The soft clatter of the wheels beneath them continued like background music, rhythmic and patient. Outside, the stars blinked faintly above the speeding countryside. Inside the second-class sleeper coach, six people sat in a loose circle of anticipation, drawn together by the promise of a story.
The assistant director opened his notebook again, flipping past scribbled pages until he stopped at a particular section.
"Okay," he said, voice clearer now, "I'll narrate a gangster story."
He cleared his throat and began with confidence:
"Once upon a time in Mumbai, there was a Tamil—"
"Wait a minute," Rishi interrupted, unexpectedly. His voice was calm, but carried a firmness it rarely showed. All eyes turned to him.
Rishi leaned forward slightly. "How many times will you start a gangster story with 'Once upon a time in Mumbai'... ruled by a Tamil gangster? You guys keep romanticizing the same plot—poor boy rises, dons a black shirt, gold chain, speaks in single-line metaphors and rules Mumbai streets. Is there anything new?"
The assistant director blinked in surprise. Then, a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"You didn't look like someone who'd call out tropes," he said. "But fair point."
Revathi chuckled. "That's true, brother. Every second Tamil short film on YouTube has that same gangster walking in slow motion on Marine Drive."
The group laughed lightly.
The assistant director closed the page and said, "Okay. Then let's try something else. I have a second script. Different tone, different soul."
He looked directly at Rishi. "But before I narrate it, let's do something different. I want you to imagine the characters first. I'll guide the world, and you guess what kind of people might live in it. Let's see if it matches what I wrote."
Bala sat up. "Like a guessing game?"
"Exactly," the assistant director nodded. "Let your imagination roam. That's the challenge."
Rishi, now genuinely curious, asked, "Wait—are there new characters introduced suddenly in the middle of the story? Because if you want us to guess characters based on setup, we need to know that."
The director grinned. "Good question. No sudden twists. Just the opening. I'll build the setting, and you all guess the key people."
He took a deep breath. Okay… he said quietly. "The title is 'Pattabiram'. A revenge thriller."