VR FF ~~~ Chain Reaction ~~~ - Page 3

Chain Reaction

Episode 3

Present Day - The Wedding Hall

Poo's lips slowly loses its smile.

She looks Saravannan in the eyes, bearing witnessto the haunting past between them

March 2013 (flashback)

Once again at the same beach, mind and memories cast back in time, only this time they are sitting down facing the waves with a metre gap between them.

No smiles and no eye contact, yet they sit there to exchange the words of their hearts.

Poongodi rises and approaches Saravannan slowly, who gets to his feet as soon as he turns around and notices her movement.

Slowly, the gap between them decreases, as Poongodi stops only when she is within touching distance of him

Poongodi looks right and stands silently, witnessing the oncoming waves breaking quite harshly on the soft sand.

Saravannan stares at Poongodi, expecting a reply. He yearns to know her reply.

Poongodi: I have a million words locked up in my heart to express to you but there are three words which are waiting impatiently to escape immediately

Saravannan wonders what it could be, maybe it's I love you,' - but he knows that this isn't it. It can't be.

Poongodi: It is over!

Saravannan stands with no change in his reaction.

Poongodi walks off, not even once does she turn back to catch her past. She has willed her eyes to look straight to the future.

Saravannan's Mindvoice: I made sure that you heard my million words, it isn't fair that you're walking away without sharing yours

Poongodi's Mindvoice: I'm only walking away without sharing it, as I know very well that you know each and every one of my million words in exactly the same order I hold it in my heart.

Saravannan's Mindvoice: I know it, but it makes a big difference to me when I witness you express those words

Poongodi's Mindvoice: Whether or not I express it, you can be assured the feelings are there

Saravannan's Mindvoice: I'm sensing you're faith in me is still strong but the faith in yourself is lost.

Poongodi's Mindvoice: Precisely, when you refused to accept my love proposal, I knew I could change you. And, sure enough I passed.

Saravannan's Mindvoice: Time changed me to love you

Poongodi's Mindvoice: It is precisely the same time, which made your love for me vanish. I thought I could change you this time, but I failed.

Saravannan's Mindvoice: And so here we are, I'm now requesting the aid of the very thing that made me fall in love with you to help me forget you.

Poongodi's Mindvoice: I know with this next step, I will exit your field of vision and with it I also wish to exit your life. I have never tried to forget anyone before, so I'm incapable of knowing whether time is powerful enough to rid us of our sweet memories.

Saravannan's Mindvoice: Farewell Poongodi, I loved you with all my heart and it saddens me to be the one responsible to break our pure relationship.

Poongodi's Mindvoice: Farewell Saravannan, I loved you with all my heart and it saddens me to be the one responsible to break our pure relationship.

Poongodi calls Devi

Devi is travelling in a car, wearing wedding attire

She picks up the phone

Devi: Are you there?

Poongodi: On my way

Devi: Why did you phone me?

Poongodi: To tell you something, if you don't mind

Devi: Will it ruin my wedding?

Poongodi: I don't think so

Devi: Then go ahead

Poongodi: I broke up with Saravannan

Devi: (after several seconds of silence) yeah, no, that will ruin my wedding

Poongodi: I don't see how

Devi: Don't you see, since you broke up with Sara, only one of you can come to the wedding. I obviously want you to come; he obviously will want Sara to come. It's going to lead to a big fight between you and the marriage will be stopped

Poongodi: You're riding on a lot of assumptions

Devi: Lots of real assumptions

Poongodi: You're the one who told me to follow my heart

Devi: Yes, but did you have to do it on my wedding day?

Poongodi: I had to do it when I felt it was right to do so. Today felt right.

Devi: Where are you?

Poongodi: I'm nearly there

Devi: You're coming

Poongodi: Of course, I'm coming. And he's coming too.

Devi: It won't work if you're both there

Poongodi: Why not?

Devi: You just broke up, you need some space. It's bad omen for you to meet again today

Poongodi: I can handle it

Devi: That's exactly what I said, now look at me, I'm in my wedding dress going to a temple about to get married.

Poongodi: You can't compare your situation with mine

Devi: I'll do anything I can, to stop one of you from coming to my wedding

Poongodi: Your fear is illogical, I've made a firmdecision and seeing him again won't make that decision waver.

Devi: Listen to me, don't move an inch. Stay where you are for two hours. I'll see you then.

Poongodi: I'll miss the wedding then

Devi: Precisely, you can't come to the wedding. You're not invited

Devi cuts the phone and exhales a sigh of relief

She sits back as the car approaches the temple

She spots Poongodi waiting

Devi hastily gets out of the car

Devi: What are you doing here?

