[POV: Elian Verma]
Two hours of sleep was enough.
Elian rose before dawn, the soft hum of the system interface flickering to life on his tablet as he brewed instant coffee. He barely tasted it — his mind was occupied.
Arya Rane had finished reading the script.
[ Status: "Opened – 97% Completion"
Time spent: 48 minutes
Emotional Response (Simulation Estimate): 82% Resonance ]
A small data tag glowed at the bottom of the system window:
[ She read the ending twice.]
He didn't need more. She was hooked.
Now came the harder part: framing the production.
No studio would invest in a slow-burn noir from a newcomer without serious weight behind it — not even with Arya as the lead. He needed two things: a name producer and a strategic pitch deck.
He flicked through StudioNet's independent producer listings, filtering by genre preference and current funding activity. The system highlighted several high-probability matches.
One stood out: Miraal Khanna.
Former assistant director. Now mid-tier producer with a reputation for backing "auteur" films — character-driven, cerebral, and always under budget. Not tied to any major studio, but had the ears of two mid-size platforms. Just released a low-key thriller that hit 5 million streams in a month.
Perfect.
[ System Query: Draft introduction pitch for Miraal Khanna?
Mode: Targeted proposal with asset attachment.
Tone: Strategic + respectful. ]
Elian approved the suggestion.
Then he moved on to a critical step: budget realism. City of Smoke wasn't a fantasy epic. But it still required carefully crafted sets, clever lighting, and stylized direction. A noir done wrong became parody. A noir done right could change careers.
[ Estimated Production Cost (Tier 1 cast, lean crew): ₹1.3 Cr
Projected ROI (With Arya): 4.8x return in 12 months (domestic + streaming)
Projected ROI (Without Arya): 2.2x return ]
That difference said everything.
He opened a document and began breaking down the numbers — cast cost, location permits, equipment rentals, lighting rigs. The system helped pre-fill most of it, but Elian reviewed every line.
This was the moment where amateurs failed. They dreamed big, but couldn't speak the language of investors. He wasn't going to be one of them.
He sent the finalized pitch to Miraal's inbox via StudioNet. Then he waited.
Not idly.
---
By mid-morning, Rishan walked into the apartment still groggy, a toothbrush in one hand and a disbelieving expression on his face.
"Elian… was that Miraal Khanna's profile open on your tab?"
"Yeah," Elian replied without looking up. "I just pitched her City of Smoke."
"You pitched Miraal freaking Khanna?"
Elian tapped his tablet, then finally turned to Rishan. "She funds small teams. If she likes the script, she'll want in."
Rishan blinked. "Okay, but bro, you're talking about someone who rejected three agency-backed proposals last month. You're a first-time director. That's... bold."
Elian's smile was faint but firm. "It's not about me. It's about the story — and Arya Rane."
Rishan dropped his toothbrush into a cup. "Wait. Arya Rane? You're casting her?"
"She hasn't officially agreed," Elian admitted, "but she read the script last night. Twice."
The look on Rishan's face was the kind of stunned disbelief that usually came before either inspiration or disaster.
"You're playing on hard mode, man."
Elian stood and poured Rishan a coffee. "You'd be surprised how easy hard mode becomes when everyone underestimates you."
---
The reply came before noon.
{ Sender: Miraal Khanna
Subject: Re: "City of Smoke" – Proposal Review
Elian,
I rarely reply to cold pitches — but this was sharp. Very sharp. I watched the demo twice. The structure is tight, the moodboard is ambitious, and if Arya signs on, I'm willing to discuss co-producing.
Let's talk. Today. 4 PM. My office. Bring hard numbers and don't oversell.
— Miraal* }
Elian locked his tablet and took a long breath.
This was no longer theory.
---
[POV: Miraal Khanna]
Miraal leaned back in her office chair, reviewing the simulation clip again.
The footage was raw, yes — but emotionally precise. There was a restraint in the script that she appreciated. No useless exposition. No desperate twists. Just atmosphere, mood, and a character you couldn't look away from.
Arya Rane was the wild card.
But this Elian Verma? He had something. Not polish — not yet. But instinct.
She made a note on her tablet:
> "If he doesn't oversell himself, offer Tier-2 budget match. Watch carefully."
---
[POV: Elian Verma]
By the time 3:55 PM struck, Elian stood outside Miraal's small production suite dressed simply, holding a tabfolio filled with projections, timelines, cast insight, and even contingency plans.
He'd memorized every detail.
When Miraal welcomed him into her office with a brisk nod, Elian didn't launch into his pitch. He let her control the opening pace — watching, reading her.
"Tell me in one sentence," she said, "why City of Smoke should be made."
Elian met her gaze. "Because it's a story that leaves the audience unsettled for days, but they won't know why until the credits roll."
She didn't smile.
But she also didn't tell him to leave.
She flipped open his documents, scanned the first page, and said simply, "Start."