E2) Before Today Becomes Yesterday

7:20 AM phone alarm rings      BEEP  BEEP  BEEP        A hand reaches out,  This time, it immediately turns the alarm off              Aarav opens his eyes         He looks at the ceiling         For a few seconds, he doesn't move            Then his phone vibrates       

Message From Meera   “Good morning, Assistant” 
Aarav stares at the message ,
He types: “You're awake this early?”
The reply comes almost immediately  “Unfortunately”
Aarav smiles,
Another message   “I have decided something.”
Aarav types  “What?”        (Three dots) 
“We are making a list.”
Aarav : “We already have your list.”
Meera: “No , OUR list.”     (Aarav sits up )
“Why?”
reply: “Because you look like someone who needs a life.”
Aarav stares at the screen , Wow   ,
He types: “I have a life”
Meera replies “Prove it.”  Aarav smiles.
 

SCENE 1 — MORNING 
 
( Aarav walks into the Memory Support Department ,   Rohan is standing near the entrance with two cups of tea. He hands one to Aarav )

ROHAN  :  Morning.
 
AARAV   :   Thanks   (Rohan looks at him)

ROHAN  :  You smiled
 
AARAV   :   No, I didn't

ROHAN  :  You did 
 
AARAV   :   No

ROHAN  :  You definitely did      (Aarav starts walking. , Rohan follows)       Was it Meera?     (Aarav stops.)
 
AARAV   :   What

ROHAN  :  The smile
 
AARAV   :   Nothing happened    (Rohan grins.)

ROHAN  :  I didn't say something happened   (Aarav realizes he walked into the trap.) 

AARAV   :   You're annoying

ROHAN  :  And you're terrible at hiding things.  (They continue walking)

 
SCENE 2 — THE NEW LIST
 
( Aarav reaches the garden  Meera is already waiting  She holds her notebook)

MEERA   :  You're late  (Aarav checks his watch)
 
AARAV   :   I'm two minutes early

MEERA   :  Emotionally late
 
AARAV   :   What does that even mean?
 
MEERA   :  I don't know  (She opens her notebook) siitt
 
(Aarav sits beside her  , Meera turns to a fresh page.         At the top she writes:  “OUR LIST”  Aarav looks at it)
 
AARAV   :   You're serious

MEERA  :  Very,
 
AARAV   :   What are we supposed to write?

MEERA  :  Things we want to do
 
AARAV   :   I already told you. I have a life.  (Meera hands him the pen)
 
MEERA   :  Then prove it !   (Aarav takes the pen    , He thinks     Then writes  “1. Eat somewhere expensive”   Meera looks at him )
 
MEERA   :  That's it?
 
AARAV   : It's a start.
 
( She writes underneath  “2. Go somewhere we've never been”  Aarav adds  “3. Watch a sunrise”  
Meera looks at him )
 
MEERA   :  You actually want to do that?
 
AARAV   :   I've never seen one.
 
MEERA   :  You've never seen a sunrise?
 
AARAV   :   Not intentionally.    (She laughs)
 
MEERA   :  Okay    (She writes:  “4. Learn to ride a scooter”  Aarav looks at her)
 
AARAV   :   You don't know how?
 
MEERA   :  nope
 
AARAV   :   Then why is it on the list?     
 
MEERA   :  That's why it's on the list   (She thinks        Then adds “5. Make Aarav laugh properly” Aarav looks at her  )
 
AARAV   :   I laugh.
 
MEERA   :  You make this sound like a medical condition.
 
AARAV   :   Maybe it is      
 
(She smiles Then she writes one final thing  “6. Have one completely normal day.”  Aarav looks at the words.)
 
AARAV   :   What's a normal day? (Meera doesn't answer immediately)
 
MEERA   :  I don't know.  (Aarav looks at her)  That's the problem.
 
SCENE 3 — SMALL CHANGE
 
( Later that morning, Aarav accompanies Meera to her regular medical check-up , The doctor checks her memory stability        A few simple questions)
 
DOCTOR : What's today's date?
 
MEERA   :  Tuesday
 
DOCTOR : What did you have for breakfast?   (Meera thinks)
 
MEERA   :  Poha   (Aarav smiles)   And tea
 
DOCTOR : Who brought you here? (Meera looks toward Aarav)

MEERA   :  My very boring assistant.
 
AARAV   :   I'm standing right here.  
 
