Abhi(sighing):
"Ishana, look, you can show your anger, your rudeness to me if you want, but not in front of anyone from the family. I don't like that. Do you know how awkward it makes your brother feel because of you?"
"When we were heading to pick you up, we were talking so happily, and he was sharing his stories with me. But look at yourself—what you did..."
"Now, tell me again, what did I do wrong? Was it because I flirted with you this morning?"
Ishana:
"Now you're going to tell me how I should behave with my family? It's just that I don't want to talk to you, that's it. Nothing else."
Abhi:
"I'm not telling you how to behave, I'm just saying you shouldn't do something that could hurt anyone. You know, what you're doing... this could cause problems.
You know your family well, so don't come to me later saying I didn't warn you."
"What if they start thinking that we aren't close enough? Right now, we're living under the same roof, but not in the same room. But it seems like we'll be in the same room soon enough, if this behavior continues..."
"Well, I don't mind at all. It's all your doing."
Ishana(thinking):
(What he said is true, though. I don't get what happens to me when I see his face... I always get annoyed and end up doing something stupid.)
"I'm sorry! I don't know why I behaved like this."
Abhi(calming down):
"You don't need to apologize to me. Apologize to your brother. Not to me."
Ishana:
"Hmm..."
Knock knock!
Mark's Mom:
"Where's Ishana?"
Mark:
"Mom, she's in the car with Abhi. I think they need to talk about something, so I came out first."
Mark's Mom:
"Ohh."
Mark:
"Call Abhi and Ishana... they're in the car."
Yash:
"Ohh, okay."
(Yash was busy with something, so he asked his younger brother to go.)
Younger Brother:
(I walked over to Abhi's car. I was about to open it without knocking, but then I remembered what happened before...)
"You better knock before opening anyone's door — whether it's a room or a car. Everyone's married now, it's not like before when I used to just walk into their rooms... now I have to get used to knocking."
(I feel so distant from them now...)
Abhi(smiling):
"Let's go out with a smile."
Ishana:
"Hmm..."
(We got out of the car. I smiled, but it wasn't my real smile. Anyone who knows me well could tell it was a fake smile.)
Abhi(thinking):
(I opened the door and stepped out, offering my hand to Ishana. She took it, and we started walking towards the stage. She was holding my arm, but I could tell her smile wasn't genuine...)
(I smiled and stepped forward, trying to make things easier.)
Ishana's Mom:
"She's here! My little girl is finally old enough to get married."
Mark's Mom:
"I know... time really flies. There was a time when we held her in our hands, and now look at her, she's so beautiful."
Abhi's Mom:
"Finally, my useless son is getting engaged — the one who always tried to avoid the topic of marriage."
"His bride looks so cute and beautiful!"
Mark:
"Abhi, keep it up, man. You can handle our sis."
Yash:
"Bro, we're rooting for you!"
Third Brother:
"Don't worry, we'll always be here to listen to your sorrow."
Younger Brother:
"Just make sure to lock your door... unlike someone else who shocked me!"
Mark:
"Shut up, idiot. It was your fault for not knocking!"
Younger Brother:
"I didn't knock because the door was already open."
Cousin 2:
"Just go easy on Abhi and Ishana. He doesn't have the strength like us to handle you."
Abhi(thinking):
(I smiled after hearing her brothers tease her... They never let a chance go by to make us smile for real.)
Ishana(thinking):
"Are these really my brothers?
You took my brothers from me, and now everyone's taking your side..."
(I whispered to myself, irritated.)
"I'm not an alien. I'm not going to eat you. They should be on my side because it's going to be hard for me to tolerate you around me."
Abhi(whispering):
(She's blabbering nonsense in a low voice...)
"You must be jealous of me, right now."
Ishana:
"Yes!
Why shouldn't I be? You took my brothers from me."
Abhi:
"They're just teasing you."
(We reached the stage, and everyone was looking at us, smiling as if they'd won the lottery.)
Mark:
"Ring is with me... Let's go on stage."
