A False Shroud

“Some prefer the kiss of the sun, and some long for the sight of the moon.”

(B-Roll of visuals capturing the environment around the Serpentine lake)

Aishwarya cycles around the lake road.

There was greenery all around, and the water was clean, but it wasn’t enough to live up to the sights of a paradise.

Aishwarya notices something, and stops her cycle suddenly.

A bench by the lake catches her attention.

There were many benches around the lake, but she stopped near this one for a reason.

It reminded her of something.

She gets off her cycle and takes a few steps towards the lake.

The sun was going down. The sky was bright with pleasant yellow light spread all around.

Aishwarya looks at the empty bench.

(Audio only)

Aishwarya: I wish you were here..

(pause)

Arun: I wish I was

She closes her eyes as soon as she hears Arun’s voice in her head.

She opens her eyes, looks ahead at the bench.

Arun (Audio only): I wish I was

She takes the voice in and lowers her head.

She had hidden this memory deep within. She wonders why it had to strike her now.

She stares ahead at the lake, and then at the bench again.

Gautam: Lost in thought?

Aishwarya turns. She notices Gautam on his cycle.

Aishwarya: Hey..

Gautam: Hi

He gets off his cycle and parks it by the edge of the road.

He walks closer to her, puts his hands on her shoulders.

The setting sun’s light lit up bright on their faces.

Gautam: You okay?

Aishwarya nods.

Gautam puts his arm around her and tries to comfort her. But he senses some discomfort in Aishwarya’s body language.

She wasn’t present with him. Her mind was elsewhere. He understands something was off.

Gautam: What’s wrong?

Aishwarya doesn’t want to answer. The unsettlement which hit her hadn’t settled even within her. She wasn’t ready to explain it to him.

Aishwarya: Nothing

Gautam doesn’t say anything. He felt like she was resisting his presence in a passive way.

He figured it out.

Gautam: Arun?

Aishwarya is shocked.

She turns to him and looks at him, surprised. He saw through her.

Aishwarya: Am I that transparent?

She asks.

Gautam (smiles): Sometimes

Aishwarya smiles.

She moves her hand over his on her shoulder and holds onto it. He gently strokes her shoulder to comfort her.

Gautam: I’ve been there.. So I know. Similar spot actually.

He implies the lake.

They stay still for a few moments.

He was there to comfort her despite knowing where her mind was. She was grateful that he understood.

But she then removes her hand from his and moves out of his support.

She liked his comfort, but she felt guilty for making him go through this. It wasn’t fair to him.

Gautam: You want to stay?

(pause)

Aishwarya looks ahead for a few moments and then turns to him.

Aishwarya: Just for a while

Gautam nods.

(pause)

Gautam: I’ll leave you be

(affectionate, maintaining eye contact)

Aishwarya: Thanks

Gautam acknowledges.

He turns away and walks to his cycle.

He stops near his cycle and turns his head towards her partially (he doesn’t see her).

He’d hoped to transition her out of her bubble. But he realises she wasn’t going to be out yet.

He turns back forward and contemplates on cycling away but there is a sliver of thought inside him making him feel like he should stay.

Aishwarya goes over near the bench by the lake. She lingers around for a few moments.

Gautam cycles away.

“I called you then, in about an hour from now,

and I told you that I missed you and that I wished you were here” (Aishwarya’s voice)

She could feel her anxiety growing inside.

She takes a deep breath and walks towards her cycle.

She reaches her cycle, turns around and stares at the bench, reminisces her memory for a moment and then looks away.

(music begins)

“There was a song in my ear

It reminded me of you

I could call you then

And I would have did”

She gets on her cycle and rides around the lake with music in her ears.

(Flashes of past self and present self riding around the lake. She was talking to him then. She was with herself now.)

“I’d tell you about it

The emotions I’d felt,

And the tunes which synced

And you’d listen to it

You’d like it as well

Even if not for yourself

You’d like it for me”

She stops by the spot again.

The light was almost out. The street lamps were on.

They weren’t enough to light up the roads. It was still dark around without the shine from the moon.

She lingers and stares at the bench.

Aishwarya (V.O.): It’s been two years.. Why now?

She cloaks herself with a false shroud of clarity.

She switches the song in her ear and rides away.