Daniel
(mouth full)
"At least I didn't try to pitch it upside down!"
Sophia
(to Abhi, softly)
"You alright?"
Abhi
(quietly)
"Yeah. We'll talk about things later."
Olivia
(nudging Jack, smirking)
"She's wearing his jacket. Classic movie move."
Alice
(raising her cup)
"To unexpected twists, emotional drama, and food that didn't burn!"
Everyone
(cheering)
"Cheers!"
Maya
(handing Ishana a bowl of food)
"Here. Eat first, feelings later."
Elsa
(laughing)
"Alright, what's the next drama? Love triangle? Secret crush?"
Sonali
(joking)
"Can I be the dramatic ex?"
Rashmi
(laughs)
"Too late. That spot's taken!"
(Everyone laughs. Abhi and Ishana exchange a small glance — tired, but lighter. For now, they're okay.)
The fog has rolled in, creating a peaceful, almost surreal atmosphere around the campsite. The fire is dying down, and the group is starting to head to their tents, yawning and stretching after a long day of walking, chatting, and eating.]
(Abhi and Ishana, still side by side, walk towards the same tent — it's clear their friends have orchestrated this without saying a word.)
Luca
(waving goodnight, casually)
"Alright, everyone, see you in the morning. Sleep tight!"
(Most of the group disperses toward their separate tents, all except for Abhi and Ishana. They stop in front of one tent, exchanging a quiet glance. Both seem uncertain.)
Nick
(calling over his shoulder, with a wink)
"Looks like you two got the romantic tent!"
(Everyone laughs, but it's not teasing — it's almost like they're making sure things go as planned. Abhi looks at Ishana, then at the tent, his expression softening.)
Abhi
(quietly, awkward)
"I guess... we should talk."
(Ishana nods, still holding his jacket around her, her eyes tired but not as distant as before.)
Ishana
(after a moment, softly)
"We can talk... but not now. It's too late, and I'm so tired..."
(They both walk inside the tent, the sound of the zipper closing as the fog outside thickens, making the world feel still and isolated.)
[Inside the Tent]
(The tent is small, cozy. The dim light from a lantern flickers. Both of them stand near their sleeping bags, unsure how to start. A heavy silence fills the air before Abhi speaks first.)
Abhi
(after a long pause)
"I didn't mean to hurt you. I just... I thought I understood everything, but clearly, I didn't."
(Ishana looks at him, her eyes tired but not angry anymore.)
Ishana
(softly)
"It's not just that, Abhi. It's not about understanding... It's about feeling trapped in a life that wasn't mine to begin with. And it's hard, okay? It's hard to watch you act like everything's fine when I'm trying to survive a decision I didn't make."
(Abhi nods, his shoulders slumping a little.)
Abhi
(quietly, with sincerity)
"I know. I see that now... but I don't know how to fix it."
(Ishana looks at him, a little surprised by his honesty.)
Ishana
"Fix it? You can't fix everything. Sometimes, you just need to listen... really listen."
(A pause. Abhi slowly sits down on the edge of his sleeping bag, his voice gentle.)
Abhi
(softly)
"I'm listening now. I want to hear what you need, Ishana. I don't want you to feel trapped. I just want you to be... happy."
(She glances down at her hands for a moment before looking back at him.)
Ishana
(hesitating)
"I don't know what happy looks like anymore. I just know that... I don't want to keep pretending. I don't want to wake up one day and realize I lost myself."
(There's a long silence. Abhi shifts, clearly struggling with how to express himself.)
Abhi
(softly, almost pleading)
"I don't want that either. But can we... can we try to figure this out together? I'm not saying it'll be easy, but... I don't want to let go of what we have. Even if it's complicated."
(Ishana's eyes soften, and she takes a slow breath. There's a pause before she speaks again, voice barely above a whisper.)
Ishana
"I don't know, Abhi... but maybe we can start with being honest with each other. Not with what we should feel, but what we actually feel. It might not fix everything... but maybe it's a start."
