Lost & Found

1. EXT. FOREST – EVENING 

The paws of a stray cat fidget against a hollow of red mud. Beneath it, a coin-shaped metal scrap appears, empty in the middle and rusted at its edges. Uninterested, the cat meanders on, to a scene that extends into the chaos of a forest, near a fence that overlooks a maintained garden. The margins of the fence are lined with shrubs of the same kind, each scattered with flowers of pink. It is an evening past a monsoon day, so the forest appears battered and orange, and the wet green of the shrubs offers contrasts.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Khoya, at the delicate age of 9, had already crafted herself a reputation. She was fickle, never at one place at a time, and perpetually worrisome.

The back of a little girl crouching through the opening of a fence. Her feet are bare, she wears a violet raincoat, and her long shiny braids sway to her movement. An end of her hair tangles with the fence, but she pays it little mind. Her attention is on a cat.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
She adored how white the moon looked against the canvas of a black night, the firey Palash flowers fallen on sparkly granite. And now, of course, the coat of a black cat as it ventured through the green meadow.

KHOYA’S MOTHER
Khoya!

Khoya does not flinch at the sound. Her eyes intently trace the movements of the cat. As she follows, her feet stumble beside a hollow of mud. The scene prolongs at the metal scrap within it until her feet exit the frame.

CUT TO:

2. INT/EXT. THE WINDOW OF AN INDEPENDENT HOUSE OVERLOOKING A GARDEN

Orange bougainvillaea adorn two ends of the window, and the panes are freshly cleaned. On the sill, there is a ceramic bowl filled with metal scraps dug out of soil.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
For Khoya’s mother, Tuesday was going just as predicted; it was lunchtime, and Khoya’s whereabouts were already unknown.

KHOYA’S MOTHER
Khoya Jaan!

KHOYA’S FATHER
I’d find it futile to call out her name.

The woman sighs in resignation. Her face is young, but her features are dulled. The grey under her eyes is confused between a lack of sleep and frequent coats of kajal. Unexpected to her appearance, she wears brightly coloured clothes.

2A. INT. BESIDE THE WINDOW OVERLOOKING THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSE – KITCHEN

KHOYA’S FATHER
She’ll return. She always does.

A man sits at a table set for three. He beckons the woman to him. When she arrives, he begins to rub her back in consolation. The woman offers him a tense smile and finally sits down beside him. The scene remains at the table as time passes. The woman fidgets restlessly and only sips at her water. Her husband eats, kisses her forehead, and finally leaves. She falls asleep with her head on the table.

FADE TO:

3. INT. LIVING ROOM COUCH – LATE AFTERNOON 

A little boy sits on a couch beside his mother. She holds on to him, caressing his hair while she silently cries. He sits composed, staring intently into space. His mother lets him go.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Milan spent his youth in exploitation. He was warm; his unwavering presence, reliable. After long days, his mother sang for him tears instead of lullabies so that his father could return home to a composed wife.

MILAN’S MOTHER
You’ll be okay, beta. Everything is okay.

MILAN
(hums)
Okay, mama.

(A pause)

MILAN’S MOTHER
My, did you get hungry? Papa will be home soon, he could make you something. Will you need a snack till then? The kitchen’s got –

MILAN
It’s alright, mama.

Milan’s mother dabs the corner of her eyes. She seems jittery and uncomfortable with her own state. She looks toward him to smile in gratitude, but his eyes remain fastened to the space beside her. Her face falls before she affectionately scratches his head instead.

MILAN’S MOTHER
Would you like to go outside? Stay close, though.

Unspeaking, Milan obliges. He walks toward the door, and his mother trails behind him with her hand on his back. He slips on a pair of sandals and exits. She sighs in embarrassment when the door clicks shut. Her demeanour is uptight, and the smile she forgets he did not see droops with her shoulders.

CUT TO:

4. EXT. THE GARDEN OF ANOTHER INDEPENDENT HOUSE – LAWN 

At the far end of the garden, Milan settles on the lawn. He pulls up the ends of his trousers and rolls up his sleeves. His face lies under a patch of sunlight, but his eyes stay open.

(rustling sounds)

MILAN
(toward the sound)
Billy? Is it you?

Milan props up to a crouch and begins to feel around the grass beneath him. When he notices a presence, he reaches out to touch it. His hand lands on a turf of hair, which moves beneath him. His eyes widen, and he gasps.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
On Tuesday, for the first time in his life – Milan saw the silhouette of a little girl.

CUT TO:

5. EXT. THE GARDEN OF ANOTHER INDEPENDENT HOUSE – LAWN

Khoya follows the cat into a stranger’s garden. Unbothered, she looms over it when it eases its ministrations and rests on the grass. Just when she kneels to pet it, she feels herself get petted instead. At the same time that she gasps in surprise, there is a gasp behind her.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
On Tuesday, for the first time in her life – Khoya heard the whisper of a little boy.

