OPENING SCENE – THE NIGHTMARE (Bridal Suite – 3:00 AM)
Ishana jolts awake, gasping. Vikram sleeps beside her, his arm draped possessively over her waist.
Her hand inches toward the jade dagger hidden under the pillow—
VIKRAM (murmurs, eyes still closed): “Try it, and I’ll make you watch Aryan die slowly.”
She freezes. He smiles.
THE FUNERAL (Varma Estate – Dawn)
Black banners flap in the wind as Ishana stands over Rohan’s coffin. Her mother sobs; her father’s face is stone.
MR. VARMA (to Vikram): “You promised me Raichand’s head.”
VIKRAM: “Patience. First, we break her.” He strokes Ishana’s hair. She doesn’t flinch.
A SERVANT WHISPERS TO ISHANA: “The Raichands sent no condolences. Only this.”
A single bullet casing—the one that killed Rohan.
ISHANA’S FINGERS CLENCH AROUND IT.
THE TRAP (Docks – Midnight)
Ishana wears Rohan’s jacket, slipping past guards to a warehouse. Inside: Aryan, alone, staring at the sea.
ARYAN (without turning): “I knew you’d come.”
She presses the dagger to his throat. “You murdered my brother.”
He turns slowly. His eyes are bloodshot. “No. But I know who did.”
FLASHBACK (WEDDING DAY):
Vikram whispering to a sniper. “Make sure it’s a Raichand bullet.”
PRESENT:
Aryan opens his palm—a matching casing from Vikram’s private stash.
ISHANA’S BREATH HITCHES.
Then—FOOTSTEPS. Vikram’s voice echoes outside: “Burn it down.”
THE ESCAPE (Warehouse Inferno – 12:30 AM)
Aryan drags Ishana through a back exit as flames roar.
ISHANA: “Why save me?”
ARYAN (grim): “Because you’re the only one who can prove I didn’t kill Rohan.”
Vikram’s men spot them. GUNFIRE. Aryan shoves Ishana into an alley.
ARYAN (bleeding from his side): “Run. Don’t trust anyone.”
He vanishes into smoke.
VIKRAM’S RAGE (Varma Mansion – 2:00 AM)
Vikram backhands Ishana. “You met him.”
She spits blood. “I hate him.”
VIKRAM (grinning): “Good. Then you won’t mind this.”
He hands her a phone—LIVE FEED of Aryan’s sister, tied up in a basement.
VIKRAM: “Say the word, and I slit her throat.”
The screen flickers. Aryan’s sister mouths: “He’s lying.”
CLIFFHANGER – ISHANA’S CHOICE
Ishana stares at the dagger in her hand.
VIKRAM (pressing a gun to her head): “Choose. His sister dies, or you prove your loyalty—and kill her yourself.”
FADE TO BLACK.
END EPISODE 3.