DOCTOR : What did you do yesterday? (Meera answers immediately)
 
MEERA   :  Pani puri.   (Aarav looks surprised) And the railway station  (The doctor writes something down)
 
DOCTOR : Good

MEERA   :  Why do doctors always write things down after we answer?
 
DOCTOR : Because that's my job.
 
MEERA   :  Suspicious  (The doctor laughs    But when Meera leaves the room, he looks at Aarav  , His expression changes)
 
DOCTOR :Her recent-memory retention is still stable (Aarav relaxes) For now (Aarav's smile disappears)
  
SCENE 4 — THE ROOFTOP
 
( During lunch, Meera takes Aarav to the building rooftop , There are two lunch boxes  She opens one )

AARAV   :   You brought food?
 
MEERA   :  Yes 

AARAV   :   For me ?

MEERA   :  no   (She starts eating , Aarav stares)   What?
 
AARAV   :   Nothing  (She slides the second box toward him )
 
MEERA   :  eat  (Aarav opens it  ,   Rice, vegetables and roti)  
 
AARAV   : You made this ?   

MEERA   :  My father did
 
AARAV   :   So tectnically…

MEERA   :  Don't ruin it , okay   
 
(They eat  ,   The city stretches out below them    For a while, neither speaks.    Then Meera asks)
 
MEERA   :  What do you want to do?
 
AARAV   :   Right Now

MEERA   :  No ! (She looks at him)  With your life   (Aarav thinks)
 
AARAV   :   I don’t know

MEERA   :  That's depressing.
 
AARAV   :   Thanks

MEERA   : I'm serious    (Aarav looks toward the city)
 
AARAV   :   I thought I'd figure it out eventually.
 
MEERA   :  Eventually is a dangerous word.
 
AARAV   :   Why?
 
MEERA   :  Because people use it when they don't want to say they don't know. (Aarav looks at her ,
Meera continues eating)
 
AARAV   :   And what about you?
 
MEERA   :  Me?
 
AARAV   :   What did you want to do before all this?  (She smiles)

MEERA   :  Travel
 
AARAV   :   Where

MEERA   :  Everywhere
 
AARAV   :   That’s not a place

MEERA   :  Exactly
 
SCENE 5 — THE SECRET
 
( Aarav notices something in Meera's notebook     A page has been folded)
 
AARAV   :   What's there?   (Meera closes the notebook.
 
MEERA   :  Nothing
 
AARAV   :   You always say that when it's something.
 
MEERA   :  Maybe I'm getting better at lying. (Aarav reaches for the notebook, Meera pulls it away)
 
MEERA   : No
 
AARAV   :  why  

MEERA   :  Because it's private. (Aarav immediately lets go and take hands back , like hands up)
 
AARAV   :   Okay ( Meera looks surprised)

MEERA   :  That's it?
 
AARAV   :   You said it's private
 
MEERA   :  Most people would try harder
 
AARAV   :   I'm not most people   (She smiles  , But she doesn't open the page)
  

SCENE 6 — ROHAN'S WARNING
 
( Later, Rohan catches Aarav alone)
 
ROHAN   :  Can I tell you something?
 
AARAV   :   That's usually how annoying conversations begin.
 
ROHAN   :  You're getting attached   (Aarav becomes quiet)
 
AARAV   :   She's my patient

ROHAN   :  I know ,
 
AARAV   :   And my friend

ROHAN   :  I know ,
 
AARAV   :   So , (Seriously)

ROHAN   :  Nothing (Aarav waits) Just remember what this place is ,   (Aarav doesn't answer ,  Rohan continues ,)

You spend time with someone.

You become important to them.

They become important to you.
Then one day..   (He stops)
 
AARAV   :   Then one day what? (Rohan looks away)

ROHAN   :  That's why people here don't get too close. (Aarav watches him leave)
 

SCENE 7 — SHOPPING
 
( That evening, Meera decides she needs new shoes     Aarav goes with her   They enter a shopping mall,     Meera tries on several pairs.)
 
MEERA   :  These?
 
AARAV   :  nope
 
MEERA   :  Why
 
AARAV   :  They look uncomfortable.
 
MEERA   :  They're shoes.
 
AARAV   :  Exactly (She tries another pair)
 
MEERA   :  These?
 
AARAV   :  much better
 
MEERA   :  You're surprisingly useful
 
AARAV   :  I have many talents
 
MEERA   :  Tell one (making face)
 
AARAV   :  I can cook (Meera looks impressed)
 
MEERA   :  Really ?
 