[The following perspectives are alternated through audio-visual differences. * refers to Milan’s perspective, and ** to Khoya’s. * scenes are in black and white, and the visuals are hazy, but each sound is distinct. ** scenes are vibrant in colour, but the audio is muffled, almost mute, and the narrator’s voiceovers are in captions.]

MILAN
Oh boy, you’re not my Billy.

[**Both children separate and attempt to gauge the shock. Koya sees a fair boy with black hair in black clothes.]

NARRATOR (SUBTITLE)
Khoya appreciated the little boy’s attire, there was a lot of black, but his skin against it was white.

As Khoya examines the boy, his mouth moves, but the sounds are difficult to distinguish. When she tries to nod in acknowledgement, she notices his eyes are focused behind her. She turns to see what he may be looking at. It’s empty.

[*There is a vague outline of a girl. Everything in the scene switches to grayscale, as if from Milan’s point of view. The scene continues from the moment Koya turns her head away. The sounds are sharp, breathing, rustling, and ambient sounds are noticeable.] 

MILAN
I apologise for having touched your hair, you see Billy…

(silence)

Khoya is still looking away.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Milan did not appreciate the little girl’s lack of response, perhaps she expected an introduction.

MILAN
Hello, my name is Milan.

The outlines of the figure almost disappear into the background. Milan squints and searches the space in front of him.

(footsteps retreating)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Or perhaps he simply bored her.

KHOYA
We may have lost your cat.

Milan’s face lights up at the sound of her response. He looks grateful she did not get bored.

MILAN
Oh, don’t worry, Billy isn’t mine, but she’ll be back soon enough. Did you know cats have smell markers, so they use smells to mark their territory, it’s possible-

KHOYA
You and the cat have the same hair.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Milan concluded that this girl did not have manners. She never told him her name, why she was in his garden, and now, she interrupted him. Although he now had the newfound knowledge that Billy was probably a black cat. Not that he had a great sense of what black was like, but it was his favourite colour.

Milan’s expression contorts, to which Khoya lets out a loud and unabashed laugh. The outline of her figure moves along with the laughter but is still not clear. Milan makes a slightly disgusted expression at the sound but it begins to soften the longer he observes her.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Somehow, he hoped she never stopped laughing. And even though she was making fun of him, he felt his own traitorous laughter gurgle up at the pit of his belly.

Khoya’s giggles subside just as his begin.

KHOYA
I’m deaf. Maybe I talked in between or did not reply to you, but I’m deaf, don’t become offended.

The confession excites Milan.

MILAN
I don’t know the colour of black, but it’s my favourite!

[**The details of the scene clear up and transition to colour. Now the audio is muffled. Khoya tries to read his lips.]

Khoya watches him, confused. She mumbles to herself as if trying to read his lips, but is unsuccessful.

KHOYA
Yes, you wear lots of black.

Milan’s face drops before he tries again. He mouths the word ‘blind’ slowly, with the added gesture of his hands cupped over his eyes. Khoya smiles brightly when she understands.

NARRATOR (SUBTITLE)
Khoya realised that this could be why she did not mind it when he looked at her, maybe because she knew he would have nothing to see.

Milan smiles politely. But his front teeth jut out.

NARRATOR (SUBTITLE)
And although his smile was odd, Khoya thought it was the nicest one she had ever seen.

Milan extends his hand out to hers, which Khoya assumes is for a formal introduction. She reaches back to shake his hand.

KHOYA
The name’s Khoya. Khoya Jaan.

Instead, he flips her palm upward and begins to trace outlines on her skin.

MILAN
(The sounds begin to be heard clearly)

M…I…L…mil

A…N… un

Khoya’s eyes widen at how clear the sounds seem.

KHOYA
Milan!

MILAN
Yes! That is absolutely correct.

When he looks back up, Milan’s eyes land correctly on her face. Their eyes make contact.

KHOYA
I am Khoya.

Milan nods but does not repeat it. Khoya shifts uncomfortably with how intently he looks at her.

KHOYA
You know, you’re looking straight at me right now…

When he does not reply, Khoya becomes distracted and looks around for the cat. Her head faces away from him, but their hands remain in contact.

NARRATOR (SUBTITLE)
Khoya remembered the cat. She wondered where it could have gone before Milan had made her lose track.

MILAN
(in a soft voice)
I see you, Khoya.

Still looking away, Khoya scoffs.

[***The scene begins to merge, the audio and details become clearer, and the colours are more vibrant.]

KHOYA
But you’re blind.

