, does not qualify to be a sentence, mister.”
“Because, I wasn’t prepared for that answer, I guess”, he said looking at her and smiling.
“And, neither are you ready for the exit? We are almost near eighty-two. You might want to stay on your right lane”, she said, looking at the big green sign in front of her which read ‘Exit 82 – Canterbury’”
“Why Canterbury of all places”, he said as he shifted the car into the right lane.
“Pooja picked the restaurant. Make a right at the ramp.”
“Which restaurant?” he said, as the car turned right at the ramp.
“Tony’s Kitchen. Make a right at the first light.”
“Really?”
“Yes”
“That was such a long time ago. I wonder if she remembers? ” he said as he made a right.
“Of course she does. You will see the parking…”
“…I know the directions from here.”
“Ok”, she said.
“ I love their angel-hair pasta.”
“I know. And, Pooja knows that as well.”
“I wonder if they still make it?” he said as they pulled into a parking lot.
“I am sure they do.”
“Is that a spot?” he said as he slowed down the car next to a black Mercedes.
“That one?” she said pointing towards the empty spot and then reading the writing on the blue board added “No. I think it’s a reserved spot. Lets do valet”
“Lets drive through the lot one more time, before we give it to valet.”
“Finding a parking spot is all about timing”
“Isn’t everything?” he said.
After driving through the lot eight times and after he took the receipt from the Valet attendant, and after she gave him the ‘I told you, so’ look, they started walking towards ‘Tony’s Kitchen’.
There was nobody at the door.
“They are late again", he said as they approached the door.
“They’ll be here. You want to go inside and sit?”
“Yes. Lets go in”, he said, opening the door for her.

The first thing that came to his mind as they entered was ‘It is very dark and quiet’. That’s why they were not able to see all their friends standing in the banquet area, a total of about three hundred people. That’s why they did not see the huge banner hanging right above them, which read ‘Happy 25th Anniversary’. And that’s why they did not notice Pooja and Rahul standing right under the banner, with a bouquet of flowers in their hands.

Tears of happiness gushed through their eyes, when the lights were switched on and Rahul and Pooja screamed at the same time ‘Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad’.

The ? and the !

2004-06-01T16:42:00.000-05:00

I would'nt have noticed her, hadn't it been for the waiter.I don't blame him. I mean, one is bound to get distracted after seeing such a pretty face, smiling the most perfct smile. It is not his fault. Though, I don't think the manager quite agreed with my theory as he looked quite unhappy with the fact that water had been spilled. Admist the waiters apologies, and his attempts to clean the water, I was looking right at her, without making any attempts to be subtle about it. If she would have returned my brazen stare, she would have been ambarassed. But only she didn't. She kept laughing, unaware that someone's heartbeat went up a notch everytime she flung her hair back and smiled.
And, within a few moments I had hoplessly fallen for her. So, the next step was to initiate contact. For that, I needed to get her attention.The question was, how? Maybe I could spill water over John who is sitting next to me. I am sure he would understand.Afterall that's what friends are for, right? I looked at John, his head clearly a feet above mine.Years of working out had certainly beefed him up.And he might not really like to get wet on his birthday, the reason why we were here in the first place. So, my odds against spilling the water did not look that good. I might get the required attention, but I didn't want my first impression to be the one with a lost tooth and a battered nose.

So, I decided to order a Sizzler. Yes. Though I did not have much affinity towards chicken, I ordered a Chicken Sizzler. It is the noisest dish you can get off a menu.And, with that distraction, she was bound to look my way.

When I saw the waiter come out of the kitchen door with the Sizzler, I
fixed my gaze on her.The noise distracted her, and her eyes started searching for the source. I was watching her eyes, as she was watching the waiter, her look slowly approaching my table following the Sizzler.And then, three things happened.The waiter approached my table, he placed the Sizzler in front of me and her eyes met mine.

She was surprised to see me staring at her. Her eyes clearly denoted a '?' , and mine an '!'. We looked into each others eyes for a few extra seconds before she looked the other way.

