LESSON 1

Riya: Hey! You finally showed up. I was starting to think you ditched me.

Anu: Never! My bus broke down halfway, so I had to book a cab.

Riya: That explains it. Anyway, I already grabbed us a table near the window.

Anu: Nice choice. The view is amazing.

Riya: I come here whenever I need to unwind after a long week.

Anu: Honestly, same. College assignments have been wearing me out lately.

Riya: Tell me about it. I stayed up late three nights in a row just to finish one project.

Anu: That sounds exhausting. Did your professor at least appreciate your effort?

Riya: Kind of. He pointed out a few mistakes, but overall it went well.

Anu: See? All that hard work paid off.

Waiter: Hi, are you ready to order?

Riya: Almost. Give us a minute, please.

Anu: I’m craving something spicy today.

Riya: Then you should try their schezwan noodles. People rave about it online.

Anu: Alright, you convinced me. What are you getting?

Riya: Probably a veggie sandwich and a cold coffee. I’m trying to cut back on junk food.

Anu: Good luck with that. You say that every month.

Riya: Okay wow, no need to call me out like that!

Anu: I’m just being honest.

Riya: Fine then, maybe I’ll order fries too.

Anu: That’s the spirit.

Waiter: Ready now?

Riya: Yes. One schezwan noodles, one veggie sandwich, one fries, and two cold coffees, please.

Waiter: Sure. I’ll get your order started.

Anu: By the way, are you still planning that trip to Ooty?

Riya: Yep! I’ve been looking forward to it for months. You should come along too.

Anu: I’d love to. I seriously need a break from everything.

Riya: Then it’s settled. We’re going on a trip soon.

New Vocabulary & Phrasal Verbs

Ditched me → left/ignored someone unexpectedly
Broke down → stopped working
Grabbed a table → quickly got a table
Unwind → relax
Wearing me out → making someone very tired
Stayed up late → remained awake late at night
Paid off → gave good results
Rave about → talk very positively about something
Cut back on → reduce something
Call me out → point out someone’s behavior/mistake
Looking forward to → excited about something in the future
Come along → join someone
Need a break → need rest or relaxation

LESSON 2

Aisha: Hey Daniel, do you have a minute? I wanted to run something by you.

Daniel: Sure, what’s up? You look a little stressed out.

Aisha: I’ve been swamped with client reports all morning, and now my manager wants the presentation wrapped up before lunch.

Daniel: Oof, that’s rough. Sounds like you’ve got a lot on your plate.

Aisha: Exactly. And to make matters worse, the design team still hasn’t gotten back to me.

Daniel: They’ve been tied up with the product launch all week. Maybe send them a quick follow-up email. Sometimes things slip through the cracks around here.

Aisha: Yeah, good idea. I just don’t want to come across as pushy.

Daniel: Trust me, a polite reminder won’t hurt. You’ve got to stay on top of things in this office.

Aisha: True. By the way, thanks for helping me out during yesterday’s meeting. You really saved my skin when the client started asking technical questions.

Daniel: No worries. I had your back. Besides, you handled the situation pretty well yourself.

Aisha: Honestly, I was winging it half the time.

Daniel: Well, you hid it well. The client seemed impressed.

Aisha: That’s a relief. I’ve been trying to make a good impression since I joined the team.

Daniel: And you are. People have been speaking highly of you. Even Clara said you’re a quick learner.

Aisha: Wait, really? Clara barely talks to me. I thought she didn’t like me.

Daniel: Nah, that’s just how she is. She keeps to herself, but she warms up to people eventually.

Aisha: Good to know. I was starting to overthink everything.

Daniel: Don’t sweat it. Everyone feels out of place during the first few months.

Aisha: Fair enough. Oh, are you joining the team dinner tonight?

Daniel: I’m still on the fence. I’ve got a mountain of work to finish before tomorrow.

Aisha: Come on, you should tag along. It’ll be a nice chance to unwind.

Daniel: Maybe you’re right. I could use a break. Lately, I’ve been burning the candle at both ends.

Aisha: Same here. If this workload keeps piling up, I might completely crash this weekend.

Daniel: Then tonight’s dinner is officially self-care. No excuses.

Aisha: Deal. But if I fall asleep at the restaurant, pretend you don’t know me.

Daniel: Too late. We’re already office besties.

Vocabulary & Expressions

Expression	Meaning
run something by someone	ask someone’s opinion
swamped	extremely busy
a lot on your plate	having many responsibilities
tied up	busy with something
slip through the cracks	get forgotten or ignored
come across as	seem like
stay on top of things	keep everything under control
saved my skin	rescued me from trouble
have someone’s back	support/protect someone
winging it	doing something without preparation
make a good impression	create a positive opinion
keep to oneself	stay quiet/private
warm up to someone	slowly become friendly
don’t sweat it	don’t worry
on the fence	unable to decide
tag along	go with someone
unwind	relax
burning the candle at both ends	overworking and exhausting oneself
piling up	increasing gradually

LESSON 3

Passenger 1: Excuse me, is this seat taken?

Passenger 2: No, please sit.

Passenger 1: Thanks. Do you mind if I take the window seat? I feel dizzy sometimes during long rides.

Passenger 2: Sure, no problem. I actually prefer the aisle seat.

Passenger 1: That’s good. I can’t sit near the aisle on crowded buses.

Passenger 2: Motion sickness?

Passenger 1: Yeah. Once I almost threw up on a bus trip to Chennai.

Passenger 2: Oh no. Did you at least have a cover or plastic bag with you?

Passenger 1: Luckily, yes. Since then, I always keep one in my handbag.

Passenger 2: Good idea. Our roads can get pretty bumpy, especially with all the traffic.

Passenger 1: Exactly. The constant stopping and moving makes it worse.

Passenger 2: Try looking outside the window instead of using your phone. It helps sometimes.

Passenger 1: I’ll do that. Thanks.

Passenger 2: No problem. By the way, where are you going?

Passenger 1: I’m going to T. Nagar for some shopping. What about you?

Passenger 2: I’m getting down at Guindy for work.

Passenger 1: Ah, morning office rush?

Passenger 2: Every single day. Local trains get too crowded, so sometimes I take the bus instead.

Passenger 1: Same here. Buses feel a little more relaxing sometimes.

LESSON 4

Ryan: Guys… I think today’s the day.

Ethan: Wait, seriously? You’re finally going to tell Maya how you feel?

Ryan: I want to, but my stomach is in knots right now.

Leo: Bro, you’ve been crushing on her for almost a year. At this point, even the security guard knows.

Ryan: Thanks, that’s really comforting.

Ethan: Relax. Just be yourself. Don’t overthink it.

Ryan: Easy for you to say. Every time she smiles at me, my brain short-circuits.

Leo: That’s because you act like you’ve seen a ghost whenever she walks into the room.

Ryan: I swear my confidence disappears into thin air around her.

Ethan: Alright, let’s rehearse. What are you planning to say?

Ryan: Okay… maybe something simple like, “Hey Maya, I really enjoy spending time with you, and I think I’ve started falling for you.”

Leo: Hmm. Not bad. Smooth, but not too cheesy.

Ryan: You really think so?

Ethan: Yeah. Just don’t sound like you memorized it from a movie.

Ryan: That’s exactly what I’m scared of. What if I mess up?

Leo: Then you mess up. Life goes on. You’re acting like this is a job interview.

Ryan: Honestly, rejection scares the life out of me.

Ethan: I get that. But keeping your feelings bottled up forever is worse.

Ryan: True… I’m tired of pretending I don’t like her.

Leo: Plus, she already drops hints.

Ryan: What hints?

Leo: Dude, she laughs at your terrible jokes. That alone means something.

Ryan: Be serious for once.

Ethan: No, he might actually be onto something. She does seem comfortable around you.

Ryan: You think I actually have a shot?

Leo: Definitely. But if you chicken out again today, I’m unfriending you.

Ryan: Wow. Such supportive friends.

Ethan: Look, don’t aim for a perfect confession. Just speak from the heart. That’s what matters.

Ryan: Alright… deep breath. I can do this.

Leo: That’s the spirit. And remember — confidence is key. Even if you’re panicking inside.

Ryan: My hands are literally shaking.

Ethan: Totally normal. You’ve got this.

Ryan: Okay… if this goes horribly wrong, I’m moving to another country.

Leo: Dramatic much? Just go talk to her before you lose your nerve.

Ryan: Fine. Here goes nothing.

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Expression	Meaning
my stomach is in knots	feeling extremely nervous
crushing on someone	having a romantic interest
overthink	think too much about something
short-circuit	suddenly stop thinking clearly
disappear into thin air	vanish completely
mess up	make a mistake
scares the life out of me	frightens me a lot
bottled up	hidden emotions kept inside
drop hints	give indirect clues
be onto something	possibly correct about something
have a shot	have a chance
chicken out	become too scared to do something
speak from the heart	speak honestly and emotionally
lose your nerve	lose courage
here goes nothing	said before taking a risk

LESSON 5

(Adrian walks into the meeting room while checking his laptop. He looks up casually — then freezes.)

Adrian: …Sophie?

(Sophie slowly looks up from her chair. Her expression changes from professional calm to complete shock.)

Sophie: Adrian.

(A long awkward silence fills the room.)

Adrian: I— wow. I didn’t know this account was yours.

Sophie: Neither did I. I almost thought I was imagining things for a second.

Adrian: Yeah… same here.

(He nervously clears his throat and adjusts his tie.)

Adrian: It’s been a while.

Sophie: Three years, actually. But who’s counting?

Adrian: Right… three years.

(Another silence. Both avoid eye contact for a moment.)

Sophie: You look different.

Adrian: Good different or “life hit you hard” different?

(She lets out a quiet laugh despite herself.)

Sophie: Still using humor to dodge uncomfortable situations, huh?

Adrian: Some habits die hard.

(Sophie looks down briefly, almost emotional.)

Sophie: I didn’t expect to see you again. Not like this.

Adrian: Honestly, neither did I.

(He opens his laptop, trying to stay professional.)

Adrian: So… should we pretend this isn’t weird?

Sophie: I don’t think we’re good enough actors for that.

(Both smile faintly, but there’s sadness behind it.)

Adrian: Fair point.

Sophie: You seem… happier though.

Adrian: Do I?

Sophie: A little calmer. Back then, you were always running on fumes.

Adrian: Life forced me to slow down eventually.

(She nods softly.)

Sophie: I’m glad.

(Another pause. The air feels heavy with unspoken memories.)

Adrian: So… how have you been?

Sophie: Busy. Work’s been keeping me on my toes. What about you?

Adrian: Same old chaos. Just better at handling it now.

(Sophie studies his face quietly.)

Sophie: You know, for a second there… it felt like no time had passed at all.

Adrian: Yeah. That’s the weird part.

(His voice softens unconsciously.)

Adrian: Some people just stay with you, I guess.

(Sophie quickly looks away, clearly affected.)

Sophie: Adrian…

Adrian: Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.

Sophie: No… it’s okay.

(A painful silence settles between them.)

Adrian: I heard you got engaged last year.

(Sophie’s expression immediately changes.)

Sophie: We called it off.

Adrian: Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.

Sophie: It’s fine. Life happens.

(He nods slowly, unsure what to say.)

Adrian: Guess life had other plans for both of us.

Sophie: Seems like it.

(Their eyes finally meet properly for the first time. There’s nostalgia, regret, warmth — all mixed together.)

Adrian: We should probably get started before this turns into a therapy session.

(She laughs softly again.)

Sophie: Probably a good idea.

Adrian: Alright then… Ms. Carter, tell me about the campaign.

Sophie: Wow. “Ms. Carter”? That’s cold.

Adrian: Professionalism is all I have left right now.

Sophie: Fair enough… Mr. Hayes.

(Both smile faintly, hiding emotions they’re not ready to unpack.)

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Expression	Meaning
freeze	suddenly stop moving from shock
clear one’s throat	do a small cough before speaking
some habits die hard	difficult habits are hard to stop
dodge a situation	avoid dealing with something
running on fumes	extremely exhausted
keep someone on their toes	keep someone alert and busy
call something off	cancel something
life happens	unexpected things happen in life
turn into a therapy session	become deeply emotional/personal
unpack emotions	talk deeply about feelings
fair point	valid opinion
for a second there	briefly
stay with someone	continue to affect emotionally

LESSON 6

Passenger: Excuse me, does this bus go to the railway station?

Conductor: Yes, it does.

Passenger: About how long will it take to get there?

Conductor: Around twenty to thirty minutes, depending on the traffic.

Passenger: Alright. One ticket to the railway station, please. How much is it?

Conductor: It’s ₹25.

Passenger: I only have a ₹100 note. Do you have change?

Conductor: Yes, no problem. Here’s your ticket and the balance.

Passenger: Thanks. Will the bus stop near the entrance?

Conductor: Yes, it stops right in front of the station.

Passenger: Great, thank you.

Conductor: Welcome.

LESSON 7

(Mom and Daughter are sitting in a café near the beach during a short weekend trip.)

Emma: Mom, I still can’t believe you actually agreed to this trip.

Lena: Excuse me? I can be spontaneous sometimes.

Emma: Mom, you plan grocery lists three days in advance.

Lena: That’s called being organized, thank you very much.

(Both laugh.)

Emma: Honestly though, I missed this. It’s been forever since we hung out properly.

Lena: I know. Life’s been nonstop lately. Between your work and my endless responsibilities, we barely get a chance to catch up anymore.

Emma: Yeah… we’ve both been running around like crazy.

(A waiter places their drinks on the table.)

Lena: Careful, your iced coffee looks dangerously strong.

Emma: Good. I need something to bring me back to life after waking up at 5 a.m. for this trip.

Lena: Oh please, you slept the entire car ride.

Emma: That was a power nap. Totally different.

Lena: Mhm. Keep telling yourself that.

(Emma smiles and looks around at the ocean view.)

Emma: This place is beautiful. I forgot how peaceful it feels to get away from everything.

Lena: Sometimes you need to hit pause for a while. The world can wait.

Emma: Look at you getting all philosophical.

Lena: Spending time near the ocean does that to people.

(A comfortable silence settles between them.)

Emma: Mom?

Lena: Hmm?

Emma: Thanks… for always showing up for me. Even when I’m difficult.

Lena: Emma, you’ve never been difficult.

Emma: Oh, please. I was a nightmare at sixteen.

Lena: True. You slammed doors like it was an Olympic sport.

Emma: MOM.

(Both burst out laughing.)

Lena: But even during those years, I understood you more than you realized.

(Emma’s expression softens.)

Emma: I think I understand you more now too. Adulthood is exhausting.

Lena: Welcome to the club.

Emma: Seriously though, how did you do all this while raising me?

Lena: Honestly? I was winging it half the time. Parents don’t have everything figured out either.

Emma: That’s weirdly comforting.

(Lena reaches across the table and squeezes her daughter’s hand.)

Lena: No matter how old you get, you’ll always be my little girl.

Emma: And now I’m emotional in public. Great.

Lena: Don’t worry, I won’t make a big deal out of it.

Emma: You literally already are.

Lena: That’s my job as your mother.

(They smile at each other warmly.)

Emma: Okay, enough feelings. Let’s go shopping before the stores close.

Lena: There she is. My financially irresponsible daughter.

Emma: And proud of it. Let’s go.

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Expression	Meaning
catch up	spend time talking after a long time
running around like crazy	being extremely busy
bring me back to life	make someone energetic again
power nap	a short refreshing sleep
get away from everything	take a break from stress/problems
hit pause	temporarily stop and rest
show up for someone	support someone emotionally
winging it	doing something without full preparation
make a big deal out of it	exaggerate something
figured out	fully understood or solved
welcome to the club	said when someone experiences a common struggle

LESSON 8

(Inside a classroom after school. Olivia sits nervously beside her father while the teacher checks some papers.)

Mrs. Walker: Thank you both for coming in today.

Mr. Bennett: Of course. Olivia’s been a little anxious about this meeting all week.

Olivia: Dad… please don’t expose me like that.

(The teacher smiles warmly.)

Mrs. Walker: Relax, Olivia. You’re not in trouble. This is just a regular check-in.

Olivia: That’s not how it feels.

Mr. Bennett: She thought this meeting meant the end of the world.

Olivia: Because parents never get called in for good reasons.

Mrs. Walker: Well, let me start with the good news then. Olivia is doing exceptionally well in literature and history. Her essays are thoughtful, and she always brings fresh ideas to classroom discussions.

Mr. Bennett: That sounds like her. She’s been glued to novels since she was little.

Olivia: I take that as a compliment.

Mrs. Walker: You should. However…

(Olivia immediately straightens up.)

Olivia: There it is. I knew a “however” was coming.

Mrs. Walker: Your math grades have been slipping recently. Not drastically, but enough for me to notice.

Mr. Bennett: Olivia, is everything okay?

Olivia: I don’t know… I just can’t seem to keep up lately. Every time I think I understand something, the class moves on to a new topic.

Mrs. Walker: And that’s completely okay to admit. A lot of students feel overwhelmed sometimes.

Olivia: Yeah, but everyone else seems to get it so quickly.

Mrs. Walker: Trust me, appearances can be deceiving. Some students are simply better at hiding their confusion.

(Olivia looks slightly relieved.)

Mr. Bennett: Why didn’t you tell me you were struggling?

Olivia: I didn’t want to disappoint you.

Mr. Bennett: Hey, your grades don’t define you. I just want you to ask for help when you need it.

(Mrs. Walker nods approvingly.)

Mrs. Walker: That’s exactly the right attitude. Olivia is a hardworking student. I think she’s just putting too much pressure on herself.

Olivia: Maybe a little.

Mrs. Walker: I’d recommend attending the after-school study sessions twice a week. I think it would really help build your confidence.

Olivia: Are they awkward?

Mrs. Walker: Not at all. Half the class goes there before exams.

Mr. Bennett: See? No big deal.

Olivia: Easy for you to say. You’re not the one sitting in algebra at 8 a.m. fighting for your life.

(Both adults laugh.)

Mrs. Walker: Fair enough. But I promise it gets easier once you stop doubting yourself.

Olivia: I’ll try.

Mr. Bennett: That’s all anyone can ask for.

(Mrs. Walker hands over the report card.)

Mrs. Walker: Overall, you’re doing well, Olivia. Don’t be so hard on yourself.

Olivia: I’ll work on it.

Mr. Bennett: And maybe we’ll work on reducing dramatic reactions before parent-teacher meetings too.

Olivia: No promises.

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Expression	Meaning
check-in	a discussion to see how things are going
glued to	very attached/interested in something
slipping	gradually becoming worse
keep up	stay at the same level/speed
overwhelmed	feeling too stressed or pressured
appearances can be deceiving	things may not be what they seem
define someone	completely determine someone’s worth
put pressure on oneself	expect too much from oneself
no big deal	not a serious problem
fighting for your life	struggling a lot (humorous exaggeration)
be hard on yourself	judge yourself too strictly

LESSON 9

Ramya: Hey Viji, what are you doing? Are you busy?

Viji: Yeah, I just finished doing the dishes, and now I’m doing the laundry. Since morning, the work hasn’t stopped.

Ramya: Haha, homemaker life never stops. I’m here churning buttermilk.

Viji: Oh nice! Do you use a churner?

Ramya: Yes, I use a churner to make buttermilk. It makes it nice and frothy, and the taste is better too.

Viji: That’s true. Nowadays everyone uses a mixer for convenience.

Ramya: I do use a mixer for some things, but I don’t use it very often. Especially when I need ginger-garlic paste, I crush it fresh using a mortar and pestle. The aroma and taste are on another level.

Viji: True. When you crush it manually, the flavor comes out much better. In a mixer, sometimes the heat slightly changes the smell and taste.

Ramya: Exactly! Sometimes if I need only garlic, I mince the garlic instead. When it’s cut into tiny pieces, it blends really well while cooking.

Viji: Looks like you follow a lot of traditional methods.

Ramya: Haha, kind of. I feel more satisfied when things are prepared fresh.

Viji: True. Our mothers and grandmothers used to do everything like this. That’s why the taste used to be so good and healthy too.

Ramya: Yes. Even though it takes a little extra effort, homemade fresh food has a unique taste.

Viji: Alright then, you continue churning the buttermilk. I’m going to hang the clothes out to dry now. We’ll talk later.

Ramya: Okay, call me after you finish your work.

LESSON 10

Ananya: Hey, you finally showed up! I thought you backed out at the last minute.

Priya: No chance. The bus got stuck in traffic near the signal, that’s all.

Ananya: Typical evening rush. Come on, let’s head in before the crowd gets worse.

Priya: Wow, this place smells amazing.

Ananya: Yeah, their paneer butter masala and butter naan are to die for.

Priya: I’m starving. I skipped lunch because work kept piling up.

Ananya: Same here. I barely had time to catch my breath today.

Waiter: Good evening, table for two?

Ananya: Yes. Could we get a seat near the window if possible?

Waiter: Sure, ma’am. One minute.

Priya: Thanks. By the way, what do you usually order here?

Ananya: I always go for the paneer biryani combo. It never lets me down.

Priya: I might try that too. Unless it’s too spicy for me to handle.

Ananya: Relax, you’ll survive. Just order a sweet lassi along with it.

Priya: Very funny. Oh, should we share a starter?

Ananya: Good call. Let’s get gobi manchurian too.

Priya: Done. I’m trying to cut back on junk food, but today doesn’t count.

Ananya: Exactly. One cheat meal won’t hurt.

Waiter: Are you ready to order?

Ananya: Yes. One paneer biryani combo, one paneer butter masala with butter naan, and one gobi manchurian, please.

Waiter: Sure. Anything to drink?

Priya: Sweet lassi for me.

Ananya: Fresh lime soda for me, less sugar please.

(After the food arrives)

Priya: This looks so good. I can’t wait to dig in.

Ananya: Careful, it’s hot. Last time I burned my tongue because I rushed into it.

Priya: Mmm… okay, now I get why you keep coming back here.

Ananya: Told you. This place is worth the hype.

Vocabulary & Phrasal Verbs

showed up = arrived
backed out = changed mind and didn’t come
head in = go inside
to die for = extremely delicious
piling up = increasing little by little
catch my breath = take a short rest
go for = choose
lets me down = disappoints me
good call = good idea/decision
cut back on = reduce
count = be considered
dig in = start eating eagerly
rushed into it = did something too quickly
worth the hype = deserves the popularity/hype

LESSON 11

(Late at night in the kitchen. Bills and notebooks are spread across the table. Sarah quietly checks expenses while David looks worried.)

David: Did Ethan say when the payment for the trip is due?

Sarah: By Friday.

(David sighs heavily and leans back in his chair.)

David: That soon, huh?

Sarah: Mhm. He tried to play it cool, but I could tell he really wants to go.

David: Of course he does. All his friends are going.

(A brief silence fills the room.)

Sarah: How much do we have left after rent and utilities?