Her eyes widen in realisation.

NARRATOR (V.O.) + (SUBTITLE)
Except Khoya had not yet read his lips.

When her head shoots back in his direction, Milan is already watching her.

MILAN
And you’re deaf – but you heard me, didn’t you?

The children smile at their mutual revelation.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
If touching her meant Milan could distinguish colour, he decided he would be willing to hold her hand forever.

KHOYA
Hey Milan.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
He liked that she enunciated his
name, just right.

He begins to nod, but she yanks their joined hands toward herself.

KHOYA
No! Speak it! I want to listen.

MILAN
(laughs)
Okay, Khoya. Will you move around? I think I could keep up with you.

Khoya’s shoulders bunch up in enthusiasm, and her gasp rises an octave higher than normal.

KHOYA
I hear you!

Milan is too much in awe of the shades and movements around her to find anything to say. His eyes try to chase everything. Khoya begins to slowly lead him away. They walk into the forest.

CUT TO:

6. EXT. FOREST – LATE EVENING

Hand in hand, the children wander into the forest. Khoya is in the lead, and Milan tries to soak everything around him. She intentionally crunches dry leaves, nudges stones and hums to herself. The evening rays trickle in through gaps in the rain trees.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
As the evening settles in, Milan wonders what the colour of her hair, clothes or shoes is named. And Khoya relishes in the sounds of
his gasps, footsteps and laughter.

6A. EXT. FENCE

Milan’s movements slow down as he catches a shine within the mud. Khoya stumbles to a stop in response. There is a metal scrap at his feet. It lies on a trail leading to a fence.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Khoya recalls the scrap to be one of the hundred her mother planted. It was the first time Khoya discovered escape, but seemed
to wander back home seeking out coins. Little could she comprehend why, at her feet, was the one thing her mother yearned for her to be; found.

KHOYA
I have arrived home.

Milan looks around, unable to gauge his surroundings. But he is calm, still smiling in awe.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Milan became aware that he could have finally been lost. And to his surprise, it did not worry him one bit.

KHOYA
Milan, will you teach me to sing a song?

Milan stiffens at the request. He is surprised but will not deny her. The surprise on his face moves into an expression of epiphany.

MILAN
Only if you teach me to dance to it.

From a distance, the children are seen crawling through the fence. Khoya effortlessly navigates through and then proceeds to hold both of Milan’s hands to guide him. They giggle when he slips. They run in the direction of her house.

FADE TO:

7. INT. KHOYA’S HOUSE – KITCHEN TABLE – LATE EVENING

Khoya’s mother still sits asleep at the kitchen table. A soft song wakes her.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Khoya’s mother almost hoped her daughter never left, maybe she was just missed and never heard them call out for her. Perhaps she got hungry now and will eat the meal set out for her. Surely, it could be reheated. But Khoya couldn’t sing, in fact, she had never heard a song well enough to replicate it.

7A. INT. CORRIDOR BY THE BACKDOOR

Khoya’s hands are around Milan’s neck, while he sings a song (Billy Joel’s Just the Way You Are). She tries to follow but falls behind by a couple of seconds. Simultaneously, she paces back and forth in simple steps. Milan trips here and there but almost keeps up with her. At the end of the corridor, Khoya’s mother leans beside the wall, smiling at the sight.

NARRATOR
At this moment, Khoya’s mother realised that for the first time in Khoya’s 9 magnificent years of childhood, she looked content in her own home.

FADE TO:

8. INT. KHOYA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Khoya is tucked into bed, with her father seated at the edge. The song Milan sang for her softly continues in the background.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Khoya, at the delicate age of 9, was embraced with relief in place of worry. Her mother fell asleep early that night and her father tucked her in. When her name fell off his tongue in farewell, she could imagine the sounds. Maybe his voice wasn’t sweet like Milan’s, but scratchy and low instead. She wasn’t restless under their watch now; she didn’t seek release. Because on Tuesday afternoon, for the first and last time, she found a boy named Milan.

9. INT. MILAN’S LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

Milan sits at the bottom of a staircase, with his head leaning against a wall. Across him, his parents dance to the same song from before.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
At night, when Milan found his way home, for the first time he was greeted with worry and warmth. His father made them his favourite meal, and his mother sang for them. As they danced, he imagined how his mother’s hips would sway, or the way his father’s eyes could look when he smiled. He finally felt relief, as if he could slip away and they wouldn’t need him at all. It was all because one day on a Tuesday afternoon, for the first and last time, Milan was lost with a girl named Khoya.

The song begins to fade, as the scene pans from the interior of the house, outside to the garden. On the grass of their lawn, a black cat scurries into the opening of a fence and escapes into the forest beyond.

FADE TO BLACK.