I glanced at her again. She turned away quickly, having been caught in the action. So, she had noticed me and my noisy entree. I took a pen, and a napkin lying on the table, and wrote down '!' on it. Signalling for the waiter and slipping him a five dollar bill, I asked him to give the lady the note. He happily oblidged.

In what felt like eternity, I saw him walking back towards me. He handed me the paper napkin she had given him. I opened it and smiled when I saw what was written on it.

I was still sitting at my table when Patrick left, and when Julie said goodbye, and when John had to go , and eventually I was the only one sitting there.I looked over and saw her sitting alone at her table. Our eyes met and she smiled.

I got up, and walked over to her table and said, "Hi.I have never ordered a Sizzler before".

She looked up at me and smiled and said, "And, I am never the last one to leave on my birthday."

Oh, and by the way, her note had said '?'.

The Date

2004-01-21T15:49:00.000-05:00

Taking off his wet coat, he slid it over the small back of the stool, trying to keep it from sliding. He sat down in his chair and glanced around. The place had been renovated since the last time he was here. Still, he felt familiar with it. Trendy glass and steel tables, with zigzagging legs, replaced the oak paneled ones. The leather chairs with elongated backs were substituted with stylish stools, with hardly any back. Mirrors masked the walls. The old painting of the house was still hanging behind the counter. Looking at his reflection in the mirror he thought, ‘Strange, so much has changed in such little time’. He started to smooth down his dripping hair, when his coat slumped to the floor. Picking it up, he placed it on the chair next to him. Impulsively he slipped his hand into the coat’s pocket, and took out the box. It was covered with velvet, with the words `Gloria’s and co.` engraved in gold on top, and under it, in small writing said `marriages are made in heaven, rings are made at Gloria’s`. He slid it in the pocket, as the waiter approached him.

"Can I get you something to drink, sir?", the waiter asked.

"Can you give me some time? I am waiting for someone", he replied.

"No problem, sir", the waiter replied and started to walk away.

"Actually, on second thought, I will have a cup of coffee”, he said.

"Would you like to see our coffee menu, sir?”, the waiter asked.

"Can I have a large mug of the hazelnut coffee, if you still serve it?”, he replied.

"We Certainly do, sir. I will get it right away”, the waiter replied and walked away.

‘They still served hazelnut’ he thought, staring at the mirror.

"I don't like coffee, Dhruv", she said.

"Since when?”, Dhruv asked.

"Since now. I don’t want to drink coffee.”

"And I thought those were your favorite beans. "

"I don’t want it now. Why is that so hard to believe?”

"Its not hard to believe at all. After knowing you sweetheart, nothing surprises me anymore. "

"And what is that supposed to mean."

"Nothing" Dhruv replied with a grin on his face, as he pulled the car into the parking lot. It was pouring outside. He turned off the engine, and looked at her. She was staring straight ahead, right into the windshield. He opened his mouth to say something, but decided against it and got out of the car, ran to the other side of the car, holding a hand over his head against the raindrops. He opened her door and waited. Seeing no movement, he faked a sneeze. She snickered as she got out of the car and started walking towards the café. Dhruv shut the door and started walking after her. They were dripping when they took their seats and ordered hazelnut coffee.

“Why did we have to come to this place of all places?” she asked.

“Because, this is the ultimate coffee-place. Akash and me spend so much time here, that is not even funny. We might as well work here and get paid for it. Plus they serve the world's best Hazelnut coffee.”

"I don't want coffee,” she said

"You love Hazelnut.”

Silence.

“What is the problem, hon'?” he asked

Silence.

"Is it something I said?” he asked

No reply.

"Or something I didn't say?” he asked again

She turned her head away and stared at the painting of the house behind the counter.

"Something Sonia said?", he asked.

"Don't even mention her name. That sleazy...”

"C’mon now", he said, interrupting her, " don’t let her get to you."

"Its not only her. Why did you have to boogie down with her? She is shameless, but at least you have sense"

"I was down a few drinks and was clearly buzzed. In that state, I would’ve danced with anything wearing a skirt.” he said. He looked at her and reaching over, he took her hand in his and added, "I am really sorry, to put you through this. I don't care for her. I really don’t. Trust me, Pooja. I love you!"

