CHARACTERS
DEEP:
Flamboyant young man. Just joined Infosys as a lateral SSE. Neatly clean shaven and parted hair.
ADA:
Sweet peppy girl. Working with Infosys for past two years.
ADA (kid):
Sweet cute girl; 6-7 years old.
NAMIT:
Project Manager. Amiable personality.
VAIBHAV:
Project Lead. Serious fellow.
RAHMAT KHAN
ADA’s father
MARRIAGE REGISTRAR
Normal government employee
DOCTOR
Normal doctor with specs
MANAV
Photographer
EXT. PARK – MORNING
A kid ADA is playing with ball. [CAMERA SLOWLY ZOOMS OUT.] A man DEEP is lying on ground watching her play [COMES IN FOCUS IN LAST FRAME]. A photographer MANAV, walking from the hind-side comes close to DEEP. [CAMERA FOCUS ON MANAV AND DEEP, ADA IN BACKDROP.]
MANAV
Hey, I am Manav. I am a photographer. Happy kid.
DEEP
(smiles) Hi.
MANAV
Can I take a few pics of your daughter?
DEEP
For?
MANAV
I am working for City Times. For our magazine section.
DEEP
Sure. With my pleasure.
Snaps are being taken by MANAV [IMPROVISE AS PER SCENE AND NEED]. While he does, DEEP looks at ADA and then stares at the sky… [CAMERA FOCUS ON DEEP IN FIRST FRAME AND SLIDES TO THE HORIZON] Sound: Busy road in morning. Bell bells.
CUT TO:
EXT. OFFICE BUS STAND – MORNING
ADA is waiting at a bus stand. [CAMERA LOOKS AT HER FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF ROAD. ZOOMS IN.] DEEP (looks younger) comes [ZOOMS OUT] and stands next to her. DEEP looks at ADA and keeps looking.[LAST FRAME CAPTURES THEM FROM SIDE; FOCUS ON DEEP LOOKING AT ADA]
VOICE
Love is amazing. Sometimes it takes ages to understand someone and sometimes, even one vague glance seems to be more than enough. That’s love; indeed.
Deep. He recently joined Infosys as a lateral and was supposed to joining some team today. After a bench span of one month, some work meant some excitement. Happy, he came to the bus stop. He was a bit early and there he saw her.
Ada. A sweet girl from Kerala. She joined Infosys some two years back as a fresher. As a fresh SSE; she too was supposed to join some new team. Today, she came to her bus stop at her usual time and noticed a new face. Lateral? She asked herself.
Not all great love stories have a great opening scene.
Bus comes and both board it. [CAMERA LOOKS AT HER FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF ROAD.]
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
DEEP is sitting on a chair in conference hall [CAMERA LOOKS AT HIM FROM OUTSIDE THE ROOM] ADA comes in and smiles. [CAMERA IS BEHIND DEEP; SWITCHES BETWEEN DEEP AND ADA DEPENDING ON WHO IS SPEAKING.]
ADA
Are you here for Namit?
DEEP
(mumbles) Mmm… yesss…
ADA
I guess that he will be a bit late. By the way (takes a seat) I am Ada.
DEEP
I am Deep. Deep Malhotra. (silence)
By the way, I am a lateral.
ADA
Oh… Great. When did you join?
DEEP
Last month. (tries to smile; looks confused) What about you?
ADA
I have working with Infy for two years now.
The door opens. NAMIT enters. He breaks in the conversation.
NAMIT
Hello, everybody…
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE CUBICLE – AFTERNOON
DEEP and ADA are sitting on desks facing NAMIT. Every few seconds, DEEP glances at ADA. [CAMERA IS BEHIND NAMIT]
NAMIT
Mmmm… that’s what the client is looking at. (pauses) We have done this before and we will have to identify how we are going to reuse the components. You guys got the basic idea, nah? It’s going to be a small project. Three months at max.
[CAMERA IS BEHIND DEEP and ADA](Notices Deep looking at Ada; smiles) I will mail you the details. This week just have a look on the details. We will start working on design after kick-off meeting.
Hey… Vaibhav… Come here.