(I asked Khushi to join me on stage.)
Khushi(thinking):
"Mark asked me to accompany him to give the ring to Abhi and Ishana.
We're heading to the stage...
As we reached the stage, I stood next to Abhi, and Mark stood next to Ishana.
I know we were both remembering our own engagement — how we got engaged when neither of us wanted it."
Mark(thinking):
"(At this moment, I'm reminded of when I got engaged to Khushi. I didn't want to, but looking at them, I can say they'll be a good couple — like us! Whether they want to get married or not, I can tell that our parents' choice is the best."
(I look at Khushi, and I know she's probably remembering the same moments. It was tough before, but after getting to know her, I feel so blessed to have her in my life.)
(I know it'll be tough for Ishana and Abhi too, but I'll make sure their relationship doesn't go the same way mine did. I've planned something for tonight. Ishana's going to hate me for it, but I have to do it because I can see how distant they are from each other. Abhi tries to get close, but in front of my sister, who can win?)
I'll make sure Abhi wins tonight."
Mark's Mom:
"Mark, what are you thinking? Give them the ring!"
Mark:
"Oh, here you go..." (I pass the ring to Ishana.)
(I notice her hands are shaking, and I couldn't control my laugh.)
Everyone(looking at Mark with confusion):
"What's so funny?"
Mark(laughing):
(I couldn't help it.) ("It's just that... she's shaking like crazy and hasn't even put the ring on Abhi's hand yet.
Haha, imagine what their first night's going to be like.")
Khushi(looking at Mark, confused):
"I don't get it... What's so funny?"
Mark's Mom:
"Mark, stop! This isn't the time to joke around."
Ishana(thinking):
"I just don't get it. Why are my hands shaking so much? I'm scared...
I think my brother noticed, but why is he laughing? How can he laugh at a time like this when I'm so scared?"
(I whispered to Mark in a low voice.)
"Bro, how can you laugh at a time like this?"
Mark:
"Sorry, I just imagined something. I didn't mean to..."
Ishana:
"What the hell were you imagining at a time like this?!"
Mark:
"Do you want to know?"
Ishana:
"Yes."
Mark(grinning mischievously):
"I was thinking... you're shaking so much right now just putting the ring on his finger. What's going to happen when it's time for your first night together?"
Ishana:
"Enough! I don't want to hear any more of this. How can you think such a dirty thing at a time like this?"
Mark:
"I wasn't thinking anything dirty... it just came to my mind when I saw your hands shaking."
(At least her hands stabilized after my joke...)
Ishana(relieved):
"Thank God... Now it's fine. At least I can put the ring on him now."
Ishana's Mom:
"What are you two doing there? Come on, Ishana, put the ring on Abhi's finger."
Mark:
"Auntie, we're encouraging her. Nothing else... She's just a little scared."
Ishana's Mom:
"What's there to be scared of? It's just a ring."
Mark:
"Yeah, that's exactly what I said... just in a different way. I guess she must be thinking about the future and what's going to happen next. Right, Ishana?"
Ishana:
"Can I please have some time?"
(I held my hand out, ready to reach Abhi's hand. I was trembling... Could I really do this? Why was I so nervous, anxious, and furious all at once?)
Abhi(thinking):
"I don't get it. She's trembling so much. It's just a ring... Why is she shaking like this?"
(I held out my hand to her, and then, seeing her hands tremble, I gently held her hand and helped her put the ring on my finger.)
(Everyone started clapping and cheering.)
Ishana(relieved):
"Finally, Abhi held my hand and put the ring on. If he hadn't helped, I think I wouldn't have been able to do it. I took a deep breath."
Khushi:
"Abhi, now it's your turn to put the ring on Ishana."
(I gave Abhi the ring.)
Abhi(thinking):
"Okay... Now it's my turn. No turning back after this. Will I be happy?
There's so much going around in my mind. Can I handle this marriage?
I know I'm the one who wanted this, but will I be able to take care of her and my job...?"