"And it better stay that way." she said, hinting a smile,” for now, and forever. Actually, I want you to have something, "and taking off her ring she continued, “Dhruv, would you please take this ring and keep it with you, always?”

“Why?”

“Because, I love you stupid, and I want you to have something which is very precious to me.”

“In other words, you are hog-tying me.”

“What if I am?”

It was the relentless honking that brought her back from her reverie. Pooja cursed softly under her breath, and shifted the gear to set her car in motion. She had started an hour early to surprise him, but the rain had washed her plans. Unexpected rains made the traffic jams worse. Now she was stuck, she was running late and extremely annoyed. She hoped he remembered the date this time.

"You forgot. Again!” she said. "Why am I not surprised? You didn’t have to remember the value of twenty-four raised to the nineteenth power. I am sure you would’ve remembered that. Why can't you remember a simple date, the twenty-fourth? How hard can that be, Dhruv?” She asked, while not really waiting for an answer.

"Well Pooja, I am not really good with numbers", Dhruv replied back weakly.

"What? You never had that problem when I had given you my number, did you? You remembered that,” she said shouting into the phone.

"I am sorry, ", he replied.

“I don’t believe you.”

“See me, and you will.”

"I don't want to see you. "

"You won't. Can you meet me at Furor’s, in thirty? Its quite dark in there, so technically you won't see me."

"Stop trying to be funny.”

"And their cosmopolitans are the rage.”

"Yeah, well why don't you treat yourself to one then. I am not coming", she said and hung up the phone.

Dhruv was staring at the phone, thinking to himself, 'Fine. Don't see me. I don't care. I was doing great before I met her. And it’s just been a year since we know each other. Time to move on. Just like before. No big deal. Of course, it would’ve been simpler if she didn't have that beautiful smile, only if she didn’t flip her hair when she laughed, only if her eyes didn’t sparkle when she looked at me. Darn', and he picked up the phone and started dialing her number. An hour later he was sitting at Furor’s sipping his drink. He glanced at his watch and looked at the door. ‘Damn’, he said to himself, ‘what am I doing here? This is the last thread. I am going to end this insanity once and for all. I can’t remember the million dates, the one month anniversaries, the first this and first that’s.’ And then he saw her. She was, standing at the door, looking stunning. Her pink dress accentuated her face. Her eyes were nervously scanning the place, and then they met his, and paused. For a moment there was a flicker in her eyes, which was soon replaced by anger. She walked towards him. Dhruv gave her his best smile as she slid into the seat in front of him. Dhruv signaled for the waiter and, ordered a cosmopolitan for Pooja.

“I am not staying long enough for the drink”, Pooja said.

“It won’t be long. You can swig it.”

Silence.

“Listen, I am sorry I forgot the date.” Dhruv said, looking towards her.

“You don’t meant that.”

“Of course I do.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well, not much I can do about that.”

“See! You don’t even want to convince me. You give up too easily.”

“Is this some kind of a test, which I just failed?”

“No Dhruv. It’s not a test. Just something I’ve noticed.”

“At least you notice.”

“No need to be sarcastic. All I am saying is that I don’t want to be just another number in your book.”

“C’mon Pooja, you know…”he was saying when she interrupted him

“Let me finish, Dhruv. I am not like the other girls you have dated. This is everything for me, it’s my life, and I really need to know that it is going somewhere. I love you, Dhruv but…”

“ … only if I remember the exact date, time, the longitude and the latitude of all our meetings from now on”, Dhruv interrupted

“Stop being silly, Dhruv.”

“How can I stop being me?”

She smiled and continued, “I love you, because you are you. It’s been just a year, but it feels like forever. I don’t want to loose you, Dhruv”

“That would happen only if you chose to, Pooja.”

“And, I choose you.”

As Dhruv reached out to hold her hand, he knocked over his drink.

“You are drunk. Lets go”, she said.

