INT. ORPHANAGE BEDROOM – MORNING
Sunlight streams softly through the lace curtains.
The room smells faintly of fresh flowers and warm milk.
Mahi stirs.
Her eyes flutter open.
For a second — confusion.
Pain flashes across her face.
Then— she jolts upright.
MEMORY FLASHES:
The highway.
The blinding headlights.
The figure who tackled her.
The voice: "Because you once saved a stranger…"
The prick of the needle.
Darkness.
She gasps.
Looks down at herself — clean clothes, a warm blanket.
She's back in her orphanage room.
Safe.
CHILD (O.S.):
"Diii…"
She turns.
A little girl stands beside her bed, holding a cup of milk.
Behind her, a small group of children gathers — giggling, holding handmade get-well cards and a half-burnt slice of toast.
CHILD 2 (excited):
"We thought you died!"
CHILD 3 (giggling):
"I prayed for you with four chocolates!"
MAHI (softly):
"You all… stayed here all night?"
They nod proudly.
Little arms wrap around her waist.
Small faces bury into her shoulder.
She stiffens—then melts.
And suddenly, Mahi cries.
But these aren't the same tears as last night.
These aren't from betrayal, heartbreak, or loss.
These tears come from something deeper.
Life.
Purpose.
A second chance.
She wipes her eyes and kisses each child on the forehead.
MAHI (gently):
"Thank you... for reminding me why I'm still here."
The children beam.
CHILD (playfully):
"Because without you, who'll yell at us for stealing extra cookies?"
They laugh.
Mahi smiles.
A real one.
First time in days.
---
INT. ORPHANAGE GARDEN – LATER THAT MORNING
Mahi steps out onto the garden path.
Sunlight hits her skin.
The birds chirp.
The breeze lifts her hair.
And the world… doesn't feel like it's trying to hurt her anymore.
She clutches her heart gently.
Still aching.
Still healing.
But now — beating with purpose.
MAHI (softly, to herself):
"Not again…
I won't run from life again."
And somewhere…
in the shadows behind the orphanage gate…
Saif watches.
Hidden.
Silent.
Protecting.
And when she smiles… he smiles too.