[ A perpetual mist engulfed Kathmandu on 12th of January, 2021. People started disappearing when they went out, becoming lost in the mist. No one could explain what was happening outside and when the media and internet infrastructure shut down, people were completely isolated in their homes. They didn’t dare go outside and those who did, never returned. It has been two months since… ]
“Shekhar khana khanah aaija.”
Shekhar hears his big brother shout. He turns off his laptop and comes outside his room. In the kitchen, Amrit, his big brother, is eating the typical meal of dal bhat and tarkari on the kitchen table. Shekhar serves himself the food and takes it to his room. They both eat their meals alone.
[ Fade out. ]
Shekhar makes himself a cup of tea in the kitchen and heads out towards the lawn. He sees that Amrit is sitting on the wooden table and stool in the middle of the lawn. He stops short when he sees him. He contemplates going to the lawn. Amrit turns his head and notices him. Shekhar immediately turns away and goes to his room. Amrit goes back to watching the view from the lawn.
[ Fade out. ]
It’s dinner time and Shekhar is serving himself food. He is about to take the food back to his room when Amrit calls out his name.
“Shekhar!...”
“Chamal sakkina aatyo jasto cha. Ma bholi bahira janchu kinna.”
Shekhar’s face darkens.
“Sakkina aatyo?”, he asks in disbelief.
“Aah. Ma bholi gayera herchu k bhai ra cha bahira.”, Amrit says.
“...Ahile nai ta pardaina hola. Hami sita aalu cha ta haina ajhai.”
“Tyo pani sakkincha chadai. Tespachi ta bahira janai parcha ni.”
“...” Shekhar is speechless. He knew this day would come but never figured out how to handle it. There is a period of silence.
Amrit breaks it. “Ta ramrari sita bas... Ma farkina bhane… Yo chabi li rakh, daraz ko ho. Sabai paisa tya cha. Kaam lagcha pachi.” Amrit takes out a key from his pocket and puts it on the table.
Shekhar intently stares at the key. “..Hajur” he mutters.
[ Fade out. ]
Shekhar is sitting at the table in his room staring at the key. His eyes turn red and tears start streaming from his eyes. He wipes them but it doesn’t stop. It becomes uncontrollable and he breaks. He covers his face and hunches over the table crying.
[ Fade out. ]
Shekhar wakes up the next day. He stares at the ceiling for a while and gathers himself. He takes the key and goes outside his room. He knocks at Amrit’s room.
“Amrit dai?” He calls.
There’s no response.
“Amrit dai ma ni janchu chamal lina.”
…
“Amrit dai?”
Shekhar opens the door. The room is empty. Shekhar is surprised. He starts searching for Amrit everywhere but he is nowhere to be seen.
He sits at the stool in the lawn confused. He mulls over what happened. Suddenly anger overtakes him. He is furious. He shouts.
“AAAAHHHHHHHRRRRGHHHH!!!”
He hunches on the table holding his head. His eyes become teary. He raises his head and looks towards the gate.
In a fit of fury, he walks towards the gate. He stops just in front of the gate. His fury suddenly dissipates. Fear emerges in his heart again. He looks back at his house. He looks at the gate. He thinks. His breaths start to shorten. Fear grips him.
He shakes himself and shouts again. With that wind of energy, he opens the gate and goes outside.
[ Fade to black. ]
The gate of the house is pushed open with force. A guy enters hands first, on all fours. He is panting and hurriedly enters inside. It’s Amrit. He frantically closes the gate behind him and leans on it. He catches his breath. He starts laughing. He takes off his bag and looks inside. The food he gathered is safe inside the bag. He gives a sigh of relief and lets out a short hoot. He walks towards the house excited.
“Shekhar ka chas?”, he shouts with a smile.
He goes to Shekhar’s room but he isn’t there. He searches the kitchen but it’s deserted.
“Toilet ma chas ho Shekhar?”, he calls in front of the toilet. But it’s empty.
He starts getting worried.
“Shekhar?” “Shekhar!”
There is no answer.
Amrit begins to realize what must have happened. He goes outside and stares at the gate. He gets frustrated.
“Maile teslai ghar mai bas bhanya the, ka gayo tyo?” Amrit speaks aloud.
He walks to the gate and stops near it. His breathing gets faster. He reaches out towards the gate but his hands begin to shake. He opens the gate.
Shekhar leaps from outside the gate and bumps into Amrit. They both fall. Shekhar immediately gets up and closes the gate.
“Shekhar!”, shouts Amrit. Shekhar looks back surprised. “Amrit dai!”, he shouts, “Tapai bahira janu bha thena?”
“Haina ma agi bharkhar ako. Ta bahira gayis?”
“Aah.”
“Kei bhayena talai?”
“Ahah. Tapailai kei bhayo?”
“Malai ni kei bhayena.”
They pause and laugh. They automatically hug each other. When the realization of the hug comes they break away and step back.
“Hahaha bahira ta last bhai ra raicha hai,” Amrit exclaims.
“Haha aah ma ta la ma mare aba jasto lagya thyo,” Shekhar says.
“Malai ni. Maile kasari ho yo sabai uthayera lyaye,” Amrit shows the stuff in his bag.
“Amma ma yo sabai lyauna bhyaunu bho?”, Shekhar asks.
“Kaamta saro paryo. Malai ni tha chaina maile kasari lyaye.”
Shekhar smiles as he sees all the things in Amrit’s bag.
“Ek mahina chalcha hola aba,” Shekhar says.
“Ah. Bhitra hin. Sabai chiz rakham. Aaija”
“Hajur,” Shekhar says.
Both of them walk into the house.
[ Fade out. ]
During dinner, Shekhar serves himself food. He is taking his food towards his room when he stops. He looks towards Amrit eating his meal at the kitchen table. Amrit lifts his eyes and looks at Shekhar. They share an awkward glance.
“Room mai gaye huncha Shekhar.”, Amrit says.
Shekhar lets out an awkward chuckle. “Haha yes...”
And he goes to his room.
The mist creeps into the garden and then spreads along the whole house, engulfing all of it.
The End