Saramsha (2024) Movie Script
- I'm a bit broken..
Maybe that makes me a jigsaw puzzle..
Giving me pieces I want to throw away..
But also pieces I want to keep.. cherish..
It's remarkable how all these that I cherish
Make sense when and only when they fit with you.
Whatever I win, I throw away..
So I can win something better.
Maybe, that's why I dread winning you.
You being mine scares me.
But you know what feels right?
Knowing that I belong with you.
(laughs)
Something so mushy-mushy belongs in a story, isn't it?
- Is there any guarantee we aren't just imaginary beings
in a story some writer is writing somewhere, Maya?
- Hmm.. True..
Alright. Who's this writer? I want to meet him!
- (laughs)
Sure.
So..
A new chapter begins with you and me?
- I guess..
But on one condition..
I want you to face your past, Abhay.
- What's done with already is..
- Abhay!
Ey! Listen to me..
I know you love me with all your heart.
I love you too.. More than anything..
But..
This means something to me..
Ok?
Please?
- Ok.
- Promise?
- Hmm. Yeah.
I promise. I'll try.
- Such lies!
Three years since this rut of our relationship began.
Let's meet like strangers? Just like that?
This evening. I'll wait.
Love you.
- In you I am searching an unfamiliar lullaby..
Holding by the door, an unfamiliar key..
There's a silent calling I hear of a familiar voice..
Between the lines, I wonder, why this haunts me?
Images of my own past feel unfamiliar.
Pages of my own story feel unfamiliar.
Unfamiliar
Unfamiliar
My yesterday's reflection stares me in the eye
And haunts me in my mirror
How am I to win this game of
'You blink, you lose'?
Voice that has let go of speaking
Loneliness that has encompassed me mentally
And that drop eternally resting on
the corner of my eye lids
Feels enough and done with, now.
A break from all this would be great.
Silence.
Images of my own past feel unfamiliar.
Pages of my own story feel unfamiliar.
Silence,
These verses stem from you..
These verses stem from you..
- Excuse me, miss.
- Hi Tejaswi, please come in.
How are you?
- Nice, miss.
- How was your summer vacation?
- Nice, miss.
- Slept well?
- Yes, miss.
- Dreamt well?
- Yes, miss.
- Got plenty of dreams?
- Yes, miss.
- And this is one of your dreams?
- Yes, miss.
- 'Yes' for everything! Ok.
Uh, I went through your poem, it's very, very beautiful!
I loved it. - Thank you, miss.
- So cute! Just like you!
Ok, here, uh, you've written,
'I sat there and thought, I'm in heaven'..
So, how was your heaven?
- Uh, miss, it was all beach, miss.
I love beaches a lot, so in my imagination,
it was like a heaven for me.
- So sweet, Tejaswi. I think you should keep writing more.
- Ok, miss.
- Yeah?
And, I've given you three stars.
- Thank you, miss.
- I loved it! And I want you to keep it safe..
until the annual day function. Submit this, and this will
go in the school magazine.
- Yes, miss. - Right?
- Yes, miss.
- Keep writing!
- Yes, miss.
Thank you, miss.
- Alright.
- Done?
- In a minute!
- Good!
When are you likely to get your marks card?
- I don't know.
(Vehicle honking)
Leave! Your bus is here.
Wait, come here!
Hmmm! Go!
- Buddy, Narayana! Enough, come soon.
Let's have lunch.
- You proceed. I'll join.
- Alright. Come soon.
- Hey, Teju! What did they teach you in school today?
- 'From a Railway Carriage' by R. L. Stevenson.
- Oh!
- Oh! Was it Jesse miss?
- Eh! How does it matter which miss it was?
Do you know this English poem?
- English? This guy is trouble personified.
- Eh! - Yeah!
- We had also been taught, remember?
Let's give it a try?
- Yeah.
- (Whistling)
Faster than fairies, faster than witches,
- Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches;
- (And) charging along like troops in a battle,
- All through the meadows the horses and cattle:
- All of the sights of the hill and the plain
- Fly as thick as driving rain;
- (And) ever again, in the wink of an eye,
- Painted stations whistle by.
- (Whistling)
Here is a child who clambers and scrambles,
All by himself and gathering brambles;
(Laughing)
(Whistling)
Here is a tramp who stands and gazes;
- (And) there is the green for stringing the daisies!
- Here is a cart run away in the road
- Lumping along with man and load;
- Tejaswi, please throw the ball back!
- (And) here is a mill and there is a river:
- Each a glimpse and gone for ever!
- (Chorus) Each a glimpse and gone for ever!
- Was it good?
(Scooter noise)
Hmm. Looks like we're done for today.
- Done, yeah.
- Our Teju's name looks so beautiful in print, isn't it?
- Super!
- Aishu, pass the salt?
It's ok..
Just a pinch.
Just because I brought a printout..
- Today it's just 'one printout', Narayan.
You know what it can grow into, don't you?
- Aishu!
People think a hundred times before telling a 'no'
to their children.
This is a child we have adopted with so much desire.
How can I turn anything down for him?
- Do you remember why we particularly decided
to adopt a male child?
- Hmm. Alright.
Let's ask him to concentrate only on his studies now on.
Come, sleep.
- This is just like the story of our Lord Krishna!
- How's that?
- Grab that book, will you?
- Hold this, will you?
Careful. It was my grandfather's.
- Lord Krishna was born in a jail, to Vasudeva and Devaki.
But Vasudeva, fearing Kamsa will kill the child,
left Lord Krishna in the custody of
Yashoda and Nanda.
They brought him up like their own son.
Even Lord Krishna grew up considering them as his own parents.
- Lord Krishna was so lucky, isn't it?
Look at Karna. Though he was Kunti's son,
he grew up thinking he was born to a fisherman.
- Hey, Teju!
I just got an idea!
Our Teju looks so adorable when reading, isn't it?
- Isn't it?
- What book is he reading?
- He is.. Umm..
T.. I.. N.. KL..
- Tinkle!
- Oh, Tinkle, Tinkle little star, huh?
- Yeah!
- Although,
it would have been nice if it was a Kannada book.
- Eh!
This generation studies in English medium, isn't it?
- Uh, huh..
- That's why.
How does it matter which book he reads..
as long as he gets exposed to good ideas and grows!
- Yeah, that's true.
(Scooter noise)
He would have brought the printout, right?
- Certainly!
- Our Teju will be super happy!
- Oh, yes, he will be!
- Hmmm!
- How come you've brought a file home today?
- I get it everyday, don't I?
Why ask like it's a new thing?
- Hmm..
What Tejas asked..
- Today..
it was quite hectic at office.
I was busy.
Um..
- Don't take too much of it..
- Hmmm.
Have your food.
- Printout.
- Your poem is in my shirt pocket.
Ey, Teju!
Teju!
Have your food and go!
- Printout!
- The thing is..
I've been asked to use the office printer for official use only.
I am sorry.
I won't be able to bring printouts for you.
You have your public exams next year.
You have to concentrate on your studies.
- No!
I know that I'm not your son.
That's why you're refusing to bring me the printout.
- Teju..
When you were little,
you had pestered me for a couple of toys in a shop.
I didn't have the money to buy it for you.
Seeing that, the shopkeeper uncle
gave you the toys as a gift.
Do you remember?
Similarly,
when the doctors said we can't have children,
God sent you to us.
You're God's gift to us.
Say, what?
- God's gift.
- Very good!
Never again should you
say that you're not my son, dear one.
Don't even think like that again.
Understood?
You're such a good boy!
Let's have food?
Come.
Ah!
Teju..
is a good boy!
- Appa called me God's gift, you know?
- Oh! For your parents' happiness,
- God gave you to them, is it so?
- Then that God is definitely Lord Krishna!
- But isn't it birds that bring babies to parents?
- If someone gets a present,
it should always make them smile.
If I am a gift to my parents,
they should never feel sad because of me.
I will ensure that now on.
- Cool, cool!
I am feeling sleepy.
- Yeah, Teju. Even I'm feeling sleepy.
- I am very sleepy, too. I'll call it a night.
- (Together) Good night!
Ah! Hmmm!
(Indistinct chatter)
- Get up! Get up!
- Getting up!
Let's get to work. (Clears throat)
Clear your throat as well.
- Yeah.
That's it, I guess.
- Hmmm!
- Is that ok?
Ok.
Suresh has asked me to take charge of the Bombay office.
If I agree to it,
your mom and I will have to shift there by month end.
You are graduating next year.
Will you be able to manage by yourself, Teju?
Consider this -
if your result is good this time,
you'll have a job offer in our office itself.
- Ok, appa.
- Good!
I'll confirm, then.
- Hmm.
- Careful.
Take care, Teju.
- Sure thing, appa.
- Study well.
- Yes.
- We'll take leave now. Have your food on time.
- Ok.
- Avoid hotel food. Cook for yourself.
Ok.
- Cafeful.
- Ok.
You also take care, amma.
- Ey! He's taking his diary out!
We have work today, finally!
(Clears throat) - Get ready!
- Yeah!
- Call Tejas.
- May I?
For you.
It's a cold night.
You're alone as well.
Can I ask you something?
- I'm expensive!
- Excuse me?
- Time with me isn't cheap.
- You're fast.
I like fast and expensive.
Life itself is a costly, after all.
Most of the time,
a costly mistake!
- Ugh!
Philosophy. Boring.
Instead of living life,
breaking your head about random ideas feels like a waste of time.
- Once upon a time,
scientists, writers, even kings
were all philosophers first.
They had so much value in society.
Times have changed.
- So,
what are you,
a writer, or a scientist,
or..
a king?
- Let's let it pass.
- Not at all, tell me!
I have time.
- I'm a scientist.
- Hmm!
- I study parallel universes. In fact,
I've visited a few.
- So,
what's happening
in this parallel universe of yours?
- A poor chap named Tejas, a CA,
lost his job today.
- It's all so strange, isn't it?
You say it's entirely another world.
There, too,
people have names similar to yours and mine,
maintain accounts like us, become CAs..
Is nothing different?
Uh, you're making this up!
- All of us are made up, miss..
- Maya.
- How symbolic!
Cheers to that?
We're all made up, Maya.
If we are around,
to see, to touch and feel this world,
only then does this have any meaning to us.
If not, then, aren't all of this
just chemical reactions?
- Maybe.
I'm drunk.
- On just so much?
- You know me.
- Nah!
Listen, umm..
Do you want to find out more?
- About?
- Chemical reactions..
Yours and mine..
I'll take that as a yes.
11:45?
Parking lot?
- Uh,
is this fast and expensive too?
- (Laughs)
Not as much as you!
I hope to see you soon..
- Suresh had called me. What is all this, Teju?
Shouldn't you be more responsible?
What's with getting distracted?
Is your salary insufficient?
- Nothing like that, appa.
Appa, the thing is..
I'm all by myself here, a bit alone..
- Ah!
I'll be retiring in just about a month and returning.
Until then, do you want to come and stay here?
No, appa, I'll manage.
- But, whatever the matter is,
please call me and talk it out. Ok?
Keep calling me.
- Alright, appa.
- (Chuckles)
- (Laughs)
- I missed you a lot today.
- Hmm!
Why have you parked in such a corner?
Useless.
- (Laughs)
I'll park wherever I find parking, isn't it?
- By the way,
you did really well today!
- Really?
- Um hmm!
- Thank you!
- You're welcome.
- May I do some PDA ma'm?
- Sure.
Hmmm..
- (Clearing throat)
- It's high time you addressed the issue.
This morning, at the passport office,
they verified my document three times.
Counter A, counter B, counter C..
I was asked three times
who my parents were, what they did.. All of those questions.
'Mother's Name', 'Father's Name'..
I've filled the columns in so many documents.
But who were they, and how did they live?
I have no idea.
Growing without parents is like..
It's like a part of your identity never fully develops.
You know what I mean?
- I know..
I can't..
- Hmmm!
- Ideally,
shouldn't you be quite upset with me, Maya?
- Hmm. Ideally.
But to get upset with you, I don't need this topic alone.
- That's not the answer to my question.
Seriously. What do you see in me?
Why are you with me?
- What is it now? You want me to praise you?
- Tell me..
- What's your problem ya, Abhay?
I am with you now, aren't I?
Hmm?
But, if you want me to show you,
I can.