David: Not much. This month’s been tight.

Sarah: I already stretched the grocery budget as far as I could.

David: And my car repair wiped out whatever extra we had saved up.

(Sarah closes the notebook slowly.)

Sarah: I hate this feeling.

David: Me too.

Sarah: He never asks for much, David. That’s what makes this harder.

David: I know. If it were something unnecessary, I’d say no without thinking twice. But this… it matters to him.

Sarah: Did you see how excited he got talking about it yesterday?

David: Yeah. He was already planning what hoodies to pack.

(David rubs his forehead tiredly.)

David: Sometimes I feel terrible that we can’t give him everything he wants.

Sarah: Don’t say that. We’re doing the best we can.

David: Still… a father wants his son to enjoy these moments. Trips with friends, memories, stupid late-night stories — these things only happen once.

Sarah: Maybe we can work something out.

David: Like what?

Sarah: I could put off buying the new washing machine for another month.

David: No, you’ve been dealing with that broken machine for weeks already.

Sarah: We’ll manage.

David: And then what? Barely get by till next paycheck?

(Sarah stays quiet for a moment.)

Sarah: What if we pay half now and ask the school if we can pay the rest later?

David: Hmm… maybe.

Sarah: Or I could pick up a few extra shifts this week.

David: Sarah, you’re already exhausted.

Sarah: Parents don’t really get the option to quit, do they?

(David smiles sadly.)

David: No. I guess we just keep pushing through somehow.

Sarah: We always do.

(He looks at the trip form lying on the table.)

David: I just don’t want him to feel left out.

Sarah: He won’t. And one day, he’ll realize how hard we tried for him.

David: I hope so.

(Sarah gently places her hand over his.)

Sarah: We may not have a lot of money, but he’s growing up in a home full of love. That matters too.

(David nods quietly, emotional.)

David: Alright… tomorrow I’ll call the school office and explain the situation.

Sarah: And I’ll ask my manager for extra shifts.

David: Teamwork?

Sarah: Teamwork.

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Expression	Meaning
act casual	pretend not to care much
tight	having little money
push something as far as possible	manage with very limited resources
drain savings	use up saved money
without thinking twice	immediately, without hesitation
come around once	happen only one time
figure something out	find a solution
scrape by	manage with barely enough money
feel left out	feel excluded
counts for something	still has value/importance

LESSON 12

(During class, Lily suddenly looks uncomfortable and keeps adjusting in her seat.)

Emma: (whispering) Hey… are you okay? You look pale.

Lily: I don’t know. My stomach really hurts.

Emma: Like cramps?

Lily: Maybe… and I think something’s wrong.

(Lily quietly checks her skirt and her face immediately changes with panic.)

Lily: Oh my gosh. Emma…

Emma: What happened?

Lily: I think… I think I got my period.

(Emma instantly softens her voice.)

Emma: Hey, it’s okay. Don’t freak out.

Lily: I wasn’t expecting this to happen at school.

Emma: That’s completely normal. Do you have a pad with you?

Lily: No. I’ve never even used one before.

(Lily looks embarrassed and overwhelmed.)

Emma: Lily, look at me. You have nothing to be embarrassed about, okay? Almost every girl goes through this.

Lily: What if people notice?

Emma: They won’t. I’ll help you.

(Emma raises her hand.)

Ms. Carter: Yes, Emma?

Emma: Um… Lily isn’t feeling well. Can we go to the nurse’s office?

(The teacher notices Lily’s anxious expression and immediately understands.)

Ms. Carter: Of course. Lily, sweetheart, you can take your bag with you.

(Lily nods nervously.)

Lily: Sorry…

Ms. Carter: Oh honey, there’s absolutely nothing to apologize for.

(Outside the classroom while walking to the nurse’s office.)

Lily: This is so embarrassing. I literally want to disappear right now.

Emma: Stop. It’s not embarrassing at all. Honestly, my first period happened during a math test. That was way worse.

(Lily laughs weakly.)

Lily: Seriously?

Emma: Yep. I thought I was dying because nobody explained cramps properly.

Lily: That’s exactly how I feel right now.

Emma: Trust me, you’ll be okay. The first time is always scary.

(At the nurse’s office.)

Ms. Carter: Lily, the nurse will help you get what you need, alright?

Lily: Okay.

Ms. Carter: And just so you know, this is a completely natural part of growing up. You don’t need to feel ashamed.

(Lily nods slowly.)

Lily: Thanks… I was really panicking.

Ms. Carter: That’s understandable. But you handled it well by asking for help.

Emma: See? I told you everything would be fine.

Lily: Thanks for staying with me.

Emma: Obviously. That’s what best friends are for.

(Lily smiles, finally feeling calmer.)

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Expressions

Expression	Meaning
look pale	look sick or frightened
freak out	panic a lot
go through something	experience something
notice	see or realize
feeling well	healthy/okay
nothing to apologize for	no need to feel sorry
want to disappear	feel extremely embarrassed
weak laugh	soft, nervous laugh
handle something well	deal with a situation properly
stay with someone	support someone emotionally

LESSON 13

Outside Noah’s House

(Ella fixes her hair nervously while Noah tries to reassure her.)

Ella: Why am I this nervous? It feels like I’m about to attend a job interview.

Noah: Relax, you’re going to do great. My parents already like you and they haven’t even met you yet.

Ella: That somehow makes it worse. What if I disappoint them?

Noah: Impossible. Trust me, they’re going to love you.

(He gently squeezes her hand before opening the door.)

Entering the House

Linda: Noah, is that you?

Noah: Yep… and I brought someone with me.

(His parents walk into the hallway. Ella gives a shy smile.)

Noah: Mom, Dad… this is Ella.

Ella: Hi, it’s really nice to finally meet you both.

Linda: Oh sweetheart, come in! We’ve heard so much about you already.

(Ella looks at Noah in surprise.)

Ella: Wait… “so much”?

Michael: Our son talks about you nonstop.

Noah: Dad— please don’t expose me on day one.

(Everyone laughs, easing the tension a little.)

Linda: You’re even prettier than the pictures he showed us.

Noah: Mom!

Ella: (laughing nervously) It’s okay.

(They all move into the living room.)

Living Room Conversation

Michael: So, Ella, what’s the secret? How did you manage to put up with him?

Ella: Honestly? I ask myself that every day.

(Noah stares at her dramatically while his parents burst into laughter.)

Linda: Oh, she’ll fit right into this family.

Noah: I walked right into that one.

During Dinner

(A little later, everyone sits together at the dining table.)

Linda: Noah told us you’re studying architecture?

Ella: Yeah, I’ve always loved designing spaces and sketching buildings.

Michael: That’s impressive. Noah could barely design his science project in high school.

Noah: Can this family go five minutes without roasting me?

Ella: Probably not. But honestly, it’s kind of adorable.

(Noah smiles softly at her.)

Linda: It’s nice seeing him this happy.

(Noah looks slightly embarrassed.)

Noah: Mom…

Linda: What? It’s true.

Michael: He’s been smiling at his phone like an idiot for months now.

Ella: So that’s why he takes forever to reply sometimes — he’s busy smiling dramatically first.

Noah: I regret introducing all of you to each other.

(Everyone laughs again.)

After Dinner – In the Kitchen

(Later, Ella helps Linda in the kitchen while Noah and Michael clear the table.)

Linda: You know, Noah was really nervous about today.

Ella: Really? He acted calm the whole time.

Linda: Oh, he was pretending. He kept pacing around the house all morning.

(Ella smiles warmly.)

Ella: That’s actually really sweet.

Linda: He cares about you a lot. A mother can tell.

(Ella’s expression softens.)

Ella: I care about him too.

Leaving the House

(At the end of the evening near the front door.)

Michael: It was wonderful meeting you, Ella.

Linda: Don’t be a stranger, okay? You’re welcome here anytime.

Ella: Thank you. I was so nervous earlier, but you’ve all been really kind.

Noah: See? I told you there was nothing to worry about.

Ella: Okay, fine. You were right for once.

Noah: Wow. Someone record this moment.

(Ella laughs and lightly nudges him.)

Linda: Drive safely, you two.

Noah: We will. Goodnight!

Outside the House

(As they walk away from the house…)

Ella: Your parents are amazing.

Noah: Yeah?

Ella: Yeah. Now I understand where you got your heart from.

(Noah looks at her, completely caught off guard.)

Noah: …Okay, now you’re trying to kill me emotionally.

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Expression	Meaning
put up with someone	tolerate someone
expose someone	reveal something embarrassing
fit right in	belong naturally
walk right into something	unintentionally create a situation
roast someone	tease/joke about someone
don’t be a stranger	visit often/stay in touch
caught off guard	surprised unexpectedly
pace around	walk back and forth nervously
for once	this one time
kill me emotionally	make someone feel overwhelmed emotionally (playfully)

LESSON 14

Meera: Hey, Kavya! Sorry for keeping you waiting. The traffic was backed up.

Kavya: It’s okay. I just got here a few minutes ago. This place is so cozy.

Meera: I know! My cousin recommended it to me, so I thought we should check it out.

Kavya: Good idea. The menu looks huge though. I can’t decide what to order.

Meera: Same here. I’m torn between the noodles and the pizza.

Kavya: “Torn between” means unable to choose, right?

Meera: Exactly!

Waiter: Good evening, ladies. Are you ready to order?

Kavya: Not yet. We’re still looking through the menu.

Waiter: Sure. Take your time.

Meera: I’m starving. I skipped lunch because work piled up.

Kavya: Mine too. I barely had time to grab a coffee.

Meera: By the way, how did your presentation turn out?

Kavya: It went really well! I was nervous at first, but everyone liked it.

Meera: See? I told you not to stress out.

Kavya: Yeah, you were right. Thanks for cheering me up yesterday.

Meera: Anytime! That’s what friends are for.

Kavya: Okay, I’ve finally made up my mind. I’ll order the white sauce pasta.

Meera: Nice. I’ll go for the spicy paneer pizza.

Waiter: Ready now?

Meera: Yes. One white sauce pasta, one paneer pizza, and two fresh lime sodas, please.

Waiter: Sure. I’ll bring them right away.

Kavya: I’m glad we could catch up today. We’ve both been so busy lately.

Meera: True. We should hang out more often instead of texting all the time.

Kavya: Agreed! Real conversations hit differently.

New Vocabulary & Phrasal Verbs

Backed up → crowded/blocked (traffic)
Check it out → try or look at something
Torn between → unable to choose between two things
Pile up → increase quickly
Grab a coffee → take/get coffee quickly
Turn out → end in a particular way
Stress out → become very worried
Cheer someone up → make someone happy
Made up my mind → decided
Right away → immediately
Catch up → talk and share recent updates
Hang out → spend time together
Hit differently → feel more special or emotional than expected

LESSON 15

(The three friends walk into an expensive café inside a luxury mall. Ryan quietly looks around, clearly uncomfortable.)

Lucas: Finally. I’ve been craving their truffle pasta all week.

Ethan: Same. Their desserts are ridiculously good too.

(Ryan glances at the menu and immediately notices the prices.)

Ryan: Uh… this place is fancy.

Lucas: Yeah, but the food’s worth every penny.

(Ryan forces a small smile while mentally calculating the prices.)

Ethan: Order whatever you want, man.

Ryan: I’m not that hungry, actually. Maybe I’ll just get coffee.

(Ethan and Lucas exchange a quick glance. They immediately understand.)

Lucas: Dude, don’t tell me you came all the way here just for coffee.

Ryan: No, seriously, I’m good.

Ethan: Ryan. We’ve been friends for years. Cut the act.

(Ryan looks away, embarrassed.)

Ryan: I just don’t want you guys paying for me all the time.

Lucas: Who said anything about “paying for you”?

Ryan: Lucas—

Lucas: Relax. Last week Ethan covered me because I forgot my wallet. It’s not a big deal.

Ethan: Exactly. Friends help each other out. Stop making it weird.

(Ryan stays quiet for a moment.)

Ryan: It’s easy for you two to say. You guys grew up differently.

(The mood softens slightly.)

Lucas: What’s that supposed to mean?

Ryan: You know what I mean. Your idea of a “small purchase” is like my monthly budget.

(An awkward silence falls over the table.)

Ethan: Ryan…

Ryan: No, I’m serious. Sometimes when you guys talk about ski trips and watches and random weekend flights, I honestly have no idea how to join the conversation.

Lucas: We never meant to make you feel left out.

Ryan: I know. That’s the problem. You’re both nice about it, which somehow makes me feel worse.

(Ethan leans forward slightly.)

Ethan: Hey. Look at me. We hang out with you because you’re our friend, not because of how much money you have.

Ryan: Yeah, but it’s hard not to notice the difference.

Lucas: Dude, half the time Ethan and I are miserable because our parents are obsessed with status and appearances. Money doesn’t magically fix everything.

Ryan: Maybe. But at least you don’t have to check your bank account before ordering fries.

(Lucas quietly closes the menu.)

Lucas: You know what? Let’s leave.

Ryan: What? No, don’t do that because of me.

Lucas: I’m serious. There’s a street food place near the old theater. Their noodles are insane.

Ethan: Oh yeah. And they make those spicy fries Ryan likes.

(Ryan looks confused.)

Ryan: You guys would rather eat street food than stay here?

Lucas: Bro, good food is good food. We’re here to hang out, not flex a restaurant bill.

(Ryan lets out a quiet laugh for the first time.)

Ethan: Besides, you always know the best hidden spots anyway.

Ryan: That’s because hidden spots are the only places I can afford.

Lucas: And somehow they taste better than these overpriced cafés.

(Ryan’s shoulders slowly relax.)

Ryan: Sorry. I didn’t mean to kill the mood earlier.

Ethan: You didn’t. Stop apologizing for being honest.

Lucas: Yeah. Real friends can handle uncomfortable conversations.

(Ryan looks at both of them, visibly emotional.)

Ryan: Thanks… seriously.

Lucas: Alright, enough feelings. Let’s go get noodles before I pass out from hunger.

Ethan: Finally, something we can all agree on.

(The three of them leave together, the awkwardness slowly fading away.)

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Expression	Meaning
worth every penny	deserving the money spent
cut the act	stop pretending
help someone out	help someone, especially financially or practically
grow up differently	have different lifestyles/backgrounds
feel left out	feel excluded
fix everything	solve all problems
flex	show off wealth/status
overpriced	more expensive than it should be
kill the mood	ruin the atmosphere
pass out from hunger	feel extremely hungry (exaggeration)
hidden spots	lesser-known places

LESSON 16

(Late at night. Mia sits in front of her laptop surrounded by notebooks, coffee cups, and sticky notes. Zara joins a video call.)

Zara: You’re still awake? It’s almost 2 a.m.

Mia: I’ve been trying to fix this stupid website for six hours.

Zara: Oh no. What happened now?

Mia: Everything. Literally everything. The login page is broken, the lessons look weird on mobile, and half the buttons don’t even work properly anymore.

Zara: Didn’t you hire someone to help?

(Mia lets out a dry laugh.)

Mia: I tried.

Zara: And?

Mia: The moment they hear my budget, they either ghost me or act like my project isn’t worth their time.

Zara: That sucks.

Mia: One guy literally said, “Come back when you have a serious budget.”

Zara: Wow. That’s harsh.

(Mia rubs her eyes tiredly.)

Mia: I know my budget is small, okay? I’m not trying to build the next billion-dollar company. I just wanted a simple English learning website where people could learn naturally.

Zara: And that’s a beautiful idea.

Mia: But nobody takes it seriously because I’m doing everything from scratch.

(She turns the laptop toward the camera.)

Mia: Look at this mess. I spent three hours trying to make one stupid section line up properly.

Zara: Honestly? It doesn’t even look bad.

Mia: Don’t lie to make me feel better. I’m one error message away from throwing this laptop out the window.

(Zara laughs softly.)

Zara: Okay, maybe you’re slightly losing it.

Mia: Slightly? I watched four tutorials today and somehow ended up making the homepage worse.

Zara: Welcome to web design.

Mia: The frustrating part is that I can clearly imagine how I want everything to look in my head. I just don’t know how to make it happen technically.

Zara: That’s normal when you’re learning something new.

Mia: But it’s exhausting constantly asking people for help and getting brushed off because I can’t afford expensive developers.

(Her voice cracks slightly from frustration.)

Mia: I’m trying so hard, Zara.

Zara: I know you are.

Mia: Sometimes I feel stupid for even starting this.

Zara: Don’t say that. Most people only talk about their ideas. You actually took the risk and started building yours.

(Mia stays quiet for a moment.)

Mia: I just wanted to create something useful. You know how many people struggle with English because classes feel robotic? I wanted learning to feel natural… like conversations, emotions, real life.

Zara: And that’s exactly why your website matters.

Mia: Then why does everything feel so impossible?

Zara: Because you’re trying to do the work of an entire team by yourself.

(Mia leans back in her chair exhausted.)

Mia: Today I seriously considered giving up.

Zara: But you won’t.

Mia: How are you so sure?

Zara: Because even while complaining, you’re still working on it.

(Mia laughs weakly.)

Mia: That’s annoyingly accurate.

Zara: Listen, your first version doesn’t need to be perfect. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself.

Mia: Easy for you to say.

Zara: No, seriously. Half the successful websites out there started out messy. People improve things as they go along.

Mia: I guess I keep comparing myself to professional platforms.

Zara: Which is unfair. Those companies have teams, money, designers, developers, marketing staff — and you’re sitting alone at 2 a.m. fighting with plugins.

(Mia laughs properly this time.)

Mia: When you say it like that, it sounds kind of tragic.

Zara: No. It sounds passionate.

(Mia looks at her unfinished website quietly.)

Mia: Do you really think I can make this work someday?

Zara: Absolutely. Maybe not overnight. Maybe not perfectly. But one step at a time? Yeah. I really do.

(Mia takes a deep breath and opens her laptop again.)

Mia: Alright… one more tutorial then.

Zara: That’s the spirit. But first, drink water before you turn into dust.

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Expression	Meaning
from scratch	starting from the beginning
ghost someone	suddenly stop replying
line up properly	align correctly
losing it	becoming emotionally frustrated
brush someone off	dismiss/ignore someone
voice cracks	voice breaks emotionally
give up	stop trying
go along	continue gradually
fight with something	struggle to make something work
that’s the spirit	encouragement to continue
one step at a time	progress gradually

LESSON 17

(A small bookstore café in another city. Clara is arranging books on a shelf when the door suddenly opens. She looks up casually — then freezes.)

Clara: …Adrian?

(Adrian stands there silently, slightly out of breath, like he rushed there the second he found her.)

Adrian: I finally found you.

(Clara’s expression immediately fills with shock and panic.)

Clara: What are you doing here?

Adrian: I’ve been looking for you for almost a year.

Clara: You shouldn’t have.

Adrian: Don’t say that. Not after disappearing from my life without a word.

(She looks down quietly.)

Clara: Adrian… please.

Adrian: No. Five years, Clara. Five years wondering what I did wrong. Five years thinking maybe you stopped loving me overnight.

(His voice cracks slightly.)

Adrian: Do you have any idea what that did to me?

(Clara struggles to maintain composure.)

Clara: I never wanted to hurt you.

Adrian: Then why did you leave?

(A painful silence fills the space between them.)

Clara: Because it was the right thing to do.

Adrian: For who? Certainly not for me.

(She closes her eyes briefly.)

Clara: Your parents made it very clear that I didn’t belong in your world.

(Adrian goes completely still.)

Adrian: …What?

Clara: Please don’t get angry at them.

Adrian: Clara, what did they say to you?

(She hesitates.)

Clara: It doesn’t matter anymore.

Adrian: It matters to me.

(Her eyes slowly fill with tears she’s been holding back for years.)

Clara: They said people like me would only drag you down. That eventually you’d grow tired of carrying someone with nothing.

(Adrian looks devastated.)

Adrian: They said that to you?

Clara: They offered me money too.

(His expression immediately hardens.)

Adrian: Oh my God.

Clara: I didn’t take it.

Adrian: I know you didn’t.

Clara: They thought I was after your family’s wealth, Adrian. Every time I visited your house, they made me feel like some beggar who accidentally wandered into the wrong place.

(Adrian looks physically sick hearing this.)

Adrian: Why didn’t you tell me?

Clara: Because they’re your parents. I didn’t want you hating them because of me.

Adrian: So instead you let me hate myself for losing you?

(Clara looks away silently.)

Adrian: I would’ve chosen you. Every single time.

Clara: I know that now. But back then… I thought leaving would make your life easier.

(Adrian lets out a broken laugh.)

Adrian: Easier? Clara, losing you ruined me.

(Tears finally roll down her face.)

Clara: Adrian…

Adrian: Do you know what hurts the most?

(She slowly looks at him.)

Adrian: Even after everything they did to you, you still protected them.

(Clara stays quiet because it’s true.)

Adrian: I found out accidentally last year. One of the old house staff told me everything before quitting.

Clara: I never wanted you to know.

Adrian: And I never wanted you to suffer alone.

(A long emotional silence passes between them.)

Adrian: I searched everywhere for you. Different cities, old workplaces, mutual friends… I wasn’t going to stop until I found you.

Clara: Why?

(He steps closer slowly.)

Adrian: Because I’m still in love with you. I never stopped.

(Clara’s breathing becomes shaky.)

Clara: Adrian… too much time has passed.

Adrian: I don’t care if it’s been five years or fifty. You’re still the person I want beside me.

(She breaks down crying quietly.)

Clara: Your family will never accept me.

Adrian: Then we’ll build our own life.

(She looks at him through tears.)

Adrian: I walked away from my parents’ money two years ago. Everything I have now — my apartment, my company, my life — I built it myself.

Clara: You did that?

Adrian: Because I realized something. None of that wealth ever meant anything without you there to share it with.

(He reaches into his coat pocket with trembling hands.)

Adrian: Clara… I’m not asking you to forget the past. I know I can’t erase your pain.

(He takes out a small ring.)

Adrian: But if there’s even a tiny part of you that still loves me… let me spend the rest of my life making this right.

(Clara completely breaks down emotionally.)

Clara: You idiot… I never stopped loving you either.

(Adrian laughs softly through tears before pulling her into his arms.)

Adrian: Then come home with me.

Clara: Home?

Adrian: Wherever we are together. That’s home.

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Expression	Meaning
out of breath	breathing heavily
without a word	without explanation
maintain composure	stay emotionally controlled
drag someone down	negatively affect someone’s life
wander into	accidentally enter
walk away from	leave/stop depending on something
build one’s own life	become independent
make things right	correct past mistakes
break down emotionally	cry uncontrollably
beside someone	together with someone emotionally/literally

LESSON 18

At Sophia’s House

(Sophia stands in the living room while her parents argue with her angrily.)

Mr. Parker: You are not seeing that boy again. Is that clear?

Sophia: Dad, you don’t even know him properly.