Poongodi: You told me not move an inch (laughs)

Devi stares Poongodi from head to toes and back again

Devi: Is he here?

Poongodi: Not yet

Devi: Oh no, he's coming

Present day

Poongodi looks at Devi to signal her to fetch Saravannan to stand on the stage

Gautham notices Saravannan and is taken back by his presence.

Chain Reaction

Episode 4

The Wedding Hall

Gautham casts his mind back to the direct aftermath of Devi's wedding

March 2013 (flashback)

Poongodi is standing against a pillar facing the opposite direction.

Gautham approaches her

Poongodi starts to speak as she hears the sound of someone's footsteps.

Poongodi: It's over

Gautham what's over?

Poongodi turns around hastily

Poongodi: Everything is done

Gautham: I don't understand, what happened?

Poongodi is hesitant about how she should start

Gautham: Ok fine, I have a question to ask you

Poongodi: I think I know what it is but go on

Gautham: You and Saravannan aren't being normal, you came together but throughout this wedding you both remained at different corners. No words were exchanged, not even a single look. What's wrong?

Poongodi: We broke up. This morning. I couldn't go on any longer blindly believing that everything is fine, when it clearly isn't.

Gautham: Is this the same Poongodi who was prepared to do anything for her love?

Poongodi: I'm done fighting for a lost cause. It's love when both parties share the same feelings. I can't believe it took me this long to realise that I was fighting to stay afloat while being dragged down by a sinking ship. It's an easy choice really when I think about it. I just had to let go and come back to the surface. I've never felt happier, I've never felt more free.

Gautham: Yes, I did tell you a long time ago he has changed.

Poongodi: And if I had listened to you then, it would have saved me all this trouble.

Gautham: But you're fine now right?

Poongodi: I'm so happy. I'm a free bird now. Why wouldn't I be fine?

Gautham: Honestly?

Poongodi: What's so good about this (referring to marriage), thenumber of people suffering after it, the number of couples running for a divorce? I'm not built for this. I've tried my best, I really have. I have nothing more to give. I don't want love or marriage. I'm living my life for my happiness only from now on. That way, I don't have to suffer. It's my life and I'm not going to share it with anyone, ever.

Poongodi walks off

Present day

Devi fetches Saravannan to the stage.

Gautham's face now lights up

September 2013 (flashback)

Gautham is walking behind Poongodi with his hands cupping Poongodi's eyes.

He's directing her to the location where he wants both of them to be.

Poongodi: Where are you taking me?

Gautham: Somewhere special

Poongodi: Not helpful

Gautham: Watch out, you're now going to climb up a few steps

98 steps later...

Poongodi: Few? That was heck loads.

Gautham: Exactly 98

Poongodi: I deserve to be included in Guinness World Records,for climbing the most number of steps blindfolded.

Gautham: Just two more

2 steps later...

Poongodi: Are we there? Can I open my eyes?

Gautham: Nearly

They advance three steps

Gautham takes his hands off

He stands beside Poongodi

Poongodi, though excited, manages to keep her eyes closed

Gautham smiles

Gautham: You can open your eyes now

They are standing on an isolated lighthouse, overlooking a serene landscape.

Poongodi: Wow!

She remains speechless

Poongodi: Just wow

They share a laugh

Gautham: Thanks for being here with me now

Poongodi: Thanks for bringing me here

They share a hug; Poongodi rests her head on Gautham's chest.

Poongodi: It's so beautiful

Gautham is ecstatic

Poongodi: I don't know how you can improve on a day like this.

Gautham: Well, I'm going to try

Gautham breaks the hug

Poongodi is shocked

He digs in his pocket, pulls out a ring-box.

Poongodi: Woah

He kneels with his right knee on the ground and opens the box

Gautham: Will you

Poongodi: Yes (putting her hands on her heart)

Gautham smiles

Gautham: You didn't even let me finish

Poongodi: Yes (smiles)

Gautham: Marry me

Poongodi: Yes, yes, yes

Gautham stands up and hugs her.

They remain there with big smiles on their faces.

Present day

Gautham looks at Poongodi, his expression saying without words that he's the happiest man in the world at that moment.

Devi and Saravanan stand behind the bride and groom

Devi bends over to secretly pass Poongodi the shell with the carving 'Poo loves Sara'

Poongodi is shocked

She looks at the fire and sees Sara's half of the two shells already burning.

She grabs on to the shell, slowly taking in what they want her to do, to destroy the last physical reminder of her love forSaravannan.