INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM – NIGHT
A dimly lit hospital waiting room. Fluorescent bulbs buzz overhead. Time seems to stall.
A GIRL, 19, sits on a plastic chair. Her leg taps restlessly on the white-tiled floor. Her eyes, wide and glassy, flicker between the WALL CLOCK — 11:49 PM — and the glowing BULB above her.
Her breath trembles. She wipes a tear with the sleeve of her oversized hoodie.
Across the room, a large steel ICE ROOM DOOR stands still and cold.
MOM (40s), her frame stiff with fear, stands alone in front of the door. Her hands are clenched, face pale, eyes fixed like stone.
The room hums. Nothing moves.
The GIRL looks up at the BULB.
BUZZ...
The bulb flickers.
CLICK.
It turns OFF.
The GIRL's tapping leg freezes.
She stands. Heart pounding.
FOOTSTEPS.
A DOCTOR (50s) walks out from the ice room door, followed by TWO NURSES in green scrubs. The nurses pass by silently into a side corridor.
The DOCTOR pauses. Looks at MOM. Nods slightly.
They move a few steps away. The GIRL watches as the DOCTOR and MOM talk in hushed tones. The MOM's body slouches.
The DOCTOR gently touches MOM's shoulder... then walks away into the corridor.
MOM stands still. Facing the door.
Slowly... she turns.
Her eyes meet the GIRL's.
Tears fill her eyes. Her face breaks.
The GIRL doesn't blink.
She slowly sits back down. Her body heavy.
Eyes distant.
Tears roll silently.
Her leg no longer taps.
She sits—still, hollow—as the bulb above flickers faintly in the dark.
---
🎮 IN-GAME – SAKURA SKY TEMPLE – BOSS PLATFORM
(Party of Two: JIYA – Priestess LV 64, VIVAN – Archer LV 68)
Boss: Sakura Wyrm – Phase 1
VIVAN:
"Okay, remember — the Wyrm enrages after Phase 2. Don't heal me too early or it'll lock onto you."
JIYA: (prepping buffs)
"Cool. So when you die, I'll just /sit and mourn next to your corpse?"
VIVAN: (laughs)
"Wow. My healer's already planning my funeral."
JIYA: (activates 'Blessing of Calm')
"I'll wear black in-game. Even my fox mount's gonna look sad."
VIVAN: (drawing bow)
"You're the only person who mourns with fashion sense."
JIYA:
"And sarcasm. That's my secondary class."
(They enter Phase 2. Dragon roars, sky turns crimson.)
---
🎮 IN-GAME – MID-BATTLE CHAOS
(Dragon swoops. AOE begins. Vivan dodges. Jiya… misfires.)
VIVAN: (as arrows rain)
"Get ready for group heal! NOW!"
JIYA: (casts 'Soothing Bloom' — but targets wrong)*
"On it!"
(Healing glow surrounds a random Yak grazing in the sky corner.)
VIVAN: (staring at the Yak's glowing green aura)
"…Why are you healing the Yak?!"
JIYA:
"He looked stressed, okay?"
VIVAN:
"HE'S AN NPC."
JIYA:
"Even NPCs need emotional support, Vivan."
(She throws a "Bubble of Grace" around the Yak. The Yak begins to follow her.)
VIVAN:
"I swear you attract more emotional side quests than actual loot."
JIYA: (soft giggle in VOIP)
"Maybe the Yak just needed someone to believe in him."
(They dodge the final AOE burst. Boss drops at 5% HP.)
VIVAN:
"Okay, serious mode. Final volley—don't get distracted by emotional cattle!"
JIYA: (casting 'Final Hymn')
"I only heal what touches my soul."
VIVAN: (beat, then quietly)
"…Then I'm glad you chose me in raids."
(Silence. The boss falls. Loot explodes in glittering shards.)
---
🎮 POST-RAID – LOOT SCREEN – PEACEFUL MUSIC
JIYA:
"We actually did it. Even with my compassionate Yak diplomacy."
VIVAN:
"You're chaos. But it's… a kind kind of chaos."
(She sends him a rare drop he was farming for.)
VIVAN: (surprised)
"Wait — this was your roll. You're giving it to me?"
JIYA:
"You'd have stayed in that fight for me. Even if I healed every chicken on the map."
VIVAN: (beat)
"…Yeah. I would."
(A soft moment. They don't say anything for a while. Just their avatars standing quietly on the cliff edge, wind animation blowing through cherry blossom petals.)
JIYA:
"Hey Vivan?"
VIVAN:
"Yeah?"
JIYA:
"If we ever party IRL… call me if you're about to aggro life's boss."