- Show me what exactly?
- Stop the car.
- Maya?
Let's get home?
- Home? Home is just so..
normal!
You can do better, Abhay!
- You didn't just say that.
- Ok.. You can do better..
- Maya!
- Stop the car, baby.
- Maya, cops!
- Where are they?
- Shh.. Ma(ya)..
They're in front! How'll you see them turning this way?
Oh God, Maya, stop!
God, seriously?
- (Snoring)
- (Door knock)
- (Door knock)
- Can't believe you made me do that.
Girls of this generation seem to have no situational awareness!
- Oh, ho!
It takes two hands to clap, mister.
A clap can only happen when two hands meet.
- The hands must belong to two individuals, Maya.
Not the same person!
- Ha ha, yuck!
- Uff!
Fun thing to do, anyway. (Chuckles)
Drink?
- We just got home from a pub!
- You know I don't drink and drive.
You got drunk on litchee juice at the pub!
What will you drink?
- Litchee juice.
- Litchee juice, yet again?
The litchee carton is empty. You've to make do with orange juice.
- Yuck!
By the way,
- Um hmm?
- What do you think about Khalil Gibran?
- Khalil, my man.
Super intense.
- Just like you.
- Just like..
you and me.
- (Laughter)
By the way,
- Um hmm?
Second 'by the way', by the way!
- Happy anniversary!
Hmmm..
(Sighs)
It's been three years.
- Hmm!
- Someone needs to give me an award.
- What award do you want, Maya?
- What are you thinking?
- Hmm?
I told you about that boy, Tejas, no?
- Umm.. The parallel universe guy!
- Yeah.
You know how he lost his job today?
- Tell me.
- No, listen..
If he wasn't too interested in accounting,
why get him to study it?
Let him take a break and give his life some thought.
Come in.
Did you prepare this report?
- Y.. Yes sir..
- It's already delayed to begin with..
If I had sent this to the client, we would have
lost them for sure.
Liabilities section is labelled 'In the Boat of Memories'.
Invoices, 'Whispers of the Conscience'.. 'In - Voices'!
Receipts, 'The Gesture of Fearlessness'..
The report itself has a title -
'Are You in an Illusion, or is the Illusion in You?'
Are you writing songs, or doing accounts?
What nonsense is this, Tejas?
-S.. Sir, I was writing something else..
I've no clue how these ended up here..
- This isn't the first time.
We have discussed this before as well.
Only, and only because your father is my old friend,
I've been patient.
Please drop the idea of working for a while and contemplate
what you actually want to do in your life.
- S.. Sir, the thing is..
- Guess what he.. wants to be..
- I want to try writing..
I'm not sure how to tell appa..
- He's your father. What's there to feel ready
to discuss anything with him?
Narayan and Aishwarya might not be comfortable with this.
Let's do one thing. You take a break.
You first sort out what you want to do in your life.
You can leave.
- Hmm!
Alright. I'll get going?
- Uh huh.
Girls shouldn't be out alone at this hour. Come here.
- I've to rehearse. Moreover,
you seem to be interested in another boy.
What'll I do inbetween anyway!
- How about a private show?
- There's no music.
- That's ok.
- Why are you whispering?
(Laughs)
Ok! Fine.
- Um hmm!
- So.
- Ladies and gentlemen, presenting to you all..
- A private show
by miss Maya.
- 'Ladies and gentlemen'? Private show?
- (Laughs) Shh!
- Maya!
- Alright. Come.
You know we've never done it on the dining table.
- Shh!
- Abhay?
You'll sleep?
(Humming lullaby)
Why do you stand right behind my feet?
You know what this means?
You're capable of winning a bigger trophy!
Will you win it?
Go win it!
(Humming lullaby)
- (Indistinct chatter)
- Good morning!
- Ey! Good 'afternoon'!
It's 12 in the noon already.
Where were you all night yesterday?
That's the reason behind all this.
- Shh!
- He must have made other friends there yesterday.
That's why he is forgetting about us.
- Hmmm!
- Shall I keep you guys in the shelf for a few days?
- Damn! That's all our life is.
We are there when he wants us.
When not, we are shelved!
- My back will break!
- My gun will break!
- My back!
- My gun!
- My back!
- Aye, my gun!
- (Phone ringing)
- (Alarm ringing)
- Hmm.
Good morning!
Will you have tea?
- Hmm. Yes, please.
- Oye!
- Still hungover from yesterday?
- Hmm.
What plans today?
You have your performance today evening.
- Such an ass!
For your sake, I didn't even rehearse yesterday, you know?
Yeah, it was my anniversary alone.
- If you get late this evening,
next year onwards, it'll indeed be your anniversary alone. Ok?
- So cute!
Don't tempt me like that.
- (Laughs)
By the way, Tejas left?
- Hmm?
- Tejas?
- He's here.
He said I was very good yesterday.
- Why would he see all that?
- How'll he write without seeing, Maya, come on.
- Abhay, what..
what kind of story is this?
- I'm kidding.
- Yuck!
- Come here.
- Hmm. Now come for a kiss, no?
Ok, I'll leave. Bye.
- Ey! Breakfast..
I'm making breakfast, wait.
- Pack it.
- Hello everyone, I feel very happy to be here..
Uh, we are here at the 'Nasheyo Nakasheyo' event..
- We know each other for several years now..
- When Maya approached us for this collaboration, we were so happy!
- Maya and I studied together in school. I'm so
excited to see her today.
- I'm here to see Maya's magic..
- I've been a witness to her growth..
- I love her dancing, who doesn't? Who doesn't?
- I'm super excited to see Maya perform today..
- He's penned the lyrics for this song..
- Every time she's on stage, it's pure magic!
- We spoke just about the show all along the way..
- I've been following her work for a very long time..
- Maya's performance is always psyched, and
I want to sit in peace and watch!
- The whole world knows how good a performer Maya is..
- Maya is such a lovely performer..
- All the best, Maya!
- I'm sure you're gonna rock it today.
- I'm just excited to see the show!
- I am a dream..
- I am a dream..
In the shadows of the night,
I'm the dream that opened your eyes.
I am a dream..
Bring me to life.
I'm the journey that you take, smiling,
under the arclights..
Once you become one with the waves,
Will you, a river, forget who you were?
Is your pursuit mindless?
Or mindful?
Is your pursuit mindless?
Or mindful?
- You're a star that shines and sparkles,
Who can compete with your attractiveness?
Other than following behind you now,
What choice do I really have?
You're a star that shines and sparkles,
Who can compete with your attractiveness?
Other than following behind you now,
Tell me, what choice do I really have?
- Hold on, just for a little longer.
- You're a mirage that's vanishing as I approach you.
Return the smile that you stole from me please.
- I am my own stage,
my own audience,
my own curiosity, that I safeguard.
Is this pursuit mindless?
Or mindful?
- Return the smile that you stole from me please.
- Is this pursuit mindless?
- You're a mirage that's vanishing as I approach you.
- Is this pursuit mindless?
- Return the smile that you stole from me please.
You're a mirage that's vanishing as I approach you.
- Is this mindless?
- Return the smile that you stole from me please.
You're a mirage that's vanishing as I approach you.
Return the smile that you stole from me please.
You're a mirage that's vanishing as I approach you.
Return the smile that you stole from me please.
- (Door knock)
(Door knock)
- Was I ok? Did I look too fat?
- Ey!
Be proud of yourself.
Chin up!
- Hmm.
- Second chin also.
- Stupid!
- God, you're so beautiful!
- Alright.
I'll go change and come.
- I want to watch.
- Yeah, why wouldn't you!
By the way,
- By the way?
On the way back,
- On the way back?
- Let's stop by appa's house?
- Huh, Maya!
The evening is so beautiful..
why, why.. Why do you get such ideas?
- Alright.
Give me five. I'll come back.
- Hi, Tejas.
- Can you see me?
- You missed Maya's performance..
It was amazing.
Actually, it felt like it was written for you only!
'Nasheyo, Nakasheyo'..
Is this pursuit mindless, or mindful?
- But..
How am I..
- I've to leave now.
But I'll meet you very soon, Tejas.
Yeah?
- (Phone ringing)
Dilemma is of two kinds, Tejas.
One is external.
You have clarity about what you want in life.
You also have the support of your family and friends.
Your struggle is to conquer external obstacles.
The other kind is internal.
You have something like a hobby, or interest.
You, or your family, would probably have never taken it seriously.
But a day comes when
it opens doors for you, starts building you a path..
But do you even want it? Are you ready for it?
Your struggle here is to understand yourself.
- How's this all connected.. Your life.. My life..
And, why?
- Why me? Why you? Why think so much, Tejas?
- (Phone ringing)
These people sponsored Maya's performance.
They found out I'm an architect and wanted me
to give the product a try.
If our lives' paths have crisscrossed like this,
it would have some meaning, isn't it, Tejas?
Like two strands of thread on a rope..
begins at the same place, ends together..
Only, we wouldn't be aware of the what's and why's.
I'm feeling like I'm giving a TED talk.
- No, please continue.
- Holy f..
This is really comfortable!
Life is what happens when you're busy making
other plans, Tejas.
It's easy to dream.
But in pursuit of that dream,
what you take for granted can take you by surprise.
Like a plot twist, unpredictable changes happen in life.
This path questions every single passion and priority of yours.
I feel like suggesting that you be prepared,
but you can't be prepared!
I think the right word is..
'Beware'.
The aroma of paper is something else, isn't it?
R. L. Stevenson!
Writing a story, getting a book out there..
in a way, it's like being born.
Isn't it?
The journey of 'first time' happens only once.
Enjoy yourself. Have fun.
Don't forget that.
Loosen up!
- Who's Abhay?
- (Indistinct)
- Boyfriend, huh?
- No, man.
Just like us, he must be a Toy Swami on that side.
- Oh!
- He's a real person. Not a toy.
- What does that mean?
We aren't real people?
Look at that. This is all our life is.
- (Indistinct chatter)
- What is it?
- The thing is..
you're making new friends, and going to new places
through the bathroom door..
We were wondering why this is happening.
- And?
- So far, you have not
spoken about this with us. So we're asking.
You're interested in girls, or boys?
- Ah! TMI! TMI!! TMI!!!
- Meaning?
- Too Much Information. What they call T. M. I.
- Oh! (Laughs)
I always thought TMI meant something else!
Uh..
I'll speak..
Hang on, I'll speak..
Teju, you tell me. Uh, where were we?
Girls?
Ah! That's right.
If you find a girlfriend for yourself now,
we feel it might be a good idea.
- Yeah.
If what's supposed to happen at certain ages don't,
then these weird experiences begin to happen.
- (Door knock)
- Shh!
- (Door knock)
- (Laughter)
- Hi!
Sorry to disturb you, uh,
My name is Raksha. I just.. I just
moved in here yesterday.
I actually locked myself out of the house, and..
can I please use your phone?
Yeah, thank you.
What was the number?
I'm sorry, I am not able to recall the number.
Just one second..
Do you mind if I use your internet? Just for a bit?
Just to check the number, that's it.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Ah! Thank you!
Thank you so much.
I'm sorry..
- You can..
please..
- Is that ok? Are you sure?
- Yeah, yeah.
- Thank.. It's fine.. It's fine. Thank you.
Hi. This is Raksha here.
I'm calling from my neighbour's house, long story.
Yeah. Listen.. Umm.. I've locked myself out of the house..
and there's a spare key in my drawer.
Right. Right, right. Can you please
send it with someone?
Ok. Thank you.
Ah. Yeah.
I think I'll just wait outside, it's fine.
- Ok.
- Thank you.
- Huh.
This guy is a waste fellow.
- Poor thing, she could have waited inside only.
- Oh, hey!
- You can.. wait inside..
- No, no. It's fine. I don't wanna disturb you. It's fine.
No, no, I stay alone..
Erm, I am an unemployed bachelor, so..
uh,
you're not going to.. disturb me.
- Are you sure?
Your house is quite neat for a bachelor.
- Thanks.
- I'm sorry, I didn't get your name?
- Tejaswi Pandit.
- Tejaswi.
Nice name.
So you're born and brought up here only?
- Yeah.
You're from?
I'm settled here. Um, my father was from here.
But, my mom, she is from north. So, yeah.
- Ok.
