ABHI
He looks to his side.
ISHANA is still asleep, curled slightly into him, her head on his shoulder. One hand rests lightly on his arm.
He doesn't move.
His expression shifts — part amusement, part something quieter. Maybe he's scared of this ending. Or beginning.
Then the wheels hit the tarmac with a smooth thud.
ABHI
(gently)
"Hey. We're back on Earth."
ISHANA stirs, blinking groggily. She lifts her head slowly, looking around.
ISHANA
"...Already?"
ABHI
(grinning)
"Time flies when you're passed out on my shoulder."
She gives him a dry look but doesn't argue. She stretches, eyes still half-closed.
INT. AIRPORT – BAGGAGE CLAIM – 30 MINUTES LATER
The group stands in scattered silence.
That business class glow? Gone. Everyone looks like they've been emotionally steamrolled.
KRISH is hunched over a luggage cart. OLIVIA is half-asleep, leaning on it.
TIA stands slightly apart, arms crossed, hoodie zipped to her chin. She watches the luggage belt turn — more distracted than tired.
NICK walks up beside her. There's hesitation in his step.
NICK
(quietly)
"You okay?"
TIA
(still watching the belt)
"Mm-hm."
A beat.
NICK
(sincere)
"What's wrong?"
TIA finally looks at him.
TIA
"You're good at acting like you care. I just don't know if it's real."
NICK
(quiet, a little thrown)
"You mean this? Us?"
(then, more measured)
"Look, I don't want what Abhi has. Chaos. Confusion. Feelings on fire all the time. That's not me."
TIA
(soft, but steady)
"Then don't pretend it is."
She turns to grab her bag, pulling the strap over her shoulder.
NICK steps forward quickly and gently catches her hand.
NICK
(earnest, trying to explain)
"This was never supposed to be complicated. We were having fun, right? You and me — we click, we laugh, we don't owe each other a forever. We just... enjoy it while it lasts."
TIA watches him. No anger. Just clarity.
TIA
"And when it ends, we both move on to someone else."
NICK
(nods slightly)
"Yeah."
TIA
(after a beat)
"Then maybe you shouldn't hold my hand like you're afraid to let go."
She gently pulls her hand free. He doesn't stop her this time.
EXT. AIRPORT – MOMENTS LATER
The group disperses. A string of quiet goodbyes, long yawns, sleepy waves.
ABHI and ISHANA stand together with their luggage.
ABHI
"Cab driver's six minutes away. And lost."
ISHANA
"Of course."
A familiar honk. They both turn.
A black car pulls up. MARK steps out, grinning.
MARK
(grinning)
"Am I early or just perfectly timed?"
ISHANA
(stunned)
"Mark bro!"
She bolts over to him. They hug tight — no hesitation, full-squeeze comfort.
ABHI watches for a second, smiling, then hoists both their bags and walks over.
MARK
(to Abhi, as they break the hug)
"Good to see you, man."
ABHI
"Yeah. You picked a great moment to reappear."
MARK
(grinning at Ishana)
"Told you I'd be back before the vows."
ISHANA
(teasing)
"I almost believed you."
ABHI loads the bags into the back. ISHANA slides into the back seat. ABHI joins Mark up front.
INT. MARK'S CAR – MINUTES LATER
The city glides by outside the windows — buildings still asleep, sky barely pink.
ISHANA leans against the window, eyes closing again. There's something about being with her brother that makes her relax.
MARK glances at her through the rearview mirror, fond.
MARK
"Looks like someone is damn tired from the trip, hmmm? ."
ABHI
(smiles faintly)
"She's been keeping me on my toes."
MARK
"She does likes you, you know."
Abhi doesn't answer right away.
MARK
(softly)
"I can se it. Try not messing it up"
ABHI
(quietly, with a nod)
"I'm trying not to."
From the back seat, a groggy voice:
ISHANA
"Stop talking like I'm not here."
MARK
(grinning)
"Go back to sleep."
"So... how was the trip? Made some progress between you two?"
ISHANA
(eyes still closed, groaning)
"Bro, come on. You really think one trip with him would magically make me fall for him?"
(sits up a bit, adjusting her hair)
"Even if I stayed on that trip for life, I wouldn't suddenly be like... 'Oh wow, this guy's the love of my life.'"
MARK
(raising eyebrows, glancing at Abhi)
"Yikes. Brutal."
(then, serious)
"Come on, Ishana. Your wedding's tomorrow. Yeah, it's arranged — but could you at least try to make it work?"
(beat)
"I see Abhi making an effort. But you? You've been cold-shouldering him since day one. Is that really fair? Honestly..."
(he glances at the rearview, deadpan)
"Abhi, I think you deserve better than this."
ABHI
(quiet, steady)
"No. She deserves better."