(Abhi nods, relief flickering in his eyes. He looks at her, really looks at her for the first time that night.)
Abhi
(quietly, almost to himself)
"Yeah. A start."
(There's a long pause, but this time, it's a peaceful silence — not uncomfortable. They both settle into their sleeping bags, their backs facing each other but the distance between them no longer as wide.)
[Outside the Tent]
(The fog is thick now, but the sound of their friends laughing softly can still be heard from a distance as they settle into their own tents. The stars are hidden, but the warmth of the fire lingers in the air.)
(Meanwhile, Nick and Luca exchange knowing looks from their own tents, smiling quietly to themselves.)
Luca
(smirking)
"Mission accomplished."
Nick
(grinning)
"Let's hope they don't murder each other in the morning."
(The group laughs quietly before drifting off to sleep, the night growing deeper and colder,
The fog thickens outside. Inside the tent, the cold has settled in, but the warmth between Abhi and Ishana has become more complicated. The silence is no longer tense — it's charged, like something is waiting to snap.)
(Abhi shifts again in his sleeping bag, clearly restless. Ishana, turned slightly away from him, tries to ignore how aware she is of him. His breathing. His presence. The way every little movement feels loud in the stillness.)
Abhi
(low voice, trying to break the silence)
"You know... for people who were supposed to be engaged, we've never shared a tent before. Kind of ironic."
(Ishana doesn't reply, just lets out a quiet sigh. He continues, a slight smirk in his voice.)
Abhi
"I mean, I always imagined our first night alone would be... different. Less awkward. Maybe a little more exciting."
(Ishana turns slightly, glancing at him. Her tone is sharp but calm.)
Ishana
"Don't start."
Abhi
(grinning slightly, still testing)
"Come on. We're grown-ups. Just saying — you're freezing, I'm freezing... We could probably survive better if we shared some heat."
(Ishana raises an eyebrow, her patience clearly wearing thin.)
Ishana
(dryly)
"So your solution is what — spooning for survival?"
Abhi
(teasing)
"Purely medical. Body heat conservation. Survival 101. No funny business... unless, you know, you're into that."
(Ishana stares at him, unamused. He grins, thinking he's being charming. He leans back with a playful shrug.)
Abhi
(mock-innocent)
"Besides, we're already technically 'engaged.' Wouldn't be the worst way to start practicing, right?"
(There's a beat. Ishana stares at him — eyes narrowing slowly. Then—)
Ishana
(cold, controlled)
"Get out."
(Abhi blinks, caught off-guard.)
Abhi
(half-laughing)
"What? Come on, I was joking—"
Ishana
(sharply, sitting up)
"Out, Abhi. Right now."
(He sits up slowly, realizing he's misread the moment entirely. Her expression isn't playful. She's genuinely pissed.)
Abhi
(raising his hands)
"Okay, okay, I crossed a line. I get it. I'll go."
(He grabs his sleeping bag and flashlight, muttering as he unzips the tent flap.)
Abhi
(under his breath)
"Can't even make one joke without getting exiled into the fog…"
Ishana
(flatly)
"You're lucky I didn't throw a boot at your head."
(He steps out into the cold night, zipped up in silence. The fog swirls around him as he awkwardly drags his sleeping bag to a log near the fire pit.)
[Outside – Moments Later]
(Abhi plops down beside the smoldering embers, wrapping himself up in his bag, muttering to himself.)
Abhi
(grumbling)
"She kicks me out, but I'm the one trying to make things less weird. Great."
(A beat. He sighs, staring up at the grey sky. Then, a voice from another tent — half-asleep, groggy.)
Nick
(muffled)
"Bro, did she actually kick you out?"
Abhi
(flatly)
"Yup."
Nick
(laughing softly)
"Nice. Ten bucks says you deserved it."
(Laughter muffled from nearby tents. Abhi lies back, defeated. The fog wraps around him like a blanket he didn't ask for.)