Sister from another mister

INT- BEDROOM- EVENING

It is 6:00pm in the evening. We open to a small cozy bedroom. We see the camera showing the room slowly. The bed is in the middle neatly made with side tables on both sides. One table is empty while the other one has 2 photo frames (One with Nisha’s childhood picture with her dad and another with her students from the school where she used to teach). Next to the bed is a neatly arranged dressing table. Opposite to the dressing table is one wadrobe and next to it in front of the bed one short storage cupboard. On this cupboard, there are multiple things like a painting, a small buddha statue, a photo frame with Nisha’s photo with her parents and another with her best friend. We see a lamp hanging from the wall in the corner of the room above the side table with a dim soft white light switched on.

The camera moves to the opposite corner in front of the bed and next to the storage cupboard, where there is a window ledge adjacent to the window which has 2 huge drawers below and on top is a fitted long cushion to sit on. One drawer has photo albums and the other drawer is full of soft toys. Above the ledge on the wall, there is a hand painted frame which says “My happy place”.

We see 26 Year old Nisha sitting on the window ledge with her legs up straight in front of her,  looking out the window lost in her thoughts but also extremely nervous. She is thinking to herself while fidgeting with her hands.

We see Nisha having a flashback. In the flashback, we see Nisha sitting in the living room on the sofa. There is a centre table infront of her on which she has kept her laptop switched on. Her mother is sitting next to her. Both of them are excited and nervous at the same time and they are looking at each other. Nisha is then seen opening her Gmail account nervously while her mom is seen crossing her fingers, closing her eyes and praying. Nisha opens her mail and sees a mail from The Lego Head Office in Denmark with the subject “JOB OPPORTUNITY”. Nisha is extremely nervous to open her mail and she holds her mother’s hand tight. Both are staring at the screen as Nisha slowly clicks on the mail.

The email opens and we see an Offer letter from the company offering Nisha the job of an early childhood educator. Both of them are seen reading the mail. It is quiet. Her mother continues reading the mail. Nisha stops reading midway and looks at her mom with astonishment. Her mom looks at her and we see Nisha getting up, jumping and screaming with joy. Her mom gets up and hugs her tight and is seen saying “I am so so proud of you beta.”

We see the flashback ending and scene back to the present. Nisha is seen smiling to herself remembering how excited she was yesterday. But her expression suddenly changes and she becomes serious again.

Nisha(V/O): “I don’t know what to do. I don’t know why I’m feeling so nervous even though I’ve received the best news. After trying so hard, I finally received the offer letter from Lego, I finally got the job and more than feeling happy, I am just thinking about how to tell Shreya. We both knew this was coming, but now that it’s finally happening, telling her seems like a heavy weight on my heart and I am sure she won’t like it and she’ll just be sad or mad or I don’t know what”

Her phone pings. We see Nisha getting startled with the sound. She opens the notification. It is her best friend Shreya’s message saying “I will be there in half an hour”. Nisha responds to the message with a thumbs up and quickly turns the phone face down and keeps it away. She then turns and puts her legs down and starts moving her legs nervously and calls out to her mom.

Nisha: “Mammmmaaaaaaa”

From outside the room, we see Nisha’s mom wearing a simple salwar kameez walk into the room looking at Nisha with worry.

Nisha’s mom: “Kya hua beta?”

Nisha: “Shreya aa rahi hai aadhe ghante mein. I am really nervous about telling her about moving abroad. Sab thik hoga na mamma?”

Nisha tightly hugs her mom.

Nisha’s mom: “Relax beta. Don’t worry. Tum dono kitne saal se best friends ho. Use acche se bata aur dono baat kar lo. And sabse important baat yeh hai ki tumhare friendship ko koi kuch nahi kar sakta. Relax.”

We see Nisha’s mom walking away back to the kitchen and Nisha closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. Nisha sits back up on the ledge and is seen surfing through the phone looking at pictures of her and Shreya.

