The Day That Was Not To Be

ANJANA IN THE MENTAL HOSPITAL

At the Mental Hospital, Shrikar’s request for permission to stay with Anjana during the course of her treatment is denied for want of facilities. But they relent to Shrikar"s request of appointing Vipul as the psychiatrist to look into Anjana"s case(Vipul happens to be a visiting psychiatrist at this hospital).

Shrikar is requested to leave the premises in ten minutes as Anjana is to be taken to her Cell for a preliminary check-up. Subsequently, he can meet her every day in the morning for about half an hour, provided her mental condition is satisfactory.

While saying goodbye, Shrikar assures that he would try his level best to get her out as early as possible, and breaks down like a little child. Anjana also cries with him. Then he reassures her that he will come every morning to be with her and also endeavour to get permission to have breakfast together. He engulfs a distraught Anjana in a tight embrace before bidding her goodbye.

Anjana breaks in to silent sobs while being taken towards her cell. She walked submissively to her cell, as if her whole life had been sucked out from its existence. Inside the cell, unable to bear the load of her life"s circumstances, she collapses on to her bed. In that unconscious state, one type of recurring dream, which she used to visualise before, strikes back. This time the dream somewhat makes sense. She is shown smiling and then her hand is shown. Within a split second a guy"s hand holds her hand tightly and his voice is heard assuring her that "come what may, I will always be there for you". Before the other person is shown, a nurse wakes her up for the preliminary check up.

She thinks that the hand and sound in the dream could be of none other than that of Shrikar, and proceeds with the check up. The next morning, Shrikar comes as promised. With Vipul"s influence, both Shrikar and Anjana get permission to have breakfast together.

Anjana is a bit relieved and her face glitters. A bit of her former cherubic self resurfaces. They laugh and chuckle while having the breakfast and Shrikar inquires about how the first day had been at the hospital. She tells him how traumatic it had been. She also tells him about the recurring dream. Shrikar smiles and tells her that the hand and sound in the dream should be of his only and that he will always be there for her... And all these nightmares will be soon over.

Shrikar leaves for his office

Back in her Cell, Anjana is thinking continuously. She often witnesses those nightmarish, Deepa and Ayaan"s hallucinations right there in her Cell. But she chooses not to create scenes and stays mum. This nice behaviour, in turn, would contribute in her early release, she hopes.

But as he is a family friend and her shrink, she reports about these delusions to Vipul. Vipul tells her that she is doing the right thing by ignoring those illusions and that it would help him in treating her much more efficiently. She also shares these developments with Shrikar and he also rightfully tells her to heed Vipul"s advice.

These scenarios are repeated for a few days. Then one day, after her breakfast, Vipul takes Anjana for a more detailed therapeutic session.

There, Vipul gives her an injection saying that it would dampen the dream-inducing-area in her brain which, in turn, would lessen her hallucinations. Immediately afterwards, she slips into such a deep sleep that she wakes up only by the next afternoon. She is shocked to see herself chained to her bed. She shrieks out, shaking the bed violently.

Vipul and a nurse run in to inspect the situation. Vipul tells Anjana to cool down. He requests the nurse to wait outside while he examines Anjana. After the nurse leaves, Vipul tells her why she is chained.

Vipul: Yesterday, when Shrikar was leaving after breakfast, you also wanted to leave along with him. You were pretty obstinate about it. When one of our marshals tried to stop you, you turned ultra violent and hit him real hard. Four marshals were required to hold you down before giving you a sedative. Since then, as precaution you were chained.

Anjana (dumbstruck): I can"t believe all these. Shrikar came here? We had breakfast together? And I became violent? I don"t remember anything at all. These are cooked-up stories

Vipul (sternly): CCTV cameras are installed everywhere. Hold on, I will connect you to the concerned video if you insist.

Vipul switches on the led screen in the cell and intercoms to get the respective video connected. When the images start appearing, Anjana is shocked to see herself in such a furious form --- waves of anger and hatred emanating from her own face.

Anjana (refusing to believe and sobbing): How could that be true? And where is Shrikar there?

Vipul (in an assumed professional tone): Instantly, he was taken out of the cafeteria by our Security Guards, as the cafeteria is meant only for patients and the hospital employees. I don"t think now they will allow you to have breakfast with Shrikar again.

Anjana (holding her forehead with her hands): Oh no, what have I done? But why can"t I remember anything?

Vipul (professional tone): May be it"s the combined side effect of yesterday"s drug and today"s sedative. Anyway, I am going to remove your chains for now; and I will see you at the Examining Room. The nurse will accompany you. We need to do this examination ASAP. Your condition is deteriorating.