Mrs. Parker: We know enough.

Sophia: No, you know rumors. That’s different.

Mr. Parker: One of my colleagues warned me about him. He said Ethan gets into fights, skips work, and hangs around with the wrong crowd.

Sophia: That’s not true!

Mrs. Parker: Sophia, open your eyes. Boys like him come after money.

(Sophia looks completely hurt.)

Sophia: You really think I’d fall in love with someone like that?

Mr. Parker: I think you’re too blinded by emotions to think clearly right now.

Sophia: Ethan is the kindest person I’ve ever met.

Mrs. Parker: Then why does everyone keep saying otherwise?

Sophia: Because people love judging someone the moment they see where they come from.

(Her father’s expression hardens.)

Mr. Parker: Enough. This relationship ends now.

Sophia: No.

(The room goes silent.)

Mr. Parker: What did you just say?

Sophia: I said no. I’m not leaving him because of lies.

(Her father loses his temper and slams his hand against the table.)

Mr. Parker: We raised you better than this!

Sophia: Loving someone isn’t something shameful!

Outside Ethan’s Workplace

(Later that evening, Mr. Parker confronts Ethan outside a mechanic shop where he works.)

Mr. Parker: Stay away from my daughter.

(Ethan remains calm despite the tension.)

Ethan: Sir, with respect, I love Sophia. I would never hurt her.

Mr. Parker: Don’t pretend to be noble with me. I know exactly what boys like you want.

Ethan: Then you’ve already decided who I am without giving me a chance.

Mr. Parker: Listen carefully. If you care about her at all, you’ll walk away now.

(Ethan clenches his jaw but keeps his composure.)

Ethan: I can walk away from money. From status. But not from her.

(Mr. Parker stares at him coldly before leaving.)

Later That Night

(Sophia secretly calls Ethan while crying.)

Sophia: Ethan…

Ethan: Hey, hey… don’t cry. What happened?

Sophia: They took my phone earlier. We fought again.

Ethan: Did they hurt you?

(She stays silent for a second too long.)

Ethan: Sophia… did they hurt you?

Sophia: It’s okay.

Ethan: No, it’s not okay!

(His voice cracks with anger and helplessness.)

Sophia: Please don’t hate them. They just think they’re protecting me.

Ethan: Protecting you from what? Loving someone without money?

(Sophia wipes her tears.)

Sophia: I don’t care about any of that. I just want us.

Ethan: And you’ll have us. I promise.

Sophia: What if they never accept you?

Ethan: Then I’ll spend the rest of my life proving them wrong.

Ethan’s Home

(Ethan sits quietly while his mother notices his worried expression.)

Mrs. Bennett: This is about Sophia, isn’t it?

(He nods slowly.)

Ethan: Her parents hate me before even knowing me.

Mrs. Bennett: Sometimes rich people are scared their children will struggle the way they did once. Fear makes people cruel.

Ethan: I don’t know how to fix this anymore.

(His mother gently places a hand on his shoulder.)

Mrs. Bennett: Then let me talk to them.

Ethan: Mom—

Mrs. Bennett: If you truly love each other, then this relationship deserves at least one honest conversation.

Meeting Between the Families

(A few days later. The atmosphere is tense as both families sit across from each other.)

Mrs. Bennett: Mr. Parker, I understand why you’re worried. Every parent wants security for their child.

(Sophia’s parents stay quiet.)

Mrs. Bennett: But my son was not raised to use people. He works from sunrise to midnight because he wants to build a respectable life with his own hands.

Mr. Parker: Love alone doesn’t pay bills.

Mrs. Bennett: You’re right. Which is why Ethan has been saving money, taking extra shifts, and studying at night to grow his career.

(Sophia looks at Ethan emotionally because she didn’t know all this.)

Mrs. Bennett: They’re not asking you to hand them wealth. They’re asking for a chance to stand on their own feet.

(The room falls silent.)

Mrs. Parker: You really believe he can give her a good life?

Mrs. Bennett: Maybe not a luxurious one immediately. But a peaceful and honest one? Absolutely.

(Mr. Parker looks toward Ethan.)

Mr. Parker: And what if life gets difficult?

Ethan: Then I’ll work harder. I may not come from money, sir, but I know how to fight for the people I love.

(Sophia quietly holds back tears.)

Sophia: Dad… please. Just give us a chance.

(Her parents exchange a long look.)

Mrs. Parker: We still have fears.

Mr. Parker: But… maybe we judged you too quickly.

(Sophia immediately looks relieved.)

Ethan: I know trust takes time. I’m willing to earn it.

A Few Years Later

(Sophia and Ethan stand together inside their small apartment surrounded by moving boxes.)

Sophia: Can you believe this place is finally ours?

Ethan: No family money. No favors. Just us.

(Sophia smiles proudly.)

Sophia: We actually made it.

(Ethan wraps an arm around her gently.)

Ethan: Told you we would.

(She rests her head on his shoulder peacefully.)

Sophia: Every struggle was worth it.

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Expression	Meaning
blinded by emotions	unable to think clearly because of strong feelings
judge someone	form an opinion about someone quickly
lose one’s temper	become very angry
stay away from someone	avoid someone
with respect	polite way to disagree/speak carefully
give someone a chance	allow someone an opportunity to prove themselves
clench one’s jaw	tighten the jaw because of anger/stress
walk away from	leave or give up something
wipe one’s tears	clean tears from the face
prove someone wrong	show that another person’s opinion is incorrect
stand on one’s own feet	become financially independent
hold back tears	try not to cry
earn trust	gradually gain someone’s trust
fight for someone	strongly support/protect someone
judged too quickly	formed an opinion without enough understanding
take extra shifts	work additional hours
make it	succeed in life
worth it	deserving the effort/pain
peaceful life	calm and stable life
come from money	belong to a wealthy family

LESSON 19

At Home – After College

(Ava sits quietly at the dining table while her parents talk.)

Dad: There’s no need for you to work outside. Stay at home peacefully.

Ava: But I don’t want to sit at home forever. I want to do something with my life.

Mom: Why are you so desperate for a job? We’re providing everything you need already.

Ava: It’s not about money. I just want my own identity.

Dad: Identity? You just finished college. Stop overthinking and enjoy life.

(Ava lowers her eyes quietly, feeling unheard.)

A Few Years Later

(Ava works late at night on her laptop.)

Mom: You’re still trying that online business thing?

Ava: I’m trying to make it work.

Dad: How much money have you wasted already?

(Ava stays silent.)

Mom: First it was designing, then blogging, then courses, then websites… every few months it’s something new.

Dad: And every time people trick you and disappear with your money.

(Ava’s face falls.)

Ava: I know I made mistakes.

Dad: Because you’re naïve. The world outside isn’t easy.

(Her father walks away while she stares at the unfinished work on her laptop.)

Family Gathering

(Relatives sit together talking casually.)

Relative: So Ava, what are you doing these days? Working somewhere?

(Before Ava can answer, her mother speaks.)

Mom: Oh, she’s just at home. She couldn’t get a proper job.

(Ava immediately feels humiliated.)

Relative: Ah… I see.

(The conversation moves on, but Ava quietly looks down, embarrassed.)

Later That Night

(Ava cries quietly in her room.)

Ava: (to herself) What am I even doing with my life?

(She opens social media and sees her old friends traveling, working, and posting about promotions.)

Ava: Everyone moved forward except me.

(She throws her phone aside frustrated.)

Five Years Later

(At a small bookstore café, Ava accidentally bumps into Daniel.)

Daniel: Oh— sorry. That was my fault.

Ava: No, I wasn’t looking properly either.

(Both laugh awkwardly.)

Daniel: You come here often?

Ava: Yeah. Mostly for the coffee… and because books don’t judge people.

(Daniel notices sadness behind her joke.)

Daniel: Rough day?

Ava: More like rough few years.

Slowly Falling in Love

(Over time, they start meeting regularly.)

Daniel: You know, you’re really hard on yourself.

Ava: Because life has been hard on me first.

Daniel: Doesn’t mean you deserve it.

(She smiles softly for the first time in a long while.)

Ava: You always say the right things somehow.

Daniel: Trust me, I’m usually making things up as I go.

(Both laugh.)

Parents Find Out

(One evening at home.)

Dad: You’re seeing someone?

Ava: Yes.

Mom: Do you even realize what people will say?

Ava: Why does everything depend on “what people say”?

Dad: Because society matters! Reputation matters!

Mom: We spent twenty-five years raising you, and this is how you repay us?

(Ava looks deeply hurt.)

Ava: Loving someone is not betraying you.

Dad: He comes from nothing! How will he take care of you?

Ava: He respects me more than anyone ever has.

(Her father slams the table angrily.)

Dad: Enough! End this relationship now.

Ava: No.

(Silence fills the room.)

Outside With Daniel

(Ava cries while Daniel listens quietly.)

Ava: Maybe they’re right. Maybe I ruin everything I touch.

Daniel: Don’t say that.

Ava: I failed at everything, Daniel. Careers, business, life— everything.

(Daniel gently holds her hands.)

Daniel: Listen to me carefully. Failing doesn’t make you worthless. Giving up does.

(Ava wipes her tears.)

Ava: What if we never succeed?

Daniel: Then we keep trying until we do. Together.

Building Their Own Life

(Months pass. Ava works online day and night while Daniel takes extra shifts and studies business skills.)

Daniel: You should sleep. It’s 3 a.m.

Ava: After I finish this client project.

Daniel: You’ve been working nonstop lately.

Ava: Because for the first time in my life… I finally feel like I’m building something real.

(Daniel smiles proudly.)

Daniel: And look at you now. Clients from different countries, your own income, your own decisions.

Ava: Honestly? I still can’t believe it sometimes.

Her Parents Slowly Change

(One evening, Ava’s parents quietly watch her working seriously from home.)

Mom: She barely sleeps these days.

Dad: She’s really trying.

(Later, her father notices Daniel helping Ava set up equipment and bringing food for her while she works.)

Dad: He stayed all day just to help her?

Mom: Without asking for anything in return.

(For the first time, their expressions soften.)

Final Conversation

(A few months later.)

Dad: Ava… sit down for a minute.

(She looks nervous.)

Dad: We may not have understood you properly before.

Mom: We thought we were protecting you.

Ava: I know.

Dad: But somewhere along the way… we stopped listening to what you actually wanted.

(Ava’s eyes slowly fill with tears.)

Mom: And Daniel… he stayed beside you during your worst years. That means something.

Dad: If this is truly the life you want… we won’t stand in your way anymore.

(Ava breaks down emotionally.)

Ava: Really?

(Her mother nods softly.)

Mom: We’re proud of you.

(Ava cries and hugs them after years of emotional distance.)

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Expression	Meaning
own identity	personal independence and self-worth
make something work	succeed at something
fall for something	get deceived/tricked
naïve	too trusting/inexperienced
move forward	progress in life
hard on yourself	judge yourself too strictly
make things up as you go	improvise without a fixed plan
what people will say	fear of society’s judgment
repay someone	give back for what someone did
come from nothing	come from a poor background
wipe one’s tears	clean tears away
give up	stop trying
take extra shifts	work additional hours
build something real	create something meaningful
stand in someone’s way	prevent someone from doing something
stay beside someone	support someone during hard times

LESSON 20

At a Quiet Café

(Nathan sits alone near the window in a wheelchair while people around him barely acknowledge him. Some stare awkwardly before quickly looking away.)

(Emily enters the café carrying books and notices him struggling to reach a napkin that fell nearby.)

Emily: Oh— here you go.

(She picks it up naturally without making him feel uncomfortable.)

Nathan: Thank you. Most people usually pretend not to notice.

Emily: That’s sad. It takes two seconds to help someone.

(Nathan looks at her curiously.)

Nathan: You’d be surprised how many people suddenly become “busy.”

Emily: Their loss, honestly.

(He smiles faintly for the first time that day.)

A Few Weeks Later

(Nathan and Emily slowly become close friends.)

Emily: So what do you do for work?

(Nathan hesitates slightly.)

Nathan: I mostly work from home. Investments, online management… boring stuff.

Emily: Sounds mysterious.

Nathan: Trust me, it’s less impressive than it sounds.

(Emily laughs softly.)

Emily: You know what I like about you?

Nathan: What?

Emily: You actually listen when people talk. Most rich people act like the world revolves around them.

(Nathan freezes for a second because she unknowingly touched the truth.)

Nathan: And how do you know I’m not secretly horrible?

Emily: I don’t know. I guess people eventually reveal who they really are.

(Nathan quietly looks away, guilt slowly creeping in.)

Later That Night

(Nathan meets Leo privately.)

Leo: You need to tell her the truth eventually.

Nathan: And ruin the only real connection I’ve had in years?

Leo: Nathan, this started as an experiment. Now you’re emotionally involved. That changes everything.

Nathan: Do you know what happens when women find out who I really am?

Leo: Not everyone wants your money.

Nathan: Most don’t see me. They see vacations, luxury cars, inheritance, status… I got tired of wondering whether people loved me or just the life I could give them.

(Leo stays quiet.)

Nathan: So I removed all of it. And for the first time in my life, someone stayed because they genuinely enjoyed my company.

One Rainy Evening

(Emily and Nathan sit under a small café shelter while rain pours heavily outside.)

Emily: Can I ask you something personal?

Nathan: Depends how terrifying the question is.

Emily: Were you always this guarded?

(Nathan looks slightly surprised.)

Nathan: What makes you say that?

Emily: Sometimes it feels like you’re carrying around years of loneliness.

(Her words hit him harder than expected.)

Nathan: Maybe I am.

Emily: You know… people think money solves loneliness, but I don’t think that’s true at all.

(Nathan lets out a quiet laugh.)

Nathan: You have no idea how true that is.

Emily: I think all anyone really wants is someone who stays.

(Nathan looks at her emotionally.)

The Truth Comes Out

(A few months later. Emily unexpectedly sees Nathan standing and walking normally inside a private building lobby.)

(She freezes completely.)

Emily: Nathan…?

(Nathan turns around slowly, panic immediately filling his face.)

Nathan: Emily— wait.

Emily: You can walk?

(Her voice sounds hurt more than angry.)

Nathan: I can explain.

Emily: Explain what exactly? That everything was a lie?

(Nathan steps closer carefully.)

Nathan: My feelings for you were never fake. Not once.

Emily: Then why would you do this?

(Nathan struggles to find words.)

Nathan: Because I spent my entire life surrounded by people who loved my money more than me.

(Emily stays silent, shocked.)

Nathan: Every relationship felt transactional. Every compliment felt rehearsed. I never knew who was genuine anymore.

Emily: So you pretended to be disabled to “test” people?

(Nathan lowers his eyes shamefully.)

Nathan: Yes.

(Emily looks deeply hurt.)

Emily: Do you realize how cruel that is?

Nathan: I know.

Emily: You should’ve trusted me enough to tell me the truth.

Nathan: I wanted to. So many times. But every day I got more terrified of losing you.

(Emily’s eyes slowly fill with tears.)

Emily: I fell in love with you because of your heart, Nathan. Not because of what you had or didn’t have.

(Nathan looks devastated hearing that.)

Nathan: I know that now. And I hate myself for hurting you.

Some Time Later

(Nathan waits outside Emily’s workplace holding flowers, visibly nervous.)

Nathan: I’m not asking you to forgive me immediately.

(Emily quietly listens.)

Nathan: But for the first time in my life, someone loved me honestly… and I almost destroyed it because I was too broken to believe I deserved it.

(Emily’s expression softens slightly.)

Nathan: I spent years testing people instead of trusting them.

(A long silence passes.)

Emily: You really hurt me, Nathan.

Nathan: I know.

Emily: But… I also know the lonely person behind all those walls.

(Nathan looks at her hopefully.)

Emily: If we try again, no more lies. No more tests. No pretending to be someone else.

(Nathan nods immediately.)

Nathan: No more lies. I promise.

(Emily finally smiles faintly.)

Emily: Good. Because carrying fake wheelchair trauma for months would’ve been a very weird love story to explain later.

(Nathan laughs emotionally for the first time in weeks.)

Nathan: Fair point.

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Expression	Meaning
acknowledge someone	notice or recognize someone
their loss	they missed something valuable
reveal who they are	show true personality
creeping in	slowly appearing emotionally
emotionally involved	emotionally attached
transactional	based on benefits, not emotions
guarded	emotionally closed/protective
carry loneliness	emotionally suffer from loneliness
the truth comes out	hidden truth gets revealed
freeze completely	become shocked suddenly
fall in love with someone	develop romantic feelings
behind all those walls	behind emotional barriers
try again	restart a relationship
fair point	valid argument/opinion
deserve something	be worthy of something

LESSON 21

At the University Hostel

Sarah: Emma, sweetheart, you look exhausted. Are you doing okay?

Emma: Yeah… I’m alright, Mom.

David: Don’t bottle things up, Emma. We can tell something’s wrong.

Emma: It’s nothing, Dad.

A few girls walk past them laughing quietly.

Girl 1: Isn’t that the girl from the countryside?

Girl 2: Yeah. Her clothes are so outdated.

Girl 3: She doesn’t even wear makeup. And look at her hairstyle.

Girl 1: I noticed the hair on her arms too.

The girls giggle and walk away.

Emma lowers her head immediately.

Sarah: Emma… have they been treating you like this the whole time?

Emma suddenly bursts into tears.

Emma: I can’t do this anymore, Mom! Every day they find something to make fun of. My clothes, my accent, my hair… everything.

David: Why didn’t you tell us earlier?

Emma: I thought I could handle it. I tried to shrug it off at first, but it kept getting under my skin.

Sarah: Oh honey…

Emma hugs her mother tightly.

Emma: I feel miserable here. I can’t focus on my studies anymore. My grades are going downhill. Every time I step into class, I feel judged.

David: None of this is your fault.

Emma: I just want to come back home. I’d rather study in a local college than put up with this every single day.

Sarah: If that’s truly what you want, we’ll support you.

In the Professor’s Office

Professor Catherine

Professor Catherine: Emma is one of the most promising students in this department. I was surprised when I heard she wanted to leave.

David: She’s been struggling a lot, Professor.

Sarah: She hasn’t been herself lately.

Professor Catherine: Emma, can I ask you something? Do you think successful people never get judged?

Emma stays silent.

Professor Catherine: When I was your age, people mocked me constantly. They made fun of my accent, my appearance, even the way I walked.

Emma: Really?

Professor Catherine: Absolutely. I came from a poor family. I had simple clothes, no fashion sense, and no confidence. Some students went out of their way to humiliate me.

Emma: Then how did you get through it?

Professor Catherine: At first, I let it tear me apart. I cried almost every night. My confidence hit rock bottom.

Sarah: That must have been heartbreaking.

Professor Catherine: It was. But one day, I realized something important — people will always have something to say. If I kept letting their opinions hold me back, I would never move forward.

David: That’s true.

Professor Catherine: So instead of trying to fit in, I focused on building my future. Little by little, things started to turn around.

Emma: Weren’t you scared?

Professor Catherine: Of course I was. But growth begins when you stop running away from discomfort.

Professor Catherine: Today, I teach thousands of students. My former students are doctors, CEOs, scientists, lawyers — they’re spread all across the world.

Professor Catherine: Whenever I need help, there’s always someone willing to back me up. I have financial freedom, respect, and a career I’m proud of.

Emma: I never thought about it like that.

Professor Catherine: The girls laughing at you today may not even matter in a few years. But your education and confidence will shape the rest of your life.

Sarah: Emma has always been hardworking.

Professor Catherine: Exactly. Don’t throw away your dream because of a few insecure people trying to bring you down.

Emma: But what if I never fit in here?

Professor Catherine: You don’t have to fit in to succeed. Sometimes the people who stand out end up going the farthest.

David: That’s a good point.

Professor Catherine: Emma, confidence doesn’t appear overnight. You build it by refusing to give up on yourself.

Emma wipes away her tears slowly.

Emma: Maybe I’ve been looking at myself through their eyes.

Professor Catherine: And that’s the biggest mistake you can make. Never measure your worth using someone else’s cruelty.

Emma: (smiles weakly) I’ll try again, Professor.

Professor Catherine: That’s all I want to hear. One day, you’ll look back and realize this phase only made you stronger.

Useful Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Bottle things up — hide emotions
Shrug it off — ignore something casually
Get under someone’s skin — deeply bother someone
Going downhill — becoming worse
Put up with — tolerate
Go out of one’s way — make extra effort
Tear someone apart — hurt emotionally
Hit rock bottom — reach the worst point
Hold someone back — stop progress
Turn around — improve completely
Back someone up — support someone
Bring someone down — make someone feel bad
Fit in — feel accepted socially

Idioms Used

“Growth begins when you stop running away from discomfort.”
“Hit rock bottom.”
“Stand out.”
“One day, you’ll look back on this.”

LESSON 22

At Professor Thompson’s Cottage

The three friends stand outside a small countryside cottage on a chilly evening.

Oliver: Hard to believe we’re back here after all these years.

Harry: This place used to feel like our second home.

Jack: Especially during exam season. We practically lived here.

Harry knocks on the door.

A few seconds later, the door opens slowly.

Professor Thompson

Professor Thompson: Oliver? Harry? Jack? Well, I’ll be damned…

Oliver: (laughs) Good to see you too, Professor.

Professor Thompson: Come in, boys! Don’t just stand out in the cold.

They walk inside the cosy cottage filled with books and old photographs.

Catching Up

Professor Thompson: Look at the three of you… all suited and booted now.

Harry: We had to clean up our act eventually.

Everyone laughs.

Professor Thompson: So, what have you boys been up to?

Oliver: I’m working as a financial analyst in London now.

Professor Thompson: Impressive.

Harry: I’m with a software company in Manchester.

Jack: And I recently joined a big architectural firm.

Professor Thompson: That’s brilliant. Truly brilliant.

Talking About Their Struggles

Oliver: Honestly, Professor, there was a time I didn’t think any of this would happen.

Harry: Same here. We were barely scraping by back then.

Jack: Do you remember when the three of us shared one tiny flat just to save money?

Professor Thompson: I do. And I remember how you boys worked yourselves to the bone.

Oliver: I used to stack shelves at a supermarket after lectures.

Harry: I worked late-night shifts at a pub.

Jack: And I delivered newspapers every morning before uni.

Professor Thompson: Yet not once did you lot complain.

Harry: Because we didn’t want to throw our future away.

Remembering the Professor’s Help

Jack: Sir… we never properly thanked you.

Professor Thompson: Whatever for?

Oliver: For tutoring us for free.

Harry: You stayed back after classes almost every evening just to help us catch up.

Jack: Most lecturers would’ve called it a day and gone home.

Professor Thompson: You boys were different. I could see how badly you wanted a better life.

Oliver: There were nights we turned up exhausted, half asleep…

Harry: But you still pushed us to keep going.

Professor Thompson: Because I knew you were capable of more than you believed.

