Abhi hasn't slept.
He sits on the edge of the bed, face in his hands. His kurta is wrinkled, his eyes bloodshot. A digital clock on the wall glows 4:03 AM in soft red.
His mind is a chaotic loop of emotions — worry, frustration, guilt, disbelief.
ABHI (P.O.V)
Why didn't she trust me? I told her I'd wait. I promised her she'd be safe with me. That night at the hotel... it wasn't just me—
Flashback flickers: his hands gripping her waist, her breath catching, the doorbell ringing, the crash back into reality.
ABHI (P.O.V.)
Yeah, maybe I scared her. But that wasn't just lust. That was her brother's stupid plan with the setup — dim lights, and her action — how was I supposed to stop when I was already in love?
He sighs deeply.
ABHI (P.V.)
God. What if something happened to her out there? It's almost dawn. Is she safe? Did she eat? Is she cold?
Just as he runs a hand through his hair again—
KNOCK.
Soft. Hesitant. But real.
Abhi freezes.
ISHANA (P.O.V.)
"Abhi… it's me. Please open the door."
(He bolts up.
No words. Just action.
He opens the door, and the moment Ishana steps inside, he pulls her in with force, slams the door shut, and pins her back against it — not to scare her, but to stop her from running again.
His eyes — red, wild, and filled with so many things at once.)
ABHI
(low but intense)
"Are you crazy, Ishana?"
(She's stunned.)
ABHI (CONT'D)
"Who does this?! Who walks out of their new house — on their wedding night — alone, in the middle of the night, dressed like this?!"
(Ishana opens her mouth to speak, but he cuts her off.)
ABHI
"Have you ever thought — what if something happened to you out there? Huh?! What would I have said to your parents? The same parents who gave me their daughter with the trust that I'd protect her for the rest of her life?"
(His hands slam against the door on either side of her, not violently — just trembling.)
ABHI
"Do you think I could live with myself knowing that something happened to you and I wasn't there to stop it? To help? To even know where the hell you were?"
(She's staring at him. Silent. Breathing uneven.)
ABHI (softer now, voice breaking just slightly)
"I'm your husband now. That means if you're scared… if you're overwhelmed… if something feels wrong — you can just say it. Out loud. You don't have to figure it all out by yourself."
(He steps back a little, giving her space to breathe.)
ABHI
"Do you know how much I had to cover for you tonight? If anyone from the family had walked into that room before me — they'd think the bride ran away."
(He lets out a small, tired laugh. No humor in it.)
ABHI
"Great first impression, right?"
(Ishana looks down, ashamed. Her fingers fidget at the hem of her hoodie.
Still, she says nothing.)
ABHI (quieter now)
"I wasn't even angry, Ishana. Not really. I was scared. Scared that you didn't trust me enough to stay. Scared that I made you feel unsafe. And yeah… maybe part of me hates myself for that hotel night too. For not stopping when I should've."
(His eyes soften. He steps closer again.)
ABHI (gentle now)
"You ran because you thought I'd expect something from you tonight. But I never did. All I wanted was you. Not your body. Not the rituals. Just… you. With me."
(Beat.)
"I just wanted to fall asleep next to my wife."
(That's when the silence becomes thick. Full. Ishana finally looks up.
Her eyes are glassy — not quite crying, but definitely cracked.
She opens her mouth.)
ISHANA
(softly, almost a whisper)
"Abhi… I'm sorry."
(Before Abhi can even respond, his phone buzzes loudly on the table. The screen lights up)
CALL FROM: ERIC (a.k.a. little brother)
ABHI
(confused)
"Huh?"
He picks it up.
ABHI
"Yeah?"
From the other end, Eric's voice is groggy but laced with amusement.
ERIC (P.O.V)
"Bro… I know it's your first night and all — trust me, I get the excitement — but could you just, like… lower the volume a little?"
ABHI
(blinks)
"What volume?"
ERIC (P.O.V)
"I just heard some serious thud thud noises coming from your room… and your voice too, kinda intense. Frida almost threw a pillow at my face thinking it was a horror movie."
ABHI
(looking at Ishana, absolutely stunned)
"Eric—"
ERIC (P.O.V)
"Anyway, enjoy, but for the love of God, let us sleep."
Click.
The call cuts.
Abhi stares at the phone, then at Ishana, who's now suddenly very interested in the floorboards.
ABHI
(deadpan)
"You know what? Forget everything I said. Just... go to bed. Now."
ISHANA
(muttering)
"…Sorry again."
(Abhi grabs a pillow from the bed and heads toward the couch.)
ABHI
"I don't care what the hell my family thinks at this point. But I do care that you haven't slept. Neither of us has, for two nights straight. So—just sleep."
(He plops the pillow down on the couch and starts to grab a blanket from the wardrobe.)
ISHANA
"I didn't know where else to go. I just… panicked."
ABHI
"Next time, panic in the bed beside me."
(They both let out the tiniest, shared laugh.)