VIVAN: (smiling, quietly)
"Only if you promise to heal me… even if I'm not the Yak."
🎮 IN-GAME – NIGHT RAID – ABANDONED CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL
VIVAN (Archer LV 69) and JIYA (Priestess LV 65)
(Side quest: "Echoes of the Fallen" – dungeon requires constant healing)
VIVAN:
"Alright, big pull incoming. Heal ready?"
JIYA:
"Yep, 'Prayer Shield' on cooldown… aaand casting in 3…"
(Vivan rushes into a swarm of undead knights.)
VIVAN:
"Okay, they hit harder than I thought. Jiya? Heal? Hellooo?"
(His health bar drops rapidly. No heals. His screen flashes red.)
VIVAN:
"JIYA. Wake up, my limbs are falling off!"
(Final hit lands. Vivan's character dramatically collapses.)
GAME SYSTEM:
"You have died."
VIVAN:
"…You watched me die in high-definition."
(Camera pans to Jiya's character. Still standing. Idle. Bowing to a random altar.)
VIVAN:
"...She's asleep, isn't she?"
(He waits a moment. No reply. Just her avatar breathing peacefully next to a wall torch.)
VIVAN:
(types in party chat)
"And thus, the brave archer was abandoned by his priestess mid-fight… and the gods laughed."
(Still no response.)
VIVAN: (softly, this time)
"You must be curled up with your phone in hand… still logged in. You dork."
(He opens private chat, types slowly.)
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Sweet dreams, sleepy healer. See you tomorrow."
"Don't worry. The ghost of your Yak will protect me till then."
(He watches her idle character a few more seconds, then quietly logs off.)
LOGOUT:
"Vivan has left the party."
(Fade out as Jiya's character stands peacefully under the torchlight. A soft wind animation rustles her robe.)
INT. JIYA'S BEDROOM – EARLY MORNING
Phone buzzes on the bedsheet. Jiya's eyes flutter open. Her game still running on the screen — her character standing still near the torch-lit altar.
She picks up the phone groggily.
INSERT – SCREEN
Private Chat: "Sweet dreams, sleepy healer. See you tomorrow. Don't worry. The ghost of your Yak will protect me till then." – Vivan
She reads it. Smiles softly.
Types something.
Stops. Deletes it.
Doesn't reply.
---
INT. DINING ROOM – MOMENTS LATER
MOM (mid-40s) stands at the kitchen counter. Traditional kurta. Stern energy.
MOM
(while pouring tea)
"Jiya… 2 AM again? Gaming every night is not healthy, beta."
JIYA
(grabbing toast)
"I know, Ma. It was a dungeon boss. Can't pause teamwork."
MOM
"You can't pause ulcers either. You'll burn out."
JIYA
(smirks, half-listening)
"Mmm-hmm."
(puts helmet on)
"Love you. Bye!"
---
EXT. OFFICE COMPLEX – PARKING AREA – MORNING
Jiya zips into the parking lot on her scooter, dressed in casual but stylish officewear. She parks quickly.
---
INT. ELEVATOR – CONTINUOUS
HEMALI (20s) — glam, spirited, Jiya's friend and fellow model — rushes in just as doors close.
HEMALI
"Missed your sleepy face at the café. What time did you crash last night?"
JIYA
"Technically? Didn't."
HEMALI
(laughing)
"You and your invisible game-boyfriend again?"
JIYA
(blushes faintly)
"He's not my boyfriend."
HEMALI
(eye-roll)
"Right. Just someone who sends you goodnight texts and dies for you in dungeons."
JIYA
"He died because I fell asleep."
HEMALI
"Romantic. Like a tragic 8-bit Romeo."
(They laugh as elevator dings open.)
---
INT. MODELING AGENCY – CREATIVE FLOOR – MOMENTS LATER
Open-plan studio. Lights, posters, chatter of assistants prepping concepts.
BOSS JOLLY (40s) — enthusiastic, creative director — walks in clapping.
JOLLY
"Alright, queens! Pack your beachwear and sunscreen.
We just landed the ZESTA HOTELS campaign in Goa. 5-star property. 3-day shoot. Sun, luxury, glam."
JIYA & HEMALI
(in unison)
"Goa?!"
JOLLY
"Pack light. You'll be living in poolside robes and mimosas."
---
EXT. STREET – EVENING
The sun dips. Jiya walks back home with grocery bags in hand, her mind clearly elsewhere.
---
INT. JIYA'S HOUSE – EVENING
She walks in quietly. Places the grocery bag on the kitchen table.
MOM
(from inside)
"You're late today."
