SCENE 1 – THE JOURNEY TO RAJGADH
[ FORESTED ROAD – DAY]
A royal convoy moves through a winding road. Aryan rides a black horse at the front, Sena the tiger cub walking beside him, already larger, powerful. His cloak flows in the wind, his expression unreadable, eyes sharp.
VILLAGERS ALONG THE WAY (whispering)
Who is he…?
That boy… is no ordinary prince.
His aura… even grown men bow instinctively.
SCENE 2 – KING RUDRASEN'S PALACE, RAJGADH
[GREAT HALL – EVENING]
A grand hall filled with hostile nobles. King Rudrasen sits on a throne of steel and ivory, eyes narrow.
RUDRASEN (mockingly)
So… the cub of Kaligarh walks into the lion's den?
ARYAN (calmly, with a slight smirk)
A lion sleeps when it chooses. But when it wakes, kings fall.
Gasps. Silence. Rudrasen's smile vanishes.
DEVIKA (quietly to Ranvi)
Did he just…?
RANVI (grinning)
Oh, he did.
SCENE 3 – THE DIPLOMATIC FEAST
[DINING HALL – NIGHT]
Aryan dines with enemy lords. Hidden signals pass between spies. Aryan calmly speaks in riddles, controlling the entire room. He offers trade routes, future peace—but subtly shifts the conversation toward exposing their corruption.
ARYAN (coolly)
They say a rotten tree still bears fruit. But how sweet is poison?
One noble chokes slightly. Another glares. Aryan drinks water without breaking eye contact.
SCENE 4 – BEHIND THE CURTAIN
[RAJGADH INN – LATER THAT NIGHT]
A hidden room. Aryan meets with his top spies. Maps, letters, and bribes are spread before him.
ARYAN (pointing to key locations)
Here, here, and here. We don't fight his army. We bleed his grain. His loyalty. His trust.
VIRAJ (spy leader)
Sabotage without a war?
ARYAN (coldly)
It's not sabotage. It's pruning.
SCENE 5 – A SHADOWED ENCOUNTER
[GARDEN PAVILION – NIGHT]
A cloaked girl confronts Aryan. She's strong, beautiful, mysterious. A future rival… or something more?
GIRL
You don't belong here, boy-king. You play a dangerous game.
ARYAN (smiling faintly)
The board was dangerous before I arrived. I'm just better at playing.
She disappears into the night. Devika and Ranvi peek from the bushes—comic relief.
DEVIKA
Another one? Who was that?
RANVI (winking)
Our prince is building a fan club.
SCENE 6 – DEPARTURE
[RAJGADH GATES – DAWN]
Aryan mounts his horse. Behind him, the seeds of rebellion and confusion bloom in Rajgadh. Rudrasen watches from his tower, scowling.
RUDRASEN
He smiled… and left me wondering if I had already lost.
End of Chapter 18