The camera turns to the clock where it is 6:35pm. The bell rings. We see Nisha walking to the door and opening it. We see Shreya standing outside the door. Both of them smile saying a long hi to each other.

Both : “Hieeeeeeeeeeee”.

We see Shreya walking into the living room and then both of them hugging each other tight.

Shreya: “How are you?”

Nisha: “Very good question. I’m okay I guess… how are you? Come let’s sit inside only”

Both the girls walk towards the room. Shreya waves to Nisha’s mother (who is in the kitchen) on the way and says hi to her.

Both the girls sit on the window ledge. We see Nisha looking nervous and Shreya looking at her with worry. She starts talking slowly and eventually talks without a pause asking one question after another.

Shreya: “Hey babe. What happened? You look low. All okay? You said you were going to tell me something. Kya hua? Hey, is it about the job? Did you get the letter? Are you in? why aren’t you saying anything? Did you get it? Tell me na….”

We see Nisha closing her eyes again, taking a deep breath in and then starts to talk interrupting Shreya.

Nisha: “I got it. I got the job. Early Childhood Educator, Lego Head office. In Denmark.”

She looks at Shreya nervously to see how she reacts. We see Shreya not actually processing what she said and starts to talk regardless in her usual chirpy endless banter voice.

Shreya: “Whaaaaaat!!! that’s amazing. Nishaaaaa… pata tha.. mujhe pata tu yeh kar legi… tera dream job in Lego. That environment, the children, the atmosphere and that too in…. (Pauses here and speaks slowly) Denmark!”

We see Shreya stopping abruptly as if processing what Nisha just said and the reality sinking in. she looks at Nisha with a stunned expression absolutely still. Nisha looks at her almost scared.

Nisha (V/O): I knew it. I knew she would be sad or angry. Shit shit shit… Is she mad at me? Is she feeling bad? Shreya, please say something”.

Shreya then continues to talk

Shreya: “Wait a minute.. what did you just say? Denmark? DENMARKKK? (louder voice) You got your dream job and you get to move to Denmark?

Shreya stands up and starts walking around the room while Nisha who is still sitting just stares at her anxiously.

We see Shreya turning towards Nisha, stopping in front of her and talking swiftly.

Shreya: “I am literally numb. I can’t. I can’t believe this. I need a minute. I don’t know what to say”

Shreya then turns around and starts walking around again while Nisha speaks feebly.

Nisha: “Take your time. Even I can’t digest this. And I’ve been so scared and tensed to tell you. I was scared that you won’t like this news… I don’t know ya… Please don’t be sad… I thought as well ki this is how you would react”

Nisha sits quietly looking out the window. Shreya walks around for a few more seconds and then comes and sits next to Nisha. She talks in a serious voice to trick Nisha and then changes back to normal midway.

Shreya (in a serious voice): “Nisha!! You thought I won’t like the news? You are right. I am not happy. This is just too much to take in. I mean how will this work? We can’t meet as often, we can’t visit each other’s houses like it is our own, no more sleepovers… what the hell!!! No more deep meaningful venting sessions. Now who will listen to my banter? Huh? Who? You think it’s that easy to just accept it?”

We see Shreya looking at Nisha with a sly expressing while trying to control her smile and Nisha looking even more tensed on the brim with tears.

Shreya (Normally and happily): “Are you mad????? I just reacted that way because I was shocked with relief and I. AM. GOING. MAD. This is something I have always hoped for you. This is just perfect for you. It will be such a great change. I want you to move out and move on. Experience a new place, meet lots of new people, try new things. Oh my god I’m so happy for you”

By the time Shreya finishes her sentences, we see Nisha in shock and also in tears. Seeing her, even Shreya tears up. They both stand up and hug each other tight.

The camera zooms out and we see both of them teared up, just staying still while hugging each other. After a few seconds, Nisha comes out of the embrace and starts speaking while they both sit down again.