VAIBHAV comes in the cubicle. [FOCUS ON VAIBHAV AND NAMIT; HEREON]
VAIBHAV
Hi Namit. Hi guys…
NAMIT
Guys, He is Vaibhav. He will be Team Lead. And Vaibhav… He is Deep and she is Ada. I was briefing them about the project. Now, they are all yours… (winks)
VAIBHAV acknowledges. [CAMERA IS BEHIND VAIBHAV] DEEP and ADA smile.
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE CUBICLE – EVENING
Its late evening. ADA and DEEP are still working. Nobody else is there. [CAMERA IS BEHIND THEIR SEATS]
ADA
Your mobile have some songs, I guess?
DEEP
Yes… (Turns to face her, takes out mobile)
ADA
(Turns to face him) Then play them. Some sweet number.
DEEP
(Smiles) Ok.
While DEEP sets on, ADA peeps out to ensure that nobody is troubled with it.
Then she sits down. Lower her chair to recline. DEEP peeps out and finds nobody around. He bends a bit towards ADA; asks for her hand. Sound: movie song… only karaoke
DEEP
A dance…
ADA smiles and stands up. Both dance for a few moments and then stand still. Music fades out and then fades in. Mobile rangs; music stops. Both are startled.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROAD – NIGHT
DEEP is walking; same music fades in. He jumps on road with happiness; music fades out.
DEEP
(screams) I love her…
CUT TO:
EXT. SITTING PLACE – AFTERNOON
DEEP and ADA are sitting having a chat together [CAMERA ZOOMS IN; IN THE NEXT FRAME CAMERA FOCUS ON DEEP, SWITCHES BETWEEN DEEP AND ADA DEPENDING ON WHO IS SPEAKING]
DEEP
Hey, I wanna say something to you.
ADA
What? (looks viciously)
DEEP
I was having this feeling for some time now. (ADA tilts hers head to one side). I absolutely don’t know why, but the first moment I saw you; I was struck by a thunderbolt. A fatal one.
ADA
(looks confused) What is this all about?
DEEP
I love you.
[CAMERA FOCUSES ON ADA WHO IS GLOOMY, SHAKES FOR WHILE AND FADE TO BLACK]
VOICE
She is having cancer and her chemo is not helping her anymore.
[CAMERA IS BEHIND DEEP; HE COVERS A QUARTER OF SCREEN. ADA IS GOING AWAY; FADES TO BLACK. REPEAT FROM OPPOSITE SIDE AS VOICE OVER FINISHES.]
VOICE
The girl he loves is shying away from him. For a moment, he found his love too weak too feeble in front of the inevitable. The next moment, he felt that his love can actually stand in front of death; strong and bold.
If she is going to live another thirty three thousand three hundred thirty three moments in her life, he is going to make each of them equally memorable.
May be in a world of ambition and achievements his love won’t amount to adulation, between these two meaningless entities it will be everything… everything…
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE PANTRY – EVENING
DEEP and ADA are sitting in office pantry. [IN THIS SCENE; CAMERA FOCUS IS ON COUPLE.]
ADA
Deep, stop this.
DEEP
Don’t you like me?
ADA
No… I mean… it’s not practical. I am going under constant tests and chemotherapy sessions and now even doctors have lost their hope. Every day I wake up to start my day with a handful of medicines. My father seems to have lost everything. He is almost broke… emotionally, physically and financially.
Every day he asks me to leave this job and rest. I come here because I find life here. I forget about my health and live my life. Here, in you, I have someone I enjoy talking.
Do I love you… yes dammit I do. But I can’t let you ruin your life like this.
DEEP
So you do… (Holds her hands)
ADA
That’s not the point. You have your whole life in front of you. I… I don’t know whether would be able to get up tomorrow or not.
DEEP
Ada… that’s not the point. (She, annoyed; tries to speak up but he keeps his hand over her mouth)
You know, standing there I asked myself. Do I really love you? I had no answer. My love doesn’t need justification or explanation. I do love you and I can’t weigh options. You are the only option I have.
ADA
I won’t live long.
DEEP
But we would love long.
ADA
Please don’t do this.
DEEP
Please let me do.
ADA
I can’t… (she stands up; turns away)
[CAMERA IS IN FRONT OF ADA. DEEP STANDS UP AND KEEP HIS HANDS ON HER SHOULDER. SHE TURNS AROUND AND REST HER HEAD ON HIS CHEST.]