“No. I am not drunk”, Dhruv said, in the midst of pulling out a bunch of napkins and dabbing the table, “I just happen to be a little clumsy.”

“Everyone who is drunk happens to be clumsy.”

“I’ve always been gauche. I spill things even when I am as sober as a judge”, Dhruv replied.

“Fine. You are not drunk. Can we go now?” she asked

“No! Not like this. Not before you hear what this gentleman has to say”, Dhruv said

“Which man?” she asked.

It was then, that she noticed the man with the guitar standing next to their booth. He started playing the guitar, singing a song, one that made her nostalgic. It was Neil Diamond’s ‘Girl, you’ll be a woman soon’.

The man sang:

`Love you so much can’t count the ways

I’d die for you girl and all they can say is

He’s not your kind..`

She looked at Dhruv, her eyes cloudy. He reached out and held her hand as the song went on:

`Well, I finally found what I’ve been looking for

But if they get a chance they’ll end it for sure

Sure they would

Baby I’ve done all I could

It’s up to you…`

“You were listening to Neil Diamond’s, `Girl, you’ll be a woman soon` ”, said the indifferent voice of the radio jockey, “and now its time for some words from our sponsors”. Out of her stupor, Pooja glanced in front of her. The traffic had come to a complete standstill. Bored, she started flicking through the radio stations, `…Dow-Jones down by 130 points after reports revealed…`, click `… famous singer, Sarah Benedict found dead at her mansion in Los Angeles. Investigators are…. ` click `…rescue team is on-site trying to recover bodies from the crash site near Heathrow airport after …`, click `…. if you live in the tri-state area and are shopping for a new car, then look no further…’. She turned off the radio. ‘I wish it wasn’t raining’, she muttered, as the car inched further and came to another standstill. She thought about the day when she first met Dhruv. It was a hot day, too hot to be outside and certainly too hot for a party. But that’s where they were. At Akash’s pool party…

“This is Pooja. Pooja meet Dhruv”, Akash said.

“Hi”, Dhruv said, extending his hand.

Pooja shook his hand, and said “Hi.”

Automatically, they were drawn to each other. She wasn’t sure who initiated the talk, but they were talking. And they talked, about her native town, her old friends, his friends, this town, movies he liked, movies she hated, her favorite songs, his dog, her cat. She laughed, when he told her about his first cooking adventure. He loved how she tucked the strand of hair behind her ear. She loved his smile. They were so busy talking, that they didn’t even notice the music. He asked her for a dance. She said ‘I would love to’. The music was slow and soon they were dancing to `Girl, you’ll be a woman soon`, his hand on her back, and her hand in his. They were holding hands, even after the music stopped. She said she had to go, he asked her to stay. But she had to go. He asked her number, she gave it to him. He watched her as she walked away.

Dhruv woke up in the afternoon. The party had continued till late in the night. ‘Akash’, he thought to himself, ‘what a party animal’. Then he remembered Pooja’s number from yesterday. Taking out his little diary, he jotted it down. He picked up the phone and started dialing her home number. He stopped, placed the receiver down, and thought ‘Will I come across as too eager? Is it too soon to call? I should wait. Or, should I? How many days should I wait, before calling her? This is crazy. There should’ve been an equation for this. Why am I being so jaded? I’ll call her. Four rings. That’s it. I’ll hang up If she doesn’t pick up in four rings.’ Dhruv picked up the handset and dialed her number. He could hear her phone ringing. Subconsciously, he started counting the number of rings…'one… two…three…'

“Hello”, Pooja answered.

“Four”, he stammered.

“Hello?”

“Uh…. Hi. Can I speak to Pooja?”

“This is she. Who’s speaking?”

“Hi, this is Dhruv.”

“Hey! How are you?”

“Great. Wanted to make sure you reached home safe.”

“Yeah. I reached home fine. I had a great time last night. Thanks for the dance.”

“You are welcome. On the contrary I should be thanking you. The song ‘Girl, you will be a woman soon’ has a whole different meaning for me now.”

