Shalini
is irritated that Sharma always takes Mini's side and ignores what she has to
say, and makes sure that everyone knows it. She then tells Mini to come and eat
her breakfast. Mini explains that she doesn't need it, and is going to meet with
some of her friends at school to eat. Shalini is once again upset, saying that
she'd been up early making them all something nice to eat, but now no one has
the time.
Mini offers an exasperated apology, and says she just forgot. Sharma also chimes in with a request to let the issue drop since it's really no big deal. Shalini says fine, it's not like anyone ever listens to her anyway. The family squabble is interrupted by the arrival of Rashmi, Mini's friend and neighbor. She smiles sweetly as Mini hops up and rushes her out of the house.
Shalini comments that now that Rashmi's family has moved to this area as well, they'll likely never see Mini again. She notices that Mini's forgotten her purse, and goes outside to take it to her. The girls are a short distance away, and Shalini gets Mini's attention. With little fanfare, she hands over the purse and turns to go back to the house. Mini, sensing some damage control might be in order, tells her mother that if she really wants her to, she will come inside and have the breakfast. Shalini softens, and tells her that it's okay. She should go on to school. With a smile, the women part ways and go off to start their days.
Mini
reaches the end of the yard and is nearly struck by the loading ramp of a moving
truck that has just arrived. She snaps at the mover and stomps off, calling him
stupid. Shalini watches this from near the house, but the real focus here is on
the house next door. We see a darkened window facing the Sharma house. The shot
moves in closer to the window as some X-Files appropriate music plays. We
cut to a reverse angle shot from inside the window. Inside the room, we stay
with the point of view of the inhabitant, watching as the movers unload
furniture from the truck and carry it inside. An odd mumbling voice is heard,
more breathy and whisper than actual speech. I couldn't make out what was being
said, but I do know they repeat themselves as they peer out of the window.
Inside the Sharma house, Shalini is directing the movers and leading them to the basement. They're carrying a large wooden wardrobe (complete with many Foleyed in clunks and knocks that sound like someone is wearing cardboard boxes on their feet and is dancing a jig) and struggling to get it to its resting place. Shalini opens the cellar door (CREEEEEEEEEEEAK-squeek) and tries to turn on the lights. No one has put in light bulbs yet, so they fumble their way downstairs in the dim light from a high window.
The
wardrobe is set down (clunk-shuffle-knock-bump-thump) and the workers go back to
get more stuff. Shalini tries to get the doors of the closet closed but they
keep creaking open (and I do mean CREEEEEEEEEEAKing open). Eventually she
gives up. We watch all of this from a camera angle that is similar to Mini's
dream from earlier. It's constantly moving, and seems to be hiding behind
things. As she heads for the steps, we hear a loud thud as something falls off
of something else and lands on yet another something. Following me so far?
Shalini turns to look for the source of the sound, but can't be bothered to move
away from the steps. After a quick glance around, she gives up and goes
upstairs.
The movie gives us a nice jump to a loud motorcycle pulling up right in front of the camera. Ah, we're at College. Lots of students are milling about and many random conversations are heard. From the crowd we see Mini and Rashmi leaning against a pillar. Rashmi tries to get Mini to go with her to the library to take back some books, but Mini wants to wait where she is for another ten minutes or so. Rashmi quickly deduces that Mini's hoping to bump into her current sweetheart-to-be, Deepak.
Rashmi
calls out to a Deepak that isn't there to fool Mini, and to prove that she's
right in guessing her motives. Deepak finally does arrive, and Mini tries to
play things cool. Rashmi makes sure that doesn't work and tells Deepak that Mini
has been impatiently awaiting his arrival. Being slightly dense, Deepak asks why
that is, and says he isn't late for class. Mini intervenes and says that they're
actually late for the opening of a new comedy at the movie theater in town. She
suggests that they all ditch class and go to the movies instead. After a little
persuading, the three of them head off to catch the matinee.
We follow our group of friends as they hit the concession counter, and then into the theater itself. Our point of view is that of the screen, and we see the audience giggling away at the silliness on screen, and focus in on our friends. The shot goes closer and closer to Mini's face as she laughs, but soon she notices that she's laughing alone. With a confused expression, she looks around to discover she's the only person in the theater. All of the people that were just surrounding her, including her friends, have completely and silently vanished.
