Chapter 1 — The Bus
[Kochi, Kerala. The bus jerks to a stop and they both sit across from each other.]
“Long ride, huh?”
“Yeah, these buses take their sweet time. You heading somewhere special?”
“Not really. Just came from an audition. You?”
“A photography gig. Birthday function. Small stuff.”
“Oh, you’re a photographer?”
“Trying to be. You?”
“Model. Or trying to be, like you said.”
[They both laugh, easing into the conversation.]
“I bet modelling’s tough. A lot of competition, right?”
“Yeah, you have no idea. Everyone wants to be ‘the face.’ But, you know, I have bigger dreams. Maybe movies, if I get lucky.”
“Movies, huh? That’s bold.”
“Yeah, well… if you’re dreaming, dream big, right?”
“I get that. For me, it’s not just about taking pictures but capturing something real. A story, a moment. Not just the ‘perfect shot.’ I hate over-editing.”
“Sounds like you’re more of an artist than a photographer.”
“I guess. I just think life’s raw moments are what matters, you know?”
“I like that. It’s kind of like modelling. Everyone thinks it’s about looking perfect, but it’s not. It’s about feeling something and letting that show.”
[The bus stops again, and they both get off, stomachs growling.]
“Breakfast?”
“God, yes. I’m starving.”
Chapter 2 — Dosa and Dreams
[Over a plate of dosa and chai, they keep talking.]
“So, what got you into photography?”
“Funny enough, my grandpa. He had this old film camera. He’d spend hours just composing a shot. He told me it wasn’t about what you see, but how you see it.”
“That’s beautiful. I guess for me, it was always movies. Watching actresses live a thousand lives. I want that.”
“You ever think about giving up? You know, when it gets tough?”
“Every day. But then, there’s this tiny voice in my head that says, ‘What if today’s the day?’”
“Yeah. I know that feeling.”
Chapter 3 — Sea and Ships
[They finish lunch together. She heads to an audition, he’s off to his photography gig. Later, as the sun sets, they find themselves at Marine Drive, sipping chai.]
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? The sea.”
“Yeah, it’s… endless. Like there’s more out there waiting for us. You ever feel like that?”
“All the time. But also like there’s so much we don’t know yet.”
“Yeah. It’s kind of like a mystery. Our lives, our dreams.”
“You think we’ll get there? You know, to where we want to be?”
“I hope so. But even if we don’t, moments like this… they’re worth something.”
“Agreed.”
[They both stare at the ships in silence. They feel the weight of their unspoken thoughts.]
Chapter 4 — The Train
[Later, at the station, the announcements slice through the platform. She’s boarding first.]
“So, this is it?”
“Looks like it.”
[She hesitates, turning back toward him before stepping onto the train. He instinctively lifts his camera and clicks a photo of her.]
“You’re taking my picture?”
“Just a moment I don’t want to forget.”
[She smiles, but it’s not just her usual smile. And she knows it well]
“Feels like I should be saying something more, but I don’t know what.”
“Yeah, me neither.”
[The train starts to move slowly. She waves. The distance grows between them. He watches until the train disappears. The lump in his throat is heavy. Then, suddenly, he realizes…]
“Wait… we never even asked each other’s names.”
[He stands there, staring at the empty tracks. Another memory, another story in a frame. One more fleeting moment in a life full of them.]