CUT TO:
INT. DRAWING ROOM – EVENING
RAHMAT is sitting on a sofa. DEEP is sitting in front of him. [CAMERA IS SUCH KEPT THAT TWO-THIRD OF SCREEN IS COVERED BY RAHMAT KHAN AND REST BY DEEPS BACK]
RAHMAT
So you want to marry Ada?? Huh. And you say that you know everything. How old are you? 26? You know everything??
DEEP
I love her Sir. [CAMERA FOCUS ON DEEP]
RAHMAT
[CAMERA FOCUS ON RAHMAT]Son, you don’t have an idea what a mistake you will be doing. Saying I love you is one thing and going to hospital twice a week, hearing thousand bad things and remembering names of a score of medicines is another.
DEEP
Sir…[CAMERA FOCUS ON DEEP]
RAHMAT
[CAMERA FOCUS ON RAHMAT]Shut your mouth (leans forward). Do you have any idea how awful the hospital smells? One day outside the chemo room and your love will be evaporating.
DEEP
[CAMERA FOCUS ON DEEP] Sir… I can’t contest the love you have for her. I simply can’t. Yes, I will be weak for a few moments. It will be difficult. But I can promise you, I won’t leave her. We marry or not; nothing can move me from my stand.
RAHMAT
This is life. It’s no Casablanca. [CAMERA FOCUS ON RAHMAT]
DEEP
[CAMERA FOCUS ON DEEP] I know that well Sir. That’s why I am saying. I won’t leave her…
RAHMAT
(Pauses and relaxes) Ada! This fella is too obstinate. (She comes and sits next to him) Come here… [CAMERA IS SUCH KEPT THAT TWO-THIRD OF SCREEN IS COVERED BY RAHMAT KHAN AND REST BY DEEPS BACK]
ADA
I know that papa… That’s why I love him so much…
RAHMAT
(smiles) So, are you two taking leave this Friday?
CUT TO:
INT. REGISTRAR OFFICE – EVENING
REGISTRAR is sitting and scribbling on paper. Following are present: RAHMAT, NAMIT, VAIBHAV, DEEP and ADA.
REGISTRAR
So, you two are ready. [CAMERA FOCUS ON REGISTRAR]
DEEP, ADA (unison)
Yes (both looks at each other and smile) [CAMERA FOCUS ON COUPLE]
REGISTRAR
So… Ladies first. [CAMERA FOCUS ON REGISTRAR]
GLIMPSES (Background Music)
1. ADA signs followed by DEEP [CAMERA FOCUS ON COUPLE]
2. RAHMAT hugs DEEP and ADA. [ENTIRE SCENE CAPTURED BY CAMERA]
3. ADA pushes kalash and enters flat [CAMERA FOCUS ON KALASH BEING PUSHED]
4. ADA watching out standing on balcony. DEEP comes and scares her. She runs behind him to beat him. [CAMERA RUNS ALONG]
Fade out to BLACK…
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM – MORNING
ADA is sleeping. [CAMERA IS AT OPPOSITE CORNER OF THE ROOM. ZOOMS IN] DEEP enters the room with bed-tea and plays with her hair. He keeps the tray and turns around to leave. ADA holds his hand.
ADA
You will keep doing this everyday…
DEEP
Yeah.
ADA
Then… (pulls him closer) [CAMERA ZOOMS IN MORE] Maybe I would defy my death. (smiles)
DEEP
(puts his finger on her lips) I think we had already done so.
ADA
(removes his hand) Is it so? Doctors have different opinion.
DEEP
(puts his index finger on her chin and pulls it up) Hey. You know, they say that you can buy these doctor degrees these days. What do they know? I know that my Ada is going to be with me. Forever. And I don’t want an argument over it.
ADA smiles.
DEEP
By the way, I am going for a shower? Wanna join? (winks)
ADA
Well, I have some second thoughts. (pushes) You stink… I am not coming…
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM – EVENING
DEEP and ADA are watching TV. [CAMERA IS AT OPPOSITE CORNER OF THE ROOM] Suddenly ADA gets up and goes to the bathroom. Then after a spare moment, she returns. DEEP looks at her but says nothing. After another moment, he changes his sitting position.
DEEP
You are okay.
ADA
Yeah
DEEP
Don’t lie.
