Morning
Teena is continuously asking Purvi to have her breakfast, but Purvi is busy in her book – atleast Teena feels she is.
Teena: Purvi…have something to eat. There is still lot of time for your viva…Purviiii…
Purvi (mind): Kya Kavin sach me mujhse pyaar nahi karta?…mera dil kyun nahi manta? Main do baar toh koshish kar chuki hoon…par woh koi jawaab hi nahi deta…main ab aur usse face nahi kar sakti…Maa se jo baat ki..wahi sahi hai….mujhe jaana hi hoga…
Teena (snatching the book away): eat!...
Purvi nods and takes some cereal in a bowl and plays with it – just stirring it around in the milk.
Teena (Kavin room opens): Hey chef boy!..you are late today…so we have just cereal today for breakfast.
Kavin (sitting down): I am going out of town for two days…I have an interview..if everything works out..I am moving out..
Purvi stops stirring the cereal. Her eyes are brimming with tears but she just doesn't have the courage to lift her eyes and look at his face. She stifles the sob that's building up her throat. When she cannot bear it anymore, she gets up with an awkward jerk and rushes to the bathroom.
Kavin looks at her, his heart aches. He wants to run behind her, take her in his arms, wipe her tears (he is sure she is crying) but right now he just folds his fingers into a fist under the table.
Teena:: Ohhhh..Poor Purvi..she is so nervous about her submission today..she has hardly eaten anything….
Kavin: hmm
Teena: so..you planning to move haan..where are you planning to move but?
Kavin: teena…you are okay with me moving out?
Teena: Kavin..its your professional life…if you are getting a good opportunity you should try it out…we still will be friends..me, you and Purvi..we can meet up..
Kavin (eyes down): hmm…I am trying a big hospital in the state of Georgia…
Teena (sitting down): Georgia….thats so far Kavin….you sure about this?
Kavin: (covering his face): I donno Teena…I really don't know…
Teena (soft voice): Are you running away?
Kavin (removing hand): What?
Teena: Kavin…I saw you last night..i don't know if you know it yet or have realized it..but kavin…I think you are in love..and you are running away from it..
Kavin (fake laugh): No way Teena….Love? that's bullshit..you know me..
Teena (looking in his eyes): Yes..I know you Kavin…trust me you are in LOVE…accept it….
Kavin (deny, angry): Shut up Teena..I am not in Loveee…I can never be….I am leaving now..I am getting late..he picks his bag and leaves.
He shuts the door and leans against it. He didn't wish Purvi for her submission. He didn't even say bye to her.
Purvi, bathroom
She shuts her mouth to stifle her sobs that refuse to stop or die down. She feels sick in her stomach that Kavin may leave her. She may not be able to see him, touch him. She sits down supporting herself on the cabinet.
Purvi (mind): Main kaise tumhe chodd ke jaaon Kavin….main hamesha tumhe apne aankhon ke saamne dekhna chahti hoon..yeh kyun ho raha hai mere saath…
PurviF: betuuuu…mujhe maaf kar de…
Kavin: I am moving out…
Purvi feels a great pain in her heart – this ache will not go away! She realizes he is leaving now, she has to take a look of him..she wipes her eyes and getting up still feeling weak, opens the door and rushes to the drawing room.
Teena is tidying up the drawing room. Purvi scans the room, he is nowhere.
Teena:are you okay sweetie? Atleast drink some milk…Kavin left without having anything..
Purvi (shock): Kaavin….left?
Teena: hmm..just 2 min back
Purvi rushes to the patio – looking down below – trying to spot his car, to see his face. The traffic is sparse, he must have zoomed off. She stands there watching.
Teena: Purvi…look at the time..we better leave..
Kavin, airport…
Kavin (thinking what Teena said): Am I in love with her?..he cannot take her name as he fears it will become true. Noooo..she deserves someone much better..someone who will be committed…for life…
Airport announcement for flight to Atlanta, Georgia….
Kavin sees the people forming queue to get inside the plane. He looks at his boarding pass and his phone. He is expecting her to call…his heart somehere wants her to call…he doesn't know what they will talk..he just wants to hear her voice.