ISHANA
(sits up straight, clearly annoyed)
"Okay! If you two are done debating who deserves who, could we maybe focus on driving before a truck hits us and we roll out of this car?"
MARK
(smirking)
"Just saying. I know it's hard — arranged marriage, pressure, expectations—"
ISHANA
(snapping, cutting him off)
"Hard?"
(smirking)
"What's hard here?"
MARK
(rolling his eyes, laughing)
"Okay, wow. You're awake now."
ISHANA
(to both of them)
"You two bond over cricket and emotional trauma or whatever, but leave me out of it. I don't need a joint intervention on the way to my doom."
MARK
(more gently now)
"Ishana. All jokes aside... I just don't want you to blow this up before giving it a real shot. You don't have to fall in love overnight — just... don't shut it down before it starts."
ISHANA
(staring out the window, quieter)
"Yeah. Well. We'll see."
MARK
"Even after that engagement-night kiss on the terrace — in the rain — nothing changed. I mean, seriously... nothing. Like it never happened."
ABHI
(quietly)
"I wouldn't say nothing changed."
ISHANA
(scoffing)
"Oh please. That was just... hormones. You were there, I was there, it was raining, we were close, my brain shut off, and dopamine did the work."
MARK
(grinning)
"Hey hey, don't blame the hormones for your decisions! That was all you, you little lustful.... ."
ISHANA
(offended)
"Excuse me?!"
MARK
(laughing)
"Poor, innocent Abhi just got caught in the crossfire of your lustful desire."
ABHI
(calmly, but honest)
"I wasn't innocent... I was the one who couldn't control my feelings. They took over and, well... made me act on them."
MARK
(mock serious)
"Damn. My dumb sister can make you lose control? I suggest you look at her again. Seriously."
ABHI
(softly)
"The way you feel about your wife — that's how I feel about her."
MARK
(grinning, then briefly serious)
"Look, if my wife was in that situation, no way I'm pretending to be noble. Rain, closeness, hormones? She'd have been on the bed before the thunder finished rolling."
ISHANA
(shocked)
"BRO?! Are you seriously saying that in front of me?!"
MARK
(grinning)
"As if there's anything you don't already know about me."
ISHANA
(smirking)
"Maybe. Should I ask my sister-in-law how your skills are, hmm?"
MARK
(fake offended)
"Say one more word and I'll ruin my own saintly reputation in front of you."
ISHANA
(disgusted)
"Ew. Gross. Stop. That's actual trauma."
MARK
(unbothered)
"What? You started the hormone talk. Don't act surprised when it gets real."
ABHI
(amused, under his breath)
"He's not wrong though…"
MARK
(grinning)
"You kiss a man in the rain and call it trauma. Drama queen."
( In our conversation we reached as we step out of the car)
(The front door swings open. MARK, ISHANA, and ABHI step in — and it's instant chaos.
The house is buzzing with wedding prep. Music plays in the background, relatives chat loudly, decorations hang from every corner, and half a dozen people rush around with trays, phones, and clothes.)
RELATIVES
"They're here!"
"The bride and groom have arrived!"
"Hurry, there's no time left!"
Ishana's suitcase get dragged away before she can even react. She blinks.
INT. ISHANA'S ROOM – MOMENTS LATER
KHUSHI (Mark's wife) and ISHANA'S MOM are already mid-makeover.
MOM
(pressing bangles into Ishana's hand)
"Stand still. You're late. We have twenty minutes."
ISHANA
"yah I'm not moving "
KHUSHI
(grinning)
"You'll thank us when your photos break Instagram."
They spin her around and start dressing her in a bright yellow traditional gown with floral jewelry. Her hair is braided with flower chains.
ISHANA
(sighing)
"I haven't even gone to the bathroom ."
KHUSHI
"Trust me, after the haldi, you won't feel anything from the neck down anyway."
INT. ABHI'S ROOM – SAME TIME
MARK tosses Abhi a crisp white outfit with a yellow stole.
MARK
"You ready to be turned into a human mango?"
ABHI
(straight-faced)
"I don't think I've ever been less ready for anything in my life."
MARK
(grinning)
"You look good, though. Who knows — maybe Ishana will finally look at you like a person instead of a parents choosen guy."
ABHI
(buttoning his shirt)
"might be better before things get really shitty"
INT. FAMILY HALLWAY – MINUTES LATER
Drums start playing. Everyone turns as ISHANA and ABHI step out of their rooms — from opposite ends of the hall.
They catch sight of each other.
Both stop.
ISHANA
(half-yelling)
"Well, finally even after so much trying to stop this is happening.....fine lets do this."
ABHI
(smiling)
"Ten seconds before someone throws turmeric at us."
MARK
"More like five."