Setting: A bright lecture hall inside Elemental International College for Arts and Commerce. The subject? Creative Expression in Media — a mix of film, theater, literature, and presentation.
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🛎️ Scene opens:
The class is alive with excitement.
Projector screen flashes: "Mid-Semester Project – Create a 5-Minute Story Presentation in Pairs!"
Students start buzzing.
Professor Ayaan, a young, quirky filmmaker with wild curls and thick glasses, adjusts his scarf dramatically.
---
🎙️ Prof. Ayaan (dramatic):
> "Ah, love, tragedy, fantasy — whatever speaks to your soul! But remember, my darlings… chemistry matters."
He holds up a paper bowl.
> "Names go in here. Destiny picks your partner."
---
Students laugh nervously. One by one, names are drawn.
Tina is paired with Snow.
Shine with Sapphire.
Blue with Ruby.
Aahi shifts in her seat, playing with the pen in her hand. Her heart races.
She whispers softly—
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🎙️ Aahi:
> "Please don't be Red... please don't be Red…"
---
Professor Ayaan pulls the next pair.
He smiles.
---
🎙️ Prof. Ayaan:
> "Aahi Shaikh… and… Aarif khan."
Gasps echo.
Some girls whisper, "Omg, she's so lucky…"
Others say, "Aarif with her? That's gonna be interesting…"
---
Aahi turns and smiles at Aarif. He smiles back — relaxed, playful.
They walk toward each other, bump shoulders lightly.
---
🎙️ Aahi (teasing):
> "Don't worry, I won't make you act."
🎙️ Aarif (smirking):
> "Too late. I already prepared a dramatic monologue."
She laughs.
---
They settle at their desk. Books, doodles, pens scattered.
---
🎙️ Aarif:
> "So, what story do we tell?"
🎙️ Aahi (thinking, tapping her pen):
> "Something real… Something about a boy who acts cool but actually likes cold coffee and stray cats."
🎙️ Aarif (mock gasp):
> "Who told you about the cats?"
They both burst out laughing.
---
🎙️ Aahi:
> "Okay fine… what about a story of two strangers who misunderstood each other… but slowly became a team?"
Aarif looks at her for a second.
Not dramatic. Not flirty. Just real.
---
🎙️ Aarif (gently):
> "That sounds familiar."
Aahi nods.
---
From across the class, Tina watches them and whispers to Snow:
🎙️ Tina:
> "They look good together."
🎙️ Snow:
> "Like puzzle pieces from different boxes… but somehow fitting."
---
From the door, Red watches quietly.
He's holding a rose again.
He sees her laugh with Aarif. And for the first time, he doesn't move forward.
He turns around and walks away.
Silently.
---
📚 Back in class:
Aahi sketches something in her notebook.
A little cartoon of a cat and a boy drinking cold coffee.
She nudges it toward Aarif.
He sees it… and grins.
---
🎙️ Aarif:
> "If we win the best project award…"
🎙️ Aahi:
> "You'll owe me ten cold coffees."
---
They high-five.
Friends.
With a soft spark between their fingertips.
---
> the professor clapping once and announcing: "Time's up for ideas! Now go make something unforgettable!"
Setting: Aahi and Aarif are sitting on a grassy patch near the koi pond on campus. The sun is golden, the air slightly breezy. A few scattered students are around, but it's mostly peaceful. Their notebooks are open, iced coffee cups beside them.
---
🎧 Background: Light instrumental with acoustic guitar.
---
🎙️ Aahi (grinning as she flips her notebook):
> "So… our story is about two people who pretend they don't like each other but actually can't stop thinking about each other. Hmm… inspired by anyone?"
🎙️ Aarif Khan (mock offended):
> "Excuse me? I don't think about you at all. Maybe once… when you spilled juice on your notebook."
🎙️ Aahi (laughing):
> "That was you, Aarif. And it was soda."
---
They both laugh. A soft pause.
Aahi tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. Aarif watches her… for a second too long.
She catches him. He looks away quickly.
---
🎙️ Aahi (smirking):
> "What? You daydreaming about cats again?"
🎙️ Aarif (playing along):
> "No. You had something on your face. Like… sarcasm."
---
📸 Scene shifts:
They begin writing scenes for their short story. Aahi is full of wild ideas, while Aarif tries to organize it with structure.
She sketches characters.
He writes dialogue.
They bicker. They laugh. They click.
---
A koi fish jumps in the water nearby and splashes them both slightly.
---
🎙️ Aarif:
> "Okay, that fish officially hates me."
🎙️ Aahi (giggling):
> "No, it just sensed your fear. You're like a golden retriever trying to act like a tiger."
---
Aarif shakes his head but can't hide the grin.
---
🎙️ Aarif (softly, almost to himself):
> "You're… different."
Aahi looks up.
---
🎙️ Aahi:
> "What?"
🎙️ Aarif:
> "Nothing. Just… your brain runs fast, but your smile stays longer."
Aahi's cheeks tint slightly pink.
---
Suddenly, Tina yells from a far—
> "Oi lovebirds, lunch time!"
🎙️ Aarif (rolling his eyes):
> "She's literally the queen of bad timing."
---
They gather their notebooks and stand up. Aarif picks up her bag by instinct and hands it to her.
---
🎙️ Aahi (smiling genuinely):
> "Thanks."
🎙️ Aarif:
> "Anytime… partner."
They walk side by side toward the canteen.
Not holding hands. Not saying anything dramatic.
But something unspoken is building.
---
> the koi pond gently rippling behind them… and the wind whispering across the page of their shared story.