He looks up…the queue is short, the officer makes announcement for last boarding call. He again looks at his phone – no call yet. He sighs and walks up slowly to join the queue. Kavin is the last person to board the plane. The door shuts behind him. He cannot turn back now.
Purvi, submission
Examiner: So Miss Rai, could you please explain to us any 3 advantages of your distillation method over the reference methods..
Purvi (mind): I..I am sorry…I don't love you….You are my….
Professor John: miss Rai….Miss Rai..please answer the question..
Purvi snaps back and answers the question without paying attention to the words. Her mind and tongue are not in co-ordination. Its like two channels being run on a television at the same time!
Later, in the laboratory
Professor John: You did well today Miss Rai. I think your submission will come through..Congratulations! I would like to tell you that a research assistant position is available in our university. You should apply for it..I am sure after this submission you will get through easily.
Teena (excited, hugging Purvi): Wow! Purvi…research assistant! That's great stuff….I am so happy for you..aren't you excited?
Purvi (hugging her, crying): Thank you Teena…thank you so much…I will miss you..
Teena : The post is right in our university…and we live in the same house…you dumb woman!
Purvi (hugging her tight): Bye Teena..
Teena (worried): Purvi…whats wrong? Where are you going? Purviii…..
Purvi (sobbing): I am going back home…Dada ticket bhej rahe hai…I am leaving just the day after….
Teena: Ohh..yeah you need a break…when are you coming back?
Purvi (sobbing, nodding her head no): I am going back forever…main waapas nahi aa rahi hoon..
Teena (shocked): what? Purvi…why?
Purvi (hiccupping): I…..miss everything…mera mann nahi lag raha yahan…
Teena (holding her face): I understand….you miss your family..its okay….we still will be friends…huhhhh..what a day…Kavin will move out soon and you are going to leave too…I will be all alone..
Purvi and Teena hug each other and cry bitterly.
Kavin, Atlanta
Kavin clears his interview and has to join back the next week. He has to return and submit his resignation and move out of the apartments. There are many things going around his head when suddenly without a warning – Purvi's image pops up and he sits down with a thud.
Kavin (mind): Purvi….main kaise kahoon usse ki main jaa raha hoon..he is frustrated…Kyun? Yeh baat usse kyun nahi bata sakta? Who kuch nahi hai mere liye..toh phir yeh baat bataane me itni hichki kyun?
He picks his phone and looks at her name in contact list. With a new determination he takes a deep breath and is about to press the name, when – Purvi calls him…he again stares at her picture, his phone rings continually, he doesn't want her face to disappear.
He doesn't pick the phone…..
Purvi, Houston
Purvi's heart jumps with each ring. It stops beating the moment it ceases to ring. Kavin didn't pick it. She knows he is not busy as just 2 min back he spoke with Teena.
Purvi (mind): Ohh..toh ab mujhse baat bhi nahi karna chahte tum….theekh hai..magar tumhi ne sikhaya mujhe apni dil ki baat bol do…
Purvi dials again and waits patiently for Kavin to pick it up. He again looks at her picture and now traces his finger on her face…..
He watches as the picture stops flashing – his phone goes dark. His face falls and then his phone suddenly glows.
You have a voice message….
He immediately presses the code and keeps the phone close to his ears.
Purvi voice: Hi Kavin….mmm…congartulations..teena ne bataya..tumhare..tumhare naye job ke baare me..aur..aur yeh bhi ki tum jaa rahe ho…she sniffs…kavin..I..I am sorry…main jaanti hoon tum mere wajah se jaa rahe ho…please…meri wajah se aisa koi faisla mat lena jo tumhe apno se door kare..main samajh sakti hoon..main…main kuch nahi hoon tumhare liye..she halts..he knows she is wiping her tears….main apne aap se waise hi utnaa pyaar nahi karti..magar mujhe apne aap ko nafrat karne pe majboor mat karna…she breaks down..sobbing..Kavin's eyes fill with tears..
