EPISODE 1: SHADOWS OF DEBT

The grey sky wept a fine drizzle, misting over the classroom windows in silence. At the end of the class, a calm-faced girl stared blankly at the whiteboard, her expression unreadable. Nina, 19, was the brilliant student teachers always praised. Quiet, reserved, but her eyes held something deeper – a burden, perhaps a secret.

"Nina, you're seriously good at studying. How do you even stay that focused?" a classmate teased with a smile.

Nina offered a faint smile. "Sometimes… when you've got a lot going on, studying becomes an escape."

No one knew that her home was far from peaceful. At school, she was the role model. At home, she was just the eldest daughter shouldering a life far too heavy for her age. The moment the front door closed behind her, reality struck hard.

“I have to be strong… for Mom, for my little sister… they can’t know I’m breaking,” she whispered to herself every night before sleep.

A few months ago, her father, Mr. Freed, had vanished without a trace. Caught in a high-risk investment promising quick returns, he disappeared, leaving only empty promises and mounting despair. Sometimes the phone rang with his name displayed – but there was never a voice on the other end.

“Dad, where are you? How could you leave us like this?” Nina’s voice cracked in the silence.

Even worse, her mother, Madam Selena, seemed to be in denial. She clung to their old lifestyle – luxurious items still decorated the house, masking a happiness now paid for with debt.

"Mom, it’s okay to live simply… as long as we’re at peace," Nina said gently one afternoon.

But her mother shot her a sharp look. "We can’t look poor, Nina. People are watching."

Nina knew all those luxuries came with a price – credit card debts piling up, overdue loans. But whenever she spoke up, she was silenced.

“You’re just a kid! Don’t meddle in adult matters!” her mother snapped. Nina fell quiet, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Night after night, only her pillow knew her cries. Her bedroom became a sanctuary from a world far too cruel for someone her age.

“Please… give me strength. I can’t take this much longer.”

One rainy night, a loud knock echoed through the house. Both Nina and her mother froze. It wasn't a normal knock – it came with a warning.

A tall man dressed in black stood at their door. His gaze was sharp, his voice cold.

"I'm here to discuss Mr. Freed's debt."

"D-debt? What do you mean?" Madam Selena's voice trembled.

The man introduced himself as Rayyan, a representative from a moneylending syndicate. His tone was calm but carried the weight of something dangerous. He showed them documents – Mr. Freed's signature, the loan details – all clear.

"Mr. Fred's borrowed a large sum from us… and now he’s gone," Rayyan said quietly, firmly.

“If he can’t repay, the responsibility falls to the family,” he added, handing a paper to Nina.

Nina froze. Time seemed to halt.

“What happens if we don’t pay?” her voice barely a whisper.

“You have seven days to make the first payment. If not…” Rayyan let the threat hang in the air.

After he left, Madam Selena tried to brush it off.

"Don’t worry, Nina. Maybe they’re just trying to scare us."

"But Dad’s gone… and we have nothing,” Nina replied, her fear finally breaking through.

That night, Nina stood on the balcony, watching the rain ease into a mist. But her heart was still storming.

“My world has changed… I have to be strong. But I’m scared…”

In the darkness, she remembered happier days – when their family was whole. Laughter at the dinner table, her father’s hugs, her mother’s jokes, and her sister’s giggles.

“I want my family back… I won’t let this debt destroy us.”

Nina gripped the balcony railing tight.

“I won’t let them ruin us. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Across the street, in the cold stillness of the night, Rayyan stood watching. A faint smile played on his lips, unreadable.

“This is just the beginning… Nina, you have no idea what’s coming.”

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