A beach and the sunset witness the make-it-or-break-it phone call between Nakul and Saarth in the Indian short ‘Halfway‘.
Nakul is walking towards the beach while looking at the sun that is just about to set when his phone rings. Saarth, his boyfriend of two years, speaks as soon as he picks up the call. Saarth goes on apologizing for his tardiness and asks where Nakul is. Nakul is visibly irritated by Saarth’s unpunctuality, saying he has been waiting for Saarth for half an hour. Saarth apologizes again, saying that he got caught up in something. Nakul doesn’t listen to his justification and sarcastically says that he should’ve just told him that he would be late so he could’ve come in later than their original planned time but Saarth replies that he didn’t know that this would happen.
Nakul sighs in resignation. He tells Saarth that they need to quickly meet now since he has to go in half an hour to do his laundry. Saarth is baffled by this, thinking how the laundry could be more important than him. He still however says that he is willing to meet if Nakul wants to. Both of them look irritated by the responses of the other.
However, it is revealed that even though Nakul and Saarth are in the same area, they are actually at opposite entrances with Saarth in the Shivaji Maharaj Statue and Nakul in Novotel. They find themselves near each other but somewhat miles apart.
Still in the phone call together, Saarth and Nakul are now seen walking, trying to find each other. Saarth is near the beach area looking at the people enjoying the breeze. Nakul asks him if he can see him but Saarth reminds him that the two entrances are not that close and requires them to walk a significant distance. Nakul tells him that they should’ve just taken a pedicab but Saarth quickly reminds him of the devastating traffic outside, adding that no one will even dare to fetch them at the beach. Nakul tells him that he could’ve called him to pinpoint exactly where they were meeting prior but Saarth replies that he did just that. Nakul tells him that the Novotel entrance is their regular meeting spot to which Saarth–aghast–questions how Nakul could even consider the spot “regular” as the last time they went there together was almost a year ago.
Saarth pauses for a bit and collects himself before posing the question of why Nakul even wanted to meet today given the apparent attitude he has been receiving from the man. Nakul is confused by this and asks what he means. Saarth tells him that if he will not open up and talk to him then there is no point. Nakul, who is still feigning ignorance, answers that he doesn’t know. Saarth, however, has had enough of their tedious dance and goes in for the kill. He tells Nakul that it is unfair that he suddenly asks him to move in with him and not talk about it afterward. This explicitly hit a nerve in Nakul, replying that he didn’t ask Saarth to move in with him and what he asked was if he would consider moving in with him. Saarth replies, with his whole chest, that he didn’t say no to the question and said that both of them needed time. However, Nakul tells him that it means the same to him to which Saarth points out that it doesn’t, emphasizing that he has a lot going on in his life and he knows that both of them need time to grow as people. However, Nakul interjects, saying that they have been together for 2 years. He asks how much time he needs further. Saarth, now frustrated, tells him that despite their time together, they still end up on the other side of the beach. Saarth challenges him and asks what that says about them. Nakul replies that their current situation is just a miscommunication and it means nothing but Saarth is quick to say that that is just like everything that is happening lately in their lives, a sequence of nothings. Nakul stops in his tracks, speechless at what Saarth said.