ADA
I am ok.
DEEP
Sure?
ADA
Yeah.
DEEP
Anyways, we will go to see the doctor tomorrow.
ADA
Hey, no need yaar. We have a scheduled meeting on Saturday.
DEEP
No. We are going to him tomorrow. (he stands up) Now get up…
ADA
Why…
DEEP
Come on… (he pulls her up; increases volume on tv) Lets dance.
They dance for a moment [CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON THEIR FACE, THEY ROTATE AS THEY DANCE]
DEEP
You are feeling better?
ADA
Yeah.
DEEP
Is it paining?
ADA
Not anymore.
DEEP
Good.
ADA
(smiles; closes her eyes) I love you Deep.
DEEP
I love you too.
ADA
Thanks for everything…
DEEP
Hey, I should thank you for marrying me…
ADA
O really… Then say it.
DEEP
Thanks for marrying…
ADA
Hey… Stop. Let’s keep dancing.
[CAMERA LOOKS OTHERWAYS; SLOWLY] Sound: fades out.
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE – AFTERNOON
Mobile is on vibrator and kept on desk. It buzzes [CAMERA ON ONE SIDE OF DESK] DEEP is working on his desk. He picks up the phone. Its customer care call. He put the phone down. Continues with his work.
Mobile buzzes again. [CAMERA ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DESK] He is focusing on his work. It continues buzzing. He picks it up.
DEEP
Yes… I am coming.
He pushes the chair aside. Takes the keys and rushes out. He trips over something [CAMERA AT ONE END OF HALL] but still continue running.
He reaches lift. Its on some other floor. [CAMERA AT BACK] He rushes to take the stairs. [CAMERA AT STAIRS]
CUT TO:
EXT. ROAD – AFTERNOON
DEEP driving on the roads wearing helmet. [CAMERA IN FRONT OF DEEP]
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM – AFTERNOON
[CAMERA OVER ADA] DEEP enters the room. RAHMAT and DOCTOR sitting there.
DEEP enters and drops the helmet.
DEEP
(panting) You are ok?
DOCTOR
(smile) Now she is. Just some weakness… [CAMERA FOCUS ON ADA AND DOCTOR]
ADA
I am fine. Nothing to worry.
DEEP smiles.
CUT TO:
INT. ENTRANCE OF FLAT – AFTERNOON
DEEP standing with DOCTOR. [CAMERA ON WHOEVER SPEAKS]
DEEP
Doc. How is she?
DOCTOR
Actually. Weak. Very weak. The problem is that she has reached a point where there is no scope of recovery. We can just drag her… for a few months.
DEEP
Can’t we do anything?
DOCTOR
Just try to keep her happy. Be patient. After sometime she might fall very sick and very weak. She won’t be able to do the basic things. You will have to be very brave.
DEEP
It’s difficult to see her like this… but I won’t break down.
DOCTOR
Mmmm… Deep. I have seen people who leave their spouses when they come to know about such things. Frankly speaking, when Rahmat ji told me about your marriage; I was a bit shocked. But looking at you… I am proud of you. I don’t have an iota of doubt that you will sail through all this. Infact, you will sail her along. I don’t believe in miracles but I want to believe in them.
DEEP
Doc…
DOCTOR
God bless you…
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM – MORNING
DEEP and ADA are sitting on bed, having coffee [CAMERA ZOOMS IN; THEN FOCUS ON WHOEVER SPEAKS].
ADA
Deep… Tell me one thing.
DEEP
Yes…
ADA
Can I join office again?
DEEP
Well, Doctor will be angry about it.
ADA
He is stupid.
DEEP
(Pinches her nose) Not as much as you.
ADA
(keeps the cup aside and lay down on his lap)
Office used to be fun yaar. Here, for the entire day… I am either watching TV or socializing on facebook. That’s so boring.
DEEP
Well, (holds her hand) you can do something creative…
ADA
Like… writing letters.
DEEP
Where did that came from.
ADA
PS I Love You
DEEP
I know that. But why?
ADA
I thought.
DEEP
Ada, nothing is going to happen to you. We will be together… forever. Please don’t torture yourself with silly thoughts. Ok.
ADA
I am sorry…
DEEP
No problem. But I don’t want to hear any such trash from you.