“Really? And may I ask what.”

“You certainly may. Can we go over the meaning over a cup of coffee on Friday.”

“Are you asking me out?”

“Though it may seem that way, it is just a meeting to exchange ideas.”

“Ah! I see. Well, I can’t Dhruv.”

“Oh!”

“I mean I can’t, this Friday.”

“Doesn’t have to be on Friday. How about tonight?”

“Umm… sure. Where?”

“Do you know the café at crossroads?”

“Yes.”

“They have great Hazelnut coffee.”

“I love Hazelnut. See you at 7.”

“7 it is.”

‘Beep…beep’. her trance was broken by the hourly beep of her digital watch. Despairingly, Pooja looked at it. It said 7.00 pm, July 14th. ‘Shit’, she thought, ‘I am going to be late. I waited months for this day, and now I can’t wait for a few more minutes. Time can sometimes be such a sluggish brute’.

“What time is it?” Pooja asked Dhruv.

“There is still time”, Dhruv said, “I still think it’s not a good idea, Pooja.”

“Lets not go through this again. We have talked about this so many times.”

“I know. But, why can’t I do the course here, in New York. Right where you are. It doesn’t make any sense to stay away from you for six months.”

“You had always dreamed of going to London Business School. That was your goal even before you had met me. I don’t want to be in the way of your dreams, Dhruv.”

“You are not in the way, Pooja. You are my dream. I am living it. I have a great career, and most important of all, I have you. What else can I ask for?”

“I am not going anywhere, Dhruv. I will be right here at this table, looking at that painting of the house on the wall, waiting for you with a cup of hazelnut in hand, when you get back.”

“Its not right. And then you said we don't talk for those six months. Why?”

“You really need to focus Dhruv. If we are in touch, I know I won’t be able to hold my emotions. I am not that strong. I will break down, and I know it will affect you.”

“It won’t, Pooja.”

“Plus, it’s only a matter of six months. That’s just two seasons. You will be back with summer.”

“But, Pooja…”

“Shhh! Look at me. I will miss you every single moment of my life Dhruv. Right from this moment, till July14th, when we meet again.”

“I love you, Pooja.”

“I love you too, Dhruv.”

They simply sat there looking into each other’s eyes, their fingers intertwined.

Pooja looked at her watch and said,“ I think you should leave for the airport. You don’t want to miss the flight?”

“That’s one thing I can afford to miss. But, not you.”

“You won’t miss me because I will always be there with you.”

“…and I’ll always be with you.”

She had a smile on her face as she pulled into the parking lot. She always smiled when she thought about Dhruv. She grabbed the bouquet of roses and ran towards the café. She saw him; his back was turned away from her as he was sipping his coffee. ‘I bet its hazelnut’, she thought; and smiled. She tiptoed behind him and tapped his shoulder.

“Akash?” Pooja stuttered as he turned around.

“Hi Pooja. How are you?”, Akash said.

“I am ...well, surprised. It’s been such a long time. How have you been? Where have you been?”

“I am alright. I was traveling, related to work. Came back yesterday. Dhruv wanted me to pick something up for him.”

“Oh! So you are here to meet him as well. And, I thought it was going to be a private affair”, she joked.

“You don’t know yet?”

“Know what?”

“Why don’t you sit down?”

After she sat down, Akash took her hand in his and said:

“Pooja, something terrible has happened. A jet crashed right after take off, near London’s Heathrow airport, last night. There were about 250 people on board. Not one passenger survived.”

Pooja, held his hand tighter. With quivering lips, she asked, “Why are you telling me this?”.

“Because, Dhruv was on that flight.”

Pooja grabbed his hand and started sobbing. He hugged her and said, “Dhruv wanted me to pick up this ring today,” and he took out the box, “Now, this belongs to you Pooja.”.

She looked at the box, and started crying as she reminisced Dhruv’s words ‘…I’ll always be with you’.

Monday - Jan 18th 2004

2004-01-19T12:00:00.000-05:00

The first blog. Just another Monday, of another week of another year. 18 down , 348 more to go.