Dharavi, Mumbai — 22 years ago
Theme: Pain is not born. It's forged.
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Scene 1: The Matchstick
13-year-old Azaan Khan is sitting outside a small chai stall. He's barefoot, dusty, sketching something on a newspaper — a diagram of a slum redevelopment plan.
YOUNG AZAAN (to his father):
"Baba, if we just move these three lanes, the fire trucks can enter faster next time."
His father, Imtiaz Khan, an honest rickshaw driver and community activist, smiles. He ruffles Azaan's hair.
IMTIAZ:
"Tera dimaag file se tez chalta hai. Tu sheher badlega, beta."
(Your mind runs faster than any file. You'll change the city, son.)
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Scene 2: The Betrayal
Later that night, Imtiaz is dragged from their home by masked men. Azaan hides in a corner, watching helplessly. Outside, a crowd gathers. Someone douses the area in kerosene.
A single matchstick falls.
Whooom.
The shanty explodes in flames. People scream.
Azaan tries to pull his father from the fire, but Imtiaz pushes him away with his last breath.
IMTIAZ (burning):
"Run, Azaan. Don't let the fire take you too."
Azaan escapes, face scorched, eyes wide — but something inside dies that night.
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Scene 3: The Ash Man is Born
Days later, Azaan sits alone in the ruins of the house, covered in soot, not crying.
NEIGHBOR (whispers):
"That boy... he didn't scream. Didn't shed a tear."
WOMAN:
"He's not a boy anymore. He's... raakh."
(He's ash.)