DEEP stands up, collects the cups and exits. ADA tries to smile but she is not able to. She picks up a cushion and with the corner of cushion, removes the tear on her eye. [CAMERA ZOOMS OUT IN END]
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN – MORNING
DEEP is tossing some veggies for salad. ADA looks on. [CAMERA AT OTHER CORNER CAPTURING THEM IN SINGLE SHOT; IN SECOND FRAME ZOOM IN]
ADA
Deep… I bother you too much nah…
DEEP
No sweetheart.
ADA
Don’t worry, it won’t last long.
DEEP
Ada (annoyed)
ADA
Hey, I am talking about this salad. (moves ahead and smells) Smells yummy.
DEEP brushes her hair and go out. [NOW, FOCUS ON ADA] She wipes her eyes.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE BUILDING – MORNING
DEEP is locking his bike and enters the lift. [CAMERA FOLLOWS HIM] He seems to be very passive. [CAMERA MOTION IS SLOW]
Lift opens. [CAMERA CAPTURES HIM COMING OUT OF THE LIFT]
RAHMAT is standing outside the flat. Confused DEEP looks at him.
DEEP
What happened?
RAHMAT
I should have seen this.
DEEP tries to open the door to enter. RAHMAT stops him.
RAHMAT
Can we talk.
CUT TO:
EXT. ON STAIRS – MORNING
DEEP and RAHMAT sitting side by side. Sad. [CAMERA WILL CAPTURE BOTH IN SAME FRAME BUT WITH BREAKS]
RAHMAT
She loved you more than her life. It was easy for her to kill herself.
DEEP
But… I never thought that she would take such a step.
RAHMAT
Nor did I.
(pause)
DEEP
It’s my mistake.
RAHMAT
It’s not.
DEEP
She did it to reduce my pain.
RAHMAT
Your pain was no different from hers. She did it for herself only.
(pause)
RAHMAT
Sometimes love take away a lot. But in the end everything happens for a reason.
DEEP
Are you justifying this…?
RAHMAT
No. But she had little options left. She chose what her heart asked for… and son, heart is bad at making choices.
(pause)
DEEP
She did all wrong. I won’t forgive her for this.
RAHMAT
I can understand.
DEEP
I can do away with everything I have to spend another few moments with her. Everything without a second thought.
RAHMAT leaves giving him a piece of paper. He is looking at it and then looks in front. [CAMERA FOCUSES ON HIM IN FIRST FEW FRAMES THEN FOCUS ON WHERE HE IS LOOKING; IN LAST FEW FRAMES CAMERA RETURNS FOCUS ON DEEP WHO IS SITTING WITH ADA. ADA IS HOLDING THE PIECE OF PAPER NOW]
VOICE (ADA)
Deep…
You will be angry with me. I know that. Even I am angry with myself. How can I run away from you like this? But I have to.
I cherished every moment I spent with you. I loved to be your girlfriend, your wife and at times your baby. I never felt so secure ever. In your arms, I felt like fighting with my cancer and spend long life with you… in your brave arms.
But I wondered what will happen when I will die. With my diminishing body; your spirit would wear down. The torture you would have to undergo was simply unimaginable for me… Sorry, I can’t see you like this.
I love you… and having said that, I believe that someday you will forgive me. As of now… I just want to be a beautiful page in your life that charred itself to death; just to remain beautiful.
Love…
Ada
CUT TO:
EXT. PARK – MORNING
Kid ADA is still playing. [IN FIRST FRAME CAMERA IS ON KID; DURING CONVERSTAION ON SPEAKER]
MANAV
I think I got some really good snaps. Thank a lot.
DEEP
No problem dude…
MANAV
By the way, what is her name?
DEEP
Ada
MANAV
Nice name…
DEEP
Yeah… it means a life to me.
[CAMERA LOOKS AT DEEP] DEEP moves and starts playing with kid ADA. [CAMERA SEARCHES FOR SOMEONE. ADA IS STANDING WATCHING THEM]
VOICE
Love is amazing… Isn’t it? While some one readily dies for her love; the other one give eternal love a new dimension… a new definition.
For us life means a lot of things altogether… ambition, career, love, lust, prestige… For Deep, Life Is Just Ada… Just Ada…
(Fades out)
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