ABHI
(half-joking, half-serious)
"Yeah. I can't think straight if you're gonna be out here in that robe. I'm only human, Ishana."
(She stares at him for a second, then cracks a soft laugh — low and amused.)
ISHANA
(holding the shirt up)
"You know you're the one in a towel, right?"
ABHI
(grinning, backing away with hands up)
"I'm aware. This is me... taking responsibility."
(She looks down at the shirt in her hands, then back at him. For a moment, her guard slips. She steps closer.)
ISHANA
(gently, without sarcasm)
"You really want me to stay?"
(Abhi meets her gaze, serious now.)
ABHI
(quietly)
"I want you to be comfortable. But yeah... yeah, I do."
(She holds his gaze for a long, still moment. Then she turns her back to him, pulls the robe tighter around herself, and walks toward the bathroom.)
ISHANA
(casual, as she opens the door)
"Turn around. Or close your eyes."
ABHI
(smiling)
"You're lucky I'm dizzy from this cold."
(She disappears into the bathroom, and the door clicks shut. Abhi exhales, rubbing his hands over his face, both grateful and a little terrified by how close everything just got.)
(The bathroom door creaks open. Ishana steps out, now wearing Abhi's oversized shirt. It hangs off one shoulder slightly, the fabric thin from years of wear, and it barely reaches mid-thigh. Her damp hair is still tucked behind her ears, and her bare legs catch the low light of the room. She looks effortless — but not in a way that helps Abhi's sanity.)
(Abhi, who's been pacing the room to cool down both mentally and physically, stops dead in his tracks. His towel is still wrapped low around his waist, his hair half-dry, but suddenly he's not thinking about his cold anymore.)
ABHI
(blinking, stunned)
"...That's worse."
ISHANA
(raising an eyebrow, feigning innocence)
"Worse than the bathrobe?"
ABHI
(nods, half-dazed)
"Way worse. Like... distractingly worse."
(She looks down at herself, holding out the hem of the shirt a little, inspecting it. Then she gives him a sly look, amused.)
ISHANA
(playful)
"You're the one who gave it to me."
ABHI
(defensive, stepping toward his bag)
"Yeah, because I thought it'd make things less... volatile. Not—"
(He cuts himself off, rummages through his bag, and pulls out a pair of casual track pants — loose, grey, comfortable, and as far from 'hot' as humanly possible.)
ABHI
(half-pleading, tossing them to her)
"Here. Please. Put these on. I can't think straight when you look like... that."
ISHANA
(catching them with a smirk)
"So the 'cute' shirt plan backfired, huh?"
ABHI
(deadpan)
"Catastrophically."
(She chuckles, then turns around and walks back toward the bathroom. disappeared behind the door again.)
(Meanwhile abhi change into a T-shirt and shorts as the bathroom door opens again. Ishana steps out, now in the shirt and the track pants. They're slightly too big on her, the drawstring tied in a small bow, and the legs bunched up around her ankles — but the effect is immediate. The air changes.)
(She looks… smaller somehow. Still beautiful, still very much her, but not hot — not threatening to his self-control. She looks cozy. Soft. Like a version of her he's never seen before.)
(Abhi stares for a second, and this time, when he exhales, it's more from relief than desperation.)
ISHANA
(arms crossed, mock-serious)
"Well? Crisis averted?"
ABHI
(softly, smiling)
"Yeah... You look..."
(He stops himself before saying adorable, because that might spiral things again. But she knows. She sees it in his eyes.)
(Ishana steps out of Abhi's room, now dressed in his track pants and shirt. Her expression is unreadable again — calm, but guarded. Abhi follows, barefoot, towel still around his neck.)
ABHI
(half-joking, a little flustered)
"I'm just making sure you get back to your room without causing any hallway emergencies."
ISHANA
(smirking)
"Sure. You're clearly the one in distress."
(She stops in front of her door, sliding the keycard from the pocket of the borrowed track pants.)
ISHANA
(quietly)
"...Thanks. For not being a total idiot last night."
ABHI
(grinning, a little softer)
"Don't thank me yet. I've still got the entire wedding weekend to mess it up."
(She looks at him for a moment longer — not smiling,Then she opens her door and disappears inside. Abhi stands there for a moment, running a hand through his hair, trying to catch his breath — figuratively and literally.)
LATER – HOTEL LOBBY
(The group is gathered, bags packed, dressed down in hoodies and joggers for the flight home. There's a sleepy kind of energy — people yawning, quietly sipping coffee, joking more gently now after a wild weekend.)
OLIVIA
(stretching)
"Please tell me someone packed snacks. I refuse to buy airport trail mix again."
KRISH
(raising a plastic bag)
"I got you covered. We're not risking hunger today. Btw i saw someone walking in bathrobe and...when she was going back in her room she was in total different outfit..."
NICK
(looking around dramatically)
"What??
(Abhi enters the lobby, hoodie half-zipped, duffel bag in hand.)
ABHI
(grinning)
"Zip it up krish ."
(Seconds later, Ishana appears too — changed into her own clothes, expression neutral. She glances at Abhi only briefly, but the air shifts slightly. Subtle, but the group picks up on it.)
LUCA
(checking his phone)
"Alright. Vans are outside. Flight in three hours. Wedding in… less than two days."
TIA
(to Ishana, teasing)
"You ready for round two? Family drama, overly emotional relatives, and vows under pressure?"
ISHANA
(flatly)
"As long as nobody's making me sleep in a tent again, I'll survive."
AIRPORT – BOARDING GATE
(The group lounges at the gate. Everyone's slumped in chairs or scrolling through their phones. The chaotic energy of the trip has dulled into cozy exhaustion.)
Pooja and Daniel sit at opposite ends of the row, still not speaking.
Nick is dozing on Tia's shoulder. Krish and Olivia share a bag of snacks, mock-arguing over flavors.
Abhi sits near the window, sipping bottled water. Ishana walks over and silently hands him cold medicine —
ABHI
(smiling)
"Still playing nurse?"
ISHANA
"Just making sure you make it to the wedding without passing out."
ABHI
(grinning)
"Aww. You care."
ISHANA
(sipping her coffee, deadpan)
"I just don't want to deal with your funeral arrangements."
(They exchange a brief, quiet smile — small, but real. No more tension. Just something settled between them now.)
ABHI
(after a moment)
"So… after the wedding, maybe we actually talk?"
(Ishana looks at him, thoughtful, then nods — just once.)
ISHANA
"Let's survive the wedding first."
PLANE – MID FLIGHT
(Everyone is scattered in their seats. Some are asleep. Some are watching movies. Pooja's pretending to read. Daniel's pretending not to look at her.)
Nick has his head fully in Tia's lap now, snoring gently. Tia plays with his hair absentmindedly.
Abhi and Ishana end up in the same row, window and middle. Their arms brush a few times — not entirely accidental. Neither says much.
Finally, as the cabin dims for landing, Ishana lets her head drop onto Abhi's shoulder. He freezes at first — surprised — but then lets himself lean into it.
ABHI
(whispers, without looking at her)
"...So does this count as another survival tactic?"
ISHANA
(eyes closed, barely audible)
"Shut up and let me nap."