- (Door knock)
- I think that's my keys. I think the keys must be here.
Let me just..
Thank you.
Um,
Thank you, Tejaswi, for all your help.
Um, I'm still setting up, but I can always offer you is a cup of tea.
So, uh, whenever you're available, or free, just
drop by, please.
- Sure.
- Bye!
- Site meetings are tiring. I could have
just taken a cab.
Why so late, Maya?
- Sorry.
By the way, I want to make a stop on the way.
Ok with you?
- Where are you taking me?
- Somewhere important.
- (Chuckles)
Uh, I'm taking a nap.
- Good night!
- Is this your pitstop?
- Go.
- You know you can do better than that.
- Yes, papa!
- So, what will you do?
- Will I ever be good in your eyes, papa?
- No matter what I do, why is it insufficient for you?
- You don't have to do anything for my sake?
- Who else's sake should I do anything, then?
- If it interests you, do it for your own sake.
If not, go graze cattle.
- I'm done, pa.
I don't want to be with you anymore.
- Be my guest.
Go have a peek of the real world.
You'll come back, afraid, your tail between your legs.
- I promise, pa. No matter what, I won't see your face again.
I'll do anything I need to, to survive.. But I certainly won't return.
- We'll come some other time, Maya.
- No,
Am I forcing this upon you?
You've to face him at some point, isn't it?
Then why not today?
- I don't feel like it today.
Let's leave, please?
Please?
- (Indistinct music)
- (Coughs)
Oh.
You must be..
Abhay's friend.
It's ok.
You're not the first friend who's come by here.
Please..
Uhh!
- You are..
- Rajeev.
Abhay's father.
I assumed you would know.
- Why are you not with Abhay?
- Are you..
with your father?
- You wanna talk about it?
- All little birds eventually grow wings.
Same thing happened with Abhay too.
One fine day, his wings opened wide..
And lo, he flew away!
I guess I was..
destined for loneliness.
And, lonely, I became.
A child can never forget the one
who gave birth to them, I hope.
- I feel like there's a wall in between us.
And I'm trying to break it open.
I take one step towards you, and you take
ten steps backward. And it's..
It's.. tiring.
I..
- Ma.. Maya, please.
- Within all of us,
there's this thing called subconscious.
It's dark there,
with nowhere to hide.
It's a where we get a good look at ourselves.
Very powerful.
It tires us in no time.
The truths we discover about ourselves there
are impossible to face in the
conscious world. Very difficult.
I have to co-exist with the mistakes that I made.
- I know what means to be alone, Abhay.
Honestly, I do.
It's not something you'll be able to manage.
And when someone is actually by your side, saying
you want to be alone is like pushing them away.. It is..
It's insulting.
- Please give him this key.
He will listen to you.
- Whatever you do, it affects me too.
And I want you to remember that, ok? Good night.
Good night.
- Do convey my regards to your parents.
And please do not forget to tell Abhay
what I told you..
- Better than my telling him would be
him coming here..
- He won't come.
- Abhay, your father..
- You shouldn't have gone there, Tejas.
- The sundry debtors list of Masrani's company was due,
has it been sent?
- Farooq sir has taken over the account sir.
- I haven't retired yet. I am retiring today.
Allow me to work till I retire, please!
- I went there for your sake..
- For my sake,
I never asked you to do anything, Tejas, did I?
- Uh..
- Why did you go there?
- Hello, Karthik
- Hello, sir.
- How are you?
- Good! Welcome to Mumbai.
- Thank you. This is for Narayan.
- Ganesh?
- Yes?
Cool.
- Nice arrangements. - Thank you, sir.
- And lovely cake too.
Uh, he's completely unaware, right?
- He has no clue, sir.
- Wonderful.
Aishu, you be seated. I'll go get him.
- I'm just curious why your father isn't with you..
- (Phone vibrating)
- Why aren't you receiving his calls, Tejas?
Why have you been ignoring it?
Have you called him on your own even once?
Bothered to find out how he is doing?
He's also ageing.
Have you wondered how long he might
be able to be with you?
- So, buddy, you're retiring ahead of me?
Narayana! What happened?
- A very personal line you crossed, Tejas.
I'm not able to digest this.
All actions
inevitably have a consequence.
- Karthik, call an ambulance. Quick!
- You have plenty of time to reflect.
- No!
Abhay!
Abhay, please!
Abhay!
- Nothing untoward will happen, hold on.
Nothing will happen..
- Aishu?
- Nothing will happen..
- Karthik, hurry up!
- Aishu..
- Teju..
[Indistinct]
- Teju..
- (Phone vibrating)
- So how was your heaven?
- It was all beach, miss.
I love beaches a lot, so in my
imagination it was like heaven for me!
- They say death is an endless sleep.
But here, there's no such thing as sleep.
Even the need for sleep isn't there.
It's so calm here, isn't it?
- Don't you feel like there's everything, yet nothing?
- I feel there's nothing here, yet there's everything.
- What I want seems to be right in front of me, appa.
I'm unable to see it.
Or maybe I'm deliberately not seeing it.
What should I do, appa?
- Teju,
No matter what suggestion I give you,
I know you'll do exactly that.
But you will do it out of respect for me.
Not because you desire to do it for yourself.
There's a guru here named Master Oogway.
He says,
'One meets their destiny on the road they take to avoid it'.
Whatever we do,
the result of that is something we only have to face.
This is true in your case,
and it is true in mine as well.
There's only one thing I feel like telling you, though.
After I've come here, your mother has become alone.
As much as possible, ensure she isn't lonely too.
- Amma, please pass the salt?
- (Phone vibrating)
- Hello?
- Hi! Tejaswi, right?
This is Raksha here.
- Yeah?
- Tejaswi, can we meet?
- Sure. You want me to come down to the interview?
- Before that, I'd like to have a word with you, uh,
you think you can come down to my office in, say, an hour?
- Sure thing.
- I'll.. I'll see you then. Thank you.
Bye.
- (Phone vibrating)
- They got me home. Took care of me.
They don't feel like refusing anything I ask them.
And if something bothered them, they never could open up
to me about that either.
Hence, it was awkward for me to ask for anything.
I've wondered many times why I can't
pester them for anything like 'own' children do.
Today, it dawned on me.
All these days, I used to hear the word 'adopted' loudly
in the phrase 'adopted son'.
But now,
I'm hearing the word 'son' deafeningly.
- (Together) Teju!
- If amma sees this..
- Come in.
Oh, hi! Please, come in. Please.
Well.
Thank you for making it on such a short notice.
So, uh,
How are you? And how's your mother?
You know I quite understand what you are going through.
Appa started Wordly Matters twenty five years go.
My parents got divorced when I was quite young,
so I grew up mostly with my mum.
Even then, when my father passed away,
I felt like I am..
I lost a part of myself.
Then I had to come, and work here..
Not that I didn't want to, but,
it would have been really nice to, you know, uh..
work and learn from him for some time.
Anyway, enough about me.
Well,
I had a look at your resume, and,
it seems decent.
What made you take a break?
- I was asked to leave actually.
My boss felt that I was really distracted,
I wanted.. a little time to think, and..
I've decided I want to work.
- Well, I..
I just hope you've thought through this and
it's not just an, uh,
emotional decision.
- It is emotional for me.
You're doing what your father was doing.
So am I.
I'm a CA.
Just like my father.
- Yeah.
- So,
the interview?
- That's just a formality.
The decision is mine.
And I'll be really happy for you to come and work with us.
But I understand if you need some time to join, you know..
- No, no, I can start from tomorrow.
- Are you sure?
- Yes.
- Fine, then! Well,
I'll see you tomorrow!
Well,
let me warn you that, you know, we are in
a little bit of mess here..
Nothing serious, but,
perhaps it will take some effort to get back
everything back on track. So, yeah.
Welcome!
- Thank.. you..
- Welcome.
See you!
- Yeah!
- What's with taking off like this without speaking to me?
- How have you been, Maya?
- I'm very close to breaking, Abhay.
Don't expect me to come every time, like this.
- I needed a break, Maya.
- Grow up, Abhay. You're not the only one
who is tired in life.
Why are you behaving like the sky has fallen
on your head?
Soon as any situation turns serious,
you run away from there.
Isn't that your usual behaviour?
- Of all people, Maya,
of all people, I expected you'd understand me.
- Hmm!
It's because I understand that I'm saying it to your face.
If you don't help yourself,
nobody can help you, Abhay!
- But for you,
I was not even interested to look towards my past.
You very well know that.
He used to sing lullabys and put me to sleep when I was a child..
My father..
I don't know when things took a turn for the worse.
I bloody don't want to remember him like this.
I don't know what to do.
Tell me what I should do. You tell me.
- I'm sorry.
We'll figure this out.
Don't run away like this, no, leaving me?
How am I to find you?
- Please think about me also a little bit.
- We'll figure this out, right?
Yeah?
I need you, Maya..
I'm an idiot for having come like this. I'm sorry.
- That, you are!
You've always been an idiot.
Nice place.
- It's nicer now.
- Don't be an ahole, I'm still angry!
- Far beyond the shores..
- How was your drive?
- A desire to fly away..
- I desire to fly away..
- Oh wait! How did you come?
- I desire to fly away..
- Bullock cart!
- I desire to speak..
- (Indistinct)
- In a language of our own..
Once,
Listen, just once..
I will join you breaking
this bridge of silence.
Once,
Do tell, just once..
How are you managing to pull me towards you,
in spite of myself?
The eyes are dry without a trace of a smile..
A promising tomorrow seems to be a day dream..
Is it just a mirage?
My inner child's imagination is insatiable..
But colours seem all scattered with no paint brush
to bring them together.
A dawn only awaits beyond the encompassing night..
All unexpressed feelings now feel heavy to carry..
I yearn to heave the sigh that comes
with finishing an old chapter.
You're my strength
You're my love
You're my home
You're my happiness
You're my identity
You're my survival
Once,
Listen, just once..
I will join you breaking
this bridge of silence.
Once,
Do tell, just once..
How are you managing to pull me towards you,
in spite of myself?
- Hey!
- What's up?
- Amidst photos of all these folk,
how come his photograph?
- That's a long story.
Do you have time?
- You're the one paying me salary, so,
my time here is yours, boss.
- Oh, you know, that's right!
- (Laughter)
- So, long long ago, some men came to the office..
to meet Appa. They started questioning him..
Why everything is in English!
So he brought them to this wall..
and showed them these pictures.
He had published English translations of their works.
Of course, back then, it wasn't like that;
it was individual pictures.. - Hmm..
- And, our interior designer, great lady..
She included this one picture among all
the other pictures by mistake!
And those men,
they couldn't recognise most of the other pictures.
But this one picture they saw,
and silently left!
Appa always wished I become a Kannadiga.
But I wonder if I'm any less of a Kannadiga, you know?
I do not speak the language yet properly.
But psychologically, culturally,
I feel this is my place.. this is.. my people, my..
My literature..
My identity..
Everything.
And to tell you the truth, anywhere else..
I feel out of place.
Tejas, there's..
There's something I want to talk to you about..
And your time is mine, isn't it?
- Yeah..
- Let's go out?
- Sure, let me just call my mother..
- Here?
- Good evening, ma'm!
- Hi! Uh..
One capuccino for me, please.
- Coffee?
- Two capuccinos, please. Thank you.
- Sure.
- You've never really gone out, have you?
- No, this is my
first time.
- Why?
- Guess I wasn't interesting.
Nobody wanted to spend time with me.
Uh,
But I like being alone, so,
I guess it worked out in the end.
- So, um,
what did you do in all that time with yourself?
Tejas, I have a confession to make..
Just to get it off my chest.
I saw your diary the other day in the office.
But the moment I realised it was personal, I
kept it back.
Why did you stop writing?
I read two names there.. Uh, Abhay and Maya..
Yeah!
Who are they?
- Nobody.
- Fine, I mean..
if they're nobody, let me not ask.
Tejas, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to
make you feel uncomfortable.. I'm..
- You must be thinking I'm very weird.
- Who's not weird, Tejas?
I mean, I just told you that..
I don't know Kannada, yet I feel like a Kannadiga!
- Kannadathi..
- Huh?
- Kannadathi.
- Y.. Yes, yes!
Yeah.
See, the point is that,
we all have our conflicts.
And I just told you mine. Didn't I?