Anjana follows all the instructions at the Examining Room. Her body is pierced with many syringes carrying various dosages of various drugs. She has been already half dead with the ongoing medications. Now, these new additions are proving to be an insult to the injury.

Again, the next day when she wakes up she finds herself to be chained to her bed. Vipul narrates another background story which is very similar to the last one. The only difference is that this time she has been much more violent by which she almost killed a nurse. Vipul offers to show her the relevant video clip, which she brushes aside.

At this stage, a seed of doubt about the integrity of Vipul plants itself in Anjana"s womb of worries.

Anjana (thinking): I have met Vipul just a couple of times. How could I believe in him just because he is my doctor and Shrikar"s friend? It is said that there are other underground activities going on in hospitals, like illegal organ transplants. Oh my god, could Vipul be into something like that?

Vipul (intruding): Hello Anjana, where are you.

Anjana (trying to hide her assumptions): In my Cell; where else, doctor?

Vipul (professional tone): OK. So, can we proceed with our procedures?

Anjana (pleading): Can you please relieve me for a day? I don"t think today I am ready for it. I am really exhausted.

Vipul (friendly): That"s OK. We will proceed tomorrow. Goodbye, then.

Before leaving, Vipul directs the nurse to feed Anjana her lunch and take her for a walk after that.

***

Anjana, back in her Cell after her lunch and walk, tries to analyze Vipul and his intentions. She snoozes off, melting in to these thoughts. Within seconds she sleeps soundly as a baby.

The recurring dream reoccurs. This time, the face of the second character is partly revealed -- but it is turned sideways. In this sequence of dream, to Anjana"s surprise, it is not Shrikar, as she had imagined, but some other familiar face. Even in the dream Anjana mutters to herself: "If it is not Shrikar, who else can it be?" And she spits out: "Who the hell are you?” The moment she says this the man turns to her with a pleasant smiling face saying, “Dear, it"s me Ravi. Remember?"

Anjana remembers how Ravi Kshatriya had approached her asking her hand in marriage.

*****

A CUT TO THE PAST

Ravi asks Anjana out for a coffee.

Anjana (nagging): OK. I’ll come. But just to remind you of another thing... Isn’t there a real estate plot which Mr. Rao is dead bent to sell off? Did you get any one for that?

They are walking...

Ravi (enthusiastically): Yeah, being the Sales Manager that"s on my shoulders. You guys just have to prepare "virtual walkthroughs" for his architectural projects. You guys get it easy.

Anjana (with all her cuteness): Now, that is cruel, Ravi!

Ravi (nagging): We do the groundwork; and you guys get the perks.

Anjana (seriously): OK. Enough of this! You said you wanted to tell me something?

Ravi (perspiring): Hey Anju, but I am really tensed. I do have to tell you something... something really personal and important.

Anjana (confidently): Then, go ahead. Let your thoughts flow out. You are one of my best friends.

Ravi (with a daft smile): I think I am developing a fondness for you...in other words, true love... Don’t you also have similar feelings for me? If so, will you marry me? (After a very short pause) Huh... Somehow I managed to say it, Anju...

Anjana laughs her heart out.

Ravi (again with a daft smile): Why? What happened? Why are you laughing like that? Am I not worthy of you?

Anjana (confused): No Ravi, it is not that. You are really a very good person; but I never fancied you in the role of a life partner. Please forgive me. And I bet, you are worthy of a far better girl than me.

(After a pause and observing Ravi"s dejected face) Now, please don"t force me into this emotionally.

Dejected and out of words Ravi sits down exhaling deeply.

Anjana (a bit dejected too): Now please Ravi, if you really love me don"t make me upset. Please get up. Let us just chat this episode away.

Ravi (moist-eyed): Can I hold your hand for a second? (Pleading) Please...

Anjana (with no option): OK. Hold it. But nothing intimate about it. Agreed?

Ravi (holding her hand tight): Anyway, just remember that I will always be there for you... if need be...

*****

The morning siren wakes up Anjana to the world that is. As soon as she gets up, she reassesses the dream and screams for the Warden and tells him that she needs to meet and speak to her best friend Ravi, Ravi Kshatriya. The Warden updates Vipul about this latest development and Vipul gives his approval for the same. But to their dismay Ravi could not be reached. They find his mobile number not to be in service, anymore. Anjana however has his parents" contact number and is relieved to hear that Ravi has relocated from Rajkot to Mumbai. They give her Ravi"s new contact number.

Ravi, shocked to hear from Anjana after so long, and that too from a Mental Hospital, comes running to meet her. They are allowed to meet at the cafeteria.

