The Soul's Unfinished Story
Chapter 13 :SHIKHAWAT FAMILY DINING ROOM – MORNING
Three days have passed since Inara faced Illias Raventhorne in the boardroom. The sun spills through the curtains, but her mood is anything but warm. She glares at her plate like it insulted her ancestors.
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(flatly)
Can someone pass the butter before I throw this at the wall?
MIRA, ever the peacemaker, slides the butter across like she’s defusing a bomb.
Mira (FL eldest sister in law)
Here. Uh... you okay?
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
I’m great, Mira. Just processing the fact that my own father basically sold me off to corporate Dracula—without even telling me.
A spoon CLANKS on the floor. VARDHAN chokes on his chai. CHAOTIC COUGHING. REYANSH, the five-year-old menace, claps like he’s watching Avengers
Reyansh (FL nephew)
Dracula ! Is he like Thanos?
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
He’s worse. At least Thanos disappeared after the snap. This one lingers.
Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)
(deadpan)
Do you ever talk like a normal person?
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
What’s normal? Not being auctioned off to a walking fridge in Gucci?
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(laughing)
This is better than reality TV. Please, continue.
NAINTARA, the mother, speaks—calm but firm. That trademark “mom tone” with just a hint of emotional blackmail.
Naintara Shekhawat (FL Mother)
Inara beta… I didn’t know your father was doing this behind our backs. If I had known—
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(stunned, mid-bite)
Wait. You didn’t agree to this?
Naintara Shekhawat (FL Mother)
I would never do that to you. You're my daughter. I’ve watched you fight through everything and rise like fire. I just want you to be safe.
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(blinks, taken aback.)
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
Mom... that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.
Naintara Shekhawat (FL Mother)
Don’t get used to it. I still want grandkids.
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
Here we go.
Naintara Shekhawat (FL Mother)
Nivaan was sweet. He had teeth. He smiled.
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
Wow. Revolutionary. Should I marry someone because he breathes and blinks too?
Naintara Shekhawat (FL Mother)
I Wanted to be a grandmother by sixty
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
I’ll adopt a daughter, name her Karma, and we’ll do spa days every Sunday. You can come too—if you promise not to bring up teeth.
Naintara Shekhawat (FL Mother)
You’re not adopting a child alone, Inara! What will people say?
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
Hopefully something like:
"Wow, that girl dodged a psychopath in Prada!"
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(whispers)
That sounds like something a serial killer puts on a T-shirt.
Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)
Why does it feel like he doesn’t blink—just updates like software?
Akira Shekhawat (FL 1 elder brother)
He has the emotional range of an obituary.
Avni (2 FL sister in law)
Do obituaries wear suits?!
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
Only the scary ones.
Inara tousles Reyansh’s hair, still fuming.
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
And you?
(to her mom)
You’re worried about smiles and babies while I’m being handed over to a villain who quotes himself like he’s Gandhi 2.0?
Naintara Shekhawat (FL Mother)
(gently, holding her hand)
I don’t care about legacy, Inara. I care about you.
I just thought maybe—if someone loved you again,
you’d stop walking around like your heart is padlocked.
Silence. Inara blinks rapidly. She stands before emotion can betray her.
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
If I see that emotionally frozen quote machine again,
I swear I’ll wrap that line of his around his neck like a scarf.
Naintara Shekhawat (FL Mother)
Inara! Language!
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
I’m being polite!
I haven’t even started using the insults I made up for him.
Reyansh (FL nephew)
Say one!
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
Later, baby. When you’re in college.
She storms toward the elevator. MIRA calls after her:
Naintara Shekhawat (FL Mother)
Inara! At least finish your paratha!
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
I’ll finish it with Karma when we go stroller shopping!
She slams the elevator button like it owes her money. Just before the doors close—her eyes fall on her mom’s phone buzzing on the table.
INSERT – PHONE SCREEN:
ILLIA$ RAVENTHORNE – DIRECT.
Comments