- Excuse me, miss?
- Hi, Tejaswi! Please come in.
Uh, I went through your poem. It's very very beautiful.
I loved it! - Thank you, miss.
- Our Teju's name looks so beautiful in print, doesn't it?
- I alw..
I always wanted to write..
I opened the door and found another world.
Abhay's world.
- How about a private show?
- And then, there's Maya.
- There's no music.
- I started to write the story, with the fear of
whether I'll even be able to go back there or not..
but mixed with a strange kind of happiness..
- For your sake, I didn't even rehearse yesterday, you know?
- Chin up! Second chin also!
You missed Maya's performance.
It was amazing.
Actually, it felt like it was written for you only.
Life is what happens when you're busy
making other plans, Tejas.
It's easy to dream.
But in pursuit of that dream, what you
take for granted can take you by surprise.
- (Phone vibrating)
- Started ignoring my father's calls..
- Why are you not receiving his calls, Tejas?
Why have you been ignoring it?
- And now I can't..
Can't even say sorry.
- Your story seems to be a conversation between
what you are and what you want to be.
Abhay means 'Fearless'.
And he inspires you to be..
To be what was your childhood dream.
And Maya?
Ironically she is the reality that you cannot escape from.
Maya means illusion, or a lie.
Abhay is your tomorrow.
And Maya is your today.
So you're writing yourself and you call them 'nobody'?
They're your own voices, Tejas.
And,
you cannot run away from them.
And if it's..
Only if it's ok with you,
I'd love to read your story once you finish.
- But I don't know if I'm going to finish it.
I just open a door, and..
- And?
- And..
enter my bathroom.
- Well.
Perhaps the door takes you where you want to go.
And, just, one more thing. Uh,
Try writing in Kannada?
- No, no. I come from an English medium school,
so I don't think..
- Kannada is your mother tongue, right?
You'll be more honest.
Just try!
Coffee is good, isn't it?
- I always thought of myself to be a jigsaw puzzle..
But, I get it now.
Im a broken earthen pot.
Using the Japanese art of Kintsugi,
and the gold of your love,
youre the magic that pieced me back together.
Until I met you, I did not know..
damage can also be embraced.
- If we can make up our mind to go anywhere,
can we go to our past and change
something that's already happened?
- I fully expected you to do this!
- Ap(pa)..
- If what's happened could be changed so easily,
there would be no reason to take life seriously, Teju.
Hmm!
Come. I'll tell you a story.
- Not commercial enough?
- Can you give me some coffee?
I'm so tired of meeting publisher after publisher.
They do have a point.
If these characters have bared their story to me,
I should be honest with my writing, isn't it Narayan?
These marketing and sales folks won't get it.
Just because they demand, I can't bring
dishonesty in my writing, Narayan.
- Aishu!
- No, Narayan.
Let's let go of this matter.
I don't like this coming between us.
When a chapter ends, you have to move to the next chapter, isn't it?
Henceforth,
no more discussion about this.
- Aishu?
- Ha?
- See who's here?
- How are you, Aishu?
- Oh! Mr Suresh! Please come, have a seat!
How come you've come from Bangalore to Mysore?
- I'm not disturbing you, I hope?
- Not at all.
- How'll she get disturbed?
Round the clock, she's just immersed
in crossword puzzles.
- That's good. Like Abhimanyu, the baby in her belly
will learn big words and become a huge writer!
- Isn't it?
- Oh, no! She's sufficient. Can't handle another one.
- What else do you want? A boring accountant like us?
- Of course!
What's in these stories anyway,
they're made up, just imaginary!
- Now tell me, if humans didn't have imagination,
they'd have not learnt so many truths either, isn't it?
- Learn!
- What's for me to learn?
Look,
let's leave everything aside. Let's come to an understanding.
- Hmm.
- If we have a daughter, she can become a writer like her.
- Hmm.
- If we have a son, he'll become an accountant like me. Ok?
You're the witness.
- Why are you pulling me inbetween?
- Because you're seated inbetween!
- (Laughter)
- You're the designated witness!
You're home? Let me get your coffee.
What is that, Narayan?
What is this, Narayan?
('By Opening the Door')
Wh.. Who published it?
Aishwarya Publishers?
So much money..
- Listen,
just a few more days.
We'll have all copies ready.
Let's have a really grand release function!
Come. Sit.
Aishu!
See what's here!
- Oh, the books arrived?
- (Laughs)
Come, come, come in.
Ey, hey! Hang on a minute!
You rest, this isn't going anywhere!
You know what's inside, right?
Please come, sit?
Careful.
Ah!
Hmm!
Take this.
All of you have Dosas near
Banni Mantapa on your way back.
- Ok, sir.
- (Heaves)
Now tell me.
- How are we going to manage?
- You're happy, aren't you?
I'll plan for the release function in a week. Ok?
- Hmm.
- There's a power cut now anyway. Uh,
let's not worry about cooking at home.
Let's go out and have dinner.
Yeah?
- Yeah.
Uh, let me change and come?
- Not required. You look beautiful as you are.
Let's go.
- Uh!
- Let's go!
- (Explosion)
- (Ambulance)
- (Indistinct)
- I'm sorry. We had to remove the uterus.
Uh, but, thank God!
We could save Aishwarya.
We will shift her to the ICU.
You can meet her afterwards.
- Your whole life is lying ahead of you.
How can you accept defeat so quickly?
What's the big bother? That we've to
start all over from zero?
So be it!
Come, join me.
Join me.
If you want, you can start off today itself.
- Sign it.
"If we have a daughter, she can become a writer like her"
"If we have a son, he'll become an accountant like me"
You started writing.
With that,
I secretly hoped her pain would reduce.
But, no.
It increased.
On one hand,
I desired for her to not be in pain.
On the other hand,
I desired to encourage you.
I got stuck between both my desires,
and went through a great deal
of helplessness and agony.
Felt a lot of agony.
Whatever you did,
you did so dutifully.
There was an honesty in it.
Apart from that honesty, I never really
wanted anything else.
But, there was one thing I craved.
I waited for the day when
you would truly accept me as your father, not because you felt a certain 'duty', but emotionally.
Finally..
- Well, I just hope you've thought through this, and,
it's not just an emotional decision.
- It is emotional for me.
You're doing what your father used to do.
So am I.
I am a CA..
Just like my father.
- 'My father'!
'My father'!
Come.
I'll show you something interesting.
This is the story behind that printout.
Life that's bygone is a book that's already written.
If you think about it,
the story of our lives
could not have happened in any other way.
You've done a lot for my sake.
Now go finish what you started for your self. Hmm?
- Hmm!
Alright, I'll get going?
- Um hmm.
- I've to rehearse.
Why are you whispering?
(Laughter)
Ladies and gentlemen, presenting to you all..
- Um hmm.
- a private show..
- Private show?
- (Laughter) Shh!
- Maya!
- Alright, come!
You know we've never done it on the dining table.
(Indistinct)
- Henceforth,
I don't need you, Tejas.
- You said once that our destinies are like two strands of thread in a rope?
Same beginning, and the same end..
These are your own words. Did you forget?
When I met your father, he told me something.
Neither of you understood the silence
between your spoken sentences.
- No matter what I did,
he always only urged me to do better.
But not once did he ask me,
'How are you, Abhay?'
'Are you liking what you're doing?'
'Is it making you happy?'
'Do you even want what you're doing?'
'What do you desire?'
What else does a son desire anyway,
apart from his father's appreciation?
I kept waiting.
I waited for many years,
till I did not want to see his face again.
And later, a day came, when
I couldn't see his face even if I wanted to..
- How many years has it been, Abhay?
- Five years.
- Whenever he achieved anything in his life,
even if it was a small achievement,
apparently, he felt real happiness only when
he shared his accomplishment with your mother.
But when what he considers his
most important accomplishment happened..
Which is you..
When you were born, unfortunately, your mother..
He wanted you to never experience that kind of pain.
He wanted you to live for yourself, and
find happiness in that.
That is why he brought you up
the way he did.
He's become completely alone now, Abhay.
- What else did appa say?
- He wanted me to give you the keys
to his private room.
I wasn't comfortable taking it from him.
He requested that you go see the room just once.
We're all selfish.
When someone passes away, what bothers us
is how our life gets affected.
We would have died a little bit as well, along with them.
How else can the living experience death, after all?
It creates a certain loneliness, a void,
a nothingness in which we keep them alive.
We increase doing things that they used to like.
But what difference would it make to them?
Zero.
Whatever we earn, it amounts to nothing.
It eventually is like a zero.
But people remember how you made them feel.
Not that we can carry that with us either,
but it isn't right to hide what we like about others.
The '1' of loneliness, and the '0' of all our earnings.
If a '0' joins to the left of '1', it is useless.
But if it joins on the right, each '0' is very valuable.
Do we stop to think whether the '0's that we
are earning are accumulating to our left or right?
Life seems to be a story about duality.
Stories of duality.
Appa said though death has nothing, it has everything.
Chasing unnecessary pursuits in ignorance all our life,
maybe in the end, in death we wake up?
Who I am, and who I want to be..
My today, and tomorrow..
Abhay and Maya..
They just seem like a pretext.
Chasing tomorrow's desires, we lose our todays.
And one of those tomorrows will be
with us no longer around.
- He was very proud of you!
- I'm scared of the person I've become, Maya.
- Meaning?
- How.. How can I tell him..
I'm.. I'm sorry, papa..
But you know,
when I took the room key in my hand,
I just lost all curiosity to find out what's here.
Because,
I realised..
the biggest blessing of my life was
beside me there.
All my life,
whatever I've got for myself, I've always..
And I..
I came very close to breaking you also.
I don't want to be this person.
I don't want to do that mistake again.
- Hey..
Ok, so, tell me this.
How did you get so many trophies?
- (Laughs)
Even I don't know.
- Bloody nerd!
- This is a bit too much, no? Who does this!
I remember breaking about half of these trophies.
The other half,
who knows, maybe appa just bought it
himself and kept!
- So this is home! Hmm.
- Welcome home.
- Can I say something cheesy?
- Hmm.
- My home is where you are.
- I'm glad you're not the writer.
- Alright, let's please leave? - Hmm.
- It's too dusty here, I can't take it.
- Maybe the truth we seek all our lives is death itself.
Nothingness.
Light.
Endless sleep!
Nothingness that has everything.
Duality.
Like the silences that punctuates our spoken sentences.
Like having loads of sentences to read,
but searching for meaning between the lines.
- It's.. It's beautiful.
It's really beautiful!
"Whispers of the Conscience".
Umm..
Inner voice..
- "Whispers of the Conscience"
- Yes!
Sounds nice.
Uh, what do you think?
- Yeah!
"Whispers of the Conscience".
"Whispers of the Conscience".. How did you know?
The story was complete even before it started! Wow.
- The story isn't over yet, Tejas.
There's one chapter left.
Come.
- Ma?
What happened was nobody's fault amma.
But all the punishment befell on appa alone.
At least for his sake,
When a chapter ends, you have to move to the next chapter, isn't it, amma?
"Dedication - Appa - Amma,
(I am) From you, for you".
- Teju
- You wrote it?
- You liked it?
- It's nice.
Why did you write it?
- After listening to Ramayana all night..
(you're asking what's Rama and Sita's relationship)
- Don't tell me.
You wrote this for me?
- As the darkness slowly dissipates,
Words have begun to flow again, unpaused
Silence is silver, speaking out is gold;
I walk towards the intoxication of ink.
I'm a wordsmith.
The journey began following unknowns,
One that, unknown to me, changed me.
Goal after goal I cross, yet, satisfaction eludes me
As I look for it in an alien mirror.
I'm a wordsmith.
When little issues grow too big,
And making a wrong choice isn't an option,
When I'm simply too stubborn
to be worthy of you,
I'll build a road even towards
heavy bygone days.
I'm a wordsmith.
I'm just a summary of those who matter to me,
And only with you by my side,
will my tomorrow be soothing,
Seeking that comfort, I can but only
sow the few words in my reach,
While I wait in this garden
of meanings and metaphors.
I'm a wordsmith.
I find my path between the lines,
I'm the heir of the Palace of Alphabets,
A spendthrift when it comes to words,
One who tries to make sense of the real,
by wandering in the imaginary,
I'm a wordsmith.
