[Outside the Courtroom]
Tara: Nadia… I didn't expect you to show up.
Rose (suspiciously): But how did you know Jisa attacked first? You weren't even there. And you didn't come to the hospital either.
Nadia (hurt): Wow… so that's where we stand? You guys really think I'd stand by and do nothing? I was trying to help Tara.
Tara (softly): I believe you. But your words in court… they didn't sound like you were on anyone's side.
Nadia (quietly): I couldn't say everything. It's complicated. But I was trying to protect you.
Tara (looking in her eyes): I get it now. Thank you.
Nadia (forcing a smile): You're always welcome.
Rose (still cold): Let's just go.
Nadia (turns away): You go ahead. I have… something else to take care of.
Tara watches her for a moment—something about Nadia's expression doesn't sit right. She wasn't angry. She looked… guilty?
[Later – On the Way Back]
Neel (grinning at Rose): Let's go to the park.
Rose: What are we, kids?
Arib (teasing Tara): Or maybe… we turn it into a date?
Tara (snaps out of thought, surprised): Huh? A date? Right now?
Arib (gently): You've been tense all day. Come on, Firegirl. You need a break.
Rose: So childish… (rolls eyes)
Neel (grinning): But you love childish.
Rose (trying not to smile): Shut up.
[At the Park – Tara & Arib]
Arib: Come here—let's take a photo.
They stand under a glowing heart-shaped frame. Arib sets the timer and pulls her close.
Arib (whispering): Smile like you don't have murder charges on you.
Tara (smirking): Only if you stop saying "Firegirl."
Camera clicks. She notices people around smiling. For a moment, things feel… normal.
Tara: Let's win something.
Arib (heading toward the booth): Challenge accepted.
Arib shoots all the targets clean. Tara claps as the vendor hands over a giant teddy bear.
Tara: Seriously? That was hot.
Arib: I have many talents. Shooting. Flirting. Calming down angry goddesses.
They walk, sharing cotton candy and joking.
Arib (pointing): Roller coaster. Let's go.
Tara (hesitant): Uh… I'm not really a fan of falling from the sky.
Arib (offering hand): Then fall with me.
They sit. The ride begins.
Tara (clutching the bar): I hate this I hate this I hate this.
Arib (laughs): Eyes open, Tara!
She squeezes his hand tight. As they drop, she screams—but ends up laughing halfway through.
Tara (breathless): That was terrifying.
Arib (still laughing): You sounded like a dying cat.
Tara (playfully hitting him): You're so dead.
[Meanwhile – Rose & Neel: Horror House]
Neel: So, horror house?
Rose (raising a brow): You're chickening out?
Neel: I'm not scared. I'm just… emotionally sensitive to jump scares.
Rose (teasing): Wow. The flirt runs away from ghosts?
Neel: Admit it. You want me beside you.
Rose: I don't! I just think… maybe… you'd be lonely if I go alone.
Neel: Mm-hmm. You're shaking.
Rose (defensive): Am not!
Neel: Let's go, Miss Lightning.
They enter. It's pitch dark. Fog swirls around the floor. Distant whispers echo. Then—
BANG!
A door slams. Rose jumps and grabs Neel's arm.
Rose (panicking): WHAT WAS THAT?!
Neel (chuckling): Relax, they're actors.
Suddenly, a ghost in tattered robes jumps out.
Rose (screaming): NOPE! NOPE! TOO REAL!
Neel (grinning): This is amazing.
A horde of "ghosts" rushes out.
Rose: I SAID ENOUGH!!
Electric sparks crackle from her fingertips. A bolt shoots out, exploding a fake wall. Sparks fly. Lights shut down.
Ghost actor (from inside): Uh-oh…
[At the Parking Lot]
Arib (on call): Where are you two? We're waiting.
Rose and Neel arrive, slightly charred and wide-eyed.
Neel (laughing): So, lightning + haunted house = chaos. Who knew?
Tara glares at him silently.
Neel (reading the look): Message received. Lips sealed.
Rose (laughing loudly): But I did fry a plastic demon. Totally worth the fine.
Neel (to Arib): Tomorrow, same place? Double date?
Rose : Date? You?
Neel : why??..
Rose : shut up. Let me drive.
Arib got a call. Tara saw it was saved as Father.
Arib received the call. And said ok.
Arib : I have go home. Father wants to talk.
Tara: sure. Go.
Arib : drop me here.
Arib left.
Three of them went to school. They saw everyone was crowding around something. The school Guards were in hurry catching something.
Rose : something is cooking.