The Professor Shares His Story

Professor Thompson: Truth be told, I saw a bit of myself in you lot.

Jack: Really?

Professor Thompson: Oh yes. When I was young, my family had next to nothing. I worked odd jobs all through university.

Oliver: Sounds familiar.

Professor Thompson: There was a professor who helped me stay on track when I was ready to pack it all in.

Harry: So you were paying it forward?

Professor Thompson: Exactly.

Emotional Moment

There’s a brief silence.

Professor Thompson: You know what makes me happiest? It’s not the money or awards. It’s seeing my students make something of themselves.

Oliver: We wouldn’t be where we are today without you.

Jack: Not even close.

Harry: You gave us a proper shot when nobody else did.

The professor smiles emotionally.

Professor Thompson: Well… you boys did the hard part. You kept your heads down and carried on even when life got rough.

Oliver: We nearly gave up a few times though.

Professor Thompson: But you didn’t. That’s what matters.

Their Gratitude

Jack places a neatly wrapped box on the table.

Professor Thompson: What’s this then?

Harry: Open it.

The professor unwraps it slowly and finds a beautiful vintage watch.

Professor Thompson: Oh, lads… you really shouldn’t have.

Oliver: It’s nothing compared to what you’ve done for us.

Professor Thompson: You turning into decent men is more than enough for me.

Harry: Still, we wanted you to know we’ll never forget it.

The professor’s eyes become watery.

Professor Thompson: You’ve no idea how proud I am of you three.

Useful English Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Suited and booted — dressed formally
Clean up one’s act — improve behaviour/life
Scraping by — barely managing financially
Work oneself to the bone — work extremely hard
Throw something away — waste an opportunity
Stay back — remain after others leave
Catch up — improve to reach others’ level
Call it a day — stop working
Turn up — arrive
Pack it all in — quit everything
Pay it forward — return kindness by helping others
Keep one’s head down — avoid distractions and continue working
Carry on — continue despite difficulty
Get rough — become difficult

Idioms Used

“Worked themselves to the bone.”
“Proper shot.”
“Keep your head down.”
“Pack it all in.”
“Make something of yourself.”

LESSON 23

At the University Campus

Ryan

Ryan was one of the most popular seniors on campus.

Girls constantly gathered around him.

Some admired his looks.

Others admired his confidence.

But Ryan barely paid attention to any of them.

One morning, while walking through the corridor, he suddenly freezes.

A girl walks past him carrying books.

Emily

Ryan: (whispers to himself) Sunny…?

His heart skips a beat instantly.

Years had passed, but he recognised her immediately.

Meanwhile, Emily walks away without noticing him.

Emily Starts Admiring Him

Over the next few weeks, Emily keeps seeing Ryan everywhere.

At basketball practice.

At the cafeteria.

Near lecture halls.

Slowly, admiration turns into feelings.

Chloe

Chloe: You fancy him, don’t you?

Emily: No, I don’t.

Chloe: Emily, you literally light up whenever he walks in.

Emily blushes immediately.

Emily: He’s just… different.

But what Emily doesn’t know is—

Chloe secretly likes Ryan too.

Chloe Decides to Confess

One evening, Chloe gathers courage and approaches Ryan near the campus garden.

Chloe: Ryan… can we talk for a second?

Ryan: Sure.

Chloe takes a deep breath nervously.

Chloe: I actually wanted to tell you—

Before she can finish…

Ryan smiles softly.

Ryan: Is this about Emily?

Chloe’s expression immediately falls.

Chloe: Emily…?

Ryan: I know she likes me.

Chloe stays silent.

Ryan: Truth is… I like her too.

Those words hit Chloe hard.

Ryan: Actually, it’s more complicated than that.

Chloe: What do you mean?

Ryan looks toward the university building thoughtfully.

Ryan: Emily and I were childhood friends.

Chloe: Wait… seriously?

Ryan nods.

Ryan: We grew up together before life pulled us apart.

Ryan: She used to call me “Blue.”

Ryan smiles faintly at the memory.

Ryan: And I used to call her “Sunny.”

Chloe: Does she remember you?

Ryan: No.

Chloe: Then why not tell her?

Ryan: I wanted to. But I didn’t know how to approach her after all these years.

Ryan laughs softly.

Ryan: Besides, with all the attention around me, people would start targeting her out of jealousy.

Chloe’s heart sinks deeper with every word.

Because she realises—

Ryan never looked at her that way.

Chloe Lies to Emily

That night, Emily waits excitedly in her room.

Emily: So? What happened? Did you talk to him?

Chloe forces a smile.

Chloe: Yeah.

Emily: And?

Chloe hesitates for a moment.

Then jealousy takes over.

Chloe: Ryan likes me.

Emily’s smile slowly disappears.

Emily: Oh…

Chloe: He said he’s always enjoyed talking to me more.

Emily lowers her eyes quietly.

Chloe: I think he only sees you as a junior.

Emily forces herself to smile.

Emily: That’s okay.

But her voice cracks slightly.

Emily Starts Pulling Away

After that day, Emily completely changes.

She stops following Ryan around campus.

Stops waiting to see him.

Stops smiling whenever he passes by.

Instead, she throws herself into studies.

Ryan notices immediately.

Ryan: Why is she suddenly avoiding me?

Friend: Maybe she got over you.

Ryan looks disappointed.

Late Night at the Library

One rainy night…

Emily stays late at the library studying alone.

Meanwhile, Chloe secretly watches her from outside.

Jealousy and guilt completely consume her.

Then suddenly—

She creates a small fire accident near the storage section and runs away in panic.

Smoke quickly spreads across the library.

University Library

The fire alarm starts ringing loudly.

Students rush outside screaming.

Ryan sees the chaos and immediately runs toward the building.

Ryan: Emily’s still inside!

Inside the Burning Library

Smoke fills the air heavily.

Emily struggles to breathe.

She coughs violently and collapses near a bookshelf.

Ryan searches desperately through the smoke.

Ryan: SUNNY!!

Emily’s eyes slowly open.

That name…

That familiar voice…

Ryan: Sunny, stay awake!

Emily stares at him weakly.

Emily: B… Blue…?

Ryan kneels beside her immediately.

Ryan: Yeah, Sunny. It’s me.

Tears instantly gather in Emily’s eyes.

Ryan carries her outside safely.

Outside the Library

Emily slowly regains consciousness wrapped in a blanket.

The moment she sees Ryan, she hugs him tightly.

Emily: Blue… it’s really you…

Ryan: I’m here.

Emily: Why didn’t you tell me sooner?

Ryan: I tried to find the right moment.

Emily looks at him emotionally.

Emily: Chloe told me you liked her.

Ryan looks shocked instantly.

Ryan: What? No.

Everything suddenly makes sense to him.

Ryan: She lied to you.

Emily looks heartbroken.

Ryan: Sunny… it was always you.

Emily starts crying softly.

Emily: I thought you forgot me.

Ryan gently wipes away her tears.

Ryan: Never. Not even once.

Useful Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Light up — suddenly look happy
Pull apart — separate emotionally or physically
Sink in — become emotionally understood
Take over — gain control emotionally
Pull away — become distant
Throw oneself into something — focus deeply on something
Get over someone — move on emotionally
Run toward — move quickly toward something
Stay awake — remain conscious
Figure something out — understand something

Idioms Used

“Heart sinks.”
“It was always you.”
“Find the right moment.”
“Throw herself into studies.”

LESSON 24

At the Beachside Hotel

Waves crash softly against the shore as tourists enjoy their holiday at a luxurious beach hotel.

Inside the restaurant…

Blue Haven Resort

A teenage waitress rushes between tables carrying drinks carefully.

Lily

Manager: Lily, table seven needs their order.

Lily: Coming right up!

At one corner table, five friends laugh loudly while looking at the menu.

Ethan

Mason

Sophie

Olivia

Daniel

Mason: This place is unreal.

Olivia: Best holiday decision ever.

Lily approaches their table politely.

Lily: Hi! What can I get for you guys?

Daniel: First of all… your accent sounds familiar.

Lily smiles awkwardly.

Lily: Really?

Sophie: Where are you from?

Lily: I’m originally from England.

The five friends immediately look at each other in shock.

Ethan: No way. So are we.

Slowly Becoming Friends

Over the next few days, the group keeps bumping into Lily around the hotel.

At breakfast…

Near the beach…

At the café…

Eventually, casual conversations turn into friendship.

Day 2 — At the Beach

Olivia: So how did you end up working here?

Lily hesitates slightly.

Lily: I came here for university.

Mason: Really? Then why’d you stop?

Lily looks down quietly.

Lily: My parents couldn’t afford the fees anymore.

The group immediately becomes silent.

Lily: They already sacrificed everything just to send me abroad.

Daniel: That must’ve been rough.

Lily: I realised they couldn’t even afford my flight ticket back home… so I dropped out and started working here instead.

Sophie: How long has it been since you’ve seen them?

Lily: Almost a year.

The Friends Feel Heartbroken

That night, the five friends sit together quietly.

Olivia: I can’t stop thinking about her.

Mason: Same here.

Ethan: Imagine struggling alone in another country at that age.

Daniel: And still smiling through it all.

Sophie: She’s been carrying all of this by herself.

Day 4 — Bond Growing Stronger

The group starts spending more time with Lily.

They walk along the beach together.

Eat ice cream late at night.

Talk for hours.

For the first time in months, Lily genuinely laughs without forcing it.

One Emotional Conversation

Ethan: Don’t you miss home?

Lily smiles sadly.

Lily: Every single day.

Olivia: Then why not call your parents and tell them everything?

Lily: Because they already blame themselves enough.

Daniel: Still… they’d want you back.

Lily’s eyes slowly fill with tears.

Lily: I just didn’t want to become a burden.

Sophie: Hey… you’re not a burden.

The Final Day

The five friends secretly gather together before checkout.

Mason: Alright, everyone pitch in.

Daniel: Already transferred my part.

Olivia: Same here.

Sophie: She’s going home.

At the Restaurant

Lily serves their final breakfast sadly.

Lily: So… this is goodbye.

Ethan: Not exactly.

He places an envelope in front of her.

Lily: What’s this?

Olivia: Open it.

Lily slowly opens it.

Inside—

A flight ticket.

Back home.

Her hands immediately start shaking.

Lily: W-what…?

Daniel: You’re going back to your family.

Tears instantly roll down her cheeks.

Lily: No… I can’t accept this.

Mason: Yes, you can.

Sophie: Think of it as friends helping a friend out.

Lily starts crying harder.

Lily: I don’t even know how to thank you guys.

Ethan: You don’t have to.

Olivia: Just promise you’ll go home.

Lily covers her mouth emotionally.

Lily: My mum’s going to cry when she sees me…

Daniel: Probably.

Everyone laughs softly through tears.

At the Airport

Before leaving…

Lily hugs each of them tightly.

Lily: These five days… were the happiest I’ve had in a long time.

Sophie: Don’t lose touch, alright?

Mason: And next time we meet, no more crying.

Lily: (laughs through tears) I’ll try.

The boarding announcement echoes.

Lily turns back one last time.

Lily: Thank you… for helping me find my way home again.

The friends smile warmly as she walks toward the gate.

Useful Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Bump into someone — meet unexpectedly
Drop out — discontinue studies
Carry something by oneself — handle problems alone
Smile through it all — stay positive despite pain
Pitch in — contribute together
Help someone out — help someone practically
Roll down one’s cheeks — tears falling
Lose touch — stop communicating
Find one’s way home — return emotionally/physically to home

Idioms Used

“Sacrificed everything.”
“Carrying all of this by herself.”
“You’re not a burden.”
“Find my way home again.”

LESSON 25

Back in School

Clara

Clara had only one dream growing up—

To study fashion design at a prestigious university.

She spent years sketching dresses in notebooks instead of paying attention in class.

Every summer holiday, she and her childhood friend would sit for hours stitching tiny handmade dresses for dolls.

Isabelle

Isabelle: One day we’re going to design real dresses for famous people.

Clara: And we’ll have our own fashion house.

The two girls laugh excitedly while sewing uneven stitches by hand.

The Incident

Everything changes during Clara’s final school exams.

One afternoon, whispers spread across the classroom.

Student 1: Clara copied during the exam.

Student 2: Seriously?

Student 3: I heard they caught her cheating.

Clara stands frozen in shock.

Clara: I didn’t copy anything!

But no one listens.

Even though she was innocent, the accusation ruins her chances of entering her dream university.

Her Dream Falls Apart

Weeks later…

Westbridge Fashion University

rejects her application.

Clara sits silently staring at the rejection email.

Clara: (whispers) My whole future’s gone…

Instead of university life, she ends up joining a small local college.

Struggling With Insecurity

Years pass.

Clara somehow finishes college.

But deep inside, she constantly compares herself to university-trained designers.

Clara: They’re so polished… so professional.

Friend: Clara, your designs are amazing.

Clara: Maybe. But I still feel like I missed out.

She feels like she never got the proper exposure, connections, or perfection that university students had.

Still—

She never gives up designing.

Five Years Later

A huge fashion show takes place in London.

London Emerging Designers Fashion Show

Clara nervously stands backstage holding her final design.

A breathtaking handmade gown inspired by childhood memories.

Host: And the winner for Best Emerging Designer goes to…

A pause fills the room.

Host: Clara Bennett!

The crowd bursts into applause.

Clara stands frozen in disbelief.

Host: Clara, please come up to the stage!

Her hands tremble as she walks forward.

The Judge Recognises Her

One of the judges suddenly stands up in shock.

Isabelle

Isabelle: Clara…?

Clara looks up.

Their eyes meet instantly.

Years disappear in a second.

Clara: Isabelle…?

Isabelle immediately smiles emotionally.

She recognises Clara right away.

Not because of the dress—

But because the stitching style reminds her of their childhood summers together.

Emotional Reunion

After the event…

Isabelle rushes toward Clara backstage.

Isabelle: I can’t believe it’s actually you.

Clara: I thought you wouldn’t remember me.

Isabelle: Are you kidding? We spent every summer making dresses out of old curtains and scrap fabric.

Both laugh emotionally.

Clara: Those stitches were terrible though.

Isabelle: Terrible? Please. We thought we were running a fashion empire.

Clara Opens Up

Eventually, Clara tells Isabelle everything.

About the false accusation.

About losing her dream university.

About feeling left behind.

Isabelle listens quietly.

Isabelle: Clara… your talent was never the problem.

Clara: But I always felt incomplete.

Isabelle: University doesn’t create creativity. It only polishes it.

Clara becomes emotional hearing that.

The University Learns the Truth

A few weeks later…

News about Clara’s story spreads online.

Eventually, even Westbridge Fashion University hears about the false accusation from years ago.

The university investigates the incident properly.

And finally—

They realise Clara had been innocent all along.

Unexpected Support

One afternoon, Clara receives a huge package.

Inside are:

Advanced fashion design books
Pattern-making guides
Textile resources
Personal letters from professors

She immediately becomes emotional.

Then her phone rings.

It’s Isabelle.

Isabelle: Did the package arrive?

Clara: Wait… you knew about this?

Isabelle: I may have pulled a few strings.

Clara laughs through tears.

Clara: After all these years… you still help me out.

Isabelle: Of course. That’s what best friends do.

Final Emotional Moment

Clara: Sometimes I still feel like I lost my university life.

Isabelle: Maybe. But look at you now.

Isabelle: You fought your way through rejection, insecurity, and disappointment… and still made it onto that stage.

Clara becomes silent.

Isabelle: Some people get opportunities handed to them.

Isabelle: Others stitch their dreams together piece by piece.

Tears slowly fill Clara’s eyes.

Clara: We really started with hand stitching during summer holidays, didn’t we?

Isabelle: And somehow… we still ended up here.

Useful Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Miss out — lose an opportunity
Give up — stop trying
Stand frozen — become shocked and unable to move
Burst into applause — suddenly start clapping
Rush toward — move quickly toward someone
Left behind — emotionally or professionally behind others
Spread online — become publicly known
Pull strings — use influence to help someone
Help someone out — assist someone
Fight one’s way through — overcome difficulties
Prestigious — highly respected and admired
Breathtaking — extremely beautiful or impressive

Idioms Used

“My whole future’s gone.”
“Running a fashion empire.”
“Pulled a few strings.”
“Stitch their dreams together piece by piece.”

LESSON 26

On the Way to School

Ava

Ava walked to school every morning through the same quiet street.

One rainy morning, she suddenly stopped near an empty bus stop.

A weak stray dog lay curled up beside the pavement.

Its fur was dirty.

Its body was covered with infections.

And its eyes looked painfully lonely.

Ava slowly crouched down.

Ava: Hey there…

The dog weakly lifted its head.

Ava opened her lunchbox quietly.

Ava: You must be starving.

She placed her sandwich carefully in front of the dog.

The dog immediately started eating desperately.

A small smile appeared on Ava’s face.

The Dog Starts Following Her

The next morning…

The same dog waited near the bus stop again.

Its tail wagged the moment it saw Ava.

Ava: You came back?

From that day onward, the dog followed her everywhere.

From home to school.

And from school back home again.

Eventually, Ava started calling him Buddy.

Buddy

Classmates Start Bullying Her

One afternoon outside school…

Bella: Ew, that filthy dog follows you everywhere.

Other girls laugh.

Bella

Girl 1: No wonder she keeps getting itchy hands.

Girl 2: She probably caught infections from that dog.

Bella: Honestly, it’s disgusting.

Ava immediately hides her hands behind her back.

The comments slowly start getting under her skin.

Ava Slowly Pulls Away

Days pass.

Ava stops petting Buddy.

Stops feeding him openly.

Stops talking to him in front of others.

But Buddy still follows her faithfully every single day.

No matter how distant she becomes.

Sometimes he would simply sit outside the school gate waiting for her till classes ended.

One Rainy Evening

One evening after school, heavy rain pours down.

Roads become slippery.

Ava walks home alone carrying her umbrella.

Buddy quietly follows beside her.

Suddenly—

A speeding truck loses control near the crossing.

People scream loudly.

Ava freezes in fear.

Before she can react—

Buddy jumps toward her and pushes her away from the road.

SCREECH.

Everything happens within seconds.

The truck stops abruptly.

Ava falls hard onto the pavement.

Ava: Buddy?!

Her eyes widen in horror.

Buddy lies motionless on the road.

Emotional Breakdown

Ava rushes toward him crying uncontrollably.

Ava: Buddy! Buddy, wake up!

Tears stream down her face heavily.

Ava: Please don’t leave me…

People around them slowly gather.

Buddy weakly moves his tail one last time after hearing her voice.

Then—

Nothing.

Ava completely breaks down.

Ava: I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…

She hugs him tightly despite the rain pouring around them.

News Spreads Everywhere

The accident story quickly spreads across the country.

Buddy Rescue Incident

News channels share the heartbreaking story of the stray dog that sacrificed its life to save a school girl.

People across the country become emotional.

At school, students quietly watch the news in silence.

Bella lowers her head guiltily.

Girl 1: We were so cruel to her.

Girl 2: And that dog loved her more genuinely than most humans do.

Bella’s eyes slowly fill with tears.

Final Scene

A few days later…

Ava sits quietly near Buddy’s small memorial under a tree.

There’s a photo beside fresh flowers.

Mrs. Carter: He really loved you, didn’t he?

Mrs. Carter – Teacher

Ava nods silently.

Ava: I pushed him away because I was scared of what people would say.

Her voice breaks.

Ava: But he never stopped loving me.

Mrs. Carter gently places a hand on her shoulder.

Mrs. Carter: Some souls love without expecting anything in return.

Ava wipes away her tears slowly.

Ava: I just want him back…

The wind blows softly around them.

And for a moment—

It almost feels like Buddy is still walking beside her.

Vocabulary

Faithfully — loyally and without giving up
“Buddy still followed her faithfully every day.”
Motionless — completely still without movement
“Buddy lay motionless on the road.”

Useful Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Get under someone’s skin — emotionally bother someone
Pull away — become emotionally distant
Break down — cry uncontrollably
Push someone away — distance someone emotionally
Wipe away tears — clean tears from the face
Spread across the country — become known everywhere

Idioms Used

“Loved her more genuinely than most humans.”
“Without expecting anything in return.”
“Walking beside her.”

LESSON 27

In Margaret’s Garden

It was a chilly afternoon in a quiet neighbourhood in Manchester.

The cold breeze rustled through the flowers as three women sat in Margaret’s garden wrapped in warm cardigans, sipping tea.

Margaret

Helen

Susan

A plate of biscuits sat untouched while laughter filled the air.

The Fun Begins

Margaret: Honestly, if my husband loses his glasses one more time, I’m going to lose my mind.

Helen: Again?

Margaret: Oh, not just glasses. Last week he spent twenty minutes looking for the TV remote while holding it in his hand.

All three burst into laughter.

Susan: Men are unbelievable sometimes.

Helen: Tell me about it. My son leaves wet towels everywhere like he’s marking territory.

Margaret: (laughing) That’s nothing. My husband opens every kitchen cabinet and somehow never shuts a single one.

Susan: Oh my word, same here!

Gossip Slowly Starts

Helen leans forward dramatically.

Helen: Right, have either of you seen the new neighbour across the street?

Susan: The woman with the giant sunglasses?

Margaret: Yes! She walks her dog like she’s on a fashion runway.

The women giggle immediately.

Helen: I nearly choked on my tea yesterday when she shouted “organic water” at her poor husband.

Susan: Organic water? What does that even mean?

Margaret: At this point, people just make things up to sound fancy.

They all laugh harder.

Talking About Family Chaos

Susan: You know what my husband did yesterday?

Helen: Go on then.

Susan: He tried fixing the washing machine after watching one online tutorial.

Margaret: Oh no…

Susan: We nearly flooded the kitchen.

Helen laughs so hard she wipes tears from her eyes.

Helen: That reminds me — my daughter asked her father to help with homework, and somehow they both ended up confused.

Margaret: That’s classic.

A Warm Friendship

As the evening gets colder, the women pull their chairs closer together.

Despite the gossip and jokes, there’s comfort in their friendship.

A small escape from daily routines.

Susan: You know, these little tea sessions keep me sane.

Helen: Same here. Otherwise I’d probably bottle everything up.

Margaret: Exactly. Sometimes you just need a good laugh to get through the week.

The three women smile warmly.

Final Funny Moment

Suddenly, Margaret’s husband opens the back door.

Mr. Collins: Margaret, have you seen my glasses?

The three women stare at each other silently.

Then burst out laughing again.

Margaret: Check your head, darling.

Mr. Collins touches his head awkwardly.

The glasses were already there.

Susan: And there it is — today’s entertainment.

Everyone laughs as the chilly evening slowly fades into night.

Vocabulary

Rustled — made a soft sound while moving
“The cold breeze rustled through the flowers.”
Unbelievable — very hard to believe or surprisingly ridiculous
“Men are unbelievable sometimes.”