AARAV   :  No
 
( She laughs  ,  They walk through the mall    A little girl runs past them     Her mother catches her hand       Meera watches them,        She becomes quiet         Aarav notices)  
 
AARAV   :  what
 
MEERA   :  Nothing
 
(He doesn't push her      They continue walking)

 
SCENE 8 — DAD'S CALL
 
(Meera's phone rings  She answers)
 
MEERA   :  Hi, Dad 
 
(Aarav walks a little ahead  ,  He doesn't listen    Meera talks for a while  Then her voice becomes quieter)
 
MEERA   :  No, I'm okay   (Pause)  I said I'm okay (Another pause)  Please don't cancel your trip
 
(Aarav glances back  , Meera notices      She turns away)
 
MEERA   :  I'll be fine    (She ends the call, Aarav waits)
 
AARAV   :  Everything okay?
 
MEERA   :  Yeah
 
AARAV   :  Your father?
 
MEERA   :  He's worried.
 
AARAV   :  About you?  (She nods)
 
MEERA   :  Everyone is ,  (She looks at the shopping bag)   Sometimes I wish everyone would just forget for one day.
 
 
SCENE 9 — THE FIRST ARGUMENT
 
(Aarav doesn't understand)
 
AARAV   :  Forget what?  (Meera looks at him)\
 
MEERA   :  That I'm sick.
 
AARAV   :  You're not sick  (She gives him a look)
 
MEERA   :  You know what I mean.
 
AARAV   :  I don't,
 
MEERA   :  Everyone looks at me differently.
 
AARAV   :  I don't
 
MEERA   :  You do  (Aarav becomes defensive)
 
AARAV   :  I treat you normally
 
MEERA   :  No  (She stops walking)  You treat me carefully (Aarav is silent) There's a difference (She walks away ,  Aarav follows)
 
AARAV   :  Meera,
 
MEERA   :  don’t’t
 
AARAV   :  I didn't mean…
  
MEERA   :   I know   (She turns around)     That's the problem     (Her voice becomes softer)      You don't mean to.           But everyone does it.         They start treating me like I'm already gone.     (Aarav has no answer)  

 
SCENE 10 — BUS STOP
( They sit at a bus stop    , Neither speaks   Cars pass,People walk by, After several minutes..)
 
AARAV   :  I'm sorry.  (Meera looks at him) I don't know how to do this.
 
MEERA   :  Neither do I
 
AARAV   :  Then teach me… (Meera looks surprised)  Tell me when I'm treating you differently (She smiles slightly)
 
MEERA   :  Okay
 
AARAV   :  And I'll tell you when you're being impossible. (She laughs)
 
MEERA   :  Deal (A bus arrives , They get on)

 
 SCENE 11 — THE SECRET PAGE
 
( That night, Meera sits alone in her room , she opens the folded page   ,   at the top     “THINGS I DON'T WANT AARAV TO KNOW”      Below it     “I'm scared”      “I'm more scared than I tell people”      “I don't want him to remember me as a patient”      “I want him to remember me as Meera”   Then writes  “I think I already like him”     She stares at the 

sentence,  then quickly closes the notebook)

 
SCENE 12 — THE MEMORY TEST
 
( The next morning , Aarav arrives at the department    Sen calls him into the office)
 
SEN   :  Meera has another evaluation today
 
AARAV   :  She had one yesterday.
 
SEN   :  This one is different  (Aarav sits, Sen places a tablet on the table)   We test recent-memory consistency
 
AARAV   : What does that mean?
 
SEN   :  We ask her about recent events,     Sometimes the patient remembers an event,     Sometimes they remember part of it,       Sometimes they remember it differently      (Aarav looks concerned.)
 
AARAV   : Is something wrong?
 
SEN   :  We're not sure yet.