I'm a wordsmith.
Maybe that makes me a jigsaw puzzle..
Giving me pieces I want to throw away..
But also pieces I want to keep.. cherish..
It's remarkable how all these that I cherish
Make sense when and only when they fit with you.
Whatever I win, I throw away..
So I can win something better.
Maybe, that's why I dread winning you.
You being mine scares me.
But you know what feels right?
Knowing that I belong with you.
(laughs)
Something so mushy-mushy belongs in a story, isn't it?
- Is there any guarantee we aren't just imaginary beings
in a story some writer is writing somewhere, Maya?
- Hmm.. True..
Alright. Who's this writer? I want to meet him!
- (laughs)
Sure.
So..
A new chapter begins with you and me?
- I guess..
But on one condition..
I want you to face your past, Abhay.
- What's done with already is..
- Abhay!
Ey! Listen to me..
I know you love me with all your heart.
I love you too.. More than anything..
But..
This means something to me..
Ok?
Please?
- Ok.
- Promise?
- Hmm. Yeah.
I promise. I'll try.
- Such lies!
Three years since this rut of our relationship began.
Let's meet like strangers? Just like that?
This evening. I'll wait.
Love you.
- In you I am searching an unfamiliar lullaby..
Holding by the door, an unfamiliar key..
There's a silent calling I hear of a familiar voice..
Between the lines, I wonder, why this haunts me?
Images of my own past feel unfamiliar.
Pages of my own story feel unfamiliar.
Unfamiliar
Unfamiliar
My yesterday's reflection stares me in the eye
And haunts me in my mirror
How am I to win this game of
'You blink, you lose'?
Voice that has let go of speaking
Loneliness that has encompassed me mentally
And that drop eternally resting on
the corner of my eye lids
Feels enough and done with, now.
A break from all this would be great.
Silence.
Images of my own past feel unfamiliar.
Pages of my own story feel unfamiliar.
Silence,
These verses stem from you..
These verses stem from you..
- Excuse me, miss.
- Hi Tejaswi, please come in.
How are you?
- Nice, miss.
- How was your summer vacation?
- Nice, miss.
- Slept well?
- Yes, miss.
- Dreamt well?
- Yes, miss.
- Got plenty of dreams?
- Yes, miss.
- And this is one of your dreams?
- Yes, miss.
- 'Yes' for everything! Ok.
Uh, I went through your poem, it's very, very beautiful!
I loved it. - Thank you, miss.
- So cute! Just like you!
Ok, here, uh, you've written,
'I sat there and thought, I'm in heaven'..
So, how was your heaven?
- Uh, miss, it was all beach, miss.
I love beaches a lot, so in my imagination,
it was like a heaven for me.
- So sweet, Tejaswi. I think you should keep writing more.
- Ok, miss.
- Yeah?
And, I've given you three stars.
- Thank you, miss.
- I loved it! And I want you to keep it safe..
until the annual day function. Submit this, and this will
go in the school magazine.
- Yes, miss. - Right?
- Yes, miss.
- Keep writing!
- Yes, miss.
Thank you, miss.
- Alright.
- Done?
- In a minute!
- Good!
When are you likely to get your marks card?
- I don't know.
(Vehicle honking)
Leave! Your bus is here.
Wait, come here!
Hmmm! Go!
- Buddy, Narayana! Enough, come soon.
Let's have lunch.
- You proceed. I'll join.
- Alright. Come soon.
- Hey, Teju! What did they teach you in school today?
- 'From a Railway Carriage' by R. L. Stevenson.
- Oh!
- Oh! Was it Jesse miss?
- Eh! How does it matter which miss it was?
Do you know this English poem?
- English? This guy is trouble personified.
- Eh! - Yeah!
- We had also been taught, remember?
Let's give it a try?
- Yeah.
- (Whistling)
Faster than fairies, faster than witches,
- Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches;
- (And) charging along like troops in a battle,
- All through the meadows the horses and cattle:
- All of the sights of the hill and the plain
- Fly as thick as driving rain;
- (And) ever again, in the wink of an eye,
- Painted stations whistle by.
- (Whistling)
Here is a child who clambers and scrambles,
All by himself and gathering brambles;
(Laughing)
(Whistling)
Here is a tramp who stands and gazes;
- (And) there is the green for stringing the daisies!
- Here is a cart run away in the road
- Lumping along with man and load;
- Tejaswi, please throw the ball back!
- (And) here is a mill and there is a river:
- Each a glimpse and gone for ever!
- (Chorus) Each a glimpse and gone for ever!
- Was it good?
(Scooter noise)
Hmm. Looks like we're done for today.
- Done, yeah.
- Our Teju's name looks so beautiful in print, isn't it?
- Super!
- Aishu, pass the salt?
It's ok..
Just a pinch.
Just because I brought a printout..
- Today it's just 'one printout', Narayan.
You know what it can grow into, don't you?
- Aishu!
People think a hundred times before telling a 'no'
to their children.
This is a child we have adopted with so much desire.
How can I turn anything down for him?
- Do you remember why we particularly decided
to adopt a male child?
- Hmm. Alright.
Let's ask him to concentrate only on his studies now on.
Come, sleep.
- This is just like the story of our Lord Krishna!
- How's that?
- Grab that book, will you?
- Hold this, will you?
Careful. It was my grandfather's.
- Lord Krishna was born in a jail, to Vasudeva and Devaki.
But Vasudeva, fearing Kamsa will kill the child,
left Lord Krishna in the custody of
Yashoda and Nanda.
They brought him up like their own son.
Even Lord Krishna grew up considering them as his own parents.
- Lord Krishna was so lucky, isn't it?
Look at Karna. Though he was Kunti's son,
he grew up thinking he was born to a fisherman.
- Hey, Teju!
I just got an idea!
Our Teju looks so adorable when reading, isn't it?
- Isn't it?
- What book is he reading?
- He is.. Umm..
T.. I.. N.. KL..
- Tinkle!
- Oh, Tinkle, Tinkle little star, huh?
- Yeah!
- Although,
it would have been nice if it was a Kannada book.
- Eh!
This generation studies in English medium, isn't it?
- Uh, huh..
- That's why.
How does it matter which book he reads..
as long as he gets exposed to good ideas and grows!
- Yeah, that's true.
(Scooter noise)
He would have brought the printout, right?
- Certainly!
- Our Teju will be super happy!
- Oh, yes, he will be!
- Hmmm!
- How come you've brought a file home today?
- I get it everyday, don't I?
Why ask like it's a new thing?
- Hmm..
What Tejas asked..
- Today..
it was quite hectic at office.
I was busy.
Um..
- Don't take too much of it..
- Hmmm.
Have your food.
- Printout.
- Your poem is in my shirt pocket.
Ey, Teju!
Teju!
Have your food and go!
- Printout!
- The thing is..
I've been asked to use the office printer for official use only.
I am sorry.
I won't be able to bring printouts for you.
You have your public exams next year.
You have to concentrate on your studies.
- No!
I know that I'm not your son.
That's why you're refusing to bring me the printout.
- Teju..
When you were little,
you had pestered me for a couple of toys in a shop.
I didn't have the money to buy it for you.
Seeing that, the shopkeeper uncle
gave you the toys as a gift.
Do you remember?
Similarly,
when the doctors said we can't have children,
God sent you to us.
You're God's gift to us.
Say, what?
- God's gift.
- Very good!
Never again should you
say that you're not my son, dear one.
Don't even think like that again.
Understood?
You're such a good boy!
Let's have food?
Come.
Ah!
Teju..
is a good boy!
- Appa called me God's gift, you know?
- Oh! For your parents' happiness,
- God gave you to them, is it so?
- Then that God is definitely Lord Krishna!
- But isn't it birds that bring babies to parents?
- If someone gets a present,
it should always make them smile.
If I am a gift to my parents,
they should never feel sad because of me.
I will ensure that now on.
- Cool, cool!
I am feeling sleepy.
- Yeah, Teju. Even I'm feeling sleepy.
- I am very sleepy, too. I'll call it a night.
- (Together) Good night!
Ah! Hmmm!
(Indistinct chatter)
- Get up! Get up!
- Getting up!
Let's get to work. (Clears throat)
Clear your throat as well.
- Yeah.
That's it, I guess.
- Hmmm!
- Is that ok?
Ok.
Suresh has asked me to take charge of the Bombay office.
If I agree to it,
your mom and I will have to shift there by month end.
You are graduating next year.
Will you be able to manage by yourself, Teju?
Consider this -
if your result is good this time,
you'll have a job offer in our office itself.
- Ok, appa.
- Good!
I'll confirm, then.
- Hmm.
- Careful.
Take care, Teju.
- Sure thing, appa.
- Study well.
- Yes.
- We'll take leave now. Have your food on time.
- Ok.
- Avoid hotel food. Cook for yourself.
Ok.
- Cafeful.
- Ok.
You also take care, amma.
- Ey! He's taking his diary out!
We have work today, finally!
(Clears throat) - Get ready!
- Yeah!
- Call Tejas.
- May I?
For you.
It's a cold night.
You're alone as well.
Can I ask you something?
- I'm expensive!
- Excuse me?
- Time with me isn't cheap.
- You're fast.
I like fast and expensive.
Life itself is a costly, after all.
Most of the time,
a costly mistake!
- Ugh!
Philosophy. Boring.
Instead of living life,
breaking your head about random ideas feels like a waste of time.
- Once upon a time,
scientists, writers, even kings
were all philosophers first.
They had so much value in society.
Times have changed.
- So,
what are you,
a writer, or a scientist,
or..
a king?
- Let's let it pass.
- Not at all, tell me!
I have time.
- I'm a scientist.
- Hmm!
- I study parallel universes. In fact,
I've visited a few.
- So,
what's happening
in this parallel universe of yours?
- A poor chap named Tejas, a CA,
lost his job today.
- It's all so strange, isn't it?
You say it's entirely another world.
There, too,
people have names similar to yours and mine,
maintain accounts like us, become CAs..
Is nothing different?
Uh, you're making this up!
- All of us are made up, miss..
- Maya.
- How symbolic!
Cheers to that?
We're all made up, Maya.
If we are around,
to see, to touch and feel this world,
only then does this have any meaning to us.
If not, then, aren't all of this
just chemical reactions?
- Maybe.
I'm drunk.
- On just so much?
- You know me.
- Nah!
Listen, umm..
Do you want to find out more?
- About?
- Chemical reactions..
Yours and mine..
I'll take that as a yes.
11:45?
Parking lot?
- Uh,
is this fast and expensive too?
- (Laughs)
Not as much as you!
I hope to see you soon..
- Suresh had called me. What is all this, Teju?
Shouldn't you be more responsible?
What's with getting distracted?
Is your salary insufficient?
- Nothing like that, appa.
Appa, the thing is..
I'm all by myself here, a bit alone..
- Ah!
I'll be retiring in just about a month and returning.
Until then, do you want to come and stay here?
No, appa, I'll manage.
- But, whatever the matter is,
please call me and talk it out. Ok?
Keep calling me.
- Alright, appa.
- (Chuckles)
- (Laughs)
- I missed you a lot today.
- Hmm!
Why have you parked in such a corner?
Useless.
- (Laughs)
I'll park wherever I find parking, isn't it?
- By the way,
you did really well today!
- Really?
- Um hmm!
- Thank you!
- You're welcome.
- May I do some PDA ma'm?
- Sure.
Hmmm..
- (Clearing throat)
- It's high time you addressed the issue.
This morning, at the passport office,
they verified my document three times.
Counter A, counter B, counter C..
I was asked three times
who my parents were, what they did.. All of those questions.
'Mother's Name', 'Father's Name'..
I've filled the columns in so many documents.
But who were they, and how did they live?
I have no idea.
Growing without parents is like..
It's like a part of your identity never fully develops.
You know what I mean?
- I know..
I can't..
- Hmmm!
- Ideally,
shouldn't you be quite upset with me, Maya?
- Hmm. Ideally.
But to get upset with you, I don't need this topic alone.
- That's not the answer to my question.
Seriously. What do you see in me?
Why are you with me?
- What is it now? You want me to praise you?
- Tell me..
- What's your problem ya, Abhay?
I am with you now, aren't I?
Hmm?
But, if you want me to show you,
I can.
- Show me what exactly?