Useful Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Lose one’s mind — become extremely frustrated
Burst into laughter — suddenly start laughing loudly
Lean forward — move closer with interest
Choke on something — cough suddenly while eating/drinking
Bottle things up — hide emotions inside
Get through something — survive/manage a difficult period

Idioms Used

“Marking territory.”
“Keep me sane.”
“Today’s entertainment.”
“Classic.”

LESSON 28

Inside the Classroom

Mrs. Wilson

Mrs. Wilson was known for being patient.

Very patient.

But the three students sitting at the back of the class constantly tested her limits.

Jake

Liam

Sophie

Even after being warned multiple times, they never stopped chatting during lessons.

The Warnings

Mrs. Wilson: Jake, Liam, Sophie — this is the second warning.

The three nod innocently.

Five minutes later…

Whispering starts again.

Then laughter.

Mrs. Wilson closes her book slowly.

Mrs. Wilson: Third warning. One more word and all three of you will stay back after school.

The class immediately becomes quiet.

For exactly thirty seconds.

Jake: (whispering) She counts faster than a stopwatch.

Liam starts laughing loudly.

Even Sophie struggles to hold it in.

The Pranks Begin

After getting punished repeatedly, the trio decides to “take revenge.”

And things quickly get out of hand.

Prank 1 — Chalk Powder

Before class begins, Jake secretly dusts Mrs. Wilson’s chair with chalk powder.

A few minutes later…

Mrs. Wilson sits down.

When she stands up, white powder covers the back of her skirt.

The classroom erupts into laughter.

Mrs. Wilson immediately realises what happened.

She slowly turns around.

The three friends avoid eye contact instantly.

Prank 2 — The Fall

A few days later…

Liam places a loose notebook near the front desk.

Mrs. Wilson accidentally steps on it and slips in front of the whole class.

Gasps fill the room.

Some students laugh nervously.

Mrs. Wilson quickly gets up pretending she’s fine.

But her expression changes completely.

For the first time—

She looks deeply hurt.

Sophie’s smile slowly fades.

Prank 3 — Salt in the Water Bottle

During lunch break…

Jake secretly mixes salt into Mrs. Wilson’s water bottle.

Later during class—

Mrs. Wilson takes a sip.

Her face immediately twists in disgust.

The three friends burst into laughter again.

This time, Mrs. Wilson quietly closes the bottle and says nothing.

Which somehow feels even worse.

Results Day

A few weeks later…

The students gather nervously for their final scorecards.

Jake opens his envelope first.

His face turns pale instantly.

Jake: What…?

Liam checks his own.

Liam: No way…

Sophie’s hands start shaking.

All three scorecards say the same thing:

FAILED

And below it—

“Not eligible to move to university. Must repeat the academic year.”

The three friends stare at each other in horror.

Realisation Hits Them

Outside the classroom…

Sophie: My parents are going to kill me.

Jake: We’re actually repeating the year…

Liam: This can’t be real.

For the first time, they truly reflect on everything they had done.

Not just the pranks.

But how far they had pushed things.

They Go to Mrs. Wilson

The three slowly walk toward the staff room.

Mrs. Wilson looks up as they enter quietly.

Jake: Miss… we’re really sorry.

Liam: We thought we were just having fun.

Sophie: But we crossed the line.

Mrs. Wilson stays silent.

Jake: When you fell in class… we should’ve helped you instead of laughing.

Liam: And the water bottle prank was cruel.

Sophie: We didn’t realise how hurtful we were being.

Mrs. Wilson watches them carefully.

For once—

There’s no joking.

No whispering.

Just guilt.

The Truth Is Revealed

Mrs. Wilson slowly opens a drawer.

Then places three new envelopes on the table.

Mrs. Wilson: Open them.

The students exchange confused looks.

Inside—

Their real scorecards.

All three had actually passed with good marks.

The friends stare in complete shock.

Jake: Wait… these are our actual scores?

Mrs. Wilson nods calmly.

Mrs. Wilson: The other report cards were fake.

Liam: You tricked us?

Mrs. Wilson: No.

She looks directly at them.

Mrs. Wilson: I taught you a lesson.

The room becomes silent.

Emotional Conversation

Mrs. Wilson: Do you know what disappointed me the most?

The three lower their heads.

Mrs. Wilson: It wasn’t the chalk powder. Or the salt.

Mrs. Wilson: It was seeing intelligent students waste themselves on cruelty and childish behaviour.

Sophie’s eyes slowly fill with tears.

Mrs. Wilson: One day, the world won’t excuse your actions by calling them “just jokes.”

Jake: We understand now, miss.

Liam: And we really are sorry.

Mrs. Wilson softens slightly.

Mrs. Wilson: Good. Then grow from this mistake instead of running away from it.

The three nod sincerely.

Final Scene

As they leave the staff room…

Jake exhales deeply.

Jake: I genuinely thought my life was over.

Liam: Same.

Sophie: Honestly? We deserved that scare.

The three laugh awkwardly.

Then suddenly—

Jake: Maybe let’s stop tormenting teachers from now on.

Liam: Yeah… probably a good idea.

Vocabulary

Cruelty — behaviour that causes pain or hurt
“She was disappointed by their cruelty.”
Sincerely — honestly and genuinely
“They apologised sincerely to their teacher.”
Tormenting – causing someone severe mental pain, emotional suffering, or continuous trouble. “Maybe let’s stop tormenting teachers from now on.”

Useful Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Get out of hand — become uncontrollable
Burst into laughter — suddenly start laughing loudly
Cross the line — behave in an unacceptable way
Reflect on something — think deeply about something
Lower one’s head — show guilt or shame
Waste oneself — not use one’s potential properly
Grow from a mistake — improve because of an error

Idioms Used

“The world won’t excuse your actions.”
“Life was over.”
“Teach someone a lesson.”
“Crossed the line.”

LESSON 29

A Robotic Life

Adrian

Adrian often felt like life was nothing more than a never-ending routine.

Wake up.

Study.

Get good grades.

Repeat.

As a child, everyone constantly pushed him toward achievements.

Parents: Study harder.

Teachers: Focus on your future.

Relatives: Don’t waste time fooling around.

Slowly, life stopped feeling exciting.

Even during college, it was the same cycle all over again.

Assignments.

Exams.

Internships.

Pressure.

And now—

Even after landing a decent job in London, life still felt painfully empty.

Slowly Falling Apart

Every day blurred into the next.

Office.

Traffic.

Deadlines.

Sleep.

Repeat.

Adrian started feeling emotionally numb.

To escape the emptiness, he slowly turned to alcohol.

At first, it was just weekend drinking.

Then every night.

Eventually, he couldn’t wind down without it.

The Accident

One rainy night, Adrian drove home after drinking heavily.

His vision became blurry.

Suddenly—

A loud crash echoed through the street.

Everything went dark.

In the Hospital

When Adrian finally woke up, his body ached terribly.

Doctor Lewis

Doctor Lewis: You were lucky. Another few inches and things could’ve ended differently.

Adrian quietly stared at the ceiling.

For the first time—

He realised how close he came to losing everything.

The Old Man Next Door

In the room beside Adrian stayed an elderly man.

Mr. Walter

Every evening, the old man slowly walked into Adrian’s room carrying tea or biscuits.

Mr. Walter: Mind if I sit here for a bit?

Adrian: (dryly) Do whatever you want.

The old man chuckles.

The Stories Begin

One evening…

Mr. Walter: You know, when I was nineteen, I once got stranded in Italy with only five pounds in my pocket.

Adrian sighs internally.

At first, he finds the old man irritating.

But Mr. Walter keeps returning every evening.

And every evening—

A new story begins.

Stories Full of Life

Stories about:

Falling in love for the first time
Travelling with friends
Dancing badly at weddings
Sleeping under the stars
Missing trains
Fighting with family and making up again
Watching sunsets with his late wife
Holding his daughter for the first time

Sometimes the old man laughed while talking.

Sometimes he cried quietly.

But every story felt deeply alive.

Adrian Slowly Changes

Days pass.

Without realising it, Adrian starts waiting for those conversations.

One evening, he even checks the clock repeatedly.

Adrian: He’s late today…

The moment Mr. Walter walks in—

Adrian smiles for the first time in weeks.

One Important Conversation

Adrian: Weren’t you scared about growing old?

Mr. Walter smiles softly.

Mr. Walter: Not really.

Adrian: How?

Mr. Walter: Because I truly lived.

Adrian stays silent.

Mr. Walter: Most people survive life. Very few actually live it.

Those words hit Adrian deeply.

The Old Man’s Truth

One night, Mr. Walter looks unusually tired.

Mr. Walter: Doctors say I don’t have much time left.

Adrian’s expression immediately changes.

Adrian: Don’t say that.

The old man smiles gently.

Mr. Walter: It’s alright, son.

Mr. Walter: I just wanted to revisit my memories one last time before I go.

Adrian’s eyes slowly fill with emotion.

Final Story

On the final evening…

Mr. Walter talks about his late wife.

Mr. Walter: We didn’t have much money.

Mr. Walter: But somehow, even eating cheap sandwiches together felt magical.

He laughs softly.

Mr. Walter: Funny, isn’t it? The smallest moments usually become the biggest memories.

Adrian listens quietly.

For once—

Without interrupting.

Without checking his phone.

Without rushing anywhere.

The Next Morning

The hospital corridor feels strangely quiet.

A nurse gently approaches Adrian.

Nurse: Mr. Walter passed away peacefully last night.

Adrian freezes completely.

His chest tightens instantly.

For the first time in years—

He cries.

Not because of stress.

Not because of pressure.

But because someone reminded him how precious life truly was.

After Leaving the Hospital

A few weeks later…

Adrian’s life slowly changes.

He starts travelling occasionally.

Calls his parents more often.

Watches sunsets.

Meets friends.

Learns guitar.

Laughs more.

Works hard—

But no longer lives like a machine.

One evening, while sitting near the beach alone, Adrian smiles softly toward the sky.

Adrian: You were right, old man.

Adrian: Life really is beautiful when you actually slow down enough to live it.

Useful Vocabularies, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Wind down — relax after stress
Blur into — become repetitive and unclear
Fall apart — emotionally collapse
Wait for something — eagerly expect something
Hit someone deeply — emotionally affect someone strongly
Pass away — die peacefully
Slow down — reduce speed and enjoy life more
Live like a machine — live mechanically without joy
Numb — unable to feel emotions properly
“Adrian started feeling emotionally numb.”
Blurred — became unclear or repetitive
“Every day blurred into the next.”

Idioms Used

“Life flashed by.”
“Actually live life.”
“Counting his days.”
“The smallest moments become the biggest memories.”

LESSON 30

Early Morning in the Village

Birds chirp softly near the hills.

Fresh mist covers the lake.

Noah carries a basket of berries while walking beside sheep.

Noah

Grandma Rose

Grandma Rose: Slow down, Noah. Those berries aren’t running away.

Noah: (laughs) If I don’t hurry, Mrs. Miller will buy all the fresh bread before us again.

Grandma Rose: That woman treats bread like treasure.

Noah laughs while helping his grandmother walk.

School Trip to the City

A week later…

Noah sits near the bus window silently as the school trip enters London.

His eyes widen immediately.

Huge buildings tower above him.

Luxury cars zoom past.

Bright advertisements glow everywhere.

Emma – Noah’s Classmate

Emma: You alright?

Noah: This place feels unreal.

Emma: First time in the city?

Noah: First time leaving the village.

Emma looks surprised.

Emma: Seriously?

Noah: Yeah. Back home we only have hills, farms, lakes and sheep.

Emma: Honestly? That sounds peaceful.

Noah: Peaceful doesn’t pay bills.

Emma becomes quiet.

Noah Starts Thinking

That evening from the hotel rooftop—

Noah stares at the city lights.

Emma: You’ve been zoning out all day.

Noah: I just don’t get it.

Emma: Get what?

Noah: Why do people act like villages are worthless?

Emma: What do you mean?

Noah: Look around. Everyone here has money, businesses, opportunities…

Noah: Meanwhile people back home work themselves to the bone and still struggle.

Emma leans against the railing thoughtfully.

Emma: Maybe cities just have more exposure.

Noah sighs deeply.

Noah: I wish I could change things for my village.

Emma: Then do it someday.

Noah: (laughs softly) I wouldn’t even know where to start.

Months Later — Unexpected Visitor

One rainy afternoon…

A car suddenly stops near the tiny village.

A man steps out looking completely lost.

Mr. Carter

Mr. Carter: Oh brilliant… my GPS gave up on me.

Noah approaches carefully.

Noah: Are you lost, sir?

Mr. Carter: Completely.

Noah laughs.

Noah: You’re about forty minutes away from the main road.

Mr. Carter looks around slowly.

The lake.

The hills.

The fresh air.

The horses grazing nearby.

His expression changes immediately.

Mr. Carter: Hold on…

Mr. Carter: This place is stunning.

Mr. Carter Gets Fascinated

Noah takes him to Grandma Rose’s house.

Fresh strawberry jam sits on the table beside warm bread.

Mr. Carter: (after tasting the jam) This is incredible.

Grandma Rose: It’s homemade.

Mr. Carter: People in cities would pay ridiculous amounts for this.

Noah chuckles.

Noah: Around here it’s just breakfast.

Mr. Carter suddenly pulls out his camera.

Mr. Carter: Noah, walk with me for a second.

The Big Conversation

Near the lake…

Mr. Carter: Do you know what people in cities crave nowadays?

Noah: Money?

Mr. Carter: Peace.

Noah looks confused.

Mr. Carter: Look around you. Fresh food. Clean air. Quiet mornings. Natural beauty.

Mr. Carter: People are desperate to escape noisy city life.

Noah: Then why would they come here?

Mr. Carter looks shocked.

Mr. Carter: Why wouldn’t they?

Mr. Carter: Kid, this place looks like something out of a movie.

Noah laughs awkwardly.

Mr. Carter: Start filming your village.

Noah: Filming?

Mr. Carter: Vlogs. Videos. Show people your lifestyle.

Noah: Nobody would watch that.

Mr. Carter: Trust me, they would eat this up.

Villagers Doubt Him

A few days later, Noah starts filming videos.

Villagers stare at him strangely.

Villager 1: Why’s the boy recording sheep?

Villager 2: He’s lost the plot.

Grandma Rose: Leave him alone. He’s trying something new.

Noah uploads videos showing:

Berry picking
Homemade jam making
Horse riding
Foggy hills
Fresh milk collection
Campfires near the lake

Suddenly Everything Changes

One morning—

Noah wakes up to hundreds of notifications.

Noah: Grandma!!

Grandma Rose: What happened?!

Noah: One of the videos got millions of views!

Soon travel pages repost his videos everywhere.

Hidden Hills Village Viral Tourism Boom

Tourists begin pouring into the village.

Village Starts Thriving

People start renting spare rooms.

Families sell homemade jams and berries online.

Horse riding tours become popular.

Even small cottages near the lake get fully booked.

Emotional Village Scene

One evening, villagers gather near the bonfire.

Villager 1: My son doesn’t have to leave for the city anymore.

Villager 2: We finally repaired our farmhouse thanks to tourism.

An old villager looks at Noah proudly.

Villager: You gave this village a future.

Noah becomes emotional.

Noah: I didn’t do it alone.

Grandma Rose: Still… you reminded everyone that this place was special.

Final Scene

Late at night…

Noah sits near the lake watching tourists admire the stars.

Emma suddenly calls him on video.

Emma: Mr. Famous Vlogger now, huh?

Noah laughs.

Noah: It still feels unreal.

Emma: Remember the rooftop conversation in London?

Noah smiles softly.

Emma: Looks like you figured it out after all.

Noah looks around his glowing village proudly.

Noah: Yeah…

Noah: Turns out my village never lacked beauty.

Noah: It only lacked someone to show it to the world.

Vocabulary

Crave — strongly desire something
“People in cities crave peace.”
Thriving — growing successfully and doing well
“The village started thriving because of tourism.”

Useful Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Zone out — lose focus and think deeply
Work oneself to the bone — work extremely hard
Give up on something — stop believing in something
Eat something up — enjoy something eagerly
Pour into — arrive in large numbers
Figure something out — find a solution

Idioms Used

“Lost the plot.”
“Something out of a movie.”
“Pay ridiculous amounts.”
“Show it to the world.”

LESSON 31

Maya: “Arjun, wake up… class is starting.”

Arjun: “I’m awake… I barely slept last night.”

Mr. Daniel: “Again? You two are sleeping in my class again?”

Maya: “Sorry, sir…”

Mr. Daniel: “Sorry doesn’t cut it anymore, Maya.”

Ryan: “Maybe they stay up all night watching movies.”

Sophia: “Yeah, or scrolling through social media.”

(The whole class bursts into laughter.)

Arjun: “They don’t know the first thing about us.”

Maya: “Just let it slide.”

Ryan: “Hey sleepyheads, need a blanket too?”

Sophia: “Maybe we should bring them pillows tomorrow.”

Mr. Daniel: “Enough! Both of you, bring your parents tomorrow.”

(The twins suddenly freeze.)

Maya: “Sir…”

Mr. Daniel: “No excuses.”

NEXT DAY

Mr. Daniel: “Where are your parents?”

(Silence.)

Mr. Daniel: “Didn’t I tell you to bring them?”

Arjun: (looking down) “…”

Mr. Daniel: “Why aren’t you answering me?”

Ryan: “Sir, they’re probably making things up.”

Mr. Daniel: “Tomorrow. Without fail.”

AFTER SCHOOL

(Mr. Daniel secretly follows them.)

Hotel Owner: “Arjun! Move faster!”

Arjun: “Coming, sir!”

Hotel Owner: “Maya, table five is waiting!”

Maya: “I’ll take care of it.”

10:45 PM

Maya: “You look exhausted.”

Arjun: “I’m hanging in there.”

Maya: “Sit down for a minute.”

Arjun: “We can’t afford to slack off.”

Maya: “At least we got leftover food today.”

Arjun: “Yeah… one less thing to worry about.”

(Mr. Daniel watches from outside. Reality hits him like a ton of bricks.)

NEXT MORNING — NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE

Mr. Daniel: “Excuse me… do you know those children?”

Neighbor: “Maya and Arjun?”

Mr. Daniel: “Yes.”

Neighbor: “Those poor kids…”

Mr. Daniel: “What happened to their parents?”

Neighbor: “They passed away in an accident six months ago.”

Mr. Daniel: “What…?”

Neighbor: “After the funeral, the relatives swooped in and took everything.”

Mr. Daniel: “So the twins are living alone?”

Neighbor: “They’ve been fending for themselves ever since.”

THAT NIGHT

Clara: “You haven’t touched your dinner. What’s eating you?”

Mr. Daniel: “It’s about two students from my class.”

(He explains everything.)

Clara: “They’re just children…”

Mr. Daniel: “I judged them without knowing their story.”

Clara: “They’ve been carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.”

(Silence fills the room.)

Clara: “Maybe we came into their lives for a reason.”

Mr. Daniel: “What are you saying?”

Clara: “Let’s adopt them.”

Mr. Daniel: “Are you serious?”

Clara: “I’m all in.”

NEXT DAY — CLASSROOM

Mr. Daniel: “Class, I need everyone’s attention.”

(The classroom goes dead silent.)

Mr. Daniel: “I owe Maya and Arjun an apology.”

(Students exchange confused looks.)

Mr. Daniel: “While all of you were sleeping peacefully, these two were working until eleven at night just to survive.”

(The class falls silent.)

Sophia: “Wait… what?”

Ryan: “They were working?”

Mr. Daniel: “Yes. And from today onward, they won’t fight alone anymore.”

(Maya and Arjun look confused.)

Mr. Daniel: “My wife and I have decided to adopt them.”

Maya: “Sir…?”

Arjun: “You mean… really?”

Mr. Daniel: “Yes. You deserve a home, a family, and a future.”

(Maya starts crying.)

Maya: “Thank you…”

Arjun: (trying to keep it together) “I… I don’t know what to say.”

Mr. Daniel: “You don’t have to say anything, son.”

Phrasal Verbs

Wake up = stop sleeping
Stay up = not sleep at night
Let it slide = ignore something
Bring up = mention something
Head home = go home
Take care of = handle/manage something
Hang in there = stay strong during difficult times
Slack off = work lazily
Swoop in = arrive suddenly and aggressively
Fend for themselves = survive alone without help
Go through = experience something difficult
Keep it together = control emotions
Fall silent = suddenly become quiet
Look down = lower the head because of sadness/shame
Burst into laughter = suddenly start laughing
Break down = lose emotional control and cry
Carry on = continue doing something
Give up = stop trying
Run out of = have nothing left
Look after = take care of someone

Idioms & Native Expressions

Sorry doesn’t cut it = apology is not enough
Don’t know the first thing about us = know absolutely nothing about us
The butt of the joke = person everyone laughs at
Fed up = extremely annoyed or tired
Reality hit him like a ton of bricks = painful truth shocked him deeply
What’s eating you? = what’s troubling you?
Carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders = handling huge responsibilities
One less thing to worry about = one problem reduced
Dead silent = completely silent
Fight alone = struggle without support
Life hasn’t cut them any slack = life has been very harsh
Hanging by a thread = barely surviving emotionally or financially
Break someone’s heart = make someone deeply sad
On the verge of tears = almost crying
Pull oneself together = calm down emotionally
At the end of the day = finally/when everything is considered
From the bottom of my heart = sincerely
Against all odds = despite many difficulties
Hit rock bottom = reach the lowest point in life
A shoulder to lean on = someone who gives emotional support

LESSON 32

Anika: “Why did you touch my skincare stuff again?”

Meera: “Oh my gosh, here we go again.”

Anika: “Don’t play dumb. My moisturizer was full yesterday.”

Meera: “It’s literally just moisturizer, not liquid gold.”

Anika: “That’s not the point!”

Meera: “You always blow things out of proportion.”

Anika: “And you always cross the line.”

Meera: “Excuse me? You borrowed my hoodie last week and never gave it back.”

Anika: “I was going to!”

Meera: “Yeah, after a century.”

Anika: “At least I don’t snoop around other people’s things.”

Meera: “Please. Your room looks like a tornado hit it.”

Anika: “Wow. Low blow.”

Meera: “Truth hurts.”

(Their mother walks into the hall.)

Mom: “Can you two go one day without biting each other’s heads off?”

Meera: “Tell her to stop acting like the world revolves around her.”

Anika: “Me? She’s the one getting on my nerves 24/7.”

Mom: “Enough. I’m already stressed out. Don’t add fuel to the fire.”

Meera: (muttering) “She started it.”

Anika: “Oh, grow up.”

Meera: “You know what? Fine. Keep your precious skincare products. I don’t even care.”

Anika: “Good.”

(Five seconds of silence.)

Meera: “By the way… can I borrow your black top for tomorrow?”

