(image googled. copyright lies with the original artist)
Grey Kolkata sky goes as far as
eye can see. Two cars pull in outside an under-construction building. Abhik
Chowdhry steps out of the car, casually. Him and his team are following a lead
on an arms’ haul case. This becomes the day’s biggest story. Face of Abhik
Chowdhry adorns every TV screen as news channels rush to cover the story. In
another part of the city, Ranjan, lost in his sensex fixation catches a glimpse
of his cousin on the television, calling him to congratulate him on his big
story. Lost in his own story, Ranjan is a guy who is one of the closest friends
Abhik has. His next call is to a totally different part of the city, to a
woman, Paromita or Paro, as he calls her, his ex-wife. Casual chit chat, a joke
by Paro hints at his solitary way of life while her life looks happy with a
career she is content with. In another part of the city, Brinda Roy Menon, an
investigation journalist is intrigued by the story. With a desire to follow
onto it, she calls cop Abhik asking for an interview. But conversation doesn’t
go too well. Skeptical about sensationalization of a seemingly sensitive case,
Abhik turns down Brinda’s request.
While all these people are happy
about Abhik’s story, builder V K Mehra is bothered by the uncovering news as
the site of case happens to be next to site for construction of his next
project. Amidst frenzy of life that is running too fast, no one seems to have
time to stop and think. But Abhik and Brinda, two young people zealous about
their careers, have found a way to seek refuge from madness of the crowd. Every
night, in a chat window, they meet a virtual identity that offers them comfort
more real than anything real in their lives.
Unaware about the name or identity of the virtual personality, all
Brinda knows is a guy- ‘ Boy in a box’ while all Abhik knows is a chat window
named ‘ Raat Jaga Taara’.
Sharing nuances of life, Boy in a
box’s and Raat jaga taara’s relation develops into a unique bond, incomparable
with anything else. This comes as a respite from harsh realities of life that
both these individuals face. Abhik, almost a cynic, comes across relations that
run into inevitable doom of reality pretty often. His own cousin Ranjan da’s
relation with his wide Paro stays on rocks. This is the reason that both these
individuals prefer to keep their weird relation anonymous. What they share are
little joys of life that are beyond realms of real name or true identity.
Paro, a marketing executive is an
artist from heart. Her passion is photography but that’s part of what she does.
Brinda, a colleague is one of Paro’s closest friends, ofcourse, besides Ranjan.
Paro and Ranjan had a lovely relationship. But they live separately now.
Marriage was probably over, but friendship wasn’t. They were each other’s
confidants and most certainly, in need for each other. That is why when an
offer for job in Mumbai comes along, Paro seeks Ranjan’s advice. Their relation
is in a weird spot. Past complications make it difficult for them to open up to
each other. That is why, as a rationalist, Ranjan suggests her to take the job
and move to Mumbai to explore her career. But the truth is, neither of them
wants to leave the other. Paro, especially, hopes one last call from Ranjan, a
sign that he wants her back in his life as she fears her preference for her
career in past had led to disappointment in their marriage and an ultimate fall
out. V K Mehra hosts a launch party where he invites Abhik. Paro asks Brinda to
come along. And this is how they meet each other for the first time. A rather
cold meeting, they don’t seem to hit it off well. But after a rocky start, they
warm up to each other Ranjan’s birthday party.
One night, in a casual conversation
with his Pishi, Abhik realizes embodiment of endless wait when she tells him
about her similar relation with an unknown identity. Life seems to get a little
more complicated as Abhik realizes he might be developing feelings for Brinda
along with suspecting his seemingly weird love for the ‘chat window’. Lost in
his own world, Abhik is sure about comfort from his virtual friend, who too is
developing feelings, although inexplicable, for the ‘boy in a box’. Both these
worlds look ready to continue existing parallel when one night, in a casual
conversation with Abhik, Brinda realizes extreme similarity between him and her
virtual friend. Realization dawns. She understands he is the boy in a box.
World seems better. She leaves an offline message for boy in box to meet her
the next day, at a given place and time. But end is close. Brinda dies in a car
crash. And with her, the realization dies too. Abhik wakes up to check his
computer and find a message. Skeptical though, he is happy about the idea. But
moments later, he receives news of Brinda’s death. Devastated, Abhik goes to
comfort Paro who has decided to stay back in Kolkata and rekindle her relation
with Ranjan. Next, he goes to the place of meeting but ‘Raat jaaga taara’ never
shows up. He waits but then walks away. Abhik,
at end of the day, seeks comfort in his escape from reality but she is offline.
He waits. The light doesn’t change color. He waves it away thinking she must
have been busy. The night passes. And the next. And the next. And the next.
Unaware of the fact that with one friend, he has lost two, Abhik continues to wait
for her to show up. Every night, he gives himself a new reason. Every morning,
he awaits the night, another night of wait with his endless hope.
