INT. MARIAM’S APARTMENT – LATE AFTERNOON
(ACTION) Sunlight filters softly through sheer curtains, painting the room in warm, golden light. The apartment is quiet. Mariam stands by the window, gazing at the city below, lost in thought. A small stack of unopened letters sits on the table. Her cell phone blinks intermittently with notifications, reminding her of Sohan, with whom she talks at least once daily. Physical meetings have been rare, but today, something feels different. Suddenly, the doorbell rings. Mariam is surprised, as she was not expecting anyone today.
Mariam: Sohan…! This is… wow… a wonderful surprise! Why did you not call first? What if I were not home? You could have flown all this way for nothing.
Sohan: I wanted to see you without warning. I wanted this moment to be ours, uninterrupted, just like old times.
Mariam: (softening, smiling) You do realize you have made me pale and blush at the same time, right? Come in, please. Today… today feels just right for this.
(ACTION) Mariam moves about the room, still lost in thought. She invites Sohan to sit, and he does so quietly. Once a caffeine lover, Mariam now rarely drinks coffee or chai, except when someone offers. Today felt like a perfect day to indulge. She moves to the kitchen to prepare two steaming cups of coffee, the aroma filling the small apartment. Sohan follows. They are alone; her husband and children are out. The air is heavy with anticipation, nostalgia, and comfort.
Mariam: It is strange, not seeing each other for all this time. It really took a toll on me. I did not realize how much I missed this, the ease, the presence, the quiet of just… being with you, alone.
Sohan: I felt it too, every day we did not meet. The longing, the half-finished thoughts, the need to hear your voice, it lingered. Talking on the phone almost daily kept some part of us alive, but it was never the same as being here with you.
Mariam: Today is different. There is no guilt, no pain. It feels effortless, easy, like this is exactly where we are meant to be in this moment. No hesitation, no fear. Just us, together again.
Sohan: I could not agree more. This is how it should feel, quiet, safe, and guilt-free. No pretense, no rush, just us. For the first time in a long time, I feel completely at ease.
(ACTION) They sit at the table, sipping coffee in companionable silence. The warmth of the cups and the memories settle around them. For a moment, they deliberately hold each other’s hands over the coffee cups. Mariam feels the warmth, security, and comfort of Sohan’s hand. It makes her feel like home, safe and protected, exactly what she has yearned for. The sensation overwhelms her slightly, and with a soft exhale, she gently pulls her hands back. The cups rest side by side, the closeness lingering, unspoken.
Mariam: You know, I only wish the best for you, Sohan. Always. I hope life treats you kindly and that every happiness finds you, no matter where you go.
Sohan: I know, Mariam. And I wish the same for you. I hope you find peace, joy, and love in all the ways you deserve, even if it is not with me.
Mariam: And yet, I feel this pull, this comfort in your presence. It is not the same as it once was, not the fiery, reckless love, but it is something deeper, something that makes life lighter when you are near.
Sohan: Exactly. We have changed, but this connection, this importance we hold in each other’s lives, that remains. I will be by your side always.
Mariam: I know I can take you for granted, like I always have, but I never stop caring, never stop thinking of you, and you will always have a place in my heart, no matter what.
(ACTION) Silence falls. They sip their coffee. The city light fades. The quiet between them is full of memories, affection, and the weight of a relationship that has survived time, distance, and restraint.
Mariam: I have missed it too, the feeling that, no matter what the world says, we belong to each other in some way. That sense of intimacy, not always physical, but of understanding, is something I cannot give up.
Sohan: Even now, after everything, the years, the choices, the lives we lead, I still want that. In my own way, I still want to share the quiet moments, the laughter, the connection we have built over time.
Mariam: Me too. Today, this moment, it is guilt-free, no regrets. Just us.
(ACTION) The door opens as Mariam’s husband, Sohail, enters. Their names share the same first syllable, a quiet reminder of life’s little ironies.
Sohail: Hello, Sohan. It is nice to see you again. Mariam has told me so much about you. I hope you have not caused too much trouble today.
Sohan: (uncomfortable laughter) Hello, Sohail. I hope I have not. Come, join us.
Sohail: It is good to see you in person Mr Sohan. I have heard a lot about you. Mariam does not go a day without mentioning you.
(ACTION) Both look up at Sohail. Sohan smiles politely, Mariam smiles softly. The moment shifts from intimate to casual, normal friends gathering. Yet the bond between them lingers, unspoken and enduring. Some things never change even as time passes and rushes to the next episode in life. Some relationships are always meant to stay.