 
SCENE 13 — THE TEST
 
( Meera sits in a small room ,  A doctor asks questions)
 
DOCTOR  :  What did you do two days ago?   (Meera thinks)
 
MEERA  : I went to the railway station
 
DOCTOR  :  Who were you with?  (She pauses)
 
MEERA  : Aarav  (Aarav watches from behind a glass window)
 
DOCTOR  :  What did you eat?  (Meera thinks)
 
MEERA  : Pani puri 
 
DOCTOR  :  Correct  , What happened after that?  (Meera looks confused)
 
MEERA  : After that?  (The doctor waits ,  Meera closes her eyes)  We… (She stops)  I don't remember  (Aarav's expression changes  , The doctor continues calmly)
 
DOCTOR  :  That's okay , The test ends.  (Meera leaves , Aarav waits outside   She sees him)
 
MEERA  : Why do you look like someone died?    (Aarav forces a smile)
 
AARAV  :  Nobody died
 
MEERA   : Good  (She walks past him,Then turns)  What did we do after pani puri?  (Aarav looks at her   ,  She genuinely doesn't know)
 
AARAV  :  Nothing important.   (Meera smiles)
 
MEERA  : Good   (She walks away, Aarav watches her)
 

 
SCENE 14 — THE RAILWAY TICKET
 
( Later that day, Aarav finds something in his pocket , A railway ticket    From the day they visited the station  ,   He looks at it    The date,The time,Platform three   He remembers Meera telling him about her mother    He looks toward the garden    Meera is sitting there   Aarav walks toward her)
 
AARAV  :  Meeraa
 
MEERA   : Hmm? (He sits beside her , He doesn't tell her she forgot  Instead he says,)
 
AARAV  :  Do you want to go somewhere? (She smiles)
 
MEERA   : Where?
 
AARAV  :  The railway station   (She looks at him)
 
MEERA   : why ?
 
AARAV  :  I don't know  (She smiles)
 
MEERA   : okayy
 
 
SCENE 15 — EVENING
 
( They return to the station ,  This time, they don't talk about her mother   They buy coffec, They watch trains.   Meera points at random people)
 
MEERA : That man is definitely late
 
AARAV  :  How do you know?
 
MEERA : Look at him  (The man runs toward the train , They both laugh.    A little later, Meera rests her head against the bench.) Aaarav ?
 
AARAV  :  Hmm
 
MEERA : If I forget something…  (Aarav looks at her) Will you tell me?  (He thinks)
 
AARAV  :  If you want me to (she nods)
 
MEERA : Okay   (A train passes , For a moment, neither speaks)

 
SCENE 16 — THINGS THEY REMEMBER
 
( The train disappears  Meera looks at Aarav)
 
MEERA : Do you think people can love someone they don't remember? (Aarav is caught off guard)
 
AARAV  :  I don't know.
 
MEERA : me neither  (She looks toward the tracks) Maybe feelings are different from memories (Aarav looks at her)
 
AARAV  :  Maybe (she smailes)
 
MEERA :  good
 
AARAV  :  why? (she stands)
 
MEERA :  Because then maybe I'm not completely helpless. (Aarav watches her , He doesn't know what she means)
 
 
SCENE 17 — NIGHT
 
(Aarav reaches home , His father is sitting in the living room )
 
RAJESH : How was today?

AARAV  :  Fine (Rajesh looks at him)
 
RAJESH : Just fine? Aarav sits down.
 
AARAV  :  She forgot something. (Rajesh doesn't ask who, He knows that)
 
RAJESH : What ?
 
AARAV  :  Something we did  (Rajesh is silent) Dad…
 
RAJESH : Hmm ? say
 
AARAV  :  How do you deal with it?  (Rajesh looks at him)  When someone forgets you?  (A long silence   , Rajesh finally says, )
 
RAJESH :  You don't     (Aarav looks confused)   You don't learn how to deal with it     (He looks toward the window)    You just learn how to keep going .  (Aarav says nothing)  
 
 
SCENE 18 —  CHATS
 
( Next moring Meera wakes up , She opens her notebook , She reads yesterday's list , She sees  “Watch a sunrise” She smiles ,    Then she notices something, A sentence written beneath it  “Ask Aarav if he has ever watched one”   She doesn't remember writing it     She looks confused,      She turns the page   There are several notes she doesn't remember writing     She slowly closes the notebook               The next morning, Aarav receives a message 
 
Meera “Are you free tomorrow?”   Aarav replies “Yes”  Another message “Good” “We're watching the sunrise”  Aarav smiles , He looks toward the window   The sky is still dark.
He types “Okay”  Meera replies “Don't be late”   Aarav types “I won't”  He puts the phone down ,
The camera moves(show show the view) toward the sky , Slowly, the darkness begins to disappear)
 
MEERA V.O.  : Sometimes…   we don't notice when a memory is being made    We only notice it later    When we realize…    we don't want to lose it.
 
CUT TO BLACK.
END OF EPISODE 3
Next Episode:
Episode 3 — “The Photograph”