Beneath His Shadow The Moment Was Never Accidental

11:58 AM - Outside NyraSoul Studio. The gallery door is still closed. A small crowd has formed-press, guests, collectors. The air hums with anticipation.

Anaya FL Friend/PA

Pacing near the door with a clipboard "Two minutes. Are we breathing? Is breathing optional?"

Nyra Arvind

Fingers curled tightly around a glass of water "Optional

Anaya FL Friend/PA

Half-laughing, half-panicking "You've got this. You literally painted your way into this moment."

Nyra Arvind

Let them in.

12:00 PM - Doors open. The gallery breathes to life. Soft instrumental music plays. Light filters through skylights, hitting canvas just right.

guest

In hushed tones "Did she paint all of this?" "Incredible texture... look at that brushwork..." "That one looks like it's bleeding light-"

photographer

Miss Arvind, could you pose near your centrepiece?"

Nyra Arvind

Nervously walking to the largest canvas, smiling gently under camera flashes "Of course."

Kyra Reyne (ML Sister)

Watching from across the room with Zara, arms folded, pleased "She's holding it together better than most models on Fashion Week."

Zara Kyra Friend/PA

That dress is causing a stir.

Kyra Reyne (ML Sister)

Smirking faintly "Good."

Across the street - Inside a matte black car parked with tinted windows.

Reyansh Reyne (ML)

Sitting in silence, eyes locked on the entrance of the gallery Inner Monologue She opened the doors Now she's wide open to them all. They'll see her. But only I understand what they're looking at.

Arav Mehta|ML Friend |PA

(from the passenger seat) half-turning, watching Reyansh You sure you don't want to go in?"

Reyansh Reyne (ML)

Quietly soon

Gallery interior - Thirty minutes later. The hall is buzzing. Wine glasses clink, art is admired, and whispers spread like perfume.

random guests

She's just twenty-one? Insane talent.

Elderly Art Critic

I haven't felt this in years. There's pain in her strokes... but peace too.

Nyra walks quietly, answering questions, smiling shyly. Her eyes keep drifting-to the entrance. As if someone should be here. As if someone already is.

Guests mingling between canvases, soft music drifting through the air Uniformed staff moved quietly through the room, offering wine and sparkling drinks- part of the evening's catered service, cleared through a special event license just for the night.

Near the bar. Kyra and Ruhan stand side by side, drinks in hand. Their second accidental conversation

Ruhan Arvind (FL Brother)

Glancing sideways "You clean up well.

Kyra Reyne (ML Sister)

Sipping her champagne "So do you. Still staring too much, though."

Ruhan Arvind (FL Brother)

Grinning "Still pretending you don't like it?

Kyra Reyne (ML Sister)

Smiling into her glass "Still pretending you're charming

Zara Kyra Friend/PA

Someone write this tension down. It's practically a slow-burn novella

Moment of quiet - Nyra stands in front of a painting titled "Drowning, Silently". A woman nearby is staring at it, unmoving.

guest

Tears slipping silently down her cheek "This... this is my story

Nyra Arvind

Stepping closer, voice soft "I painted it when I felt like I had no words left."

guest

smiling through tears "Thank you for saying what I never could.

Outside the gallery - The matte black car door opens. Polished black shoes hit the ground.

Reyansh Reyne (ML)

Fixing his cufflinks, voice low "Time."

Arav Mehta|ML Friend |PA

You sure?

Reyansh Reyne (ML)

She let them in. Now it's my turn.

Inside the gallery - The room is still warm with conversation when a sudden shift happens. A hush-not loud, not complete, but unmistakable

Anaya FL Friend/PA

To Zara "Did you feel that?"

Zara Kyra Friend/PA

Eyes darting toward the door "Yeah. Like the temperature dropped."

Kyra turns instinctively, and her expression changes. Not surprised. But alert.

Kyra Reyne (ML Sister)

Under her breath "Oh. He came

Nyra turns, her back still toward the entrance. She doesn't know he's there

Reyansh Reyne (ML)

Watching her across the room, unseen Inner Monologue They can talk about her art. But they'll never know she's mine

Near the exit - Kyra walks up beside Reyansh, her tone sharp, but low.

Kyra Reyne (ML Sister)

You couldn't stay away.

Reyansh Reyne (ML)

I never planned to.

Kyra Reyne (ML Sister)

Glancing back at Nyra

Reyansh Reyne (ML)

Eyes still fixed on Nyra

The gallery starts winding down. Golden hour spills through the windows. Nyra leans on the glass door, her smile soft but tired

Ruhan Arvind (FL Brother)

Joining her with two cups of coffee "You didn't faint. Proud of you."

Nyra Arvind

Laughs, holding the warm cup "That was the plan."

Ruhan Arvind (FL Brother)

Looks at the crowd still inside, then to her "Let this moment sink in. The world walked in today. And it didn't drown you.

Nyra Arvind

Smiling, eyes scanning the studio once more "No. It lifted me."

Nyra turns away from the window to walk toward the final display, but a man steps beside her-quiet, calm, unfamiliar.

Reyansh Reyne (ML)

Low voice, smooth as silk "This piece... it doesn't ask for attention. It demands silence

Nyra Arvind

Turns toward him, surprised "You understood that?" softly, confused "Most people don't.

Reyansh Reyne (ML)

Meeting her eyes, gently "Maybe I see what they don't.

There's a pause. Something about his presence-his voice, maybe the faint scent of oud and smoke-makes her pulse skip. She frowns slightly, like memory tugging at her sleeve.

Nyra Arvind

Inner Monologue) That voice... That silence. I've felt it before

She turns sharply-to ask him. To say his name. But he's gone.

Outside, a matte black car slides away into Mumbai's sea of traffic.

Ruhan Arvind (FL Brother)

Appears beside her, voice breaking the tension "Choti. Everyone's asking for you."

Nyra Arvind

Still watching the empty space where he stood "Right... I'm coming."

Back inside, an hour later. The crowd has mostly thinned. Nyra walks quietly through the space, clipboard in hand, scanning red stickers on sold pieces.

Nyra Arvind

Murmuring to herself "Almost... everything's gone.

Anaya FL Friend/PA

From across the room, calling out "Nyra! Come look at this one-'Drowning, Silently'. It was bought

Nyra Arvind

Blinks "That one? It wasn't even marked for sale.

Anaya FL Friend/PA

Someone insisted. Said they'd double the listed value. Paid in full. Buyer name just says... 'RR'." is he That guy. ?

Nyra stills. The world quiets around her. Her fingers tighten around the clipboard.

Nyra Arvind

He didn't just see it. He took it with him

Near the entrance. Kyra walks up, adjusting her jacket, Zara behind her.

Kyra Reyne (ML Sister)

Smiling warmly "You did it, Nyra. You didn't just open a gallery-you opened hearts."

Nyra Arvind

Softly "Thank you for being part of it.

Kyra Reyne (ML Sister)

Always. I'll see you soon.

They hug. Kyra walks out, fading into the soft dusk light.

The gallery now quiet. Paintings gone. Lights warm. And in the shadows... one painting missing, but not lost.