Neel asked a girl ( running towards the crowd)
Neel : hey what happened? .
The girl : a girl is dead. Some students saw Weird creature near the school. May be that creature killed her.
After saying this the girl left in hurry. They went in the crowd and saw a dead body. The body was deep wound on the blood-soaked chest, through which bones and torn flesh are clearly visible. Someone has slowly reached in and pulled the heart out. Their entire body is drenched in blood. … His eyes are wide open, and the expression on his face is terrifying....
Tara Couldn't see the body. Neel covered Rose ' s eyes and kinda huged her.
Mr Cyrus was speaking in the microphone.
" students go the class room. And those who doesn't have class. Go to your hostel room. The creature is moving around the jungle near this school. Make sure you stay safe yourself"
Everyone was scared and going to their room.
The crowded was talking the dead body and the creature.
Neel : you two go to your room. Stay safe. I will inforn Arib about this.
Rose : first time seeing you being serious about something
Neel : i was always serious about you but you didn't notice.
Tara smiling.
Rose : flirting again. When you see the creature Don't flirted with that.
Neel (smiling.) ok go ahead.
Tara and Rose were walking and talking with eachother.
Rose : what do you think? Really this kind of creature exists?
Tara : Let's say they do exists. But why came here? Is it coincidence? After what happened with me. I don't believe in coincidence anymore.
Rose : right. So they came here for a reason. What it could be?.
They reached in their room.
Zoya : keep talking. Don't treat me like outsider.
Rose : you saw the body?
Zoya : yes. Let's go to the jungle and see it.
Tara : you think it's funny?
Zoya : why would i be afraid? We have you and your fire. You can kill anyone with a single strike right?
Tara(suspicious) : what?
Zoya : i heard about your fire thats why i told this as fun. Don't take seriously . ( laughing nervously)
Tara : okhh.
Rose was sitting in Tara' s bed.
Tara : i need to talk to Principal Z but can't find right time.
Rose : Let's go now.
Tara : now? Everyone is tensed about that creature.
Rose : so what? Let's go.
Arib and his father talking in the dine in table.
Mr Rayan : I heard you are dating that girl.
Arib : she has a name.
Mr Rayan : Don't forget i was fired because of her.
Arib : i saw everything. Don't lie.
Mr Rayan : I called you today cause i want to talk to you about your mother.
Arib: Another lie?
Mr Rayan : i have proof.
Arib : : ok. Who was it? Who killed my mother?
Mr Rayan : Principle Z.
Arib : what?
Mr Rayan : yeah. Tara's father.
Arib : He is Tara's father.
Mr Rayan : you are shocked about this?.
Arib: you have proof. What is it.
Mr Rayan : Principle Z have an ability to travel from one universe to another. When he first got this ability he wanted to use it. Your mother was his friend. While travelling he killed your mother.
Arib : why?
Mr Rayan : i don't know the motive yet.
Arib : why didn't you ask him? why didn't you tell me earlier? Why telling me now?
Mr Rayan : he is heartless. He had left his own daughter in another universe. If i pretend like i knew what he did. May be he would have done that to you too. I was trying to protect you. And i tried to ask him why did he killed your mother but he didn't answer. You know he is stronger than me. I couldn't win.
Arib : why did you tell me this now?.
Mr Rayan : i thought you deserve to know this.
Arib's phone was Ringing.
Arib : thanks for telling me. I will leave now.
Arib on phone
Arib (on call, concerned): Hello?
Neel (hushed, serious tone): Something is cooking here, bro. Come quickly.
Arib (urgent): Yeah, I was just about to. I need to talk to Tara first.
Neel: Okh.
(Arib thinking, troubled)
Arib (thought): Principal Z is not a good person. I need to save Tara from him. Maybe... maybe he killed my mother. But Tara has nothing to do with this. I have to protect her.
[Scene: Hallway – Tara and Rose walking to Principal Z's office]
Tara (curious): Do you know his real name?
Rose: No. Everyone just calls him Principal Z.
(Tara's phone rings. She picks up)
Tara: Hey Arib.
Arib (urgent): Tara... Principal Z is your father. My dad told me.
(Tara freezes. Eyes widen. She stops walking.)
Tara (shocked whisper): I was just going to meet him...
Rose (alarmed): What happened?
Arib: Go meet him Tara. You deserve to know the truth yourself.
Tara (confused): What do you mean...?
Arib: Talk to him. Then meet me. At our place.
Tara: Okay...
Rose (curious): Now tell me. What was that?
