The Day That Was Not To Be

NEXT MORNING

AT VACCINERS. Everybody is on routine work assignments and the atmosphere is as fresh and innocent as the dew drops on a rose petal.

Shrikar comes up to the work arena and calls out for Anjana and Panchali. They follow Shrikar into his cabin.

Shrikar: Can you please close the door, Anjana.

Anjana obeys him.

Shrikar: I reached all my contacts and found Niranjan to be perfect for your purpose. I mean, presently he has got a deal which is good as well as reasonable. He has asked me to tell you to get the copies of your Adhar card (Adhar card in India is like the Green card in the U.S of A), your parents" Adhar cards, your PAN (Permanent Account Number) cards and two passport size photos of each one of you.

Anjana: What about the monetary side, Shrikar ?

Shrikar: Will let you know about the monetary terms later.

Panchali: Hope we would be able to wrap this up as soon as possible.

Shrikar: I will try my best. So, how is your day? Any profound tasks there?

Anjana: Nothing profound enough. Need to make some visual simulations based on the latest accumulated research facts.

Shrikar: Ok, carry on. Will meet you in the evening.

Panchali (probing): Why? Are you not having lunch with us?

Shrikar: No. Actually I have a meeting with someone in the afternoon.

Anjana: Oh!

Shrikar: Ok then, carry on ladies.

IN THE EVENING

Shrikar (jokingly): Hey, Miss Paranoid, are you leaving early? Please don"t forget to bring the said copies tomorrow.

Anjana (confused): What copies ?

Shrikar (Serious): Weren"t you going to rent a house?

Anjana: Oh , those copies... Okay... Really sorry for not remembering instantly. Was getting a bit perplexed.. Will bring them tomorrow.

By the way, I have mailed you a report on today"s completed tasks.

Shrikar (gestures): That’s all right. Thank you. And, do remind Panchali, too, to do so.

[Then he points towards the lift which is about to takeoff). "Anjana stares at him with a "What happened look?".

Shrikar (pointing to the lift): Hurry up! Or else, you’ll miss it.

They simper at each other and Anjana walks towards the lift with a smile that betrays her entire network of thoughts... The thought of expressing her love for Shrikar... Smitten by him not only in her heart... but in her body, too... every molecule of which is craving to be in unison with him... The thought of making love to him.... The thought of whole heartedly surrendering to him not only in marriage but in life, too...

THE VERY NEXT DAY

The office is as defined as the wheel. Panchali and Anjana go straight into Shrikar"s cabin.

Anjana: Hey good morning there.

Panchali: Hi, good morning.

Shrikar: Good morning! How are you? And have you got the...

Anjana interrupts...

Anjana: Yeah we have got copies of the required documents. Hope these would suffice for the needs of the Real Estate Broker... and we would be able to set us free from that tiresome PG.

Shrikar (laughing): Ha... ha... ha... These won"t suffice. We need something much more important here.

Panchali (puzzled): Now what else is more important?

Shrikar (seriously): Vitamin M, dear ladies... Vitamin M...

Panchali (confused): Now what"s vitamin M? Never heard of it.

Anjana (explaining): Panchali, he is talking about money, dear; the monetary terms.

Panchali (realising): Oh! So how much should we shell out, Shrikar?

Shrikar (assuming a professional tone): The rent is 25 K INR(Indian National Rupee), and the deposit is 1 lakh INR. And Niranjan"s commission is 2 months" rent. So that would add up to 1 lakh and 75 K INR.

Anjana (pleading): Oh, God! Can you please request Niranjan to reduce the commission to one month’s rent? It would relieve our burden.

Shrikar (assuring): I will try my best. So, see you in the evening at the common meeting.

And Anjana, there"s good news for you... The apartment is on the ground floor. No lift needed!

The three of them share a laugh.

Anjana and Panchali leave the cabin as Shrikar declares:

"Ok, then. See you in the evening."

In the evening there is a general meeting at which every concerned employee participates.

Mixed Voices: Hey, did you take your notepad?

Mixed Voices: For what?

Mixed Voices: To take down some notes.

Mixed Voices: Don"t talk like trainees. We are prepared.

(Some show off their notepads and pens.)

Mixed Voices: Ok, ok... Good for you.

The meeting and the day crawls out.

THE NEXT MORNING

VACCINERS. All are busy with completing their allotted tasks. The effect of the general meeting is visible... palpable...no one even took a tea break.

CUT TO LUNCH BREAK

Shrikar is already seated on the table. As Anjana tries to rest her mass on the adjacent chair, Panchali frantically dashes in and adds some spice to the scenario.

Panchali (visibly disturbed): I am so sorry to say that I would not be there when we move in to our new residence.

Shrikar(surprised): Why ? What happened?

Panchali (worried): I am leaving for my native place. My dad is scheduled to go under the knife for prostate cancer.

Shrikar (concerned): Sorry to hear that.

Anjana (concerned): How is he now? Hope nothing is damn serious. Hope this surgery would set right all his problems...

She bites into a food item and continues:

... and the problems of you and other family members, as well.

After taking another bite, she continues:

I will have to manage the moving, all by myself. Hope I am capable enough.

Panchali (comforting): Hey! You are not alone. Shrikar is there to help you.

Anjana looks at Shrikar.

Shrikar (looking puzzled): Do you expect me to be the knight in the shining armour?

Anjana nods affirmatively.

Shrikar (beaming): Ok... ok, I would love to play that role.

Panchali (worriedly): Ok, need to leave. Got a flight to catch. Bye...

Panchali leaves.

Anjana (happily): Thank you so much Shrikar, for helping me out.

Anjana envisions Shrikar coming... Mounted on a horse... As a knight in shining armour... To rescue her from robbers.... And she smiles coyly.

Shrikar awakens her from her reveries by clearing his throat.

Anjana (startled): By the way Shrikar, did Niranjan agree to our request?

Shrikar: Not actually; but you can pay off half the commission after a month. Hope you won"t be financially nullified anymore...

Anjana (sighing): Oh! That’s such a relief. Thank you Shrikar. Will give you the cheques in the evening.

Shrikar: That"s ok Anjana... or... (anxiously) can I call you Anju?

Anjana (with an inviting tone): of course you can call me like that.

Shrikar (relaxed): So, when are we moving Anju?

Anjana (jokingly): We are not moving; only me and Panchali are...

Shrikar (daftly): Well, that"s what I meant Anju.

Anjana (with a naughty smile): Well... well... It"s day after tomorrow; on Saturday.

Shrikar (with a smile): Ok... Where should I meet you? And when?

Anjana (handing over a piece of paper): This is my PG address; meet me here. Please make it at 9 in the morning so that we can arrange for the transport.

Shrikar (normal): Transport? For what?

Anjana (normal): Our goods. What else?

Shrikar (normal): OK Anju, if you want anything else, please do convey.

Anjana (normal): Sure Shrikar.

Shrikar calls Niranjan and tells him about the moving plans and requests him to make suitable arrangements from his part.

The bright day slowly fades away in to eternal darkness.