- Stop the car.
- Maya?
Let's get home?
- Home? Home is just so..
normal!
You can do better, Abhay!
- You didn't just say that.
- Ok.. You can do better..
- Maya!
- Stop the car, baby.
- Maya, cops!
- Where are they?
- Shh.. Ma(ya)..
They're in front! How'll you see them turning this way?
Oh God, Maya, stop!
God, seriously?
- (Snoring)
- (Door knock)
- (Door knock)
- Can't believe you made me do that.
Girls of this generation seem to have no situational awareness!
- Oh, ho!
It takes two hands to clap, mister.
A clap can only happen when two hands meet.
- The hands must belong to two individuals, Maya.
Not the same person!
- Ha ha, yuck!
- Uff!
Fun thing to do, anyway. (Chuckles)
Drink?
- We just got home from a pub!
- You know I don't drink and drive.
You got drunk on litchee juice at the pub!
What will you drink?
- Litchee juice.
- Litchee juice, yet again?
The litchee carton is empty. You've to make do with orange juice.
- Yuck!
By the way,
- Um hmm?
- What do you think about Khalil Gibran?
- Khalil, my man.
Super intense.
- Just like you.
- Just like..
you and me.
- (Laughter)
By the way,
- Um hmm?
Second 'by the way', by the way!
- Happy anniversary!
Hmmm..
(Sighs)
It's been three years.
- Hmm!
- Someone needs to give me an award.
- What award do you want, Maya?
- What are you thinking?
- Hmm?
I told you about that boy, Tejas, no?
- Umm.. The parallel universe guy!
- Yeah.
You know how he lost his job today?
- Tell me.
- No, listen..
If he wasn't too interested in accounting,
why get him to study it?
Let him take a break and give his life some thought.
Come in.
Did you prepare this report?
- Y.. Yes sir..
- It's already delayed to begin with..
If I had sent this to the client, we would have
lost them for sure.
Liabilities section is labelled 'In the Boat of Memories'.
Invoices, 'Whispers of the Conscience'.. 'In - Voices'!
Receipts, 'The Gesture of Fearlessness'..
The report itself has a title -
'Are You in an Illusion, or is the Illusion in You?'
Are you writing songs, or doing accounts?
What nonsense is this, Tejas?
-S.. Sir, I was writing something else..
I've no clue how these ended up here..
- This isn't the first time.
We have discussed this before as well.
Only, and only because your father is my old friend,
I've been patient.
Please drop the idea of working for a while and contemplate
what you actually want to do in your life.
- S.. Sir, the thing is..
- Guess what he.. wants to be..
- I want to try writing..
I'm not sure how to tell appa..
- He's your father. What's there to feel ready
to discuss anything with him?
Narayan and Aishwarya might not be comfortable with this.
Let's do one thing. You take a break.
You first sort out what you want to do in your life.
You can leave.
- Hmm!
Alright. I'll get going?
- Uh huh.
Girls shouldn't be out alone at this hour. Come here.
- I've to rehearse. Moreover,
you seem to be interested in another boy.
What'll I do inbetween anyway!
- How about a private show?
- There's no music.
- That's ok.
- Why are you whispering?
(Laughs)
Ok! Fine.
- Um hmm!
- So.
- Ladies and gentlemen, presenting to you all..
- A private show
by miss Maya.
- 'Ladies and gentlemen'? Private show?
- (Laughs) Shh!
- Maya!
- Alright. Come.
You know we've never done it on the dining table.
- Shh!
- Abhay?
You'll sleep?
(Humming lullaby)
Why do you stand right behind my feet?
You know what this means?
You're capable of winning a bigger trophy!
Will you win it?
Go win it!
(Humming lullaby)
- (Indistinct chatter)
- Good morning!
- Ey! Good 'afternoon'!
It's 12 in the noon already.
Where were you all night yesterday?
That's the reason behind all this.
- Shh!
- He must have made other friends there yesterday.
That's why he is forgetting about us.
- Hmmm!
- Shall I keep you guys in the shelf for a few days?
- Damn! That's all our life is.
We are there when he wants us.
When not, we are shelved!
- My back will break!
- My gun will break!
- My back!
- My gun!
- My back!
- Aye, my gun!
- (Phone ringing)
- (Alarm ringing)
- Hmm.
Good morning!
Will you have tea?
- Hmm. Yes, please.
- Oye!
- Still hungover from yesterday?
- Hmm.
What plans today?
You have your performance today evening.
- Such an ass!
For your sake, I didn't even rehearse yesterday, you know?
Yeah, it was my anniversary alone.
- If you get late this evening,
next year onwards, it'll indeed be your anniversary alone. Ok?
- So cute!
Don't tempt me like that.
- (Laughs)
By the way, Tejas left?
- Hmm?
- Tejas?
- He's here.
He said I was very good yesterday.
- Why would he see all that?
- How'll he write without seeing, Maya, come on.
- Abhay, what..
what kind of story is this?
- I'm kidding.
- Yuck!
- Come here.
- Hmm. Now come for a kiss, no?
Ok, I'll leave. Bye.
- Ey! Breakfast..
I'm making breakfast, wait.
- Pack it.
- Hello everyone, I feel very happy to be here..
Uh, we are here at the 'Nasheyo Nakasheyo' event..
- We know each other for several years now..
- When Maya approached us for this collaboration, we were so happy!
- Maya and I studied together in school. I'm so
excited to see her today.
- I'm here to see Maya's magic..
- I've been a witness to her growth..
- I love her dancing, who doesn't? Who doesn't?
- I'm super excited to see Maya perform today..
- He's penned the lyrics for this song..
- Every time she's on stage, it's pure magic!
- We spoke just about the show all along the way..
- I've been following her work for a very long time..
- Maya's performance is always psyched, and
I want to sit in peace and watch!
- The whole world knows how good a performer Maya is..
- Maya is such a lovely performer..
- All the best, Maya!
- I'm sure you're gonna rock it today.
- I'm just excited to see the show!
- I am a dream..
- I am a dream..
In the shadows of the night,
I'm the dream that opened your eyes.
I am a dream..
Bring me to life.
I'm the journey that you take, smiling,
under the arclights..
Once you become one with the waves,
Will you, a river, forget who you were?
Is your pursuit mindless?
Or mindful?
Is your pursuit mindless?
Or mindful?
- You're a star that shines and sparkles,
Who can compete with your attractiveness?
Other than following behind you now,
What choice do I really have?
You're a star that shines and sparkles,
Who can compete with your attractiveness?
Other than following behind you now,
Tell me, what choice do I really have?
- Hold on, just for a little longer.
- You're a mirage that's vanishing as I approach you.
Return the smile that you stole from me please.
- I am my own stage,
my own audience,
my own curiosity, that I safeguard.
Is this pursuit mindless?
Or mindful?
- Return the smile that you stole from me please.
- Is this pursuit mindless?
- You're a mirage that's vanishing as I approach you.
- Is this pursuit mindless?
- Return the smile that you stole from me please.
You're a mirage that's vanishing as I approach you.
- Is this mindless?
- Return the smile that you stole from me please.
You're a mirage that's vanishing as I approach you.
Return the smile that you stole from me please.
You're a mirage that's vanishing as I approach you.
Return the smile that you stole from me please.
- (Door knock)
(Door knock)
- Was I ok? Did I look too fat?
- Ey!
Be proud of yourself.
Chin up!
- Hmm.
- Second chin also.
- Stupid!
- God, you're so beautiful!
- Alright.
I'll go change and come.
- I want to watch.
- Yeah, why wouldn't you!
By the way,
- By the way?
On the way back,
- On the way back?
- Let's stop by appa's house?
- Huh, Maya!
The evening is so beautiful..
why, why.. Why do you get such ideas?
- Alright.
Give me five. I'll come back.
- Hi, Tejas.
- Can you see me?
- You missed Maya's performance..
It was amazing.
Actually, it felt like it was written for you only!
'Nasheyo, Nakasheyo'..
Is this pursuit mindless, or mindful?
- But..
How am I..
- I've to leave now.
But I'll meet you very soon, Tejas.
Yeah?
- (Phone ringing)
Dilemma is of two kinds, Tejas.
One is external.
You have clarity about what you want in life.
You also have the support of your family and friends.
Your struggle is to conquer external obstacles.
The other kind is internal.
You have something like a hobby, or interest.
You, or your family, would probably have never taken it seriously.
But a day comes when
it opens doors for you, starts building you a path..
But do you even want it? Are you ready for it?
Your struggle here is to understand yourself.
- How's this all connected.. Your life.. My life..
And, why?
- Why me? Why you? Why think so much, Tejas?
- (Phone ringing)
These people sponsored Maya's performance.
They found out I'm an architect and wanted me
to give the product a try.
If our lives' paths have crisscrossed like this,
it would have some meaning, isn't it, Tejas?
Like two strands of thread on a rope..
begins at the same place, ends together..
Only, we wouldn't be aware of the what's and why's.
I'm feeling like I'm giving a TED talk.
- No, please continue.
- Holy f..
This is really comfortable!
Life is what happens when you're busy making
other plans, Tejas.
It's easy to dream.
But in pursuit of that dream,
what you take for granted can take you by surprise.
Like a plot twist, unpredictable changes happen in life.
This path questions every single passion and priority of yours.
I feel like suggesting that you be prepared,
but you can't be prepared!
I think the right word is..
'Beware'.
The aroma of paper is something else, isn't it?
R. L. Stevenson!
Writing a story, getting a book out there..
in a way, it's like being born.
Isn't it?
The journey of 'first time' happens only once.
Enjoy yourself. Have fun.
Don't forget that.
Loosen up!
- Who's Abhay?
- (Indistinct)
- Boyfriend, huh?
- No, man.
Just like us, he must be a Toy Swami on that side.
- Oh!
- He's a real person. Not a toy.
- What does that mean?
We aren't real people?
Look at that. This is all our life is.
- (Indistinct chatter)
- What is it?
- The thing is..
you're making new friends, and going to new places
through the bathroom door..
We were wondering why this is happening.
- And?
- So far, you have not
spoken about this with us. So we're asking.
You're interested in girls, or boys?
- Ah! TMI! TMI!! TMI!!!
- Meaning?
- Too Much Information. What they call T. M. I.
- Oh! (Laughs)
I always thought TMI meant something else!
Uh..
I'll speak..
Hang on, I'll speak..
Teju, you tell me. Uh, where were we?
Girls?
Ah! That's right.
If you find a girlfriend for yourself now,
we feel it might be a good idea.
- Yeah.
If what's supposed to happen at certain ages don't,
then these weird experiences begin to happen.
- (Door knock)
- Shh!
- (Door knock)
- (Laughter)
- Hi!
Sorry to disturb you, uh,
My name is Raksha. I just.. I just
moved in here yesterday.
I actually locked myself out of the house, and..
can I please use your phone?
Yeah, thank you.
What was the number?
I'm sorry, I am not able to recall the number.
Just one second..
Do you mind if I use your internet? Just for a bit?
Just to check the number, that's it.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Ah! Thank you!
Thank you so much.
I'm sorry..
- You can..
please..
- Is that ok? Are you sure?
- Yeah, yeah.
- Thank.. It's fine.. It's fine. Thank you.
Hi. This is Raksha here.
I'm calling from my neighbour's house, long story.
Yeah. Listen.. Umm.. I've locked myself out of the house..
and there's a spare key in my drawer.
Right. Right, right. Can you please
send it with someone?
Ok. Thank you.
Ah. Yeah.
I think I'll just wait outside, it's fine.
- Ok.
- Thank you.
- Huh.
This guy is a waste fellow.
- Poor thing, she could have waited inside only.
- Oh, hey!
- You can.. wait inside..
- No, no. It's fine. I don't wanna disturb you. It's fine.
No, no, I stay alone..
Erm, I am an unemployed bachelor, so..
uh,
you're not going to.. disturb me.
- Are you sure?
Your house is quite neat for a bachelor.
- Thanks.
- I'm sorry, I didn't get your name?
- Tejaswi Pandit.
- Tejaswi.
Nice name.
So you're born and brought up here only?
- Yeah.
You're from?
I'm settled here. Um, my father was from here.
But, my mom, she is from north. So, yeah.
- Ok.
- (Door knock)
- I think that's my keys. I think the keys must be here.