Anika: “Absolutely not.”

Meera: “Come on, don’t be so dramatic.”

Anika: “You were literally fighting with me two seconds ago.”

Meera: “That’s what sisters do.”

Anika: “You’re unbelievable.”

Meera: “But you still love me.”

Anika: (trying not to smile) “Barely.”

Phrasal Verbs

Play dumb = pretend not to know
Blow out of proportion = make small issue look huge
Cross the line = go too far
Give back = return something
Snoop around = secretly look through things
Bite each other’s heads off = argue angrily
Revolves around = everything focuses on one person
Get on my nerves = annoy me
Add fuel to the fire = make situation worse
Grow up = behave maturely
Calm down = relax emotionally
Fight over = argue about something
Come on = expression used to persuade someone

Idioms & Native Expressions

Here we go again = same annoying situation repeating
Liquid gold = something extremely valuable
Truth hurts = painful truth is difficult to hear
Low blow = hurtful comment
Stressed out = mentally exhausted
She started it = childish blame expression
Don’t be so dramatic = stop overreacting
Barely = almost not
The world revolves around her = acts self-centered
You’re unbelievable = shocking/frustrating person
That’s what sisters do = sisters naturally fight often

LESSON 33

Ethan: “Dude, back off. Mia’s clearly into me.”

Jay: “Into you? Keep dreaming.”

Ethan: “She literally laughed at all my jokes yesterday.”

Jay: “Out of pity.”

Ethan: “Wow, somebody’s salty.”

Jay: “No, I’m just tired of you trying to steal the spotlight.”

Ethan: “Steal the spotlight? You’ve been following her around like a lost puppy.”

Jay: “At least I’m honest about liking her.”

Ethan: “And I’m not?”

Jay: “You flirt with every girl you come across.”

Ethan: “That’s not even true.”

Jay: “Come on, man. Everyone knows you’re smooth-talking your way through college.”

(Tension rises. Students nearby start watching.)

Ethan: “You got a problem with me?”

Jay: “Maybe I do.”

Ethan: “Say it to my face then.”

Jay: “I just did.”

(They step closer aggressively.)

Ryan: “Whoa, chill out, both of you.”

Ethan: “Stay out of this.”

Jay: “Yeah, this is between us.”

(At that moment, an older professor walks toward them.)

Professor Harris: “What on earth is going on here?”

Ethan: “Nothing, sir.”

Professor Harris: “Don’t lie to me. You two were about to throw hands.”

Jay: “It’s personal.”

(Professor Harris suddenly looks confused while staring at them.)

Professor Harris: “Wait… what are your full names?”

Ethan: “Ethan Walker.”

Jay: “Jay Carter.”

(The professor freezes for a second.)

Professor Harris: “Your mother’s name… wouldn’t happen to be Elena, would it?”

(Both boys exchange confused looks.)

Ethan: “Yeah… how do you know that?”

Jay: “Hold on. My mom’s name is Elena too.”

(Awkward silence.)

Professor Harris: “This can’t be a coincidence.”

LATER — PROFESSOR’S OFFICE

Professor Harris: “Twenty years ago, Elena had twin sons.”

(Both boys stare in shock.)

Jay: “Twin sons?”

Professor Harris: “After a family separation, one child stayed with the mother and the other was adopted by relatives.”

Ethan: “You’re kidding…”

Professor Harris: “I knew your family back then. You two are brothers.”

(The room goes dead silent.)

Jay: “No way…”

Ethan: (laughing nervously) “We were seriously fighting over the same girl?”

Jay: “This is insane.”

Ethan: “Bro… we almost beat each other up.”

Jay: “Over a crush.”

(Both suddenly burst into laughter.)

OUTSIDE THE CAMPUS

Ethan: “You know what? Maybe this whole thing happened for a reason.”

Jay: “Yeah. Imagine ruining a brotherhood over a girl.”

Ethan: “Not worth it.”

Jay: “Besides, Mia deserves to make her own choice.”

Ethan: “Exactly. We were acting ridiculous.”

Jay: “So… truce?”

Ethan: “Nah.”

Jay: “Seriously?”

Ethan: (smirking) “Brothers.”

(Jay laughs and pulls him into a hug.)

Jay: “I can’t believe I finally found my brother.”

Ethan: “Same here.”

Jay: “Guess we should stop chasing Mia now.”

Ethan: “For good.”

Jay: “Family comes first.”

Ethan: “Always.”

Phrasal Verbs & Expressions Used in the Conversation

Back off = stop interfering
Keep dreaming = impossible / unrealistic
Steal the spotlight = take all the attention
Following her around = going behind someone everywhere
Come across = meet/find unexpectedly
Chill out = calm down
Stay out of this = don’t interfere
Throw hands = start fighting physically
Exchange looks = look at each other meaningfully
Burst into laughter = suddenly start laughing
Pull into a hug = hug someone closely
Stop chasing = stop pursuing romantically

Idioms & Native Expressions Used in the Conversation

Into me = romantically interested in me
Out of pity = because of sympathy, not genuine feeling
Somebody’s salty = someone is jealous/annoyed
Like a lost puppy = following someone everywhere emotionally
Smooth-talking = charming through words
Say it to my face = speak directly to me
What on earth is going on? = expression of shock/confusion
Go dead silent = become completely quiet
This is insane = this is unbelievable
Not worth it = not valuable enough
Family comes first = family is more important than anything
For good = permanently
Truce = agreement to stop fighting

LESSON 34

Leo: “Mom, you should really stop working double shifts.”

Maria: “And who’s going to pay the bills, huh?”

Leo: “I will someday.”

Maria: (laughs softly) “You’re still a kid.”

Leo: “Not for long.”

YEARS LATER

(Leo works at a small roadside restaurant after college.)

Manager: “Table six is waiting. Pick up the pace.”

Leo: “I’m on it.”

Coworker: “Man, you never slow down.”

Leo: “Can’t afford to.”

Coworker: “You act like you’re running this place.”

Leo: “One day I’ll run my own.”

THAT NIGHT

Maria: “You came home late again.”

Leo: “Yeah, the kitchen was packed.”

Maria: “You work yourself to the bone.”

Leo: “I’m just trying to build something.”

Maria: “You already work nonstop.”

Leo: “Mom, growing up broke lit a fire under me.”

(Maria looks at him quietly.)

Maria: “I just don’t want you burning yourself out.”

Leo: “Trust me. Everything’s going to pay off someday.”

THREE YEARS LATER

(Leo finally opens a small hotel.)

Friend: “Wait… this whole place is yours?”

Leo: “Started from scratch.”

Friend: “Man, you really pulled it off.”

Leo: “Barely.”

Friend: “No seriously, this is huge.”

Leo: “There were nights I wanted to give up.”

Friend: “But you didn’t.”

Leo: “Because my mom sacrificed too much for me to throw in the towel.”

HOTEL OPENING DAY

(Guests fill the hotel lobby.)

Maria: (emotional) “Look at this place…”

Leo: “You like it?”

Maria: “Like it? I’m blown away.”

Leo: “This is just the beginning.”

Maria: “Your father would’ve been proud.”

(Leo becomes quiet.)

Leo: “You were both mother and father to me.”

(Maria tears up.)

Maria: “All those years… I was just trying to keep us afloat.”

Leo: “And you did.”

LATER THAT NIGHT

Investor: “Your hotel’s already making waves online.”

Leo: “Seriously?”

Investor: “People are eating it up.”

Leo: “That fast?”

Investor: “You created something special.”

SIX MONTHS LATER

(The hotel becomes highly profitable.)

Friend: “Bro, your business is booming.”

Leo: “Honestly, it still doesn’t feel real.”

Friend: “You came a long way.”

Leo: “Yeah… from watching my mom struggle to building all this.”

Friend: “She must be over the moon.”

Leo: “She cried the first time she saw the profit report.”

Friend: “You earned every bit of this.”

Leo: “None of this would’ve happened without her.”

Phrasal Verbs & Expressions Used in the Conversation

Pick up the pace = work faster
Slow down = reduce speed/work less
Build something = create success/business
Burn out = become mentally or physically exhausted
Pay off = bring successful results
Started from scratch = started with nothing
Pull off = succeed in doing something difficult
Give up = stop trying
Throw in the towel = quit completely
Tear up = become emotional and cry
Keep afloat = survive financially/emotionally
Making waves = getting lots of attention
Eating it up = enjoying/supporting enthusiastically
Come a long way = make big progress
Over the moon = extremely happy
Booming = growing successfully

LESSON 35

Aiden: “So you’re seriously ignoring my calls now?”

Clara: “Maybe because I’m tired of repeating myself.”

Aiden: “Repeating what? You never even explained properly.”

Clara: “Oh please, don’t act clueless.”

Aiden: “Then help me understand.”

Clara: “I saw you with your ex yesterday.”

Aiden: “What?”

Clara: “Don’t ‘what’ me. You lied straight to my face.”

Aiden: “She came to talk to me. That’s it.”

Clara: “And you couldn’t tell me?”

Aiden: “Because I knew you’d blow it out of proportion.”

Clara: “Wow. So now I’m the problem?”

Aiden: “That’s not what I said.”

Clara: “You know what hurts the most? I defended you every single time.”

Aiden: “Clara—”

Clara: “No. I’m done.”

(Long silence.)

Aiden: “You’re really walking away?”

Clara: “Maybe we’re just not meant to work out.”

Aiden: “Don’t do this.”

Clara: “Goodbye, Aiden.”

FIVE YEARS LATER

(At their mutual friend Ethan’s wedding.)

Ethan: “No way… you two showed up at the same time?”

(Aiden and Clara awkwardly look at each other.)

Clara: “Hi.”

Aiden: “Hey.”

Ethan: “Well… this is awkward. I’ll give you guys a minute.”

(Ethan quickly leaves.)

OUTSIDE THE WEDDING HALL

Aiden: “So… how’ve you been?”

Clara: “Busy.”

Aiden: “Yeah, same here.”

Clara: “I heard your company took off.”

Aiden: “Somehow, yeah.”

Clara: “Congratulations.”

Aiden: “I heard you became one of the top architects in the city.”

Clara: “Word travels fast.”

(Awkward silence again.)

Aiden: “Five years and you still hate awkward silence.”

Clara: (laughs softly) “Some things never change.”

LATER

Aiden: “Can I ask you something?”

Clara: “Depends.”

Aiden: “Did you ever hate me?”

(Clara pauses.)

Clara: “I tried to.”

Aiden: “Same.”

Clara: “But honestly? I was more hurt than angry.”

Aiden: “I should’ve handled things better.”

Clara: “And I should’ve listened instead of jumping to conclusions.”

Aiden: “We were immature.”

Clara: “Very.”

INSIDE THE WEDDING

(The couple begins slow dancing.)

Clara: “Crazy how life works.”

Aiden: “Yeah. Five years ago I thought we’d never speak again.”

Clara: “Me too.”

Aiden: “You know… I never really moved on.”

(Clara looks at him quietly.)

Clara: “Neither did I.”

Aiden: “Seriously?”

Clara: “Turns out you’re hard to get over.”

(Aiden laughs softly.)

Aiden: “I missed this.”

Clara: “Me too.”

AFTER THE WEDDING

Aiden: “So where does this leave us?”

Clara: “I don’t know.”

Aiden: “Maybe we stop running from what we feel.”

Clara: “You still talk like a hopeless romantic.”

Aiden: “Only around you.”

(Clara smiles.)

Clara: “You know what? Maybe we deserve another shot.”

Aiden: “I was hoping you’d say that.”

(He holds out his hand.)

Aiden: “Friends again?”

Clara: “That’s a little too safe.”

Aiden: “Then what are we?”

(Clara intertwines her fingers with his.)

Clara: “Let’s figure it out together.”

Phrasal Verbs & Expressions Used in the Conversation

Act clueless = pretend not to understand
Blow out of proportion = exaggerate a small issue
Walk away = leave emotionally/physically
Work out = succeed in relationship
Show up = arrive somewhere
Give someone a minute = leave them alone briefly
Take off = become successful quickly
Jump to conclusions = assume without full facts
Move on = emotionally recover from past relationship
Get over = stop having feelings for someone
Running from = avoiding emotionally
Figure out = find/understand solution
Hold out = extend something physically

Idioms & Native Expressions Used in the Conversation

Don’t “what” me = don’t pretend innocence
Lied straight to my face = lied directly without shame
I’m done = I don’t want this anymore
Word travels fast = news spreads quickly
Some things never change = certain habits remain same
Hard to get over = difficult to forget emotionally
Another shot = another chance
Hopeless romantic = person who strongly believes in love
Awkward silence = uncomfortable silence
Meant to be = destined/fated
Took off = became highly successful
Five years ago I thought we’d never speak again = emotional reflective expression

LESSON 36

Nora: “I seriously have no idea what I’m doing with my life.”

Mia: “You’ve been saying that for months.”

Nora: “Because it’s true. Everyone’s moving forward and I’m just… stuck.”

Mia: “Then try something new.”

Nora: “Like what?”

Mia: “There’s a baking workshop happening this weekend. Come with me.”

Nora: “Me? Baking? I can barely make tea.”

Mia: “You need to stop selling yourself short.”

AT THE BAKING WORKSHOP

Chef Elena: “A perfect cake isn’t magic. It’s balance.”

Nora: “Balance?”

Chef Elena: “The right ratio of ingredients, temperature, timing, and patience.”

Nora: “So there’s actually a formula?”

Chef Elena: “Exactly. Once you nail the base, you can build anything from it.”

(Nora listens carefully and writes everything down.)

FEW WEEKS LATER

(Nora bakes a cake at home.)

Mia: (takes a bite) “Hold on… YOU made this?”

Nora: “Yeah. Why?”

Mia: “This is insanely good.”

Neighbor: “Nora, what did you put in this cake? It melts in your mouth.”

Nora: (laughs nervously) “Nothing special.”

Mia: “Girl, don’t play dumb. This tastes bakery-level.”

MONTHS LATER

(Nora experiments with new recipes every week.)

Friend: “You came up with this flavor yourself?”

Nora: “Kinda.”

Neighbor: “Every time you outdo yourself.”

Friend: “Seriously, you’re on a roll.”

Nora: “I just tweak the base formula a little.”

Neighbor: “Can you make one for my daughter’s birthday?”

Friend: “And one for my anniversary?”

Another Friend: “Me too!”

LATER THAT NIGHT

Mia: “Do they at least pay you?”

Nora: “Not really…”

Mia: “Nora!”

Nora: “I didn’t know how to ask for money.”

Mia: “Your savings are drying up.”

Nora: “I know.”

Mia: “People are taking advantage of you.”

Nora: “I just wanted everyone to like my cakes.”

FEW MONTHS LATER

(Nora checks her nearly empty wallet.)

Nora: “I’m broke.”

(She sighs deeply.)

Nora: “I’m back to square one.”

SMALL OLD CAKE SHOP

(A tiny quiet bakery run by an elderly woman.)

Grandma Rose: “You’re here for the job?”

Nora: “Yes, ma’am.”

Grandma Rose: “Business has been painfully slow lately.”

Nora: “I’ll do my best.”

TWO MONTHS LATER

(Customers crowd the bakery.)

Customer: “Do you still have the honey almond cake?”

Another Customer: “The chocolate orange one sold out already?”

Grandma Rose: (whispering to Nora) “This place hasn’t been this busy in years.”

Nora: “Really?”

Grandma Rose: “You breathed new life into this shop.”

LATER

Grandma Rose: “Where did you learn all this?”

Nora: “Honestly? By messing around in my kitchen.”

Grandma Rose: “You’ve got a gift, child.”

Nora: “For the first time in my life… I actually feel good at something.”

Grandma Rose: “Then don’t let go of it.”

YEARS PASS

(The bakery becomes one of the most famous cake shops in the city.)

Employee: “We need to open another outlet.”

Nora: “Already?”

Employee: “People are lining up outside every single day.”

Grandma Rose: (smiling proudly) “Look how far you’ve come.”

ONE EVENING

Grandma Rose: “Nora… sit with me for a minute.”

Nora: “Are you okay?”

Grandma Rose: “I’m getting old.”

Nora: “Don’t say that.”

Grandma Rose: “I don’t have children. No family either.”

(Nora quietly holds her hand.)

Grandma Rose: “But then you walked into my shop.”

Nora: “You changed my life.”

Grandma Rose: “No, sweetheart. You changed mine too.”

TWO YEARS LATER

(After Grandma Rose peacefully passes away.)

Lawyer: “Grandma Rose left the bakery entirely to you.”

Nora: (tearfully) “She trusted me that much…”

YEARS LATER

(Multiple cake outlets spread across the country.)

Reporter: “Your cake shops are everywhere now. How does it feel?”

Nora: “Honestly? Unreal.”

Reporter: “What’s the secret behind your success?”

Nora: “One simple cake formula… and one woman who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”

Phrasal Verbs & Expressions Used in the Conversation

Moving forward = progressing in life
Selling yourself short = underestimating yourself
Write down = note something
Melt in your mouth = extremely soft/delicious
Play dumb = pretend not to know
Come up with = create/invent
Outdo yourself = do better than before
On a roll = continuously succeeding
Drying up = reducing slowly
Taking advantage of = using someone unfairly
Back to square one = starting again from beginning
Do my best = try sincerely
Sold out = all items finished
Breathed new life into = made energetic again
Messing around = experimenting casually
Let go of = stop holding emotionally/physically
Line up = stand in queue
Walked into = entered unexpectedly
Pass away = die peacefully
Spread across = expand everywhere

Idioms & Native Expressions Used in the Conversation

Stuck = unable to progress in life
Bakery-level = professional quality
Insanely good = extremely delicious
You’ve got a gift = natural talent
Painfully slow = extremely slow
Look how far you’ve come = appreciation for progress
Changed my life = deeply impacted life positively
Unreal = hard to believe
One step at a time = slowly and steadily
Hit rock bottom = reach lowest point in life
Life turned around = life improved completely
Believe in someone = trust/support someone deeply

LESSON 37

AT THE BASKETBALL COURT — EARLY MORNING

(Cold breeze. Empty court. The sound of bouncing basketball echoes in the quiet morning.)

Dad: “Come on, Emma! Again.”

Emma: (breathing heavily) “Dad… we’ve been practicing since 5 AM.”

Dad: “And champions practice while everyone else is asleep.”

Emma: “My arms are about to fall off.”

Dad: (laughs) “Good. That means you’re pushing yourself.”

DRIBBLING PRACTICE

Dad: “Dribble lower.”

Emma: “Like this?”

Dad: “No. Stay light on your feet.”

Emma: “I’m trying!”

Dad: “Don’t just try. Lock in.”

(Emma dribbles faster.)

Dad: “That’s it! Now shoot!”

(Ball swishes perfectly through the net.)

Dad: “There you go!”

Emma: “Did you see that?!”

Dad: “That shot was clean.”

AFTER SCHOOL

Friend: “You’re going to practice again tonight?”

Emma: “Yep.”

Friend: “You practically live on that court.”

Emma: “If I want to make it big, I’ve got to put in the work.”

DISTRICT LEVEL MATCH — EVENING

(Small indoor stadium packed with students and parents.)

Emma: (nervously) “Dad… what if I mess up?”

Dad: “Then you mess up. So what?”

Emma: “Everyone’s watching.”

Dad: “Pressure gets to everyone. Don’t let it get inside your head.”

Coach: “Emma, you’re starting today.”

Emma: “Seriously?”

Coach: “You earned it. Now go out there and prove yourself.”

DURING THE MATCH

Commentator: “Emma steals the ball!”

(Emma rushes toward the basket and shoots… but misses.)

Emma: “Ugh!”

Dad: “Shake it off!”

FINAL MOMENTS OF THE MATCH

Commentator: “Ten seconds left!”

Teammate: “Emma! Take the shot!”

(Emma shoots again… and misses.)

(The opposite team wins.)

AFTER THE MATCH

(Emma sits alone on the empty court.)

Emma: “I cost us the game.”

Dad: “No, you didn’t.”

Emma: “Everyone was counting on me.”

Dad: “And you think great players never fail?”

Emma: “I had the perfect chance…”

Dad: “Listen to me carefully. One bad game doesn’t define you.”

(Emma wipes her tears.)

Emma: “Then why does it hurt this much?”

Dad: “Because you care.”

(Silence.)

Dad: “You can either let this break you… or build you.”

ON THE WAY HOME

(They walk quietly under streetlights.)

Emma: “Maybe I’m not good enough.”

Dad: “Don’t start doubting yourself now.”

Emma: “What if I never improve?”

Dad: “Kiddo, progress doesn’t happen overnight.”

NEXT MORNING — BASKETBALL COURT

(5 AM. Emma reaches the court before her dad for the first time.)

Dad: (surprised) “You’re early.”

Emma: “I don’t want to feel helpless like that ever again.”

Dad: (smiles proudly) “That’s the attitude.”

TRAINING MONTAGE — MONTHS PASS

(Early morning runs. Endless dribbling drills. Sore muscles. Sweaty practice sessions.)

Dad: “Again!”

Emma: “Again.”

(Running suicides across the court.)

Dad: “Faster!”

Emma: “My legs are killing me!”

Dad: “Good. That means you’re growing.”

(Late evening shooting practice.)

Dad: “One hundred more shots.”

Emma: “One hundred?!”

Dad: “Champions don’t cut corners.”

STATE LEVEL TOURNAMENT — ONE YEAR LATER

(Large stadium. Bright lights. Huge crowd roaring loudly.)

Commentator: “Welcome to the State Basketball Championship!”

(Emma looks around nervously at the massive crowd.)

Teammate: “You good?”

Emma: “Yeah… just trying not to freak out.”

Teammate: “Relax. We’ve got your back.”

DURING THE GAME

Commentator: “Emma Carter steals the ball!”

(She dribbles confidently past defenders.)

Commentator: “She goes for the three-pointer— AND SHE NAILS IT!”

(Crowd erupts loudly.)

Dad: (jumping excitedly) “THAT’S MY GIRL!”

AFTER THE MATCH

Coach: “Emma, scouts came to watch today.”

Emma: “Scouts?”

Coach: “International scouts.”

(Emma freezes.)

Emma: “Wait… seriously?”

Coach: “Your performance turned a lot of heads tonight.”

FEW MONTHS LATER

(Emma receives a phone call at home.)

Emma: “Hello?”

Selector: “Emma Carter?”

Emma: “Yes?”

Selector: “Congratulations. You’ve officially been selected for the international basketball team.”

(Emma goes completely silent.)

Selector: “Emma?”

Emma: (tearfully whispering) “I made it…”

LIVING ROOM

Dad: “Emma? What happened?”

(Emma slowly looks at him with tears in her eyes.)

Emma: “Dad…”

(She starts crying happily.)

Emma: “I made the international team.”

(Dad freezes for a second.)