Nisha: “Are you serious? I was so worried about your reaction. This is just such a relief. omG thank God!”

We see Shreya holding her hand and sitting a little closer to her.

Shreya: “I am very happy for you. This will be a great for you. And I am so so proud of you for doing this. Congratulations Nisha. You deserve this.”

We see both of them wiping their tears away. Shreya then goes back to her happy smiling face and tells Nisha that she wants some coffee.

Shreya: “Okay now tell aunty to make some nice coffee. I am going to enjoy it as much as I can till you are here”.

Nisha calls out to her mom and tells her to make coffee for the both of them

Nisha: “Mammaaaaaaa… coffeeeeeee”

We see Nisha’s mother making coffee in the kitchen. Meanwhile, in the room, we see both the girls chatting with each other. Nisha speaks first.

Nisha: “Its so weird that I am telling you this news in this spot. I still remember when the interiors were happening, I was telling you about how I am getting this corner done and how we both were so excited to have this spot. Our spot.”

Shreya: “I knowwww… Everytime I come here, we directly just come and sit here.”

She then points at the painting above on the wall and continues speaking.

Shreya: “You know, the painting should have said “Our happy place” haha… “

Nisha looks at the painting and nods agreeing to what Shreya said.

Shreya then continues again.

Shreya: “I just love this spot. Its so cozy… cojy cojy.. (She pronounces cozy as cojy). And my favourite thing. My floofies!!!!!!! (She says this excitedly).”

While she says this, she opens the drawer below and removes a winnie the pooh soft toy. She hugs it tight smiling to herself with her eyes closed while Nisha takes a picture.

Nisha: “Awwww… my cuties…” she then gets up and hugs Shreya and the soft toy together.

We see Nisha’s mother bringing in two cups of coffee in a tray and some healthy biscuits. Shreya keeps the soft toy away, Both pick their cups up and Shreya takes a picture. They both do cheers and take a sip.

The camera zooms out again, there is nice relaxing cozy music in the background. We see both the girls enjoying their coffee, chatting, laughing. In the background, out the window, we see the sun setting in and the sky has gotten dark.

The music fades out. The camera once again turns to the wall clock and the time is 8:45pm.

Shreya gets up and stretches herself.

Shreya: “I’ll leave in 5 minutes. Need to be home for dinner. This was so nice. We have to meet again and plan a lot of things for the time you are here”.

Nisha gets up too and talks. She tears up again and talks through her tears.

Nisha: “Yes for sure. Thank you so much. Thanks for today. You have no idea what this means to me and how I feel right now. It’ll be okay na? everything will go well na?”

Shreya who has an assuring expression hugs Nisha again and they both talk in a low emotional voice.

Shreya: “Come here. It will be okay. You will love it. I am so happy for you. And I am so proud of you. Now stay quiet and bear with me, this will be a long hug.”

It is quiet. Both of them are hugging each other quietly. Shreya suddenly starts crying and speaks while crying.

Shreya: “I will miss you so much. This is huge and I can’t believe you will be going so far away. Who is going to remember all your favourite things and give you the cozy love like I do? You better not have a new bestie there. Nobody knows us better than us. I love you, I am so proud of you and I am very happy for you. Congratulations Nisha. We will be fine.”

Shreya kisses her forhead and Nisha starts crying too.

Nisha: “We will be fine”.

We see the background music playing softly while they are just crying through their hug.

An example for the type of music : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPf6o7HCg5o

Nisha speaks softly again while the music continues.

Nisha: “By the way, itne saal se I am single and nobody can know me better than you, toh mujhe koi milne se raha. This surely feels like us going to a long distance relationship, but thike na yaar.. waise bhi, our parents have given up and accepted that we might end up together.. so it’s sorted.. hain na?”

We see both of them smiling through their tears while they hug each other again. The music continues and they are seen walking out the room while doing a side hug. The camera then slowly turns away from them and is seen zooming in into their photo frame kept on the cupboard.

END SCENE