PANI PURI & HARMONY ~ Episode 16 ~ Sunday morning
The cafe is being restored after the successful Bhangra evening. Tables are put back in place .Chairs straightened.Rugs are rolled away.
AMAN works steadily in the kitchen.ANJALI balances the accounts.AUNTY rearranges flowers while regulars drift in for chai and conversation.
Outside – LUCAS waits patiently by his scooter.
VIKRAM Maya…
MAYA Yes?
VIKRAM Go and spend time with Lucas. We have enough people.
Then – CONOR strolls in wearing sunglasses.
CONOR Morning.Beautiful people. (he notices Lucas outside) Ah….you’re throwing your daughter out again.
VIKRAM Only for the afternoon.
CONOR Excellent parenting.
ANJALI She’s thirty.
CONOR Doesn’t matter .He’s still organising her social life.
MAYA Bye.
She kisses AUNTY on the cheek,nods to VIKRAM and heads outside. LUCAS hands her the spare helmet.She puts it on,climbs onto the back of the scooter and they ride away.
GOA BEACH – EARLY AFTERNOON –
LUCAS and MAYA sit together overlooking the sea.They watch the waves in comfortable silence.
LUCAS He was right. People came yesterday.
MAYA(smiling) He’ll remind me for weeks.
Later, they walk hand in hand along the beach to a cosy beach bar.
WAITER What can I get you?
LUCAS A Kingfisher please.
MAYA I’ll have one too.
LUCAS Really? Lucas smiles,pleasantly suprised. Then his phone rings…
WYATT(phone) Hey…Dad.
LUCAS Hi..what’s up Son? Is everything okay?
WYATT(phone) Yeah. All is fine. So..any idea when you’re coming back?
LUCAS Honestly…I’m not sure. Do you need me to come back?
WYATT(phone) No…I was just wondering. I mean…you may have decided to live on the beach.
LUCAS(laughing) I’m considering it.
WYATT(phone) Just let me know before you build yourself a hut.. you may need my help.
LUCAS I probably will.
WYATT(phone) Oh…and say hello to Maya. She sure is pretty.
LUCAS You saw a photo?
WYATT(phone) Dad…. You posted it on Instagram. It’s good to hear you laughing again.
LUCAS Thanks, Wyatt.
WYATT(phone) Anyway…I’ve got rehearsal. Love you, Dad.
LUCAS Love you too.
The call ends.
MAYA Is everything okay?
LUCAS It’s all good…he said to say hello.
Lucas glances at his watch.
LUCAS We better head back.
MAYA Already?
LUCAS Time flies when you’re teaching someone how to drink beer.
MAYA I had one.
LUCAS That’s how it starts. Maya laughs…Lucas pays the bill.
Then – They walk hand in hand back to the scooter,
Lucas looks at Maya and adds
<the waves keep time with every heartbeat>
MAYA Lovely.
LUCAS Just like you.
Lucas and Maya arrive back at the cafe.
CONOR Fancy a beer, Lucas?
LUCAS Better not.
CONOR Wise choice. You’ll never make it back on that scooter to wherever you are hiding these days.
LUCAS Bye, everyone.
MAYA Bye.
Lucas rides away.
CONOR(to Maya) Oops .He forgot to kiss you .
MAYA Conor!
CONOR Maybe he was worried. Daddy cool is watching.
ANJALI(to Conor) Forget music ,do acting…comedy roles!
Ripples of laughter fill the room.
CONOR(smiling) I may consider that ! Right..I’m off , see you tomorrow.
AMAN finishes in the kitchen. ANJALI and MAYA sort the accounts. AUNTY waters the plants. VIKRAM stops to chat with regulars.
Outside – evening settles over the streets of Goa.
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