Dad: “Say that again.”

Emma: “I MADE THE TEAM!”

(He pulls her into a tight hug.)

Dad: “I’m so proud of you.”

Emma: “I couldn’t have done this without you.”

Dad: “No, sweetheart. You earned this with your own hard work.”

INTERNATIONAL MATCH DAY

(Massive arena. Emma walks onto the court wearing her country’s jersey.)

Announcer: “Representing her country for the very first time… Emma Carter!”

(Crowd cheers loudly.)

(Emma looks toward the audience and sees her dad proudly clapping with tears in his eyes.)

Emma: (softly to herself) “This is for you, Dad.”

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Echoes = repeated sound
Lock in = focus seriously
Swishes = smooth basket sound
Make it big = become very successful
Put in the work = work very hard
Mess up = make mistake
Shake it off = stop letting failure affect you
Count on = depend on someone
One bad game doesn’t define you = one failure doesn’t decide your worth
Doubt yourself = lose confidence
Cut corners = do something carelessly/easily
Freak out = become very nervous
We’ve got your back = we will support you
Turn heads = attract attention
I made it = achieved dream successfully

LESSON 38

SUBWAY STATION — LONDON — RAINY EVENING

(People rush through the station during peak hour. A young woman struggles with a suitcase, shopping bags, and a little boy half-asleep in her arms.)

Woman: “Oh, come on…”

(One of the bags suddenly splits open. Groceries spill across the floor.)

Businessman: “Whoa— careful there.”

(Most people glance over and continue walking.)

Woman: (flustered) “I’m so sorry…”

NEAR THE PLATFORM

University Student: “Hang on, I’ll help.”

(She crouches down and starts picking things up.)

Older Lady: “Your apples are rolling off.”

Teenager: “I’ve got them!”

(He quickly grabs the apples before they reach the tracks.)

UNDER THE STATION SHELTER

Woman: “Honestly, you don’t have to do this.”

University Student: “It’s fine, really.”

Teenager: “Yeah, no worries.”

(The little boy wakes up crying softly.)

Woman: “He’s exhausted. It’s been a long day.”

Older Lady: “Poor little thing.”

COFFEE KIOSK

Barista: “Here, love. Take this hot chocolate for him.”

Woman: “Oh no, I can pay for it.”

Barista: “Don’t be silly. It’s on the house.”

(The boy slowly smiles while holding the cup.)

Teenager: “Thought he might want this too.”

(He hands over a packet of biscuits.)

Woman: (emotional) “That’s very kind of you.”

FEW MINUTES LATER

University Student: “Where are you headed?”

Woman: “St. Thomas’ Hospital.”

Older Lady: “This late?”

(The woman hesitates.)

Woman: “My husband collapsed at work this morning.”

(The group falls silent.)

Woman: “I’ve been back and forth all day trying to sort everything out.”

QUIET MOMENT

Businessman: “Have you eaten anything today?”

(She stays quiet for a second.)

Barista: “Thought so.”

(He quietly packs a sandwich and places it in her hand.)

Woman: “I really can’t accept all this.”

Older Lady: “Sometimes people just look out for each other.”

TRAIN ARRIVES

Announcement: “The next train approaching platform three is the service to Westminster.”

(The woman struggles to carry everything again.)

University Student: “I’ll grab the suitcase.”

Teenager: “I can carry him if you like.”

Woman: “Are you sure?”

Teenager: “Course.”

BEFORE BOARDING

Woman: (tearfully smiling) “I don’t even know your names.”

Barista: “You don’t need to.”

Older Lady: “Just pass the kindness on someday.”

(The train doors begin to close.)

Woman: “I will. I promise.”

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Peak hour = busiest time of day
Flustered = nervous/confused under pressure
Hang on = wait a moment
No worries = it’s okay/not a problem
On the house = free of cost
Back and forth = repeatedly travelling between places
Sort everything out = solve/manage problems
Look out for each other = help/protect one another
Grab = take quickly
Pass the kindness on = continue helping others
Spill across = spread over an area
Collapse = suddenly fall unconscious
Exhausted = extremely tired
Headed = going toward a place
Poor little thing = expression of sympathy toward a child

LESSON 39

LIVING ROOM — SATURDAY EVENING

(Aarav is sitting on the couch while his younger sister Lily scrolls through his phone. His girlfriend Sophie walks in carrying snacks.)

Sophie: “Why is she holding your phone again?”

Lily: “Because unlike you, I actually know his password.”

Aarav: “Lily…”

Sophie: “That’s kind of weird.”

Lily: “What’s weird is you acting like you own him.”

Sophie: “Excuse me?”

TENSION BUILDS

Aarav: “Okay… let’s not start.”

Lily: “I’m just saying, ever since she showed up, you barely spend time with me.”

Sophie: “Oh please, you literally call him ten times a day.”

Lily: “Because he’s my brother.”

Sophie: “And he’s my boyfriend.”

Lily: “See? That attitude right there.”

KITCHEN AREA

(Aarav awkwardly stands between them.)

Aarav: “Can we all just chill for one second?”

Sophie: “No, because every time we go out, she tags along.”

Lily: “Maybe because you keep stealing him away.”

Sophie: “Stealing him away? He’s not five years old.”

Lily: “Yeah, but before you came around, we used to hang out all the time.”

AWKWARD SILENCE

Aarav: “Lily, you know nothing’s changed.”

Lily: “Really? Last week you cancelled movie night because Sophie ‘wasn’t feeling well.’”

Sophie: “Wow. Sorry for being sick, I guess.”

Lily: “That’s not what I meant.”

Sophie: “No, clearly you just can’t stand sharing attention.”

ARGUMENT GETS WORSE

Lily: “At least I’m not clingy.”

Sophie: “And at least I don’t act like the world revolves around me.”

Aarav: “Okay, enough!”

(Both girls go quiet.)

Aarav: “Why are you two making me choose sides?”

Lily: “Because you always take her side.”

Sophie: “No, he doesn’t. He babies you all the time.”

Lily: “Because I’m his sister!”

FEW MINUTES LATER

(Aarav rubs his forehead tiredly.)

Aarav: “You know what? I care about both of you. Differently, obviously, but still.”

(Neither responds.)

Aarav: “Lily, you’re my little sister. That’s never going to change.”

(Lily looks down quietly.)

Aarav: “And Sophie… you’re important to me too.”

Sophie: “Then why does it feel like we’re constantly competing?”

EMOTIONAL MOMENT

(Silence fills the room.)

Lily: (quietly) “I just miss him sometimes.”

(Sophie’s expression softens.)

Sophie: “You could’ve just said that instead of picking fights with me.”

Lily: “Maybe.”

Aarav: “Can we please stop turning everything into World War Three?”

(Sophie laughs a little.)

Sophie: “Fine.”

Lily: “Fine.”

LATER THAT NIGHT

(The three sit together watching a movie awkwardly.)

Lily: “By the way, if you hurt my brother, I’m coming for you.”

Sophie: “And if you keep stealing his hoodies, I’m throwing them away.”

Aarav: “See? This is exactly what I’m talking about.”

(Both girls burst into laughter.)

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Show up = arrive
Own someone = act overly possessive
Chill = calm down
Tag along = join someone without invitation
Steal someone away = take someone’s time/attention
Came around = entered someone’s life
Hang out = spend time together casually
Cancelled = called off/stopped a plan
Clingy = emotionally too attached
Revolves around = everything focuses on someone
Choose sides = support one person in argument
Rubs his forehead = gesture showing stress/tiredness
Pick fights = intentionally start arguments
Burst into laughter = suddenly start laughing
World War Three = expression for huge dramatic fight

LESSON 40

AIRPORT — EARLY MORNING

(Crowded airport. People rushing everywhere. A 32-year-old woman, Hannah, tightly holds her boarding pass while looking around nervously.)

Hannah: “Oh God… this place is huge.”

(She checks the departure screen for the fifth time.)

Hannah: “Why are there so many gates?”

SECURITY CHECK

Security Officer: “Ma’am, please place your bag on the belt.”

Hannah: “Sorry— right, okay.”

(She accidentally drops her phone.)

Man Behind Her: “First flight?”

Hannah: (embarrassed laugh) “Is it that obvious?”

Man: “A little.”

WAITING AREA

(Hannah sits near the gate, nervously tapping her foot.)

Older Woman: “You look stressed out, dear.”

Hannah: “I’m trying very hard not to panic.”

Older Woman: (smiles warmly) “First time flying?”

Hannah: “Yeah. I’m 32 and somehow avoided planes my whole life.”

Older Woman: “Trust me, everyone’s nervous their first time.”

BEFORE BOARDING

Hannah: “What if the turbulence gets bad?”

Older Woman: “Feels scary at first, but it’s completely normal.”

Hannah: “Easy for you to say.”

Older Woman: “Oh honey, during my first flight I nearly squeezed the life out of my husband’s hand.”

(Both laugh.)

INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT

(Hannah struggles with the seatbelt.)

Flight Attendant: “Need a hand?”

Hannah: “Please. I’m already off to a great start.”

Flight Attendant: (laughs) “You’re doing just fine.”

BEFORE TAKEOFF

(The plane slowly starts moving.)

Hannah: “Wait… why are we going so fast already?!”

Older Woman: “That’s just the taxiing.”

Hannah: “JUST?”

(Plane speeds up for takeoff.)

Hannah: “Oh my God. Oh my God.”

(She grips the armrest tightly.)

Older Woman: “Breathe. You’re alright.”

MID-FLIGHT

(A few minutes later.)

Hannah: “Okay… this actually isn’t as bad as I expected.”

Older Woman: “See?”

Hannah: “I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest earlier.”

Older Woman: “Happens to the best of us.”

LIGHT CHIT-CHAT

Older Woman: “So where are you headed?”

Hannah: “Edinburgh. Work trip.”

Older Woman: “Business or pleasure?”

Hannah: “Mostly business. Tiny bit of panic.”

(Both laugh.)

TURBULENCE

(Plane shakes slightly.)

Hannah: “Was that normal?!”

Older Woman: “Completely.”

Hannah: “You’re very calm for someone sitting in a giant metal tube in the sky.”

Older Woman: “After thirty years of flying, you stop freaking out.”

BEFORE LANDING

Pilot: “Cabin crew, prepare for landing.”

Hannah: “I survived.”

Older Woman: “See? You worked yourself up for nothing.”

Hannah: “Honestly, yeah.”

AIRPORT EXIT

(Passengers begin leaving the plane.)

Hannah: “Thanks for talking me through the whole thing.”

Older Woman: “Anytime, love.”

Hannah: “You know, I might actually fly again after this.”

Older Woman: “Careful. That’s how it starts.”

(Both laugh while walking out of the airport.)

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Boarding pass = flight entry ticket
Stressed out = mentally anxious
Panic = sudden fear/anxiety
Turbulence = shaking movement during flight
Squeeze the life out of = hold very tightly
Off to a great start = sarcastic expression after mistake
Taxiing = plane moving slowly before takeoff
Grip tightly = hold firmly
Jump out of my chest = heart beating very fast from fear
Headed = going toward a place
Freak out = panic/get very nervous
Worked yourself up = made yourself more anxious by overthinking
Talk someone through = calmly guide/explain during nervous situation
Tiny bit = very small amount
Giant metal tube in the sky = funny expression for airplane

LESSON 41

FAMILY DINNER — EVENING

(Everyone is eating quietly. Maya sits uncomfortably in a dress her mother forced her to wear.)

Mom: “Why can’t you dress a little more feminine for once?”

Maya: “Because I’m not comfortable like this.”

Aunt: “You’re a girl, Maya. Start acting like one.”

(Maya quietly puts her spoon down.)

Maya: “This is me.”

LATER THAT NIGHT

(Maya changes into oversized clothes and sneakers.)

Younger Brother: “There you are. You finally look normal again.”

Maya: (laughs softly) “Thanks, I guess.”

Brother: “Why don’t you just tell them how you feel?”

Maya: “Because nobody listens.”

SCHOOL — NEXT DAY

(Maya plays football with boys during lunch break.)

Boy: “Nice shot!”

Girl Classmate: “She acts more like a boy than half the boys here.”

(Some students laugh.)

Another Girl: “Why are you always trying so hard to be a tomboy?”

Maya: “I’m not trying to be anything. I’m just being myself.”

BACK HOME

(Maya overhears relatives talking.)

Aunt: “She’ll never find a husband acting like this.”

Mom: “I honestly don’t know what to do with her anymore.”

(Maya’s expression drops.)

ROOFTOP — NIGHT

(Her father finds her sitting alone.)

Dad: “Mind if I sit?”

Maya: “You’re probably disappointed too.”

Dad: “Why would I be?”

Maya: “Because I’m not the daughter everyone expects.”

(Dad stays quiet for a second.)

Dad: “When you were little, you hated dolls and climbed trees instead.”

Maya: (small laugh) “Still do.”

Dad: “And you’ve always smiled the most when you felt free.”

EMOTIONAL MOMENT

Maya: “People keep making me feel like something’s wrong with me.”

Dad: “There’s nothing wrong with you.”

(Maya looks at him quietly.)

Dad: “Not every girl has to fit into the same box.”

Maya: “Mom doesn’t understand that.”

Dad: “Maybe she’s just scared people will judge you.”

NEXT MORNING

(Maya walks downstairs wearing loose jeans, hoodie, and sneakers.)

(Her mother looks at her for a moment.)

Mom: “You really hate dresses that much?”

Maya: (awkwardly) “Yeah.”

(Long silence.)

Mom: “Then stop forcing yourself to wear them.”

Maya: “Wait… really?”

Mom: “I may not fully get it yet… but I don’t want my daughter feeling uncomfortable in her own skin.”

(Maya’s eyes tear up.)

FEW DAYS LATER — FAMILY FUNCTION

(Relatives stare as Maya arrives in a simple shirt and trousers.)

Aunt: “See? This is exactly what I meant.”

(Before Maya responds, her mother speaks.)

Mom: “She looks perfectly fine.”

(Everyone goes quiet.)

Mom: “She doesn’t have to change herself just to make other people comfortable.”

(Maya looks shocked.)

Dad: (smiling proudly) “That’s my girl.”

LATER

Mom: “You know… confidence suits you.”

Maya: “So you’re okay with this now?”

Mom: “I’m learning.”

Dad: “That’s what family’s for.”

(Maya smiles emotionally.)

Maya: “Thanks for finally seeing me for who I am.”

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Tomboy = girl who prefers traditionally boyish style/interests
Feminine = traditionally girlish in appearance/behavior
Oversized clothes = very loose/big clothes
Acts like = behaves similarly to
Being myself = behaving naturally as who I am
Expression drops = suddenly becomes sad
Mind if I sit? = polite way to ask permission
Fit into the same box = follow same expectations as everyone
Judge you = criticize your lifestyle/personality
Get it = understand something
Comfortable in her own skin = confident being herself
Tear up = eyes fill with tears emotionally
Go quiet = suddenly become silent
Confidence suits you = confidence looks good on you
Seeing me for who I am = accepting real personality

LESSON 42

VILLAGE ROAD — EARLY MORNING

(Sunrise. Small village surrounded by coconut trees and fields. A teenage boy, Arjun, rides his bicycle while delivering milk packets.)

Friend: “You wake up before the birds, man.”

Arjun: (laughs) “Big dreams don’t let me sleep too long.”

Friend: “What big dreams exactly?”

Arjun: “I want to make enough money so my parents never have to struggle again.”

SMALL HOUSE — BREAKFAST TIME

(Arjun’s mother serves breakfast.)

Mom: “You work too hard.”

Arjun: “One day it’ll pay off.”

Dad: “We don’t even own farmland like others here.”

Arjun: “Maybe not. But people trust us.”

(His father looks at him proudly.)

Dad: “That trust is worth more than land.”

YEARS LATER — CITY COLLEGE

(Arjun studies export business and food preservation.)

Professor: “Cold storage increases shelf life and reduces waste.”

(Arjun quickly writes notes.)

Classmate: “You’re seriously interested in grains and nuts?”

Arjun: “Back home, farmers lose half their profit because products spoil too fast.”

Classmate: “So what are you planning?”

Arjun: “I want to change that.”

BACK TO THE VILLAGE

(Farmers gather under a banyan tree.)

Farmer 1: “Export business? Sounds risky.”

Farmer 2: “None of us knows how these things work.”

Arjun: “That’s why I learned it.”

Farmer 1: “But why would buyers trust us?”

Arjun: “Because we’ll give them quality products and honest business.”

FIRST STEP

(A small rented warehouse converted into cold storage.)

Friend: “This place barely holds anything.”

Arjun: “Every big business starts somewhere.”

Friend: “You’re betting everything on this.”

Arjun: “If this works, the whole village grows with me.”

FEW MONTHS LATER

(Workers pack grains and nuts carefully.)

Worker: “The products are staying fresh much longer now.”

Arjun: “Exactly. Better shelf life means better prices.”

(Phone rings.)

Arjun: “Hello?”

Buyer: “We received the shipment. Quality’s excellent.”

(Arjun smiles widely.)

VILLAGE CELEBRATION

Farmer 2: “For the first time in years, I cleared all my debts.”

Farmer 1: “My son’s finally going to college.”

Old Villager: “This boy changed the fate of this village.”

(Arjun becomes emotional hearing that.)

YEARS PASS

(Large warehouse. Multiple trucks moving around.)

Manager: “We’re exporting to five countries now.”

Friend: “Remember when this all started in that tiny warehouse?”

Arjun: (laughs) “Feels like yesterday.”

FAMILY HOUSE — EVENING

(Arjun’s parents sit proudly watching news about their village’s success.)

Reporter on TV: “This village has become one of the fastest-growing agricultural export hubs in the region.”

Mom: (tearfully) “That’s our son.”

Dad: “Not just our son.”

(He looks outside at the thriving village.)

Dad: “He lifted everyone up with him.”

FINAL SCENE — VILLAGE FESTIVAL

(Bright lights. Happy villagers celebrating together.)

Friend: “You became rich, just like you wanted.”

Arjun: “This was never only about me.”

Friend: “Then what was it about?”

(Arjun looks around at smiling villagers.)

Arjun: “What’s the point of success if the people beside you are still struggling?”

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Big dreams = huge ambitions
Pay off = bring successful results
Worth more than = more valuable than
Shelf life = period food stays fresh
Spoil = become bad/unusable
Gather = come together
Betting everything on = risking everything for success
Grow with me = become successful together
Clear debts = fully repay money owed
Changed the fate = completely transformed future
Lifted everyone up = helped everyone improve
Thriving = growing successfully
Export hub = center for export business
Feels like yesterday = time passed very quickly
What’s the point of…? = questioning purpose/value

LESSON 43

COLLEGE CANTEEN — LUNCH BREAK

(Five friends sit around a table eating snacks and messing around.)

Ryan: “Ethan, why do you always dress like a divorced dad?”

Ethan: “At least I don’t look like I got dressed in the dark.”

Mia: (laughing) “Okay, that was personal.”

Jake: “Seriously though, Ryan’s fashion sense needs to be studied.”

Ryan: “Jealousy doesn’t look good on you.”

Jake: “Neither does that shirt.”

THE MOCKING CONTINUES

Sophia: “Can we talk about how Ethan takes thirty selfies before posting one?”

Ethan: “It’s called standards.”

Ryan: “No, it’s called insecurity.”

(Everyone bursts into laughter.)

Ethan: “Keep laughing. At least my pictures don’t look like CCTV footage.”

Jake: “Man woke up and chose violence today.”

FOOD ARRIVES

Mia: “Jake, are you seriously eating again?”

Jake: “This is my second meal.”

Sophia: “Second meal THIS HOUR.”

Jake: “My stomach doesn’t believe in limits.”

Ryan: “Bro’s built like he’s preparing for hibernation.”

(Everyone laughs loudly.)

MORE CHAOS

Sophia: “Ryan still texts with one finger like someone’s dad.”

Ryan: “Efficiency.”

Ethan: “No, you type like the keyboard owes you money.”

Mia: “And why does your laugh sound like a broken scooter?”

(Ryan starts laughing harder.)

Jake: “THERE IT IS AGAIN!”

TURNING ON MIA

Ethan: “Mia, didn’t you cry because your iced coffee spilled yesterday?”

Mia: “That was emotional damage.”

Sophia: “You’re dramatic for absolutely no reason.”

Mia: “And you panic every time someone leaves you on read.”

(The table goes silent for two seconds.)

Jake: “OHHHHH she got you there.”

FRIENDLY CHAOS

Sophia: “You know what? I’m done with all of you.”

Ryan: “See you tomorrow.”

Sophia: “Unfortunately.”

(Everyone laughs again.)

BEFORE LEAVING

Jake: “Honestly, if strangers heard us talk, they’d think we hate each other.”

Ethan: “Meanwhile this is how we show love.”

Mia: “Toxic? Maybe.”

Ryan: “Entertaining? Absolutely.”

(They all walk away still roasting each other.)

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Dressed in the dark = dressed badly/mismatched clothes
Personal = emotionally attacking comment
Fashion sense = ability to dress stylishly
Bursts into laughter = suddenly starts laughing
Chose violence = started being savage/mockingly aggressive
Built like = body shape compared humorously
Hibernation = long sleep period of animals
Owes you money = funny expression for aggressive typing
Emotional damage = joking exaggeration for emotional pain
Left on read = message seen but not replied to
Got you there = made strong comeback point
Toxic = humorously unhealthy friendship behavior
Roasting each other = playfully mocking each other
Panic = sudden anxiety
Messing around = joking/playing casually

LESSON 44

BEDROOM — MIDNIGHT

(The baby cries loudly. Emma sits on the bed looking exhausted while her husband Daniel gently rocks the baby.)

Daniel: “I think she’s hungry again.”

Emma: (quietly) “I just fed her.”

Daniel: “Maybe she’s uncomfortable.”

(Emma suddenly covers her face tiredly.)

Emma: “I can’t do this anymore.”

SILENT MOMENT

Daniel: “Hey… look at me.”

Emma: “Everything feels overwhelming.”

Daniel: “You’re just exhausted.”

Emma: “No, it’s more than that.”

(Baby keeps crying.)

Emma: “Why does it feel like I’m failing at everything?”

NEXT MORNING

(Daniel watches Emma staring blankly at her untouched breakfast.)

Daniel: “You barely slept.”

Emma: “I’m not even tired anymore. I just feel… numb.”

Daniel: “You haven’t been yourself lately.”

Emma: (frustrated) “Because I don’t even recognize myself lately!”

LIVING ROOM

(The baby starts crying again.)

Emma: (suddenly irritated) “Why won’t she stop crying?!”

(She instantly feels guilty.)

Emma: “Oh God… I’m a terrible mother.”

Daniel: “Hey. Don’t say that.”

Emma: “Good mothers don’t get angry at their babies.”

Daniel: “You’re running on empty, Emma.”

