Don’T Touch My Heart, Mrs. Stranger Storm Outside. Fire Inside

Devan Villa – Morning

Sree is in the kitchen, tying her hair into a bun, making coffee for herself.

SREE NILA (FL)

Vihaan Devan (Rithvik’s younger cousin)

(entering with messy hair)Whoa anni, this smell is giving me life! [Anni = Sister-in-law]

SREE NILA (FL)

Strong-a irukkum. Like me. (It's strong. Like me.)

Vihaan Devan (Rithvik’s younger cousin)

(grinning)Ooohh... heavy dialogue so early-aa? Rithvik anna must be scared now.

SREE NILA (FL)

(smiling)Avarukku naan scary-nu theriyave illa. He never even looks at me. (He doesn’t even look at me… so he doesn’t know I’m scary 😌)

They laugh. Mallika aunty joins with idli plate.

Mallika Aunty (maid)

Both of you are like early morning Vijay TV serial 😆

Rithvik walks in — freshly shaved, navy blue shirt, cool but strict aura. He sees Vihaan holding Sree’s coffee mug, teasing her. His face… tightens.

RITHVIK DEVAN (ML)

🧊 (calm voice)Vihaan. Don’t you have somewhere else to be?

Vihaan Devan (Rithvik’s younger cousin)

Of course! But anni’s coffee >>>>>>>>> any schedule

RITHVIK DEVAN (ML)

This is not a college canteen

SREE NILA (FL)

(soft voice)Neither is it a jail… but atmosphere pakkumbodhu doubt varudhu. [Looking around, I start to doubt that…] (⁠◕⁠‿⁠◕⁠✿⁠)

Vihaan hides his laughter. Rithvik stares. Doesn’t reply. Just walks away. But his jaw? Still clenched.

Later — evening. Rithvik’s study room. Rain pouring outside.

Mallika Aunty (maid)

(knocking)Sir… heavy storm. Power might go. Don’t stay too late in the study.

RITHVIK DEVAN (ML)

I’ll manage❄️

Suddenly, a loud thunder CRACKS ⚡ Power cuts. Entire house goes dark.

SREE NILA (FL)

(in her room)Superb. I was just reading quietly. Now even book won’t help.

She steps out to check the fuse. In the corridor, she bumps into someone. It’s… Rithvik.

Dim candlelight from emergency lamp. Rithvik’s face in shadows. His eyes… finally see her clearly.

SREE NILA (FL)

Should I call the electrician?

RITHVIK DEVAN (ML)

No. Generator will kick in soon.

SREE NILA (FL)

You always do this?

RITHVIK DEVAN (ML)

(confused)What?

SREE NILA (FL)

(calmly)Stand in the dark. Alone. And act like the world doesn’t exist?

There’s silence. Her words hit something deep. He looks away.

RITHVIK DEVAN (ML)

Some people are better alone❄️

SREE NILA (FL)

And some people say that only because they don’t trust anyone to stay. (⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧

Another thunder shakes the window. She flinches a little. Instinctively, he touches her wrist for a second. Just a second. Then lets go.

....

...

Next morning — generator fixed, storm gone. But something remains... unsaid.

Rithvik sees Sree playing Carnatic music softly on her speaker in the kitchen. He pauses. Just watches.

Mallika Aunty (maid)

(beside him)Sir… she’s changing the house slowly, illa? [She’s changing this house, right?]

RITHVIK DEVAN (ML)

(after a long pause)She’s not changing the house. She’s just… reminding me it used to feel alive once.

...

SREE NILA (FL)

......(Storms don’t knock down every wall. Some of them… quietly start to melt it from within. And all it takes… is a girl who isn’t afraid of silence.)