Anjana (looking around suspiciously): Ravi, just don"t ask anything. If you still love me and believe my innocence, just listen.

Ravi gestures in affirmation.

Anjana (looking around): Look, earlier I too had thought that there was something wrong with me, with my composure. But now, I know that there is a desperate, deliberate and well-planned attempt to nail me as crazy. I will shed more light on these, afterwards.

(After a pause) I called you because right now you are the only person left in the world, whom I can truly count on.

Ravi (whispers, holding her hands): I understand you. Now, what do you want of me specifically? Just tell me.

Anjana (looking into Ravi"s eyes): I really doubt Dr. Vipul"s intentions. Consequently, a froth of doubt is bubbling up around Shrikar, as well. Vipul says that Shrikar comes daily to meet me and also we have breakfast together. But I don"t remember a thing. Can you please secretly check on the movements of these two for the next couple of days and see if anything smells a rat.

Ravi (assuring): Done! I will shadow them for the next two days and meet you on the third day with my findings. All right? Then, we will part for now. Take care.

Anjana is taken back into her cell.

Ravi, keeping his word, is in the process of conducting a thorough recce, in his private capacity, on Shrikar and Vipul.

During this short tenure as a detective, he first decides to follow Shrikar and waits for him outside his house. Shrikar punctually gets in his car and drives off. Ravi follows him on his bike with his helmet on. At the signal Ravi is forced to stop by a call from his boss.

Mr Rao (furious): Ravi, where the hell are you? You know I need to sell that property, to raise funds.

Ravi (hesitatingly): Sir, I have already mailed you about my unavailability for the coming three to four days.

Mr Rao (calming down): I am yet to check my mail; but you know, that funds are necessary for the survival of our company in Mumbai. In Rajkot it was different. But here it"s a start-up, so we need to crack deals ASAP

Ravi (obediently): Yes sir, I know that. But one of my relatives is seriously ill and I need to attend to her. Simultaneously, I am as well on the lookout for a prospective client for the land, Sir. Now I got to go, Sir.

And he hangs up the phone. But it is too late. Shrikar is nowhere to be seen. He curses himself and the phone call. But his presence of mind reminds him of Anjana telling him how Shrikar meets her every day at the hospital premises for breakfast.

Ravi rushes to the hospital and is taken aback to see Shrikar ascending the steps towards his car as if he has just had breakfast and a hearty talk with Anjana. Vipul is escorting him to the car.

He again follows him, but contrary to what he is looking for, Shrikar reaches his workplace, THE VACCINERS. He reflects that perhaps Shrikar may be out of the doubt segment. But he needs to be doubly sure...

He then decides to follow Vipul. But Vipul doesn’t seem to budge out of the hospital for the whole day.

Frustrated, he goes back to spy on Shrikar. Shrikar is leaving the office as Ravi reaches there. He follows Shrikar but to his disappointment, Shrikar doesn"t even shadily wander to Ravi"s expectations but directly goes home. Ravi feels frustrated. He is further frustrated by his boss"s call. Without an option, he attends it.

Ravi (nervously): Hello Sir, please don"t panic. I am wholly after the sale of our property.

Mr Rao (irritated): “Don"t panic.” What do you mean? We are on the verge of closure, if that plot is not sold. Now please do something or else we all will have to find a venture capitalist to save us. Please, Ravi...

Ravi (promising): Sir, I won"t let you down, ever.

Next day, again, Ravi presses on his duty as a spy. He chooses to go to the hospital first and look out for anything suspicious. But fate has it that he finds Shrikar coming on time to the hospital and Vipul greeting him. He finds nothing suspicious.

He is saddened to see that Anjana has been wrong in her assumptions. Shrikar is found visiting the hospital daily and Vipul"s behaviour appears to be normal.

Just as he is thinking on these lines, Shrikar and Vipul come out and drive away in Vipul"s car. That cautions him. He starts his bike, in order to follow them but is again stopped by a call from his boss. Frustrated and angry to the core, Ravi picks up the call.

Ravi (pleading): Hello Sir, can I please call you back?

Mr Rao (requesting): Ravi, I want you here, right now. We are almost on the verge of settling the deal for that property. I need you to counsel me on monetary matters.

Ravi (appealing): Sir, right now I am in the middle of something very grave. Won’t it be all right if I call you back in half an hour or so?

Mr Rao: OK. But please do so without fail. Please make sure that we don"t miss this deal.

Ravi (gratefully): I promise sir.

Ravi hangs up the phone and looks around. There is no trace of Vipul"s car. He rushes to Shrikar"s office. He finds Shrikar to be in a meeting. He rushes back to the hospital and is dumfounded to see Vipul there.