INT. AARAV'S HOME
The room is dim.
Naira's sister sleeps quietly, her breath finally steady.
aunt sits beside her, wiping her forehead.
uncle stares at the floor...silently crushed.
Near the window, Aarav stands still, shoulders heavy, his face half-lit by the weak city glow.
He whispers something, barely a breath…
a sound too soft for anyone to catch.
Naira steps closer, but the words slip past her ears.
What she does hear…
And what she sees…
is the storm he's trying to hide.
Naira moves to him gently.
Her bandaged arms tremble, but she reaches out...and takes his hand.
Aarav flinches… then stills...
His jaw tightens as if he's swallowing an ocean.
NAIRA (soft, almost breaking)
You… you did everything you could...
You even brought my sister back…
She looks up at him.
Her eyes are swollen...tired...
NAIRA (voice steadying)
But Aarav…
It's not just her! ...that I was worried about.
She tightens her fingers around his hand.
Aarav's breath hitches.
NAIRA(almost crying...)
I was worried for you too...
Aarav looks away.
He tries to hide the tremor in his breathing and the crack in his composure.
Naira steps even closer and...their shoulders almost touching...
NAIRA (gentle, crying)
"You are not alone… Aarav...Every decision… every step… you take...it affects both of us…."
A beat of silence.
Aarav's eyes soften...not in weakness, but... in relief he didn't know he needed.
NAIRA (whispering, like a vow)
"And...I'm ready to face everything... with you..."
Her voice trembles slightly at the next words…
but her gaze holds firm.
NAIRA
"even...if the ceremony was interrupted with everything that... happened…"
Aarav swallows hard.
NAIRA (with a soft smile and then... touches his chest)
But rituals are only meant to tie the bond...what's matters...Is your...heart...and the soul behind it.
Aarav's eyes tremble.
His lips part… but he says nothing...
The words won't come...
Not yet...
Naira squeezes his hands again...silently telling him she's not letting go...
A moment passes between them... soft... warm and... fragile...
Aarav looks toward Uncle and Aunt, His expression shifts and a struggle rising behind his calm...
He turns back to Naira...
AARAV (quiet...controlled...embarrassed)
Naira… Uncle…
I have something to discuss...
Uncle looks up...So does Aunt...
Aarav takes a slow breath...as if preparing for a decision that has been tearing him apart the whole night...