The Way We Were

Prologue

(2022: Mumbai)

The theater lights were dimming, as the last minute entries hushed and doubled over, carrying huge trays of popcorn and cold drinks.

Caramel and cheese hit him strong as his own companion handed him a salted option, his nostalgia. Adverts of upcoming movies took only a couple of minutes as this was first day first show, after all.

He grabbed a handful of popcorn, stuffed it in his mouth and shook his palms lightly.

"You know, I'm starting to think it isn't just the way you wanted to watch the movie that is childish." His companion was patting their dress, and he understood that his popcorn crumbs had not found the ground as he thought they would.

"You want to announce to the world that we are here amongst them?"

His companion rolled their eyes. "Of course not. But we already went to the premiere. This is just a stupid way to die for me, amongst your fans."

"You're free to walk out." He challenged.

The lights went out and the melody of the production house brought his attention to the big screen.

Amidst the opening credits, he felt his companion sag against the seat. The background music was not catchy but overly nostalgic. The DJ turned musician had outdone himself starting from the peppy beats of Hum Apke Hain Kaun, melting into Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaenge, crossing to Raja Hindustani.

He realized the shock of the audience when a few rows behind them a girl shrieked out, "Kisise ab kya kehna." He turned back to see the whole row gasp and catch the next line in-tune with rolling credits, "Dil roya ke ankh bhar aayi, kisise ab-"

"That's the Saif and Preity one?" He heard a man seated three chairs down, as the music melded into a happy family song from the movie Kya Kehna.

"Yeah, what's- that's the best instrumental ever!" His wife squealed.

"Darshan should be proud." He commented to his companion, who shushed him.

"It's starting."

"Didn't we already see this one?" He raised his eyebrows, before turning his eyes to the screen where the backdrop of Sheesh Mahal stood proud.

There was a delighted squeal of a teenager running amock the grand corridors of his palace, shouting aloud. "Khushi! Khushi, it came! The scholarship letter!"

His phone vibrated and he checked the message notification, amused. I did not do that!

He smiled as he texted back. Creative liberties, Di.

(1989: Summer at the Palace)

Anjali Malik was hurrying like the princess she was, her mind racing ninety miles an hour. Thank God she found the letter before anyone else. They would not even have known who to deliver it to.

"Did you see Munshi ji's daughter?" She asked inside the sixth room she had entered so far.

The help shook her head like all the others. Anjali wondered where that studious girl had disappeared to. She was so silent, half the time people forgot she existed. She had quite the talent to vanish into thin air, and this forty bedroom palace with its winding corridors and even grander lawns weren't helping.

Anjali sighed as she held the letter tight to herself. Tired of trying to find her friend, she started towards the library on the third floor. When she pushed the doors open, she was surprised to see the person she was trying to find, her nose stuck between a book.