The Hippie Trail

Chapter 3 - The Plan

INT. NEWSROOM-MORNING

VINAY enters his boss' room, hi-fiving his colleagues on the way in.
He is his usual exuberant self.

INT. CHIEF REPORTER ROOM-MORNING

VASU 

So, what's the scoop hero? And where were you yesterday evening?

VINAY 

Paradise. Having a beer.

VASU

What? 

VINAY 

The answers to your two questions.

VASU 

How dare you drink during office hours? Now cut your new-gen lingo. What do you mean by paradise? Kerala is a paradise.

VINAY (mocking tone) 

No, no Vasu sir. Kerala is our home. Paradise is something that we discover. Something that is heaven, and not home.

VASU 

So yesterday you were out drinking and today you've been smoking up.

VINAY 

Oh God, you oldies.

VASU 

Now get all ageist. Where is this paradise?

VINAY 

Joshi wouldn't tell.

VINAY's face lights up.

VINAY 

But boss, when I mentioned the north to him, he didn't deny it. 

VASU 

Did he accept it?

VINAY 

That's not the point. I think this paradise is somewhere he visited recently.

A beat

VASU 

What's on your mind?

VINAY 

Convince the paper to sponsor a trip for me. Let me go investigate Joshi's recent trip.

VASU 

And where will you start from?

VINAY