Waiting

Shiv Natraj, an elderly psychology professor, arrives at a hospital in Kochi to visit his comatose wife, Pankaja. He reflects on the fragility of life and the long, uncertain road ahead for both of them, setting a somber mood for the night.

Tara Kapoor Deshpande receives the devastating news that her husband Rajat has been involved in a car accident and rushes to the hospital. She is consoled by Girish, a co-worker, as she confronts the shock of the situation and sees Rajat on a ventilator. The moment marks the beginning of parallel grief for Tara.

In the waiting lounge, Tara approaches Shiv thinking he is a doctor and asks for guidance. Shiv reveals that his wife has been in a coma for eight months after a stroke, and the two bond over their shared experiences of loss. The encounter anchors an unlikely alliance between strangers.

The next day, Girish drops Tara at a hotel and hands over Rajat's bag. She discovers Rajat's watch in the bag and slips it on, a small talisman that connects their separate lives. The moment foreshadows how their paths will continue to intersect.

The following day, Tara reads an intimate message on Rajat's phone from a colleague named Sheetal, which is later revealed to be a man. Shiv witnesses the misunderstanding and the moment lightens the tension, revealing their shared vulnerability in the process.

Shiv visits Tara at the hotel and she vents about friends and followers who have abandoned her. Shiv explains the five stages of grief, offering a framework that helps Tara understand her emotions. They begin spending much of their spare time together as they cope with their losses.

Shiv takes Tara to a temple while she takes him shopping, and their unlikely companionship deepens as they navigate grief together. The day-to-day activities become rituals that anchor their evolving friendship. Their differences feel less like barriers and more like balance.

Rajat's doctor, Nirupam Malhotra, explains a brain hematoma and that surgery could help but carries the risk of partial paralysis. Tara is torn between hope and realism, while Shiv accuses the hospital system of prioritizing money over patients. The disagreement ignites a heated confrontation about what Rajat would want.

Tara's friend Ishita arrives and urges her to start praying for Rajat. Although Tara remains an atheist, she privately chants Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō when alone with Rajat, signaling a shift toward personal rituals as a source of strength.

Tara discusses Rajat's surgery with Ishita and initially decides not to proceed, which further infuriates Malhotra. Ishita also leaves to help her ailing son, highlighting the strains on personal priorities. The moment marks a temporary pause in the medical plan.

Shiv and Tara reconcile and share a playful moment dancing at Shiv's house, momentarily shedding the strain of their circumstances. They discuss what their spouses meant to them and fall asleep together on the living room couch, exhausted but connected by shared grief.

The next morning Tara informs Rajat's mother, and Girish brings the required insurance papers. She thanks him for his steadfast support and decides to move forward with the proposed surgery plan, signaling a renewed commitment to Rajat's fate.

Rajat is taken to the operating room and Tara holds his hand as they arrive, a touching moment of hope and fear. Meanwhile, Shiv faces a quiet, private decision about his wife and the path forward, underscoring the parallel journeys of both couples.

Shiv decides to take Pankaja off the ventilator, letting her make the final call if she can breathe on her own. The scene unfolds with flashbacks of happier times for both couples, underscoring the complexity of love and choice in the face of illness.

Tara sits in the waiting lounge as Rajat's operation unfolds, while Shiv sits beside her, offering silent companionship. The camera slowly pans out, leaving their intertwined fates hovering in the air as the outcome remains uncertain.