SCENE 1 — AANYA'S BEDROOM — MORNING
A phone alarm rings.
AANYA lies buried under her blanket.
AANYA (THOUGHT)
There are three things I hate in this world.
The alarm continues ringing.
AANYA (THOUGHT)
Monday mornings.
She reaches for the phone.
A romantic song is playing from the apartment next door.
AANYA (THOUGHT)
Love songs before coffee.
A notification suddenly appears.
MOM:
Your cousin is getting married! ❤️ Maybe you're next!
AANYA stares at it.
AANYA (THOUGHT)
And people asking when I'm getting married.
She throws the phone onto the bed.
AANYA
Absolutely not.
SCENE 2 — COFFEE SHOP — MORNING
AANYA enters her favorite coffee shop.
Her best friend, RIYA, waves from a table.
RIYA
You're late.
AANYA
I'm three minutes late.
RIYA
Which is basically thirty minutes in best-friend time.
AANYA sits down.
RIYA slides a coffee toward her.
AANYA
You ordered for me?
RIYA
Extra strong. No sugar.
AANYA
This is why you're the only relationship I need.
RIYA rolls her eyes.
RIYA
Speaking of relationships—
AANYA
No.
RIYA
You don't even know what I'm going to say!
AANYA
You're going to tell me about some attractive man who is apparently perfect for me.
RIYA smiles.
RIYA
Okay, maybe you know me too well.
AANYA
I'm not dating anyone.
RIYA
You haven't dated anyone in three years.
AANYA takes a sip of coffee.
AANYA
Exactly. Look how peaceful I am.
RIYA
You don't hate dating.
AANYA looks at her.
RIYA
You hate the possibility of getting hurt.
AANYA's smile disappears.
AANYA
Same difference.
SCENE 3 — FLASHBACK
Five years earlier.
Rain falls heavily.
A younger AANYA stands beneath a bus stop shelter.
In front of her is ARJUN, her first love.
Her eyes are filled with tears.
AANYA
Tell me she's lying.
ARJUN looks away.
AANYA
Arjun.
Silence.
AANYA
Look at me and tell me you didn't choose her.
ARJUN finally meets her eyes.
ARJUN
I'm sorry.
AANYA's heart breaks.
AANYA
Don't say you're sorry.
ARJUN
Aanya—
AANYA
If you loved me, you wouldn't have needed to be sorry.
She walks away into the rain.
SCENE 4 — PRESENT DAY — COFFEE SHOP
AANYA snaps back to reality.
RIYA
Aanya?
AANYA
I'm fine.
RIYA
You know one bad relationship doesn't mean—
AANYA
Love isn't some magical thing, Riya.
RIYA studies her.
AANYA
People meet. They make promises. They change.
She shrugs.
AANYA
End of story.
Suddenly—
MYSTERIOUS MAN (O.S.)
That's a depressing way to look at life.
AANYA turns.
A handsome stranger is standing beside their table.
This is KABIR.
Confident.
Calm.
Annoyingly attractive.
AANYA
Were you listening to our conversation?
KABIR
Not intentionally.
AANYA
Then unintentionally stop.
RIYA tries not to laugh.
KABIR smiles.
KABIR
Interesting.
AANYA
What is?
KABIR
You don't believe in love.
AANYA
Correct.
KABIR
I think people who say that usually believed in it the most.
AANYA freezes.
For one second, Kabir has hit somewhere dangerously close to the truth.
CHOICE
How should Aanya respond?
OPTION 1 — FLIRTY
AANYA
And I think handsome strangers should buy me coffee before analyzing my personality.
KABIR raises an eyebrow.
KABIR
Handsome?
AANYA immediately regrets her choice of words.
AANYA
Focus on the coffee part.
OPTION 2 — COLD
AANYA
And I think strangers should mind their own business.
KABIR smiles slightly.
KABIR
Fair enough.
He starts walking away.
Then—
KABIR
But I'm still right.
OPTION 3 — SARCASTIC
AANYA
Wow. Coffee and free therapy. What a great morning.
KABIR laughs.
KABIR
You're welcome.
SCENE 5 — OFFICE
AANYA arrives at work.
She enters a conference room.
Her boss is standing beside someone.
BOSS
Aanya, perfect timing.
AANYA looks up.
Her eyes widen.
KABIR is standing there.
KABIR
We meet again.
AANYA
You've got to be kidding me.
BOSS
Aanya, meet Kabir Malhotra.
Kabir offers his hand.
BOSS
He's the new creative director.
AANYA reluctantly shakes it.
KABIR
Looks like you'll have plenty of time to tell me why love isn't real.
AANYA
I'd rather work.
KABIR
That can be arranged.
Their eyes meet.
Something sparks between them.
Aanya immediately pulls her hand away.
AANYA (THOUGHT)
No.
AANYA (THOUGHT)
Absolutely not.
SCENE 6 — OFFICE LOBBY — EVENING
AANYA leaves the office.
She checks her phone while walking.
Then she crashes into someone.
AANYA
I'm so sorry—
She looks up.
Her entire body freezes.
The man standing in front of her looks equally shocked.
ARJUN
Aanya?
Her phone nearly slips from her hand.
AANYA (THOUGHT)
No.
Not him.
Not after five years.
ARJUN
I can't believe it's really you.
AANYA stares at the man who destroyed her belief in love.
AANYA
What are you doing here?
Before he can answer, a strange voice speaks behind her.
UNKNOWN MAN
Aanya Mehra?
She turns.
A mysterious man stands several feet away.
He looks at her like he already knows her.
This is REYANSH.
AANYA
Do I know you?
His expression changes.
Almost sadness.
Almost relief.
REYANSH
Not yet.
AANYA frowns.
AANYA
What does that mean?
Reyansh steps closer.
Then quietly says—
REYANSH
It means this is where everything begins.
AANYA stares at him.
REYANSH
Your past just returned.
He glances toward Arjun.
Then toward the office building where Kabir is standing behind the glass doors.
REYANSH
Your present has already found you.
Finally, he looks directly into Aanya's eyes.
REYANSH
And I'm here because of your future.
AANYA's breath catches.
AANYA
Who are you?
Reyansh gives her a mysterious smile.
REYANSH
Someone you're going to love.
A beat.
REYANSH
Just not yet.
END OF CHAPTER 1NEXT CHAPTER:
Three men have suddenly entered Aanya's life.
Arjun—the first love who broke her heart.
Kabir—the charming man who refuses to accept that she's given up on love.
And Reyansh—the mysterious stranger claiming to know her future.
But only one question matters:
Which one will change her heart forever?