Tara (hesitant): He's my father... Mr. Rayan told Arib.
Rose (firmly): It could be a part of Mr. Rayan's game.
Tara: But Arib told me.
Rose: He could be using Arib too.
Tara (resolute): No. I need to talk to him.
[Scene: Outside Principal Z's office]
Rose: I'll wait outside. If anything happens, shout my name.
Tara (softly): Okay...
(Tara knocks. A pause.)
Principal Z (inside): Yes?
(Tara enters. Her heart pounds. Questions swirl in her mind.)
Principal Z: Hi, Tara.
Tara (nervously, eyes shimmering): Hi... dad.
Principal Z (sharply): What? Are you mad?
Tara (emotional): I know everything, Dad.
Principal Z (coldly): Know everything? How dare you call me that? After what you did to me?
Tara (hurt, trembling): I should be the one saying that! You tried to kill me!
Principal Z: I tried... but you killed.
Tara (shocked): What do you mean?
Principal Z (bitter): You killed your mother. Your fire... it's a curse. A curse to me, to us— to this world.
Tara (breaks down in tears): Stop it... Dad? I killed mother—how?
Principal Z (coldly): It was your fire. As long as you carry it... stay away from me. Now get out.
(Tara wipes her tears. Determined not to show weakness, she exits. Rose, who heard it all, hugs her tightly.)
Rose (softly): It's okay. He'll understand one day.
Tara (quietly): I hope so.
Rose (trying to cheer her up): Come on. Let's eat something tasty.
Tara: I have to meet Arib first. Let's go after that.
Rose: You'll go alone? That creature's still around.
Tara (softly): I can manage.
[Scene: Tara walks alone, lost in thought]
(She thinks of her mother... her dream... realisation dawning — she caused it. Her fire... her curse.)
Arib (calls from distance): Tara!
(She walks up to him, eyes still damp. Arib hugs her tightly.)
Arib (gently): Did he say something?
Tara (broken): I killed my mother... I don't deserve to be his daughter.
Arib (shocked): What? Tara... you were a child. You don't even remember it. How could you?
Tara: It was my fire. A curse.
Arib (firmly): No. It's your strength. Maybe her death was an accident.
Tara: Accident… caused by me. Anyway, what did you want to tell me?
Arib: Forget it.
Tara (softly): No, tell me. I'm okay.
Arib: According to my dad… your dad killed my mother.
Tara (stunned): What? Why?
Arib: He doesn't know. I need to ask him.
Tara: Explain everything...
Arib: They were friends. Your dad could travel between universes. My mom helped him. One day, during a travel... she died.
Tara (suspicious): Something's hidden here.
Arib: After what he did to you, you're taking his side?
Tara: No… I just wonder why he'd kill someone during travel. There must be a reason.
Arib: I need answers. I'll talk to him directly.
Tara: Yeah… we should.
[Suddenly, a horrifying sound. They turn.]
(A deep brown creature, with dark blue eyes. Crawling like a human on all fours—its front limbs like hands.)
Tara (tries to summon fire): Come on...
(Nothing happens. Arib's shocked—no sword.also Arib didn't brought his sword. They had nohere to run. He hugs her tightly, as if it's the end.)
*Suddenly, a flash. Neel arrives—sword in hand. He slays the creature.)
(They gasp, breathing hard.)
Arib: Tara, you couldn't summon your fire. You need rest.
Neel (annoyed): At least thank me? Or ask what that was? I called you earlier, but no—had to talk to Tara. Don't be this mad in love.
(Neel storms off.)
Tara: Go after him. He's angry.
Arib (sighs): I'll talk to him. Let me take you to your room. And forget what your father said. Focus on your strength.
Tara: Yeah. But... what about this creature?
Arib: I'll call the school authorities.
(As they walk...) Arib (thought): When Dad was talking about Mom... I was only thinking about Tara. Am I really this mad? Was Neel right?
Tara (gently): Are you okay? Don't worry. We'll find the truth about your mother.
Arib (smiling faintly): I know you're with me.
(He kisses her forehead.)
Arib: Now go. Take rest.
Tara (soft smile): Bye...
(She kisses him on the cheek. He blushes.)
[Next Morning – Tara's Room]
(Tara wakes. Rose's bed is empty.)
Zoya (rushing in): Tara! Wake up! We need to go to the auditorium!
(Outside: sirens blare. Mics announce:)
"Red alert. Everyone remain in your rooms..."
(Ambulance sounds. Panic spreads.)
Tara (tense, thinking): Something terrible has happened...
[TO BE CONTINUED...]