Ishana:
(After that, it was his turn to put the ring on my finger... but he took the ring and seemed lost in his thoughts.)
"I know it must be hard for him too... and on top of that, I don't support him at all...
He must be thinking, 'How am I going to handle her after I got engaged to her?'"
Mark:
(Abhi seems lost in his thoughts...)
"I know it's hard for them. I heard that Abhi didn't want to marry either. He's such a goal-oriented person... I can tell he's in a dilemma between how he'll manage her and his job.
I get that feeling too... it's not like we can turn back time and correct our mistakes.
But I know he'll be the best person for Ishana, and in the end, he'll choose her over his work and goals."
Abhi:
(I was so lost in organizing my thoughts that I didn't hear Mark calling my name. When I snapped out of it, he asked me to put the ring on Ishana.)
"Abhi!!"
Mark:
"Where are you? Put the ring on her!"
Abhi:
"Yes..."
(I reached out and took Ishana's hand, slipping the ring onto her finger.)
"I don't know what the future holds for us, but the only thing I know is that 'I love you,' and this will never change."
Mark:
"Whoo! It's party and gift time! Amazing, guys! Everyone, come up to the stage and give your blessings to them!"
Yash:
"Woohoo!"
Mark:
"Bro, first gift is from my side, and I'm sorry, Ishana."
Ishana:
"Sorry?! For what?!"
Mark:
"You'll know soon enough.
So, Abhi, here's your engagement gift."
(He handed Abhi an envelope.)
Abhi:
"Thank you so much for the gift, bro."
(I opened the envelope and saw a room key inside, along with a paper. I read it aloud to everyone.)
"It's a one-night suite room for us... and it's for tonight!!!"
(I widened my eyes after reading it, glancing at Ishana. She was staring blankly at me.)
"I thought it couldn't be something vulgar, so I read it loud."
Ishana:
(Speechless)
"Bro, how could you do something like this?
Mom, look what he's trying to do!"
Ishana's Mom:
"I already told Abhi to sleep in your room, but he denied it. I'm perfectly fine with it."
Ishana:
"Huh?! How can you do this to me?! I mean, you know what it means, right? Spending the night with a man and a woman alone in the room!"
Ishana's Mom:
"Of course I know. If I didn't, how do you think you came into this world?"
Ishana:
"I mean, isn't it too early for this?"
Ishana's Mom:
"What's early or late? You have to do it anyway. So go on and enjoy your night."
Mark:
"Look, your mom agrees too... Now let's go."
Ishana:
"Let's go?? You're coming too!!!"
Mark:
"Of course, I'm coming to boost your morale."
Ishana:
"No need for that!"
Mark:
"I'm kidding! I booked two rooms—one for you and Abhi, and another for me and my wife. You know what? Our room is right next to yours."
Ishana:
"Huh?!"
Abhi:
(What's going on here? Don't tell me he's trying to make us... physical with each other... It's all because of her. He must think we're so distant that we need to get close. It's not that I'm scared or nervous, but I don't want to do anything without her permission. If we're in the same room, I might lose control. I'm not as great as her brother, who could resist three years with a girl in one room. I barely held myself back in the hospital.)
Mark:
"Everyone, please put your gifts in Ishana and Abhi's room. We're leaving now—it's already seven, so we need to go."
"Abhi, you and Ishana will go in your car, and me and my wife will be in ours."
Mark's Mom:
"Beta, don't you think you're pushing them too much? They're not even married yet..."
Mark:
"Yeah, mom, I know what I'm doing... Just trust me."
(I held Ishana's hand and started walking to the car. She wasn't moving, so I looked back.)
"What are you thinking? Come on, let's go!"
Ishana:
(The engagement was enough for today... How am I supposed to handle a night with him?
Anyway, whatever it is, Abhi won't take advantage of me, right?
After all, I've been defenseless in front of him sometimes, but he hasn't done anything to me. I guess I can trust him... It's not like he'll eat me alive.)
(After thinking this, I gained the courage to walk. My brother held my hand, and we started walking toward the car.)
Mark:
"Finally! She started walking. Then I looked back for Khushi, and they were still standing on the stage."
"What are you doing there? Come on!"
Abhi:
(My legs were frozen. I don't know how I'm going to face her. Mark looked back and asked me to follow them.)
Khushi:
"Now I get what he's planning... but doesn't he know they're just kids? Of course, they're scared. I can tell by their faces how nervous both of them are. I didn't know that men get scared too... I thought it was just girls who were afraid when it came to spending a night. But looking at Abhi's face, I think he's scared too."
(I walked over to Abhi, held his hand, and started walking behind Mark and Ishana.)
(I asked in a low voice)
"What? Are you scared?"