Chapter 6: "Lyrics of a Wounded Heart"
Scene: Maya's bedroom – walls filled with books, fairy lights twinkling, and her old acoustic guitar resting in the corner.
MAYA
(voice note sent to Aryan)
🎤 "Every scar you hide has a song behind...
But would you sing it, if someone stayed this time?"
(Deletes and rewrites. Sends the final version.)
MAYA
Aryan, does this fit our verse two? I was thinking of keeping it raw.
ARYAN
(typing... then pauses.)
🎤 "Every scar you hide has a story inside...
Would you tell it if I stayed by your side?"
MAYA
...That's even better. You tweaked my line?
ARYAN
Yeah. Hope you don't mind.
Your idea was beautiful.
MAYA
You made it better.
You always do.
🙈
Scene: Later that night – rooftop rehearsal with The Phoenix Sons. Maya's watching silently from the corner. Aryan's unaware that she's writing lyrics in her diary based on his voice.
ZAYN
Bro, your verse just hit different today.
DEV
Yeah, it was like… personal. Real.
RICO
Who you thinking about when you sing, Aryan?
ARYAN
(smiles faintly)
Just… someone who writes like rain. Quiet, but you feel it deep.
ZAYN
Damn. That's poetic.
RICO
Or dangerously in love. 😏
ARYAN
(playfully annoyed)
Shut up and hit the chords, Rico.
MAYA
(from behind)
You guys sounded amazing tonight.
ZAYN
(grinning)
The muse speaks! 🎤
DEV
Aryan's songwriting improved ever since someone started co-writing.
MAYA
(blushing)
Stop embarrassing me.
ARYAN
(to Maya, softly)
Don't let them tease you. I… like writing with you.
Scene shifts: Next day – Public café. Aryan and Maya sit with notebooks between them. Rain falls outside.
MAYA
I've never shown these poems to anyone.
ARYAN
Why now?
MAYA
Because you don't laugh at them.
Because when you sing them… they stop feeling silly.
ARYAN
(looks into her eyes)
They're not silly.
They're you. And I like that.
They share a moment of silence as Aryan watches a raindrop race down the windowpane.
MAYA
What are you thinking?
ARYAN
That I almost forgot why I came here.
MAYA
What do you mean?
ARYAN
(pauses)
Nothing. I just mean…
This life. Music. Us writing… it wasn't part of my plan.
MAYA
And now?
ARYAN
Now I don't want it to end.
Scene: Flashback – Young Aryan (12) sits beside his uncle Rehaan in their Delhi home library.
REHAAN
(placing an old Urdu poetry book on his lap)
Learn the rhythm, Aryan. Not just the words.
Even bullets have rhythm in our world—
But music… music heals.
YOUNG ARYAN
But Baba says I should focus on combat and control.
REHAAN
Baba wants you strong.
I want you whole.
YOUNG ARYAN
Uncle… will you always stay?
REHAAN
(smiling sadly)
Until the stars don't shine, little wolf.
But even if I leave, let music stay.
Scene returns: Present-day Aryan touches his uncle's pendant around his neck as Maya hums a melody.
MAYA
That necklace… You always wear it.
ARYAN
Yeah. It was my uncle's.
He taught me everything about lyrics.
MAYA
He must've been wonderful.
ARYAN
He died too young.
MAYA
I'm sorry.
Scene: Evening walk. Maya stumbles briefly and clutches her chest subtly. Aryan notices but says nothing.
ARYAN
You okay?
MAYA
Yeah, just skipped a breath. Cold breeze, maybe.
ARYAN
You've been skipping breaths a lot lately.
MAYA
(awkward laugh)
That's your fault.
Being near you is kind of… overwhelming.
ARYAN
(teasing)
Oh really?
MAYA
Shut up.
Scene: Aryan walks her home. As they reach her gate, he hesitates.
ARYAN
Maya… if I asked you something crazy, would you say yes?
MAYA
Maybe. Depends on how crazy.
ARYAN
Would you write a full album with me? Just the two of us?
MAYA
(eyes light up)
You mean… for real?
ARYAN
We'll record it in Zayn's studio.
It won't be perfect.
But it'll be ours.
MAYA
Then yes.
Always yes.
Scene: Midnight rooftop recording. Aryan presses record and Maya sings softly into the mic.🎶
"You came like silence in a storm…
Not to calm me, but to feel it warm.
And I let go, like clouds do rain…
Not knowing silence brings more pain." 🎶
ARYAN
(voice low)
You wrote that after our first argument?
MAYA
Yeah… I thought I lost you that day.
ARYAN
I wasn't ready to be found.
Not then.
MAYA
And now?
ARYAN
Now I'm scared that I am.
Scene: Maya rests her head on his shoulder. Aryan stares at the night sky, conflicted.
ARYAN
(whispering to himself)
What are you doing, Aryan?
She was never the plan…