BACKYARD – HALDI CEREMONY – CONTINUOUS
The backyard is fully transformed. Bright decorations, cushions, flowers, buckets of yellow paste. Everyone's laughing, dancing, taking selfies.
ISHANA and ABHI are brought to the center.
One by one, family members start applying turmeric paste to their cheeks, arms, and feet.
It's messy. Loud. Non-stop.
ISHANA
(muttering to herself)
"Why does this smell like regret and betrayal?"
KHUSHI
(wiping turmeric on Ishana's foot)
"Because looking pretty takes sacrifice."
ABHI'S MOM steps forward gently, applying turmeric to Abhi's cheeks, then turns to Ishana and does the same.
ABHI'S MOM
(softly, to Ishana)
"Bless you both. May this color stay with you for a lifetime."
ISHANA
(surprised, quietly)
"…Thank you."
MARK
(holding up his phone)
"Okay, now do the iconic moment — smear turmeric on each other! It's going on the family group chat."
ABHI and ISHANA glance at each other.
ISHANA
(dryly)
"You touch my face, and I swear I'll kill you."
ABHI
(grinning)
"Fair Enough kill me after you marry me."
He leans in, smears a streak of turmeric on her cheeks.
She responded with a bright swipe across his jaw.
Everyone cheers. The music picks up. Flower petals rain down.
MARK
(whispering to Khushi, glancing over at Abhi and Ishana)
"Umm... what do you think? Have they made any progress?"
KHUSHI
(whispering, eyes fixed ahead, her tone low and frustrated)
"No wonder I've been feeling this way... Before, Abhi was actually trying, you know? Making an effort to be close to her. But ever since he got back from that trip, it's like... he just stopped."
MARK
(frowning, confused)
"What do you mean?"
KHUSHI
(slightly irritated, but still whispering)
"Come on, Mark. Don't tell me you haven't noticed. Before, he was finding every excuse to flirt, to be near her. Now it's like he's... toned it all down. No teasing, no little looks—nothing. It's like he's become what she wants him to be. Quiet. Safe. Predictable."
MARK
(pauses, reluctantly nodding, a look of realization crossing his face)
"Yeah... you've got a point. Even when I went to pick them up, they seemed like... I dunno. Like they were synced. "
KHUSHI
(nodding seriously, voice low)
"Exactly. If he's already adjusted to her like this, before the wedding... I don't see it going anywhere. Not long-term. Chemistry doesn't just disappear unless someone lets it."
MARK
(sighs deeply, rubbing the back of his neck, looking stressed)
"I tried, y'know? I really did—on the bachelor trip, even during the engagement night—I gave him chances. Tried to nudge him. But I can't hold his hand through everything. He's gotta want it bad enough to fight for it himself."
KHUSHI
(softly, almost sadly)
"And if he doesn't... maybe this isn't the right match after all."
MARK
(looking conflicted, shaking his head slightly)
"But I really like Abhi."
KHUSHI
(eyes widening in surprise, her voice incredulous)
"What!! You like Abhi?"
MARK
(smiling sheepishly)
"Yeah, as a family member by nature..."
KHUSHI
(rolling her eyes playfully)
"Ohh..."
(As the turmeric ceremony ends, everyone heads to their rooms to freshen up and get ready for the henna ceremony. The pace picks up, and the air is buzzing with energy.)
KHUSHI
(hands on hips, a bit impatient)
"Mark, stop being lazy. Go get ready, quick."
MARK
(grinning, leaning back lazily)
"Come on, wifey. It's been a while since I've seen you... Let me take a look at you."
KHUSHI
(eyes narrowing, tone firm but amused)
"Mark, we don't have time for this! You know today's the henna ceremony, and also the sangeet night..."
MARK
(acting dramatic, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation)
"Why is everything happening so fast all of a sudden? What's the rush?"
KHUSHI
(pointing towards the door with a playful but stern look)
"Stop with the drama. Get ready. I'm going to check on Ishana to see if she's ready."
(pauses)
"And you check on Abhi."
MARK
(mock salute, grinning)
"Yes, ma'am!"
(As everyone starts to come out of their rooms, the music in the backyard kicks back in. The energy builds up as people gather.)
ABHI (in his room)
(thinking, his voice barely audible, eyes tired)
"I haven't even rested for a second... Damn, are these functions always this tiring? I wonder how Ishana is managing, since she had to get ready much more than me."
*(Knock knock!!)
(He walks to the door, opens it, and finds Mark standing there.)
MARK
(looking him up and down, grinning)
"Ready?"
ABHI
(nodding, trying to shake off the exhaustion, a small smile on his face)
"Yeah."
MARK
(gesturing toward the door)
"Okay."
(They walk to the backyard together. As the henna ceremony begins, Ishana enters in a dark green lehenga, her hair still in braids. Abhi's eyes light up, a bright smile spreading across his face as he watches her walk in. Mark notices, thinking to himself with a smirk...)
(No wonder where this will go.)
(Soft music swells as Abhi and Ishana step onto the flower-covered stage. Petals rain gently from above, and fairy lights flicker like stars. The stage is blooming with vibrant colors—an Instagram-worthy dream. Both look a little jittery, but their wide smiles say it all: they're in this together.)
ISHANA'S DAD
(grinning ear to ear, eyes misty)
"Look at her! My daughter could be in a Bollywood movie. Abhi, beta… you've clearly overachieved."
ISHANA'S MOM
(with a knowing smile)
"Abhi, just a heads-up—this one doesn't come with a manual. Good luck keeping up!"
(She winks, giving Ishana a quick air kiss before rejoining the auntie squad.)
POOJA
(from the crowd, dramatically pretending to swoon)
"Abhi! You ready for this? She looks like a goddess and you… well, you look like an average person will you able to handle her."
(Everyone laughs. Ishana snorts, trying not to ruin her makeup.)
KRISH
(whispers to Luca, grinning)
"I give it two weeks before they fight and file for a divorce."
LUCA
(laughs)
"Please, Abhi looks like he's already calculating how much emotional labor this marriage is gonna cost him."
TOM
(from the back, mock-shouting)
"Let's cut to the chase—dance-off! Ishana vs. Abhi. Loser plans the honeymoon."
SOPHIA
"Abhi's screwed."
OLIVIA
(to Jack)
"Ten bucks says Ishana makes him blush before the song even starts."
JACK
"You're on. But watch out—Abhi isn't that bad."
ISHANA'S COUSIN (JOLLY)
(walks up, gives Abhi a manly pat that almost knocks him over)
"Look alive bro!. If you can survive Ishana's sass, marriage is a breeze."
HIS WIFE (JENNI)
(laughing)
"Don't worry, if you mess up, we have twenty backup grooms on standby."
(The crowd howls as Abhi fake-chokes on his own breath.)
ABHI'S MOM
(wiping a tear)
"My son. You're glowing."
ABHI'S DAD
(whispering to her)
"That's sweat, dear. He looks like he's meeting the income tax officer, not his wife."
Meanwhile…