JIYA
"Had edits. Shoot stuff."
(She heads straight to her room.)
---
INT. JIYA'S BEDROOM – NIGHT
She drops her bag, doesn't change. Immediately grabs her phone.
Boots up the game. Her character appears on a moonlit map. She looks at her friend list.
STATUS:
Vivan – Offline
INT. JIYA'S BEDROOM – NIGHT
The screen glows in the dark. Jiya's eyes are fixed on her game UI.
[POP-UP: FRIEND ONLINE – VIVAN]
Her face lights up.
JIYA → VIVAN:
"Sorry about last night… I fell asleep mid-boss 😅"
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Oh no biggie. I just got mauled by skeleton knights while my healer was meditating IRL."
JIYA → VIVAN:
"They looked weak 😬"
VIVAN → JIYA:
"I looked weak… after the third stab."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Pretty sure one of them teabagged my corpse."
JIYA → VIVAN:
"I'll heal your pride with a revival scroll. 90% success rate."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Like your internet?"
(They pause. A silence between lines. Then Jiya types slowly.)
JIYA → VIVAN:
"Hey… if you could go anywhere, like, real world—not the game—where would you go?"
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Manali."
JIYA → VIVAN:
"Mountain boy?"
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Only if you're there. Otherwise it's just cold."
(Jiya bites her lip. Smiles faintly.)
JIYA → VIVAN:
"I'm going to Goa. It's a campaign shoot. Hotel chain project. Leaving tomorrow."
(A long pause.)
JIYA → VIVAN:
"So… I might not log in tomorrow. Or the day after."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Wow. My healer's abandoning me again. Should I prepare another eulogy?"
JIYA → VIVAN:
"I'm serious."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Me too. Take sunscreen. And slay the shoot like you slay orcs."
(Beat.)
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Don't worry about logging in. Just have fun. I'll wait."
(Jiya stares at the screen. Her hand hovers over the keyboard.)
JIYA → VIVAN:
"You better not level up without me."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Promise. No epic adventures without my sleepy healer."
(They both idle beside a lake in the game. Soft pixel water rippling. Two avatars watching the moonrise together.)
INT. HOTEL ROOM – GOA – NIGHT
A cozy hotel room. Soft lighting. Jiya sits on her bed in shorts and a loose tee, hair damp after a shower. Her phone is plugged in, screen glowing as the MMORPG loads.
Her avatar spawns at the usual lakeside spot.
[STATUS: VIVAN – ONLINE]
She perks up.
JIYA → VIVAN:
"So… found a new healer while I was gone?"
VIVAN → JIYA:
"I logged in early just to save your pixelated seat."
JIYA → VIVAN:
"Loyal tank. Impressive."
(They stand side by side on a grassy cliff, overlooking the valley map.)
JIYA → VIVAN:
"Shoot went great. Long, but kind of amazing. First time I didn't feel like I was pretending."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Sounds like you killed it. Any wardrobe malfunctions or celebrity tantrums?"
JIYA → VIVAN:
"One model fainted near the pool. Blamed a seagull."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Seagulls are a menace. I once lost a sandwich to one in real life. Never recovered emotionally."
(Pause.)
JIYA → VIVAN:
"We're leaving tomorrow morning. I'll be back in Pune by night."
(She notices he hasn't moved his avatar much. Just standing idle beside hers.)
JIYA → VIVAN:
"You okay? You've been kinda quiet."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Yeah. Just… a few things on my plate."
(Beat.)
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Actually… I gotta log off. Something came up."
JIYA → VIVAN:
"Oh. Sure. All good."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"I'll ping you tomorrow night. Safe travels, healer."
JIYA → VIVAN:
"Don't get stabbed while I'm gone."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"I'll try. No guarantees without you."
[POP-UP: VIVAN has logged out.]
Jiya stares at the empty spot beside her on the screen. The game music plays softly.
She doesn't log out.
Just sits.
Alone under the pixel moon.
INT. JIYA'S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Dim light. Jiya logs into the MMORPG.
She immediately checks her friend list.
[VIVAN – OFFLINE]
Her shoulders drop.
She sits by the in-game lake. Alone.
TIME PASSING...
Clock on her wall ticks past midnight.
Jiya waits.
No change in status.
---
INT. JIYA'S ROOM – EARLY MORNING
Groggy. Hair tied messily.
She grabs her phone before brushing. Opens the game.
[STATUS: VIVAN – LAST ONLINE: 2 hours ago]
Her inbox shows 4 new texts from Vivan:
VIVAN:
Hi
Hello, how are you
You there..?
