PANI PURI & HARMONY ~ Episode 14 ~Friday
The cafe has returned to normal after Wednesday’s meditation evening.
Regulars sit with their chai and newspapers.
AMAN works steadily in the kitchen.
ANJALI updates accounts.
MAYA arrives carrying fresh bread.
AUNTY (with a twinkle)
Did you and Lucas have a lovely afternoon yesterday?
MAYA
Aunty ..it was nice.
ANJALI
Definitely something more.
MAYA
Nothing happened.
AUNTY
You walked in humming.
MAYA
I was not humming.
CONOR enters.
CONOR
Who’s humming?
ANJALI
Maya.
Then…
LUNA and ZOE arrive carrying backpacks.
AUNTY
You’re leaving already?
LUNA
Tomorrow morning. Rajastan first.Then we’ll see.
ZOE
Which means Luna has absolutely no plan.
LUNA
I have a spiritual plan.
Goodbyes begin…Aunty gives them food for the journey.
ZOE
We are taking a train.
AUNTY
You can still be hungry on a train.
Luna kneels beside Rufus.
LUNA
I’ll miss you the most.
Rufus ignores her completely.
CONOR
He is protecting himself emotionally.
LUCAS enters.
LUCAS
What’s going on?
LUNA
We’re leaving.
ZOE
You know…when we arrived Maya looked normal.
ZOE( to Lucas)
Now she is constantly smiling . You could be the reason
LUNA
She’s been waiting all day to say that.
LUCAS(to Zoe)
I hope I am.
Luna and Zoe wave and leave.
They disappear down the Goa streets.
VIKRAM
I’ve been thinking.
ANJALI
There it is.
VIKRAM
A Bhangra evening. Music. Dancers. A celebration.
AUNTY Wonderful.
MAYA
When?
VIKRAM
Tomorrow.
MAYA
Dad.. That’s very short notice.
VIKRAM
People will come. They always do.
ANJALI
We’ll need to organise flyers .
CONOR
Flyers are easy. I can help.
They all stare at him mildly sceptical.
CONOR(CON’T) Lucas and I can hand them out.
LUCAS
Why am I involved?
CONOR
Because we are both handsome.
ANJALI
That’s your strategy?
CONOR
It’s a very strong strategy.One that will work.
AUNTY(to Lucas)
Can you play a tune for us.
LUCAS
Sure. Just have to get my guitar.It’s in Maya’s annexe.
Silence….
ANJALI
Interesting.
LUCAS
I left it there yesterday.
CONOR
Convenient location.
MAYA
He forgot it.
CONOR
Of course. People are always accidentally leaving musical instruments in the homes of women they are not interested in.
ANJALI
It’s a growing problem.
Aunty smiles into her tea.
CONOR
Maybe tomorrow we will learn the truth about the guitar.
VIKRAM
Tomorrow you will be handing out flyers.
CONOR
A burden I carry for the community.
LUCAS
Can I play now?
AUNTY
Please do.
Lucas begins to play.
Soft guitar music fills the cafe.
Maya watches Lucas.
Anjali watches Maya.
Conor watches Anjali.
Inside the cafe glows warmly.
Outside…evening settles over Goa…
~~~~•••••~~~~~
Music by Dana Gaynor
Cover picture by Manique
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