She controls her crying now..her voice is trembling, shaky now…
Purvi voice: Kav..kavin….tumhe kahin jaane ki zaroorat nahi hai…main jaa rahi hoon..hamesha ke liye..tum sab ki zindagi se door….jaane se pehle sirf itna kahoongi..Thank you..ki tum meri zindagi me aaye..kuch pal khushi ke diye, thoda sahara diya….Babuuu ki tarah….she now smiles through her tears..tum bahut ache ho Kavin….bahut ache..
Ek last ehsaan karna…she stops…yeh message milne ke baad please mujhe phone mat karna….bahut mushkil se apne dil ko sambhaala hai….main bahut darpok hoon…bahut kamzor hoon..itni himmat nahi hai mujhme…tumhari awaaz sunke bhi shayad main jaa naa paaoon…she sobs again..main jaana chahti hoon..tumse door….please..mujhe phone bhi mat karna…Bye kavin..I…I Looo..the message stops..
Kavin looks at the phone, doesn't bother to wipe the tears flowing down his face. He packs his bag to return to Houston. His flight leaves in 2 hours.
Purvi, Houston
Purvi opens her suitcase and is placing her clothes, books as a chore. Teena is moving in her room chatting and picking her stuff. Purvi does not hear anything..she goes back in time to the very first time she met him on plane…
Hi..I am Kavin..life pe pehli baar itna hassa hoon ki aasoo aa gaye..
She realizes she has to travel all alone now. There will be no one to give her a shoulder to sleep. No one to help her if she gets stuck anywhere..
She is all packed, her flight is only in the evening at 8:30 pm. They will have to leave by 6 to the airport.
Teena: Purvi, I am sorry..I need to go with Joe….I will be back by 5. You will be fine?
Purvi (tired, weak): I am fine Teena….you go..
Purvi lies on the couch and shuts her eyes….Kavin's face comes in front. She gets up and walks to his room. She enters and sits on his bed. Her eyes have tears and she gingerly with trembling hand touches his pillow and bed spread.
She sobs holding her hands on her head and runs out, feeling his presence all around. Before leaving she has placed the teddy on his bed that he had gifted her. She feels dizzy and holds the couch and places her head weakly, she doesn't realise but she sleeps there.
Houston domestic airport
Kavin steps out of the entrance and stops thinking what to do now. Teena has informed him that they will leave by 5 pm. He wants to honour Purvi's last wish – he doesn't want to go in front of her. He himself cannot get the guts to face her.
He hails a cab.
Cab driver: where to sir?
Kavin (not sure): Just drive to the river front..
The cab driver nods and plays the radio – jazz music! Kavin gets transported back to the same night. He remembers the way she looked, how she laughed..
Kavin(disturbed): Could you turn off the radio please…
The cab driver turns it off. Kavin shuts his eyes…..the cab moves on slow…there is lot of traffic. He dozes off only to be woken up by the sound of a honk.. followed by another..he sits upright now..
Kavin (confused): Whats the matter?
Cab driver: It's a hold up sir…
Kavin rolls his window down and puts his head out - Cars are honking crazily…he can see a long queue of cars both sides..
The cab driver switches the radio on – it's the local news station..
…..roads across Houston have terrible hold up…there are reports of a massive fire reported in one of the apartment blocks on 5thavenue..
Kavin's heart beats fast..5th avenue is where they all live…
…Thank you Roger..yes there are confirmed reports the fire has engulfed the top 5 floors of the Redland apartments on 5thavenue….The fire department has not confirmed any casualities yet..there are reports of people trapped in their homes…..
DHAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPPP..
The cab driver turns at this sound and is puzzled- there is no one in the back…He looks here and there and gets down from the cab…
….he can make out a faint outline of his passenger running full steam ahead -
Kavin is running blindly full steam, eyes blurred with tears…Fire in Redland apartments…..Thats where Purvi is right now..12th floor – apartment 121001..
….Mujhpe ek last ehsaan karna….mujhe phone mat karna…main jaa rahi hoon…
….I….I…LOV…..
Kavin (mind): Purviiiii…wait….wait for me…please…..
Will kavin reach on time?