Okay... sleep. Gn.
Jiya exhales quietly. She stares at the messages, the corners of her eyes heavy.
---
INT. OFFICE – LATE EVENING
The conference room buzzes with the sound of documents shuffling and coffee cups clinking.
Jiya sits beside HEMALI and JOLLY, tired but focused.
CLIENT:
"So final layouts will be ready by next week?"
JOLLY:
"Absolutely. We'll make it work."
JIYA:
(weak smile)
"Yep. We'll burn the midnight oil if needed."
CUT TO:
INT. JIYA'S HOME – NIGHT
She drops her bag. Collapses on the bed.
Phone still in hand. Eyes half open. She doesn't even log in.
Sleep takes her.
---
INT. JIYA'S ROOM – NEXT MORNING
Sunlight floods the room. Her phone buzzes.
She jolts awake — confused — then realizes.
JIYA (murmuring):
"Vivan…"
She grabs the phone.
Logs in.
[STATUS: VIVAN – LAST ONLINE: 4 hours ago]
2 messages await her.
VIVAN:
Miss you
Good night
Her lips press together. A silent ache flickers in her eyes.
She types carefully.
JIYA → VIVAN:
Sorry… crazy meeting last night. I got home late and passed out.
Will meet today. Promise.
She stares at the message.
Hopes he sees it.
Hopes he replies.
The pixel lake waves shimmer quietly.
INT. JIYA'S ROOM – EVENING
Jiya enters the room, drops her bag, and without wasting time, switches on her phone. She logs into the MMORPG.
Her avatar appears in the usual lakeside spot.
[VIVAN – OFFLINE]
She sits silently. Waiting.
The in-game wind stirs pixelated leaves.
TIME SKIPS – TWO HOURS LATER
[VIVAN – ONLINE]
Her eyes light up.
JIYA → VIVAN:
"Finally. Was thinking I'll have to solo a world boss out of heartbreak."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"You'd heal the boss by accident."
JIYA:
"Only if he looked emotionally neglected."
(They both move their avatars to sit beside the pixel lake — side by side.)
JIYA → VIVAN:
"So… everything okay? You've been kinda distant lately."
(Pause.)
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Yeah. Just a lot going on. I'm trying to set up a business… car service garage."
JIYA → VIVAN:
"Garage? Like oil stains and tires and engines?"
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Exactly that. Small space, local clients. Helping Dad too. I'm neck-deep in grease and invoices."
(She pauses a moment, then types.)
JIYA → VIVAN:
"Greasy but ambitious. I like it."
(Beat.)
VIVAN → JIYA:
"So... if my garage takes off, and you become a top model, I guess I can fix your car while you do shampoo ads?"
JIYA → VIVAN:
"Only if you throw in a free car wash with dramatic water splash slow motion."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Deal. But only if I can wear aviators and pretend I'm in a 90s music video."
(They both laugh through their keyboards.)
JIYA → VIVAN:
"You know... I kinda missed you."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"You 'kinda'? That's like saying a dragon is slightly warm."
JIYA:
"Okay. I totally missed you. Now be happy."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"I am. Now that you're here."
(A pause. Silence. Warm. They both just sit virtually by the lake.)
JIYA → VIVAN:
"I have an early meeting tomorrow... need to log off now."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Go rule the runway, sleepyhead."
JIYA → VIVAN:
"And you — don't clear too many dungeons without me."
VIVAN → JIYA:
"Not a chance. You're my favorite party member."
[JIYA has logged out]
Vivan's avatar remains by the lake.
Still.
A moment longer.
INT. JIYA'S ROOM – NIGHT
The soft glow of the phone screen lights Jiya's tired face.
She stares at the MMORPG login screen... hesitates...
Then finally logs in.
Her avatar appears in their usual lakeside spot —
quiet, pixelated wind brushing the water.
[VIVAN – Last online: 21 hours ago]
She blinks. Her expression still.
Waits.
Types nothing.
Minutes pass.
No status change.
She shifts uncomfortably, then leans back.
JIYA (softly):
"Where are you, Vivan..."
She sighs and logs out.
---
INT. JIYA'S BEDROOM – MORNING
ALARM RINGS.
Jiya opens her eyes, rubs her temples.
She picks up her phone —
stares at it blankly for a moment —
but doesn't open the game.
She gets up, throws her shawl over her shoulder, and walks out.
---
INT. KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS
Her mom is at the counter making tea.
MOM
Late again last night?
Jiya avoids eye contact, grabs a toast.
JIYA
Didn't play. Just couldn't sleep.
MOM
Maybe your dreams are stuck in that game now.
