My aunt had me engrossed in computer training and ensured that I made proper use of my free time, while she went for work. My grandma, on the other hand, was a movie enthusiast, and together, we surreptitiously indulged in noon shows at a nearby theater, Chitra Talkies, mere steps from our home.

This clandestine cinema escapade had become a weekly ritual. Our residence was nestled in a teacher’s colony adjacent to Concordia School, where our neighbours were all educators. The couple next door, also teachers, had two sons named Sam and Jaison. They often visited our home to play with Shakti, who was a lively 4-year-old.

One fateful Friday afternoon, Jaison, who happened to be on sick leave, shared an exciting piece of news with us. He told us about a film shoot taking place in the foothills near our home, featuring Suresh Gopi and Bhanu Priya. The prospect of witnessing a film shoot piqued our interest, but there was a catch – it was scorching hot, and the location was quite a distance away.

I tried to convince my grandma that it was too far to walk, but her determination was unwavering. Despite our occasional disagreements, we were inseparable when it came to adventures like this. Jaison came to our rescue, offering to make two trips on his father’s scooter to take us to the film shoot location. Without a second thought, we gladly accepted his offer, and he snuck the scooter out of his home.

Our adventure began with a bumpy ride as Jaison skillfully maneuvered the scooter along the uneven roads. Excitement filled the air as we headed toward the shoot location, and we completely lost track of time.

We had the chance to witness the hero, Suresh Gopi, dressed in a resplendent silk traditional costume, and the graceful Bhanu Priya adorned in a beautiful saree. Nearby, senior actor Sukumari was in the midst of her makeup routine, adding an extra layer of enchantment to the already magical setting. The entire experience was surreal, a peek into the glamorous world of cinema that we had stumbled upon during our daring escapade.

It was a sight to behold, and my grandma, an ardent admirer of their acting, couldn’t contain her excitement. She rushed forward to greet them, hoping to convey her admiration, while I, on the other hand, was busy ducking for cover, a bit overwhelmed by the star-struck atmosphere. As she engaged with the actors and shared her admiration for their work, I marveled at the intricate behind-the-scenes preparations.

Suddenly, Jaison realized that it was time for the Concordia School bell to ring, signaling the end of the school day. In a rush, we hurried back home.

Back at home, we did our best to conceal our excitement about the film shoot and the thrilling scooter ride.

The following day, a Saturday morning, our neighbour’s house erupted in commotion. Jaison was being questioned by his father about the scooter. His father asked, “Did you take the scooter? How come it’s on reserve when I fueled it just last week?”

Our heart sank, and we felt a pang of guilt, fearing that Jaison might reveal that he had taken us for a ride without permission. We exchanged nervous glances, fearing that any slip-up from Jaison could potentially expose our secret escapade. Our hearts raced, and we silently prayed that Jaison would continue to protect our shared adventure by keeping it hidden from his family.

To our relief, Jaison remained steadfast and didn’t reveal our secret adventure. We couldn’t help but feel remorseful for inadvertently making him the scapegoat for the scooter’s unauthorised use.

As the evening wore on, my aunt seemed to sense something was amiss. Our tense-filled demeanor couldn’t escape her notice, and she began to probe us with questions. She had a knack for detecting when we were up to some mischief, but we had become quite adept at keeping our secrets, thanks in part to our hours spent observing actors during the film shoot. Our ability to maintain a poker face and evade her inquiries was a testament to the skills we had unwittingly acquired during our thrilling adventure.

I silently thanked Jaison for his unwavering loyalty and knew that I owed him a debt of gratitude. He had not only given us a thrilling adventure but also protected our secret at a time when it mattered most. Jaison had proven himself to be not just a neighbour but a true friend!