LATER THAT NIGHT

(Daniel finds Emma crying quietly in the bathroom.)

Daniel: “You’ve been shutting everyone out.”

Emma: “Because nobody understands.”

Daniel: “Then help me understand.”

(Emma wipes her tears.)

Emma: “Sometimes I look at her and feel nothing… and then I hate myself for it.”

(Daniel’s expression softens immediately.)

Daniel: “Emma…”

Emma: “I waited my whole life to become a mom. Why does it feel so wrong?”

EMOTIONAL CONVERSATION

Daniel: “You know what I think?”

Emma: “What?”

Daniel: “I think you’ve been carrying all of this alone.”

(Emma stays quiet.)

Daniel: “This doesn’t make you weak. And it definitely doesn’t make you a bad mother.”

Emma: “Then why do I feel broken?”

Daniel: “Because postpartum depression is real.”

(Emma looks at him shocked.)

Emma: “You really think that’s what this is?”

Daniel: “I do.”

FEW DAYS LATER — DOCTOR’S CLINIC

Doctor: “Postpartum depression is more common than people realize.”

(Emma quietly listens.)

Doctor: “You’re not failing as a mother. You’re struggling with something medical and emotional.”

(Emma tears up.)

Daniel: (holding her hand) “We’ll get through this together.”

MONTHS LATER

(Emma smiles while feeding the baby. Daniel watches quietly.)

Emma: “She’s finally sleeping properly.”

Daniel: “So are you.”

(Emma laughs softly.)

Emma: “I still have hard days sometimes.”

Daniel: “And that’s okay.”

FINAL MOMENT

(Daniel kisses Emma’s forehead while the baby sleeps peacefully nearby.)

Daniel: “I’m proud of you.”

Emma: “For what?”

Daniel: “For fighting through the hardest phase of your life.”

(Emma leans on his shoulder emotionally.)

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Exhausted = extremely tired
Overwhelming = emotionally too much to handle
Numb = emotionally empty
Recognize myself = feel like the same person
Running on empty = physically/emotionally drained
Shut everyone out = avoid people emotionally
Carrying all of this alone = handling emotional burden alone
Postpartum depression = depression after childbirth
Get through this = survive difficult situation together
Tear up = eyes fill with tears
Hard days = emotionally difficult days
Fighting through = continuing despite difficulty
Feel broken = feel emotionally damaged
Failing at everything = feeling unsuccessful in all areas
Weak = emotionally or mentally not strong

LESSON 45

COLLEGE CAMPUS — EVENING

(Two friends, Nina and Claire, sit near the stairs after class.)

Claire: “I swear, if my dad buys me another car I’m actually going to lose my mind.”

Nina: (laughs dryly) “That’s a rich people problem.”

Claire: “I’m serious. I didn’t even ask for it.”

Nina: “Must be nice.”

AWKWARD PAUSE

Claire: “You say that every time.”

Nina: “Because everything falls into your lap.”

Claire: “That’s not true.”

Nina: “Claire, your parents pay your rent, your college fees, your vacations—”

Claire: “Okay, fine. I know I’m privileged.”

Nina: “I’m not trying to make you feel guilty.”

MORE HONEST CONVERSATION

Claire: “Then why do you sound upset with me lately?”

(Nina stays quiet for a second.)

Nina: “Because I’m tired.”

Claire: “From what?”

Nina: “From fighting for every little thing in my life.”

EMOTIONAL MOMENT

Claire: “Nina…”

Nina: “You know what my morning looked like today?”

(Claire listens quietly.)

Nina: “I woke up at 5, cleaned the house, cooked breakfast for everyone, got yelled at because the tea wasn’t hot enough, came to college, and now after this I have work.”

Claire: “You never told me it was that bad.”

Nina: “Because what’s the point?”

SILENCE

Nina: “Sometimes I feel like life keeps moving the finish line.”

Claire: “What do you mean?”

Nina: “Every time I solve one problem, another one shows up.”

Claire: “That sounds exhausting.”

Nina: “It is.”

DEEPER CONVERSATION

Claire: “But your parents love you.”

Nina: (small bitter laugh) “Love?”

Claire: “Don’t they?”

Nina: “Some days I feel more like unpaid staff than their daughter.”

(Claire’s expression drops.)

Claire: “Nina…”

Nina: “If my brother leaves one plate unwashed, nobody cares. If I do it, suddenly I’m irresponsible.”

REALIZATION

Claire: “I honestly had no idea.”

Nina: “That’s because people only see the smiling version of me.”

(Nina looks away.)

Nina: “You know what’s funny?”

Claire: “What?”

Nina: “You complain about things people like me pray for.”

(Claire goes quiet immediately.)

SOFT MOMENT

Claire: “You’re right.”

Nina: “I didn’t mean it in a rude way.”

Claire: “No, you did. And honestly? I probably needed to hear it.”

(Nina looks surprised.)

Claire: “I think I take a lot of things for granted.”

LATER

Claire: “Can I ask you something?”

Nina: “Hmm?”

Claire: “How are you still this strong?”

(Nina smiles weakly.)

Nina: “I don’t really have a choice.”

FINAL MOMENT

(The sun starts setting around them.)

Claire: “You know… I’ve always admired you.”

Nina: “For struggling?”

Claire: “No. For surviving things that would break most people.”

(Nina tears up slightly.)

Claire: “And for the record… you deserve good things too.”

(Nina smiles emotionally.)

Nina: “I hope life hears that someday.”

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Falls into your lap = comes easily without effort
Privileged = having advantages in life
Fighting for every little thing = struggling constantly
Yelled at = scolded angrily
What’s the point? = questioning purpose/use
Moving the finish line = success keeps becoming harder to reach
Show up = appear unexpectedly
Exhausting = extremely tiring emotionally/physically
Unpaid staff = treated like worker without appreciation
Expression drops = suddenly becomes sad
Go quiet = suddenly become silent
Take things for granted = fail to appreciate what you have
Have no choice = forced by circumstances
Break most people = emotionally destroy many people
Tear up = eyes fill with tears

LESSON 46

BACKYARD — SUNNY AFTERNOON

(A little boy named Ben sits on the grass holding biscuits. His dog Max lies beside him while the cat Luna watches from the fence.)

Ben: “You two are acting suspiciously quiet today.”

Max (Dog): “I’m being polite.”

Luna (Cat): “No, you’re waiting for food.”

Max: “That too.”

THE BISCUIT PROBLEM

Ben: “I only have three biscuits left.”

Max: (immediately sits up) “I heard nothing after ‘three biscuits.’”

Luna: “Typical.”

Ben: “How do I split them fairly?”

Max: “Simple. Two for me, one for her.”

Luna: “In what universe is that fair?”

Max: “The dog universe.”

CHAOTIC ARGUMENT

Luna: “You already ate my fish this morning.”

Max: “That sounds like a personal problem.”

Luna: “You literally climbed onto the kitchen counter!”

Max: “Allegedly.”

Ben: (laughing) “Max, you’re impossible.”

LITTLE BOY’S LOGIC

Ben: “Okay, one biscuit each.”

Max: “And the third?”

Ben: “Mine.”

(Both animals stare at him silently.)

Luna: “The betrayal.”

Max: “I raised this child better than this.”

SUDDEN DISTRACTION

(A butterfly flies past.)

Luna: “Oh. Never mind. Tiny flying thing.”

(She immediately jumps off the fence and runs after it.)

Max: “Cats get distracted by absolutely everything.”

Ben: “You chased your own tail yesterday.”

Max: “That was tactical training.”

SOFT MOMENT

(Ben hugs Max tightly.)

Ben: “You know what?”

Max: “Hmm?”

Ben: “Even if you steal food and act weird sometimes… you’re still my best friend.”

(Max happily wags his tail.)

Luna: (from far away) “Rude. I live here too.”

FINAL MOMENT

(Ben breaks the last biscuit into tiny pieces and shares it with both animals.)

Ben: “There. Problem solved.”

Max: “You’re a good human.”

Luna: “Acceptable decision.”

(The three sit together peacefully under the sunlight.)

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Suspiciously quiet = unusually silent
Split fairly = divide equally
Typical = expected behavior
Personal problem = sarcastic response meaning “not my issue”
Impossible = difficult/frustrating in funny way
Betrayal = feeling emotionally hurt jokingly
Raised this child = jokingly saying “I taught him better”
Distracted = attention moved elsewhere
Tactical training = funny excuse for silly action
Wag his tail = move tail happily
Problem solved = issue fixed
Tiny flying thing = childish funny description
Chased your own tail = acted foolishly/playfully
Never mind = forget it
Best friend = closest companion

LESSON 47

FRIEND’S APARTMENT — GIRLS’ NIGHT

(Three childhood friends — Ava, Mia, and Chloe — sit on the floor surrounded by snacks, old photo albums, and drinks.)

Mia: “Oh my God, look at this picture.”

Chloe: “NO WAY.”

Ava: “Why do I look like someone’s angry aunt at age nine?”

(All three burst into laughter.)

CHILDHOOD MEMORY #1

Mia: “Do you guys remember when Ava tried to run away from home?”

Ava: “I was being dramatic.”

Chloe: “You packed ONE sock and three biscuits.”

Mia: “And you came back thirty minutes later because it got dark.”

Ava: “Okay first of all, the street looked terrifying.”

MORE LAUGHTER

Chloe: “You stood outside the gate crying because you missed your mom.”

Ava: “I was a sensitive child.”

Mia: “You were gone for less than an hour.”

CHILDHOOD MEMORY #2

Ava: “Hold on. We’re not skipping Chloe’s disaster.”

Chloe: “What disaster?”

Mia: “THE TALENT SHOW.”

(Chloe covers her face immediately.)

Chloe: “Absolutely not.”

Ava: “She forgot the dance halfway through and just started clapping randomly.”

Mia: “The music stopped and she KEPT GOING.”

(The girls laugh so hard they can barely breathe.)

EVEN MORE CHAOS

Chloe: “At least I didn’t superglue my fingers together like Mia.”

Mia: “That happened ONE time.”

Ava: “Your mom had to soak your hands in oil for an hour.”

Mia: “I was trying to make a craft!”

Chloe: “You nearly glued yourself to the table.”

SOFT MOMENT

(The laughter slowly settles down.)

Ava: “You know what’s crazy?”

Mia: “What?”

Ava: “We’ve known each other almost our whole lives.”

Chloe: “And somehow we’re still putting up with each other.”

Mia: “Barely.”

FINAL FUNNY MEMORY

Chloe: “Wait. Do you remember when we thought the moon was following us?”

Mia: “WE WERE CONVINCED.”

Ava: “We literally ran home because we thought it was spying on us.”

(All three collapse into laughter again.)

FINAL MOMENT

(The girls continue flipping through old photos while laughing nonstop.)

Mia: “Honestly, childhood was pure chaos.”

Chloe: “Yeah… but it was the good kind.”

Ava: “Best years ever.”

(The three smile warmly at each other.)

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Burst into laughter = suddenly start laughing
Being dramatic = overreacting emotionally
Run away from home = leave home secretly
Hold on = wait a moment
Disaster = complete mess/failure
Cover her face = hide face from embarrassment
Barely breathe = laugh extremely hard
Settle down = become calm again
Put up with = tolerate someone
Convinced = fully believed something
Collapse into laughter = laugh uncontrollably
Pure chaos = complete funny madness
The good kind = enjoyable version of something
Flipping through = looking through pages quickly
Best years ever = happiest time in life

LESSON 48

SMALL CAFÉ — EVENING

(Two childhood friends, Leah and Sophie, meet after several months.)

Sophie: “Finally! You’re impossible to pin down these days.”

Leah: (laughs) “Says the woman running half the fashion scene in this city.”

Sophie: “Please. I’m just trying to survive deadlines.”

CATCHING UP

Leah: “Your boutique looks incredible though. I saw the pictures online.”

Sophie: “Thanks. We just opened our second branch last month.”

Leah: “Look at you making boss moves.”

Sophie: “Meanwhile you’re out there shaping young minds.”

Leah: “For the salary of a potato.”

(Both laugh.)

MORE HONEST CONVERSATION

Sophie: “Seriously though, are they still paying teachers that badly?”

Leah: “You don’t even want to know.”

Sophie: “That’s insane.”

Leah: “Half my paycheck disappears into rent and bills before I even touch it.”

Sophie: “That sounds exhausting.”

Leah: “It is. Some months I’m barely scraping by.”

SOFT MOMENT

Sophie: “Then why stay?”

Leah: (smiles softly) “Because I love it.”

Sophie: “That much?”

Leah: “Yesterday one of my students finally learned how to read properly.”

Sophie: “Aww.”

Leah: “The way his face lit up? That feeling’s hard to beat.”

DIFFERENT DREAMS

Sophie: “You know, people think because I make good money, everything’s perfect.”

Leah: “Isn’t it?”

Sophie: (laughs tiredly) “Not even close.”

Leah: “What’s wrong?”

Sophie: “I barely sleep. I’m constantly chasing clients, handling staff problems, dealing with rude customers…”

Leah: “So basically adult life attacked both of us differently.”

Sophie: “Exactly.”

EMOTIONAL CONVERSATION

Leah: “Do you ever miss the old days?”

Sophie: “When our biggest problem was unfinished homework?”

Leah: “Yeah.”

Sophie: “All the time.”

(They smile quietly.)

REAL TALK

Sophie: “You know what I admire about you?”

Leah: “Hmm?”

Sophie: “You followed your dream even when it didn’t come with money.”

Leah: “And you built your dream from scratch.”

Sophie: “Yeah, but sometimes I wonder if I’m working myself into the ground.”

Leah: “That’s because you never switch off.”

FINAL MOMENT

(Waiter places coffee on the table.)

Leah: “Funny how we took completely different paths.”

Sophie: “But somehow ended up equally stressed.”

(Both laugh loudly.)

Leah: “Still… I’m proud of us.”

Sophie: “Me too.”

(They clink coffee mugs together with warm smiles.)

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Pin down = successfully make someone commit to plans
Fashion scene = fashion industry/community
Boss moves = confident successful actions
Shaping young minds = teaching and influencing children
Salary of a potato = jokingly very low salary
Paycheck = salary payment
Barely scraping by = struggling financially
Lit up = became visibly happy/excited
Hard to beat = difficult to match in quality
Chasing clients = constantly trying to get customers
Adult life attacked both of us differently = adulthood created different struggles
Built from scratch = created from nothing
Work myself into the ground = overwork excessively
Switch off = mentally relax/stop thinking about work
Took different paths = chose different life directions

LESSON 49

PENTHOUSE APARTMENT — LATE NIGHT

(The apartment is quiet. Emma sits alone on the couch while the TV plays one of her husband’s interviews. The front door finally opens.)

Ryan: “Hey.”

Emma: (without looking at him) “You’re home early.”

Ryan: “It’s midnight.”

Emma: “Exactly.”

TENSION IN THE ROOM

(Ryan loosens his tie tiredly.)

Ryan: “The shoot ran late again.”

Emma: “It always does.”

Ryan: “Emma…”

Emma: “Do you even know how many days it’s been since we had dinner together?”

ARGUMENT STARTS

Ryan: “I’m trying my best here.”

Emma: “Your best for who? Me or your career?”

Ryan: “Why does it always have to turn into a fight?”

Emma: “Because I’m tired of feeling invisible in my own marriage.”

EMOTIONAL BUILD-UP

(Ryan stays quiet.)

Emma: “You walk into this house exhausted, barely talk, sleep for a few hours, then disappear again.”

Ryan: “I’m doing all this for us.”

Emma: “Are you?”

(Ryan looks hurt.)

Emma: “Sometimes I honestly can’t tell anymore.”

THE MAIN CONFLICT

Ryan: “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Emma: (voice shaking slightly) “You’re an actor, Ryan.”

Ryan: “And?”

Emma: “I watch you on screen telling women you love them every single day.”

(Silence.)

Emma: “Half the time I can’t even recognize whether your feelings for me are real… or just another performance.”

SILENT MOMENT

(Ryan stares at her completely stunned.)

Ryan: “You think I’m pretending with you?”

Emma: “I don’t know what to think anymore.”

Ryan: “Emma…”

Emma: “Do you know how lonely this house feels?”

DEEPER EMOTIONS

Emma: “People think marrying a famous actor is glamorous.”

(She laughs bitterly.)

Emma: “They don’t see the waiting. The missed birthdays. The empty side of the bed.”

Ryan: “You knew what my life was like before we got married.”

Emma: “Knowing it and living it are two different things.”

RYAN FINALLY BREAKS

(Ryan sits down quietly.)

Ryan: “Do you think this is easy for me either?”

Emma: “Then talk to me.”

Ryan: “I’m exhausted all the time, Emma.”

(He rubs his face tiredly.)

Ryan: “Everywhere I go, people want something from me.”

Emma: “I never asked for fame.”

Ryan: “I know.”

EMOTIONAL TURN

Ryan: “But you’re the one place where I don’t have to pretend.”

(Emma’s expression softens slightly.)

Ryan: “On set, every word is scripted. Every emotion is planned.”

(He looks directly at her.)

Ryan: “But with you? That’s the only thing in my life that’s real.”

QUIET MOMENT

(Emma tears up silently.)

Emma: “Then why does it feel like I’m losing you?”

Ryan: (softly) “Because I got so busy trying to provide a good life… I forgot to actually be present in it.”

FINAL MOMENT

(Long silence fills the room.)

Ryan: “I don’t want us drifting apart.”

Emma: “Neither do I.”

(Ryan slowly holds her hand.)

Ryan: “Then let’s stop acting like strangers.”

(Emma finally smiles weakly through tears.)

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Ran late = continued longer than expected
Turn into a fight = become an argument
Feel invisible = feel ignored/unnoticed
Walk into = enter a place
Disappear again = leave repeatedly
Performance = acting/showing fake emotions
Stunned = shocked speechless
Empty side of the bed = loneliness in relationship
Rubs his face = gesture showing stress/tiredness
Scripted = planned beforehand
Tear up = eyes fill with tears
Drifting apart = emotionally becoming distant
Be present = emotionally/physically available
Glamorous = attractive luxurious lifestyle
Pretend = act falsely/not genuine

LESSON 50

MOUNTAIN TREKKING BASE CAMP — EARLY MORNING

(Cold air. Fog covering the mountains. Trekkers prepare their bags before starting the hike.)

Luca (Italy): “Please tell me I’m not the only one already regretting this.”

Aisha (Morocco): (laughs) “We haven’t even started yet.”

Noah (Canada): “That’s usually how every great adventure begins.”

STARTING THE TREK

(The three walk along a narrow trail surrounded by huge mountains.)

Aisha: “This place looks unreal.”

Noah: “Pictures honestly don’t do it justice.”

Luca: (pulling out camera) “Good thing I’m documenting everything.”

Aisha: “You’ve taken like fifty photos already.”

Luca: “Art takes commitment.”

FIRST BREAK

(They stop near a waterfall.)

Noah: “Anyone want snacks?”

Aisha: “Please tell me you brought something better than protein bars.”

Noah: “Excuse you, these bars kept me alive in Iceland.”

Luca: “That explains why you look emotionally exhausted.”

(All three burst into laughter.)

SHARING STORIES

Aisha: “So what made you guys come here?”

Noah: “Needed a break from work.”

Luca: “Same. My life was starting to feel repetitive.”

Aisha: “I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do something scary.”

STEEP CLIMB

(The trail becomes harder.)

Luca: “Why is this mountain personally attacking my legs?”

Noah: “Keep going. We’re almost there.”

Aisha: (breathing heavily) “If I pass out, delete my search history.”

(The group laughs while continuing upward.)

REACHING THE VIEWPOINT

(They finally reach the top. Massive mountains stretch endlessly under golden sunlight.)

Aisha: “Wow…”

(Everyone goes quiet for a moment.)

Noah: “Okay… this was worth every painful step.”

Luca: (recording video) “Future me better appreciate this.”

QUIET MOMENT

(Wind blows softly around them.)

Aisha: “Crazy how complete strangers can meet one day and suddenly share moments like this.”

Noah: “That’s the best part of travelling.”

Luca: “One random decision and suddenly you’ve got memories for life.”

DOCUMENTING MEMORIES

(Luca sets up camera timer.)

Luca: “Alright, group photo time.”

Noah: “Make sure I don’t look dead inside.”

Aisha: “Too late for that.”

(Camera clicks while they laugh loudly.)

TREKKING BACK DOWN

Noah: “You know what’s funny?”

Aisha: “What?”

Noah: “Three people from completely different corners of the world somehow ended up annoying each other on the same mountain.”

Luca: “And honestly? I wouldn’t trade this day for anything.”

(The three continue walking down the trail together while laughing and talking.)

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Base camp = starting area before trek/climb
Regretting this = feeling unsure about decision
Unreal = unbelievably beautiful/amazing
Do it justice = show something as good as reality
Pulling out = taking something out
Burst into laughter = suddenly start laughing
Repetitive = same thing again and again
Pass out = faint/unconscious
Worth every step = completely worth the effort
Complete strangers = people who never met before
Ended up = finally reached a situation/place
Trade this day for anything = never give up this experience
Viewpoint = scenic viewing spot
Documenting = recording memories/photos/videos
Corner of the world = distant region/place

Lessons

Vocabulary & Expressions

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Vocabulary & Phrasal Verbs

At the University Hostel

In the Professor’s Office

Professor Catherine

Useful Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Idioms Used

At Professor Thompson’s Cottage

Professor Thompson

Catching Up

Talking About Their Struggles

Remembering the Professor’s Help

The Professor Shares His Story

Emotional Moment

Their Gratitude

Useful English Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Idioms Used

At the University Campus

Ryan

Emily

Emily Starts Admiring Him

Chloe

Chloe Decides to Confess

Chloe Lies to Emily

Emily Starts Pulling Away

Late Night at the Library

University Library

Inside the Burning Library

Outside the Library

Useful Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Idioms Used

At the Beachside Hotel

Blue Haven Resort

Lily

Ethan

Mason

Sophie

Olivia

Daniel

Slowly Becoming Friends

Day 2 — At the Beach

The Friends Feel Heartbroken

Day 4 — Bond Growing Stronger

One Emotional Conversation

The Final Day

At the Restaurant

At the Airport

Useful Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Idioms Used

Back in School

Clara

Isabelle

The Incident

Her Dream Falls Apart

Westbridge Fashion University

Struggling With Insecurity

Five Years Later

London Emerging Designers Fashion Show

The Judge Recognises Her

Isabelle

Emotional Reunion

Clara Opens Up

The University Learns the Truth

Unexpected Support

Final Emotional Moment

Useful Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Idioms Used

On the Way to School

Ava

The Dog Starts Following Her

Buddy

Classmates Start Bullying Her

Bella

Ava Slowly Pulls Away

One Rainy Evening

Emotional Breakdown

News Spreads Everywhere