JIYA
(smiles faintly)
Yeah… maybe.
She picks up her bag and scooter keys.
---
EXT. OFFICE PARKING – MORNING
Jiya parks her scooter, still distracted.
She walks slowly toward the building.
A colleague waves. Jiya waves back, half-heartedly.
She walks into the elevator, silent —
eyes a little tired, fingers twitching as if still typing.
---
INT. OFFICE – DAY
The clatter of keyboards. The rustle of papers.
JIYA sits at her desk, focused, brows furrowed as she scrolls through campaign layouts. She's sharper. Quieter.
HEMALI leans over from her chair.
HEMALI
You didn't log in yesterday again?
JIYA
(pauses, without looking)
Didn't feel like it.
HEMALI
Not even to check on your mystery guild knight?
JIYA
(smiles faintly)
Guess the quest ended.
HEMALI
You okay?
JIYA
Yeah. Just... re-speccing my real-life build.
---
INT. JIYA'S BEDROOM – NIGHT
The game app icon still sits on her home screen.
She glances at it, but instead, opens her email.
Work. Deadlines. Calendar.
She sighs... puts the phone aside.
Grabs her sketchpad instead and starts doodling quietly.
---
INT. OFFICE – LUNCH BREAK
A group laughing at the table. Jiya sits with them, eating and smiling lightly. Present.
---
V.O. – JIYA (in her head):
"It's funny... how someone becomes part of your routine. And then one day, they're not. But somehow... you keep moving."
---
INT. JIYA'S LIVING ROOM – SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Soft classical music plays from a Bluetooth speaker.
Sunlight filters in through the windows.
Jiya and her MOM sit on the floor, sipping tea, folding laundry together.
MOM
You know… it's been nice seeing you away from that screen for a while.
JIYA
(smiling)
Yeah... I forgot what normal weekends feel like.
MOM
I didn't want to say it before, but—every night, I'd see that glow on your face from the phone. Not the healthy kind.
JIYA
(playfully rolls eyes)
It wasn't that bad.
MOM
You looked like a firefly in hibernation.
They both laugh. Jiya leans her head on her mom's shoulder for a brief moment.
MOM
(softly)
Whoever it was... sometimes people come into your life to give you something small but real. Doesn't mean they'll stay.
JIYA
(faint whisper)
I know.
---
INT. JIYA'S BEDROOM – EVENING
The room glows in amber twilight.
Jiya sits at her desk, flipping through email replies for work.
Her inbox loads. One unread mail. She checks it quickly.
Then—her eyes catch the game icon on her home screen.
She hesitates.
Touches it.
[GAME LAUNCHES]
The lake background appears. Familiar music plays.
[INBOX – 23 UNREAD MESSAGES]
She taps.
The messages are all from VIVAN.
Missed you.
Where are you.
Hope tomorrow you have time for me.
Where u gone.
I am waiting for you.
Hello.
Still offline.
Too much this is...
Okay leasten I have to go out of town for 2 days. Do not worry if I am not online.
And you still offline.
(long pause)
I'm leaving the game. I have to focus in life. I hope you are fine. I waited for you so long. But it's how it is...
Final bye.
Jiya's hand slowly drops from the phone.
She stares at the screen.
The lake.
Empty.
Her avatar stands alone.
Her eyes begin to glisten... but she doesn't cry.
She just whispers—
JIYA
"Why didn't I open it sooner..."
She logs out.
Silence.
---
EXT. PUNE – EARLY MORNING – OUTSIDE JIYA'S HOUSE
A calm, pinkish dawn blankets the city. The air is crisp. A white SUV waits outside the gate, engine humming.
INT. JIYA'S BEDROOM – CONTINUOUS
JIYA, now 25, more confident, more composed — finishes tying her hair.
A faint ding on her phone.
RAJIV (TEXT)
Hey, where are you?
She smiles faintly.
JIYA (TEXT)
Coming. Wait.
Another ding.
RAJIV (TEXT)
Been waiting forever, Jiya.
JIYA (TEXT)
Yah, I know. 5 minutes. Chill.
She zips her backpack shut.
---
INT. KITCHEN – MOMENTS LATER
MOM, now grayer, but still warm and gentle, hands Jiya a travel thermos.
MOM
You packed everything?
JIYA
(nods)
Yes, Mom.
MOM
Take care, okay? It's a long way to Manali.
JIYA
(sincerely)
I will. Love you.
Her mom smiles. A quiet hug.
EXT. OUTSIDE JIYA'S BUILDING – MOMENTS LATER
The SUV door opens. RAJIV (28), in a hoodie and sungl