In a bustling café amidst the murmur of
conversation and the commotion and clanging from the kitchen with the chef
impatiently belting out orders, Meera suddenly looks up and notices him sitting
in the far corner, staring at her, light streaming onto his face through the
French windows, glint of recognition in his eyes.
Arjun had come in for a quick bite and
rendezvous to shake away the languidness of the summer afternoon. She stood out
in the crowd, he couldn’t shake off this feeling of familiarity.
They stare at each other silently grasping
for memories.
(Moodboard – scenes flash in quick
succession each with different perspectives but incomplete and somehow abruptly
cut off as if from a weakened memory, of romantic walks on the beach, yacht
rides, hiking through forests, afternoon strolls in the park, crazy costume
parties, group of friends – in all a couple hand in hand with comfort and
familiarity only with those in love. But these scenes never show the couple’s
faces.)
They each realize something and run out of
the café. She goes to her apartment above the café, while he runs out to his
car.
They both return, each holding something –
their sunglasses. They don their sunglasses, look at each other and the
floodgates of their memories open and recognition dawns.
(Moodboard – the scenes from before now
flash clearer and complete showing their much younger faces, the couple wearing
their sunglasses throughout, in all the scenes)
The chef walks in then and an elegant salt
and pepper haired lady returns from the ladies’.
The chef walks up to Meera and gives her a
peck on the cheek “Sorry for keeping you waiting, honey.”
The salt and pepper haired lady intertwines
her arm with Arjun “Sweetheart, have you ordered for me as well?”
Their eyes meet, introductions are made.
They all sit at the corner table with the light streaming in and enjoy a meal,
laughing away heartily. All wearing their sunglasses. Meera and Arjun look at
each other undetected, eyes moist with bittersweet memories and lost hope.