Let me just..
Thank you.
Um,
Thank you, Tejaswi, for all your help.
Um, I'm still setting up, but I can always offer you is a cup of tea.
So, uh, whenever you're available, or free, just
drop by, please.
- Sure.
- Bye!
- Site meetings are tiring. I could have
just taken a cab.
Why so late, Maya?
- Sorry.
By the way, I want to make a stop on the way.
Ok with you?
- Where are you taking me?
- Somewhere important.
- (Chuckles)
Uh, I'm taking a nap.
- Good night!
- Is this your pitstop?
- Go.
- You know you can do better than that.
- Yes, papa!
- So, what will you do?
- Will I ever be good in your eyes, papa?
- No matter what I do, why is it insufficient for you?
- You don't have to do anything for my sake?
- Who else's sake should I do anything, then?
- If it interests you, do it for your own sake.
If not, go graze cattle.
- I'm done, pa.
I don't want to be with you anymore.
- Be my guest.
Go have a peek of the real world.
You'll come back, afraid, your tail between your legs.
- I promise, pa. No matter what, I won't see your face again.
I'll do anything I need to, to survive.. But I certainly won't return.
- We'll come some other time, Maya.
- No,
Am I forcing this upon you?
You've to face him at some point, isn't it?
Then why not today?
- I don't feel like it today.
Let's leave, please?
Please?
- (Indistinct music)
- (Coughs)
Oh.
You must be..
Abhay's friend.
It's ok.
You're not the first friend who's come by here.
Please..
Uhh!
- You are..
- Rajeev.
Abhay's father.
I assumed you would know.
- Why are you not with Abhay?
- Are you..
with your father?
- You wanna talk about it?
- All little birds eventually grow wings.
Same thing happened with Abhay too.
One fine day, his wings opened wide..
And lo, he flew away!
I guess I was..
destined for loneliness.
And, lonely, I became.
A child can never forget the one
who gave birth to them, I hope.
- I feel like there's a wall in between us.
And I'm trying to break it open.
I take one step towards you, and you take
ten steps backward. And it's..
It's.. tiring.
I..
- Ma.. Maya, please.
- Within all of us,
there's this thing called subconscious.
It's dark there,
with nowhere to hide.
It's a where we get a good look at ourselves.
Very powerful.
It tires us in no time.
The truths we discover about ourselves there
are impossible to face in the
conscious world. Very difficult.
I have to co-exist with the mistakes that I made.
- I know what means to be alone, Abhay.
Honestly, I do.
It's not something you'll be able to manage.
And when someone is actually by your side, saying
you want to be alone is like pushing them away.. It is..
It's insulting.
- Please give him this key.
He will listen to you.
- Whatever you do, it affects me too.
And I want you to remember that, ok? Good night.
Good night.
- Do convey my regards to your parents.
And please do not forget to tell Abhay
what I told you..
- Better than my telling him would be
him coming here..
- He won't come.
- Abhay, your father..
- You shouldn't have gone there, Tejas.
- The sundry debtors list of Masrani's company was due,
has it been sent?
- Farooq sir has taken over the account sir.
- I haven't retired yet. I am retiring today.
Allow me to work till I retire, please!
- I went there for your sake..
- For my sake,
I never asked you to do anything, Tejas, did I?
- Uh..
- Why did you go there?
- Hello, Karthik
- Hello, sir.
- How are you?
- Good! Welcome to Mumbai.
- Thank you. This is for Narayan.
- Ganesh?
- Yes?
Cool.
- Nice arrangements. - Thank you, sir.
- And lovely cake too.
Uh, he's completely unaware, right?
- He has no clue, sir.
- Wonderful.
Aishu, you be seated. I'll go get him.
- I'm just curious why your father isn't with you..
- (Phone vibrating)
- Why aren't you receiving his calls, Tejas?
Why have you been ignoring it?
Have you called him on your own even once?
Bothered to find out how he is doing?
He's also ageing.
Have you wondered how long he might
be able to be with you?
- So, buddy, you're retiring ahead of me?
Narayana! What happened?
- A very personal line you crossed, Tejas.
I'm not able to digest this.
All actions
inevitably have a consequence.
- Karthik, call an ambulance. Quick!
- You have plenty of time to reflect.
- No!
Abhay!
Abhay, please!
Abhay!
- Nothing untoward will happen, hold on.
Nothing will happen..
- Aishu?
- Nothing will happen..
- Karthik, hurry up!
- Aishu..
- Teju..
[Indistinct]
- Teju..
- (Phone vibrating)
- So how was your heaven?
- It was all beach, miss.
I love beaches a lot, so in my
imagination it was like heaven for me!
- They say death is an endless sleep.
But here, there's no such thing as sleep.
Even the need for sleep isn't there.
It's so calm here, isn't it?
- Don't you feel like there's everything, yet nothing?
- I feel there's nothing here, yet there's everything.
- What I want seems to be right in front of me, appa.
I'm unable to see it.
Or maybe I'm deliberately not seeing it.
What should I do, appa?
- Teju,
No matter what suggestion I give you,
I know you'll do exactly that.
But you will do it out of respect for me.
Not because you desire to do it for yourself.
There's a guru here named Master Oogway.
He says,
'One meets their destiny on the road they take to avoid it'.
Whatever we do,
the result of that is something we only have to face.
This is true in your case,
and it is true in mine as well.
There's only one thing I feel like telling you, though.
After I've come here, your mother has become alone.
As much as possible, ensure she isn't lonely too.
- Amma, please pass the salt?
- (Phone vibrating)
- Hello?
- Hi! Tejaswi, right?
This is Raksha here.
- Yeah?
- Tejaswi, can we meet?
- Sure. You want me to come down to the interview?
- Before that, I'd like to have a word with you, uh,
you think you can come down to my office in, say, an hour?
- Sure thing.
- I'll.. I'll see you then. Thank you.
Bye.
- (Phone vibrating)
- They got me home. Took care of me.
They don't feel like refusing anything I ask them.
And if something bothered them, they never could open up
to me about that either.
Hence, it was awkward for me to ask for anything.
I've wondered many times why I can't
pester them for anything like 'own' children do.
Today, it dawned on me.
All these days, I used to hear the word 'adopted' loudly
in the phrase 'adopted son'.
But now,
I'm hearing the word 'son' deafeningly.
- (Together) Teju!
- If amma sees this..
- Come in.
Oh, hi! Please, come in. Please.
Well.
Thank you for making it on such a short notice.
So, uh,
How are you? And how's your mother?
You know I quite understand what you are going through.
Appa started Wordly Matters twenty five years go.
My parents got divorced when I was quite young,
so I grew up mostly with my mum.
Even then, when my father passed away,
I felt like I am..
I lost a part of myself.
Then I had to come, and work here..
Not that I didn't want to, but,
it would have been really nice to, you know, uh..
work and learn from him for some time.
Anyway, enough about me.
Well,
I had a look at your resume, and,
it seems decent.
What made you take a break?
- I was asked to leave actually.
My boss felt that I was really distracted,
I wanted.. a little time to think, and..
I've decided I want to work.
- Well, I..
I just hope you've thought through this and
it's not just an, uh,
emotional decision.
- It is emotional for me.
You're doing what your father was doing.
So am I.
I'm a CA.
Just like my father.
- Yeah.
- So,
the interview?
- That's just a formality.
The decision is mine.
And I'll be really happy for you to come and work with us.
But I understand if you need some time to join, you know..
- No, no, I can start from tomorrow.
- Are you sure?
- Yes.
- Fine, then! Well,
I'll see you tomorrow!
Well,
let me warn you that, you know, we are in
a little bit of mess here..
Nothing serious, but,
perhaps it will take some effort to get back
everything back on track. So, yeah.
Welcome!
- Thank.. you..
- Welcome.
See you!
- Yeah!
- What's with taking off like this without speaking to me?
- How have you been, Maya?
- I'm very close to breaking, Abhay.
Don't expect me to come every time, like this.
- I needed a break, Maya.
- Grow up, Abhay. You're not the only one
who is tired in life.
Why are you behaving like the sky has fallen
on your head?
Soon as any situation turns serious,
you run away from there.
Isn't that your usual behaviour?
- Of all people, Maya,
of all people, I expected you'd understand me.
- Hmm!
It's because I understand that I'm saying it to your face.
If you don't help yourself,
nobody can help you, Abhay!
- But for you,
I was not even interested to look towards my past.
You very well know that.
He used to sing lullabys and put me to sleep when I was a child..
My father..
I don't know when things took a turn for the worse.
I bloody don't want to remember him like this.
I don't know what to do.
Tell me what I should do. You tell me.
- I'm sorry.
We'll figure this out.
Don't run away like this, no, leaving me?
How am I to find you?
- Please think about me also a little bit.
- We'll figure this out, right?
Yeah?
I need you, Maya..
I'm an idiot for having come like this. I'm sorry.
- That, you are!
You've always been an idiot.
Nice place.
- It's nicer now.
- Don't be an ahole, I'm still angry!
- Far beyond the shores..
- How was your drive?
- A desire to fly away..
- I desire to fly away..
- Oh wait! How did you come?
- I desire to fly away..
- Bullock cart!
- I desire to speak..
- (Indistinct)
- In a language of our own..
Once,
Listen, just once..
I will join you breaking
this bridge of silence.
Once,
Do tell, just once..
How are you managing to pull me towards you,
in spite of myself?
The eyes are dry without a trace of a smile..
A promising tomorrow seems to be a day dream..
Is it just a mirage?
My inner child's imagination is insatiable..
But colours seem all scattered with no paint brush
to bring them together.
A dawn only awaits beyond the encompassing night..
All unexpressed feelings now feel heavy to carry..
I yearn to heave the sigh that comes
with finishing an old chapter.
You're my strength
You're my love
You're my home
You're my happiness
You're my identity
You're my survival
Once,
Listen, just once..
I will join you breaking
this bridge of silence.
Once,
Do tell, just once..
How are you managing to pull me towards you,
in spite of myself?
- Hey!
- What's up?
- Amidst photos of all these folk,
how come his photograph?
- That's a long story.
Do you have time?
- You're the one paying me salary, so,
my time here is yours, boss.
- Oh, you know, that's right!
- (Laughter)
- So, long long ago, some men came to the office..
to meet Appa. They started questioning him..
Why everything is in English!
So he brought them to this wall..
and showed them these pictures.
He had published English translations of their works.
Of course, back then, it wasn't like that;
it was individual pictures.. - Hmm..
- And, our interior designer, great lady..
She included this one picture among all
the other pictures by mistake!
And those men,
they couldn't recognise most of the other pictures.
But this one picture they saw,
and silently left!
Appa always wished I become a Kannadiga.
But I wonder if I'm any less of a Kannadiga, you know?
I do not speak the language yet properly.
But psychologically, culturally,
I feel this is my place.. this is.. my people, my..
My literature..
My identity..
Everything.
And to tell you the truth, anywhere else..
I feel out of place.
Tejas, there's..
There's something I want to talk to you about..
And your time is mine, isn't it?
- Yeah..
- Let's go out?
- Sure, let me just call my mother..
- Here?
- Good evening, ma'm!
- Hi! Uh..
One capuccino for me, please.
- Coffee?
- Two capuccinos, please. Thank you.
- Sure.
- You've never really gone out, have you?
- No, this is my
first time.
- Why?
- Guess I wasn't interesting.
Nobody wanted to spend time with me.
Uh,
But I like being alone, so,
I guess it worked out in the end.
- So, um,
what did you do in all that time with yourself?
Tejas, I have a confession to make..
Just to get it off my chest.
I saw your diary the other day in the office.
But the moment I realised it was personal, I
kept it back.
Why did you stop writing?
I read two names there.. Uh, Abhay and Maya..
Yeah!
Who are they?
- Nobody.
- Fine, I mean..
if they're nobody, let me not ask.
Tejas, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to
make you feel uncomfortable.. I'm..
- You must be thinking I'm very weird.
- Who's not weird, Tejas?
I mean, I just told you that..
I don't know Kannada, yet I feel like a Kannadiga!
- Kannadathi..
- Huh?
- Kannadathi.
- Y.. Yes, yes!
Yeah.
See, the point is that,
we all have our conflicts.
And I just told you mine. Didn't I?
- Excuse me, miss?
