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742 Words
LATER
Shaurya, Vihaan and his family is finally picked up from the extraction point. They now head home, covered in dirt, blood and grime.
Vihaan sits at the door with the rifle on his side. He has just had an incredible journey of self-realization. What he thought was never possible has now been accomplished. What led him through it? Helplessness? Desperation? Love?
His gaze drifts to Keshika once again, to find her watching him already, smiling proudly.
However, he is uncomfortable to look into the eyes of the girl he bullied a few hours back, as a twelve-year-old. Is this incident a glimpse to my future by any chance? Am I really going to marry her? This is crazy… but how? I still can’t figure out how all this is possible.
MUCH LATER
They cross the portal from the blazing hot Tikrit into the rain-beaten, cool comfort of their home land. But the eerie emptiness of their once populated town gives them a sinking feeling.
In a moment, they touch down.
They alight from the chopper and proceed home.
Vihaan shakes hands with Shaurya and gives him a quick hug.
VIHAAN - In one way, I’m happy that it’s all over and in another way, I’m not.
SHAURYA - I get what you mean, sir. It was great working with you. I look forward to working together on more missions.
VIHAAN - Is this going to end now?
SHAURYA - The game? It has been completed successfully.
VIHAAN - But--- what about---
Shaurya simply gets into the chopper and takes off.
SHAURYA - I’ll see you tomorrow night.
VIHAAN - Again? Why?
Shaurya grins in response.
Vihaan watches on baffled as the chopper rises in the air and disappears into the black sky.
He begins his long way home and catches up with his family in a while.
It drizzles again.
A cold, wet arm slides around his and startles him. It’s Keshika.
KESHIKA - Thank God. It’s all over.
He quietly squelches along the mud.
KESHIKA - I thought I’d never see you again.
He pauses, confused, so many questions running through his mind.
VIHAAN - Do you feel that this is all real?
KESHIKA - (after a long pause) I don’t know.
VIHAAN - (frustrated) They told me that everything would be the same again once I got it over with. But nothing has changed. They---
KESHIKA - They’re right. And they’re wrong.
VIHAAN - What?
KESHIKA - They’re right. Everything would be the same again. And they’re wrong. Nothing will be the same ever again.
VIHAAN - What do you mean?
She draws closer and caresses him on the lips with hers.
He is stunned. He ponders over the puzzle, and soon, it all falls into place.
Everything would be the same again ---
Nothing will be the same ever again ----
He pulls her close, his kiss meets hers. The freezing drops of rain prick their skin with an eerie sense of reality.
Nothing will be the same ever again…. The words echo, making his heart pound. Her warm, life giving breath travels straight to his lungs, threatening his chest to explode.
He feels choked.
He begins to cough.
Keshika steps back and studies him for a moment before pounding him hard on the chest.
VIHAAN – Hey… W-what are you doing?
She pounds him again!
He goes into a COUGHING fit….
---- and WAKES up as his 12-year-old self.
Sinha, their neighbour (and Keshika’s dad), pounds Vihaan hard on his chest. He had been struggling to resuscitate him all this while.
SINHA: He’s come around. Get him something to drink.
Papa and Mom rub Vihaan’s back while he struggles to catch his breath.
Little Keshika stands on and watches the scene in terror.
Dadi offers him a drink.
MOM - Thank God!
Vihaan wheezes and looks around in confusion.
Everything’s the same again---
VIHAAN - W-what just happened?
MOM - You got a terrific electric shock! That’s what happened! Now do you understand why I tell you not to operate anything during a thunderstorm? We thought we’d lost you.
Vihaan is baffled and relieved at the same time. It was just a dream!
- Writer
