ISHANA
(freezes, eyes wide)
"Hotel… again?"
Her breath quickens. Flashbacks of last time — the awkward silence, the panic, the close calls. Her brain spirals.
INNER ISHANA (V.O.)
What if he actually tries something this time? What if I forget how to say no? What if he doesn't stop? What if… what if I want him to? Wait—SHUT UP, brain!
Abhi glances at her.
He sees the way her fingers tighten on the edge of her dupatta. The hesitation. The panic she's trying to hide behind a bridal smile.
He turns to his family.
ABHI
"Change of plans."
Everyone turns to look.
ABHI
(loud enough for all)
"We're going home. No hotel. I'm sleeping in my childhood bedroom."
The crowd falls silent.
MARK
(whispers to Khushi)
"Wait. Did he just cancel the first night?"
KHUHI
(grinning)
"Yep. Hero move."
TIA
"Respect."
ISHANA
(in a low voice, stunned)
"Why did you do that?"
ABHI
(smiling, whispering back)
"Because you're still scared. And I want you to feel safe. Not cornered."
She stares at him. Emotion swimming in her eyes.
ISHANA
"…You remembered."
ABHI
"Every second."
She looks away quickly, blinking back whatever tried to escape her lashes.
EXT. ABHI'S HOUSE – NIGHT
They finally arrive. Ishana steps into her new home, a new life, a thousand emotions trailing behind her.
Abhi walks in beside her but doesn't touch her. Doesn't push. Just quietly makes space for her.
As the car rolled to a stop, Ishana stepped out and immediately froze.
In front of her stood a giant mansion — not a house, not a bungalow — a mini palace with guards stationed, chefs in uniform peeking from the back, and staff lined up as if they were about to welcome a foreign dignitary.
ISHANA (V.O.)
Small house? This man really called THIS a small house? Is this man blind, humble, or just straight-up sarcastic?!
At the entrance, Abhi's parents stood smiling, holding puja thalis, ready for the formal welcome. But Ishana's eyes caught two more unfamiliar faces beside them — a sharply dressed guy with a lazy smirk and a girl in a pastel salwar suit with a piercing stare.
Before Ishana could ask, Abhi leaned over and whispered:
ABHI
"That's Aric and Frida. My little brother and sister. They flew in this morning from London. Couldn't attend the wedding functions, but... made it just in time for the pheras."
ISHANA (V.O.)
Excuse me? You have SIBLINGS?! Two fully-grown, mystery-model-looking siblings that you never mentioned? What is this—"Surprise, I'm secretly royalty" week?
INT. ABHI'S HOUSE – NIGHT
The welcoming rituals begin.
Aarti. Tilak. Rice at the door. Ishana steps into the house as a new bride,
ISHANA (V.O.)
Smile. Look calm. You're now Mrs. Abhi. Nothing to panic about. Just two hundred petals under your feet, thirty eyes watching you, and zero idea where the bathroom is.
As she performs the final steps, Abhi is already lost in conversation with Aric and Frida — laughing, catching up, pulling each other into side hugs like they've been apart for years.
ISHANA (V.O.)
Wow. Cute reunion. Maybe next time he can let his wife know that he has siblings before the wedding, no big deal or anything.
INT. ABHI'S ROOM – LATER
Ishana is led to the room by Abhi's mother.
The moment the door opens, her mouth drops open.
The room is massive. King-size bed draped in sheer fabric, couch, TV, desk, bookshelves, mood lighting, and rose petals sprinkled like someone ordered Bollywood Romantic Night Delux.
And then—
WALK-IN CLOSET.
ATTACHED BATHROOM.
Sauna ,Shower room. Candles lit. Flower petals floating in the tub.
ISHANA (V.O.)
WHAT. IS. THIS. PLACE?! Is this a room or a five-star resort suite?!
Abhi's mom gives her a warm smile.
ABHI'S MOM
"Take your time, beta. Settle in. Call me if you need anything."
She leaves.
Ishana is now alone. In her married woman honeymoon suite fantasy-turned-panic-room.
INT. ABHI'S ROOM – MOMENTS LATER
Ishana paces. Fast.
ISHANA (V.O.)
Okay. Okay. Breathe. You're not in a hotel. But this still counts as First Night. What if he walks in right now? What if he's shirtless? What if he smells good again?!
She spins toward the mirror.
ISHANA (V.O.)
He's your husband. Relax. You're both adults. This is normal. People do this every day.
Beat.
ISHANA (V.O.)
YEAH BUT NOT WITH A HUMAN TORNADO WHO ALMOST ATE MY FACE LAST TIME.
Flashback to the hotel room moment — the kiss, the heat, the doorbell interruption.
ISHANA (V.O.)
If my brother hadn't rung the bell, we would've... oh god. We really would've. What if this time there's no bell?
She starts to hyperventilate.
INT. ABHI'S CLOSET – NIGHT
Ishana rummages through his side of the wardrobe, grabs a black hoodie, black joggers, and a cap.
ISHANA (V.O.)
New plan. Operation Sneak Out. We escape, breathe, and think. Come back in the morning like nothing happened.
She scribbles a note and places it on the side table.
"Don't worry. I'll be back by morning. Don't panic."
—Ishana
She tiptoes to the door. Peeks.
No staff. No Abhi. No witnesses.
EXT. ABHI'S MANSION – NIGHT
Ishana stealthily makes it out of the mansion, hood up, head down, Mission Impossible music playing in her head.
ISHANA (V.O.)
If anyone asks, I'm just a very stylish thief with amazing skin.
She crosses the road, dodging guards and cameras, then bolts behind a tree before anyone from her house can see her.
Why?
Because her family home is literally across from the hospital.
ISHANA (V.O.)
Of all the places, my house had to be next to the hospital. Perfect. Now if anyone sees me, I'm going to have to pretend I have a medical emergency. Like... sudden marriage allergy.
INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM – NIGHT
Ishana slips in quietly. A sleepy nurse gives her a lazy glance, assumes she's a relative visiting someone, and waves her in.
She sits down in an empty waiting chair. Looks around. Empty hallway. Vending machine. Peace.
She pulls out her phone.
Takes a stealthy selfie with the caption:
"First night escape mission successful. Reporting live from the land of antiseptic and sanity. #RunawayBrideVibes"
She leans back on the plastic chair.
ISHANA (V.O.)
No petals. No candles. No romantic pressure. Just me and my wild panic. Feels... kinda safe.
Back at the mansion — Abhi walks into the room,
ABHI (V.O.)
Abhi enters the room, still chuckling from a joke Aric cracked on the stairs.
He walks in, closes the door behind him — the room smells of roses and sandalwood, still warm from all the decorations and candles. He glances at the bed.
No Ishana.
ABHI
(to himself)
"She's probably in the bathroom."
He starts unbuttoning his sherwani jacket when—
His eyes fall on the bed.
Ishana's bridal lehenga is neatly folded. On top of it, a note.
His heart drops.
He grabs the note and reads it.
"Don't worry. I'll be back by morning. Don't panic."
—Ishana
Abhi just stares at it, blinking.
ABHI
(in disbelief)
"She… she ran away? On our first night?"
He throws himself onto the couch, staring at the ceiling.
ABHI (V.O.)
We could have talked. I told her — no pressure, no rush. But this girl? No, she chooses to disappear like a midnight ninja.
He sits up.