Beside the Pond – Evening
(Tara and Arib are sitting on a bench near the pond, holding hands. The breeze is gentle. The sun is setting.)
Arib: Are you feeling sick?
Tara (softly smiling): Not anymore.
Arib (relieved): Okay... that's good.
Tara: I saw a dream.
Arib: What kind of dream?
Tara (voice drops): A house was burning... flames everywhere.
Arib (gently squeezing her hand): Forget all those scary things. From now on, I'll be with you. Always.
(Tara looks at him, her eyes unsure, but grateful.)
Arib: Now tell me... what happened in the cave?
Tara (eyes fill slightly): Jisa... she attacked me. She tried to kill me.
Arib (shocked): What? Why would she—
Tara: She said... my father wants me dead.
Arib: She could be lying.
Tara (quietly): People don't lie when they're dying.
(Silence falls between them.)
Arib: So… what will you do now?
Tara: I'll find him. I need to know why he wants me dead.
(Suddenly, Rose calls her.
Rose: Tara! The police are here! They want to investigate!
Scene 2: Police Station – Interrogation Room
(Tara sits across from a senior officer – Mr. Leo. His eyes are sharp, his voice calm but piercing.)
Mr. Leo: What happened there?
Tara: Jisa attacked me, sir.
Mr. Leo: Wasn't she your friend?
Tara: That's what I thought too.
Mr. Leo: Did you ask her why she did it?
Tara: I did. She... she didn't answer.
Mr. Leo: How did she die? Her body was burned.
Tara: Yeah…
Mr. Leo: You have fire-based powers, don't you?
Tara (raising her voice): Are you accusing me?
Mr. Leo: I'm stating facts.
Tara: I acted in self-defense!
Mr. Leo: In self-defense, you killed someone?
Tara: This is wrong! Do you even have proof?
Mr. Leo: We'll let the reports speak. Until then, you cannot leave the country. And when we call, you must come in.
(Tara stares at him in disbelief.)
Mr. Leo: You may leave now.
Scene 3: Outside the Station
(Tara walks out but doesn't find Arib. She calls him.)
Tara: Arib? Where are you?
Arib (on phone): Go to the hostel and rest. I've got some work.
(Tara lowers her phone slowly. Her heart feels heavy.)
Tara (thoughts): First day together… and his "work" is still more important.
Scene 4: Hostel Room – Night
Rose: Tara, how did the investigation go?
Tara: They think I killed Jisa on purpose. We need to prove it was self-defense.
Rose: I'll talk to my mom about getting a lawyer.
Tara: What about the fees?
Rose (smiling): Return it when you can.
Tara: Nadia? You've been quiet… did something happen?
Nadia: Nothing.
Rose (whispering to Tara): Something's off. She's been tense since that incident.
Tara: After what Jisa did... it's hard to trust anyone now.
Rose: But you can trust me.
(Tara gives a soft, grateful smile.)
Rose: Now, tell me... what about your love story, huh?
(Tara blushes a little. They both laugh.)
Scene 5: Police Station – Secret Interrogation Room
(Arib secretly watches from behind the glass. Mr. Rayan is being questioned by Mr. Leo.)
Mr. Leo: Stop wasting our time. What were you doing there?
Mr. Rayan: I didn't tell Jisa to kill Tara.
Mr. Leo: Kill? Interesting... I didn't say anything about killing.
Mr. Rayan (pauses): You're playing games.
Mr. Leo: Maybe. But without proof, we can't hold you.
(Mr. Rayan walks out. Arib hides in the shadows.)
Scene 6: Mr. Rayan's Call to Nadia
Mr. Rayan: Is everything okay there?
Nadia: Yes, sir.
Mr. Rayan: What about Tara?
Nadia: She didn't find anything yet.
Mr. Rayan: Good. Keep it that way.
Scene 7: Arib's Room
Neel: Lover boy! Tell me your story!
Arib (smiling shyly): There's nothing to tell.
Neel: Ohh, you're blushing! Don't lie!
Arib: Shut up. Want me to find a girlfriend for you?
Neel: Actually... help me. I already have someone in mind.
Arib: Oooh... tell me quickly.
Scene 8: Academy Boardroom
(The board holds a meeting. Mr. Rayan is officially dismissed.)
Tara: Who reported Mr. Rayan?
Rose: My mom.
Tara: I don't know what he'll do next...
Rose: We'll be ready. You should visit Principal Z. Jisa was close to him—he might know something.
Tara: You're right.
Scene 9: Principal Z's Office
(Tara knocks, but the door creaks open. She steps in. Her eyes fall on a framed family photo.)
(In the picture: Principal Z, a woman, and a small girl. Tara's eyes widen. The girl... it looks just like her childhood photo.)
Tara (whispers): This... can't be...
(Her heartbeat rises as a shiver runs down her spine. Something she believed about herself—just shattered.)
[To be continued...]