OPENING SCENE – AFTER THE FALL (Taj Mahal Hotel Pool – 3:23 AM)
Water fills Ishana’s lungs as she sinks, the world above her a shimmering distortion. Her fingers brush Vikram’s limp body beside her—
A HAND GRABS HER HAIR, DRAGGING HER UP.
She gasps air, clawing at the tiles—
ARYAN (hoarse): “Breathe, damn it!”
Beside them, Vikram’s body floats face-down. Blood clouds the water.
TRISHA (checking his pulse): “Dead.”
Ishana’s chest heaves. Not from drowning—from fury.
“Too quick.”
THE SECRET (Vikram’s Penthouse – 4:00 AM)
They ransack his safe. Aryan finds a USB drive labeled “Project Ashes.”
On-screen: BLUEPRINTS of the Varma and Raichand mansions—marked with explosives.
TRISHA (shaking): “He was going to wipe out both families in one night.”
ISHANA (icy): “We’re not done yet.”
She smashes the desk—revealing a hidden compartment.
Inside: A PHOTO of Vikram and Aryan’s father shaking hands.
Dated the day after Rohan’s murder.
ARYAN GOES VERY STILL.
THE FUNERAL (Varma Estate – Dawn)
Vikram’s casket gleams under false sunlight. Mr. Varma delivers a eulogy through gritted teeth.
“My son-in-law died a hero…”
Ishana watches from the shadows, her mother’s sobs cutting deeper than any blade.
MRS. VARMA (to her husband): “This is your fault. You made her a monster.”
MR. VARMA (backhanding her): “I made her a weapon.”
The crowd pretends not to see.
THE TRAP (Raichand Mansion – Noon)
Aryan confronts his father in the study.
ARYAN (throwing the photo): “You allied with Vikram. You let him frame me.”
RUDRA RAICHAND (sipping whiskey): “Business required sacrifices. Including you.”
Aryan draws his pistol—
HIS MOTHER (entering): “Stop. Or have you forgotten who really ordered Rohan’s death?”
She places a contract on the desk—signed by both fathers.
“They planned it together. To unite the empires… through your blood.”
THE REVELATION (Abandoned Theater – Night)
Ishana runs fingers over the Braille contract.
ISHANA: “Our fathers sacrificed us. Like livestock.”
TRISHA (pacing): “So what now? We kill them all?”
Aryan lights the contract on fire.
“No. We burn their legacy instead.”
CLIFFHANGER – THE FIRST SPARK
Ishana stands before the Varma family vault.
Inside: Generations of blackmail, murder records, bribes.
She pours gasoline along the floor.
MRS. VARMA (from doorway): “I knew you’d come.”
She tosses Ishana a lighter.
FADE TO BLACK.
END EPISODE 8.