- Hi, Tejaswi! Please come in.
Uh, I went through your poem. It's very very beautiful.
I loved it! - Thank you, miss.
- Our Teju's name looks so beautiful in print, doesn't it?
- I alw..
I always wanted to write..
I opened the door and found another world.
Abhay's world.
- How about a private show?
- And then, there's Maya.
- There's no music.
- I started to write the story, with the fear of
whether I'll even be able to go back there or not..
but mixed with a strange kind of happiness..
- For your sake, I didn't even rehearse yesterday, you know?
- Chin up! Second chin also!
You missed Maya's performance.
It was amazing.
Actually, it felt like it was written for you only.
Life is what happens when you're busy
making other plans, Tejas.
It's easy to dream.
But in pursuit of that dream, what you
take for granted can take you by surprise.
- (Phone vibrating)
- Started ignoring my father's calls..
- Why are you not receiving his calls, Tejas?
Why have you been ignoring it?
- And now I can't..
Can't even say sorry.
- Your story seems to be a conversation between
what you are and what you want to be.
Abhay means 'Fearless'.
And he inspires you to be..
To be what was your childhood dream.
And Maya?
Ironically she is the reality that you cannot escape from.
Maya means illusion, or a lie.
Abhay is your tomorrow.
And Maya is your today.
So you're writing yourself and you call them 'nobody'?
They're your own voices, Tejas.
And,
you cannot run away from them.
And if it's..
Only if it's ok with you,
I'd love to read your story once you finish.
- But I don't know if I'm going to finish it.
I just open a door, and..
- And?
- And..
enter my bathroom.
- Well.
Perhaps the door takes you where you want to go.
And, just, one more thing. Uh,
Try writing in Kannada?
- No, no. I come from an English medium school,
so I don't think..
- Kannada is your mother tongue, right?
You'll be more honest.
Just try!
Coffee is good, isn't it?
- I always thought of myself to be a jigsaw puzzle..
But, I get it now.
Im a broken earthen pot.
Using the Japanese art of Kintsugi,
and the gold of your love,
youre the magic that pieced me back together.
Until I met you, I did not know..
damage can also be embraced.
- If we can make up our mind to go anywhere,
can we go to our past and change
something that's already happened?
- I fully expected you to do this!
- Ap(pa)..
- If what's happened could be changed so easily,
there would be no reason to take life seriously, Teju.
Hmm!
Come. I'll tell you a story.
- Not commercial enough?
- Can you give me some coffee?
I'm so tired of meeting publisher after publisher.
They do have a point.
If these characters have bared their story to me,
I should be honest with my writing, isn't it Narayan?
These marketing and sales folks won't get it.
Just because they demand, I can't bring
dishonesty in my writing, Narayan.
- Aishu!
- No, Narayan.
Let's let go of this matter.
I don't like this coming between us.
When a chapter ends, you have to move to the next chapter, isn't it?
Henceforth,
no more discussion about this.
- Aishu?
- Ha?
- See who's here?
- How are you, Aishu?
- Oh! Mr Suresh! Please come, have a seat!
How come you've come from Bangalore to Mysore?
- I'm not disturbing you, I hope?
- Not at all.
- How'll she get disturbed?
Round the clock, she's just immersed
in crossword puzzles.
- That's good. Like Abhimanyu, the baby in her belly
will learn big words and become a huge writer!
- Isn't it?
- Oh, no! She's sufficient. Can't handle another one.
- What else do you want? A boring accountant like us?
- Of course!
What's in these stories anyway,
they're made up, just imaginary!
- Now tell me, if humans didn't have imagination,
they'd have not learnt so many truths either, isn't it?
- Learn!
- What's for me to learn?
Look,
let's leave everything aside. Let's come to an understanding.
- Hmm.
- If we have a daughter, she can become a writer like her.
- Hmm.
- If we have a son, he'll become an accountant like me. Ok?
You're the witness.
- Why are you pulling me inbetween?
- Because you're seated inbetween!
- (Laughter)
- You're the designated witness!
You're home? Let me get your coffee.
What is that, Narayan?
What is this, Narayan?
('By Opening the Door')
Wh.. Who published it?
Aishwarya Publishers?
So much money..
- Listen,
just a few more days.
We'll have all copies ready.
Let's have a really grand release function!
Come. Sit.
Aishu!
See what's here!
- Oh, the books arrived?
- (Laughs)
Come, come, come in.
Ey, hey! Hang on a minute!
You rest, this isn't going anywhere!
You know what's inside, right?
Please come, sit?
Careful.
Ah!
Hmm!
Take this.
All of you have Dosas near
Banni Mantapa on your way back.
- Ok, sir.
- (Heaves)
Now tell me.
- How are we going to manage?
- You're happy, aren't you?
I'll plan for the release function in a week. Ok?
- Hmm.
- There's a power cut now anyway. Uh,
let's not worry about cooking at home.
Let's go out and have dinner.
Yeah?
- Yeah.
Uh, let me change and come?
- Not required. You look beautiful as you are.
Let's go.
- Uh!
- Let's go!
- (Explosion)
- (Ambulance)
- (Indistinct)
- I'm sorry. We had to remove the uterus.
Uh, but, thank God!
We could save Aishwarya.
We will shift her to the ICU.
You can meet her afterwards.
- Your whole life is lying ahead of you.
How can you accept defeat so quickly?
What's the big bother? That we've to
start all over from zero?
So be it!
Come, join me.
Join me.
If you want, you can start off today itself.
- Sign it.
"If we have a daughter, she can become a writer like her"
"If we have a son, he'll become an accountant like me"
You started writing.
With that,
I secretly hoped her pain would reduce.
But, no.
It increased.
On one hand,
I desired for her to not be in pain.
On the other hand,
I desired to encourage you.
I got stuck between both my desires,
and went through a great deal
of helplessness and agony.
Felt a lot of agony.
Whatever you did,
you did so dutifully.
There was an honesty in it.
Apart from that honesty, I never really
wanted anything else.
But, there was one thing I craved.
I waited for the day when
you would truly accept me as your father, not because you felt a certain 'duty', but emotionally.
Finally..
- Well, I just hope you've thought through this, and,
it's not just an emotional decision.
- It is emotional for me.
You're doing what your father used to do.
So am I.
I am a CA..
Just like my father.
- 'My father'!
'My father'!
Come.
I'll show you something interesting.
This is the story behind that printout.
Life that's bygone is a book that's already written.
If you think about it,
the story of our lives
could not have happened in any other way.
You've done a lot for my sake.
Now go finish what you started for your self. Hmm?
- Hmm!
Alright, I'll get going?
- Um hmm.
- I've to rehearse.
Why are you whispering?
(Laughter)
Ladies and gentlemen, presenting to you all..
- Um hmm.
- a private show..
- Private show?
- (Laughter) Shh!
- Maya!
- Alright, come!
You know we've never done it on the dining table.
(Indistinct)
- Henceforth,
I don't need you, Tejas.
- You said once that our destinies are like two strands of thread in a rope?
Same beginning, and the same end..
These are your own words. Did you forget?
When I met your father, he told me something.
Neither of you understood the silence
between your spoken sentences.
- No matter what I did,
he always only urged me to do better.
But not once did he ask me,
'How are you, Abhay?'
'Are you liking what you're doing?'
'Is it making you happy?'
'Do you even want what you're doing?'
'What do you desire?'
What else does a son desire anyway,
apart from his father's appreciation?
I kept waiting.
I waited for many years,
till I did not want to see his face again.
And later, a day came, when
I couldn't see his face even if I wanted to..
- How many years has it been, Abhay?
- Five years.
- Whenever he achieved anything in his life,
even if it was a small achievement,
apparently, he felt real happiness only when
he shared his accomplishment with your mother.
But when what he considers his
most important accomplishment happened..
Which is you..
When you were born, unfortunately, your mother..
He wanted you to never experience that kind of pain.
He wanted you to live for yourself, and
find happiness in that.
That is why he brought you up
the way he did.
He's become completely alone now, Abhay.
- What else did appa say?
- He wanted me to give you the keys
to his private room.
I wasn't comfortable taking it from him.
He requested that you go see the room just once.
We're all selfish.
When someone passes away, what bothers us
is how our life gets affected.
We would have died a little bit as well, along with them.
How else can the living experience death, after all?
It creates a certain loneliness, a void,
a nothingness in which we keep them alive.
We increase doing things that they used to like.
But what difference would it make to them?
Zero.
Whatever we earn, it amounts to nothing.
It eventually is like a zero.
But people remember how you made them feel.
Not that we can carry that with us either,
but it isn't right to hide what we like about others.
The '1' of loneliness, and the '0' of all our earnings.
If a '0' joins to the left of '1', it is useless.
But if it joins on the right, each '0' is very valuable.
Do we stop to think whether the '0's that we
are earning are accumulating to our left or right?
Life seems to be a story about duality.
Stories of duality.
Appa said though death has nothing, it has everything.
Chasing unnecessary pursuits in ignorance all our life,
maybe in the end, in death we wake up?
Who I am, and who I want to be..
My today, and tomorrow..
Abhay and Maya..
They just seem like a pretext.
Chasing tomorrow's desires, we lose our todays.
And one of those tomorrows will be
with us no longer around.
- He was very proud of you!
- I'm scared of the person I've become, Maya.
- Meaning?
- How.. How can I tell him..
I'm.. I'm sorry, papa..
But you know,
when I took the room key in my hand,
I just lost all curiosity to find out what's here.
Because,
I realised..
the biggest blessing of my life was
beside me there.
All my life,
whatever I've got for myself, I've always..
And I..
I came very close to breaking you also.
I don't want to be this person.
I don't want to do that mistake again.
- Hey..
Ok, so, tell me this.
How did you get so many trophies?
- (Laughs)
Even I don't know.
- Bloody nerd!
- This is a bit too much, no? Who does this!
I remember breaking about half of these trophies.
The other half,
who knows, maybe appa just bought it
himself and kept!
- So this is home! Hmm.
- Welcome home.
- Can I say something cheesy?
- Hmm.
- My home is where you are.
- I'm glad you're not the writer.
- Alright, let's please leave? - Hmm.
- It's too dusty here, I can't take it.
- Maybe the truth we seek all our lives is death itself.
Nothingness.
Light.
Endless sleep!
Nothingness that has everything.
Duality.
Like the silences that punctuates our spoken sentences.
Like having loads of sentences to read,
but searching for meaning between the lines.
- It's.. It's beautiful.
It's really beautiful!
"Whispers of the Conscience".
Umm..
Inner voice..
- "Whispers of the Conscience"
- Yes!
Sounds nice.
Uh, what do you think?
- Yeah!
"Whispers of the Conscience".
"Whispers of the Conscience".. How did you know?
The story was complete even before it started! Wow.
- The story isn't over yet, Tejas.
There's one chapter left.
Come.
- Ma?
What happened was nobody's fault amma.
But all the punishment befell on appa alone.
At least for his sake,
When a chapter ends, you have to move to the next chapter, isn't it, amma?
"Dedication - Appa - Amma,
(I am) From you, for you".
- Teju
- You wrote it?
- You liked it?
- It's nice.
Why did you write it?
- After listening to Ramayana all night..
(you're asking what's Rama and Sita's relationship)
- Don't tell me.
You wrote this for me?
- As the darkness slowly dissipates,
Words have begun to flow again, unpaused
Silence is silver, speaking out is gold;
I walk towards the intoxication of ink.
I'm a wordsmith.
The journey began following unknowns,
One that, unknown to me, changed me.
Goal after goal I cross, yet, satisfaction eludes me
As I look for it in an alien mirror.
I'm a wordsmith.
When little issues grow too big,
And making a wrong choice isn't an option,
When I'm simply too stubborn
to be worthy of you,
I'll build a road even towards
heavy bygone days.
I'm a wordsmith.
I'm just a summary of those who matter to me,
And only with you by my side,
will my tomorrow be soothing,
Seeking that comfort, I can but only
sow the few words in my reach,
While I wait in this garden
of meanings and metaphors.
I'm a wordsmith.
I find my path between the lines,
I'm the heir of the Palace of Alphabets,
A spendthrift when it comes to words,
One who tries to make sense of the real,
by wandering in the imaginary,
I'm a wordsmith.
I'm a wordsmith.