(both of them crashing back into the couch with a soft oof.)
KHUSHI
(flustered)
"Mark! People are waking up—"
MARK
(still half-asleep, wrapping arms tighter around her)
"I'm not awake yet. Stay right here…
KHUSHI
I let you sleep because you looked tired. I'm the only one getting up."
MARK
(teasing, whispering)
"Shut up… If you're not by my side, how am I supposed to fall asleep again?"
(Before she can protest further, he kisses her. No hesitation. No second thought. Just a soft, unfiltered I-missed-you-even-while-you-were-sleeping kiss.)
The Entire backyardFreezes.
POOJA
(sitting up, grinning)
"Aaaaand we have a morning PDA alert, !"
KRISH
(fist-pumping)
"That's what I'm talkin' about— true love before teeth brushing!"
TIA
(whispers to Nick)
"Wow. Woke up and chose rom-com."
NICK
(jealous but trying to play cool)
"...I need to step up."
MARK finally blinks into full consciousness, realizing he's very much not in his bedroom.
MARK
(sitting up, wide-eyed)
"...Wait. Oh god. This isn't our place."
(Everyone's now sitting up, watching. Some are clapping. Some are smirking. Abhi is still on the floor, watching like he just witnessed the trailer of his future.)
ABHI
(grinning from the ground)
"Nice, bro. One day, that might be me and Ishana... minus the public audience."
(ISHANA, still sitting, lips curled into a knowing smirk.)
ISHANA
(sipping imaginary tea)
"Ohooo… seems like someone forgot where he was actually."
MARK
(defensive, shrugging)
"At least I didn't throw my wife on the floor."
ISHANA
(laughing, mock-offended)
"Very funny, bro. Shut up."
MARK
(standing up, arms wide, addressing the people)
" What?Stop staring, guys. I kissed my wife, not someone else's. This is legal affection. Fully sanctioned. It's my right. Get over it."
(The group groans and laughs.)
From the corner couch, MARK'S MOM pipes up with a voice that's both sleepy and sharp.
MARK'S MOM
(grinning)
"Yeah, yeah… stop embarrassing my kid. He's already going too slow."
ISHANA'S MOM, not missing a beat, calls out from the other side:
ISHANA'S MOM
(loudly, teasing)
"Ishana, learn something, beta! That's how a proper morning works! Not like what you just did!"
ISHANA
(offended, failing)
"Mom!"
ABHI
(muttering, mock-hurt)
"Yeah, she threw me off like I was a sack of rice."
ISHANA'S MOM
(giggling)
"Exactly. Poor boy. Bet his back's broken and heart's bruised."
MARK'S MOM
(joining the fun)
"Don't worry. Ishana's got a long way to go. Marriage is a marathon, not a street fight."
POOJA
(grinning, sipping water)
"And she already came out swinging."
The group dissolves into lazy morning laughter.
Nick sits up and runs a hand through his hair.
NICK
(stretching)
"Okay… so, are we doing breakfast or trauma bonding first?"
KRISH
"Can we do both?"
DANIEL
"Only if there's tea."
TIA
(looking at Nick)
"You're still on thin ice. But you can pour my tea."
Abhi finally sits up properly next to Ishana.
ABHI
(quietly, to her)
"At least we made the morning memorable."
ISHANA
(looking around at the chaos, her eyes softening)
"...Yeah. We really are a mess. But it's… kinda beautiful."
AUNTIES begin waking, the sleepy DJ starts plugging in his speaker, and someone's uncle yells from the hallway:
UNCLE
"Who stole my chappals?!"
The day has begun.
People slowly begin dispersing, heading off to rooms to start getting ready. Some are yawning, others are chugging chai. The energy slowly builds as the realization sinks in: Today is The Day.
INT. ISHANA'S ROOM – LATER
Makeup brushes flutter. Jewelry clinks. The room glows.
ISHANA sits in front of the mirror, her face half-done — eyes outlined, lips bare, lehenga spread like a galaxy of embroidery around her.
KHUHI paces around the room like a manic fashion hurricane, shoving random sarees and lingerie into a suitcase.
KHUHI
(buzzing with excitement)
"You need to take this red one! Trust me, it screams newlywed power. And this one—this is for brunch selfies!"
ISHANA
(staring at her reflection, quiet)
"Do people usually feel like this? Like… something weird in your stomach. But not food poisoning weird. Existential weird."
KHUHI
(not even turning around)
"Yup. That's marriage nerves. Totally normal. You're just... realizing it's real."
ISHANA
"I'm actually getting married. Like, for real."
KHUHI
(grinning)
"Too late to run now, bride.
Ishana gives a half-hearted smile, but her eyes flicker — a cocktail of nervousness, disbelief, and anticipation.