Ishana:(thinking, annoyed)
(Cute?! My foot. He's 6'2 and I'm 5'1 — where the hell do we look cute together?)
(I feel like I'm his daughter!!)
(But fine… I admit, I don't like short boys either… Someone once told me my height is perfect because when I hug a guy who's 6'2, I can hear his heartbeat. Ughh... that stuck with me.)
Ishana:(aloud, irritated)
"Hey, can you stop talking so I can eat in peace?!"
Abhi:(teasingly)
"Yeah, exactly. My baby is hungry— I mean, Ishana!"
(Everyone at the table freezes for a second. Ishana, in the middle of drinking water, spits it out almost choking.)
Yash:
"Bro! You can call her 'baby'! Hahaha!"
"It's no big deal. After all, she's your fiancée now!"
Ishana:(furious, coughing)
"Abhi you idiot?! What are you doing in front of my family?!"
"Did you leave your brain at home?!"
Dad:(grinning)
"Wow, hey son-in-law — there's an old saying: if a girl calls you 'idiot,' it means she loves you!"
Abhi:(laughs smugly)
"Ohh? I didn't know she was indirectly proposing to me!"
Yash:
"Hahaha! Dad, that's why mom always calls you an idiot!"
Mom:(rolling eyes)
"Shut up, Yash!"
Ishana:(firmly)
"Listen, I'm not like those girls who say one thing and mean something else."
"Whatever I feel, I say it straightforward. Got it?"
AFTER DINNER...
Dad:
"Ishana, take Abhi and show him to his room."
Ishana:(groans)
"Why me?! There are so many people in this house — anyone else can show him!"
Abhi:(leaning close, whispering in her ear)
"But I want you to come with me…"
"And if you don't… I might just stay in your room instead. You know I can do that."
(Ishana's eyes widen. Her ears turn red.)
Ishana:(thinking, panicking)
(Wait… why does he want me to go with him?)
(What if he tries something in the room? What if he drags me onto the bed?!)
(Oh no, I might get lost staring at his six-pack and let him take advantage of me!)
(No. No no no. Stay strong!!)
(While she's lost in thought, Abhi gently grabs her hand and starts walking toward the room. She follows him, frozen in panic and confusion.)
(They reach the bedroom. The hallway is quiet. Abhi opens the door and walks in with her. Then he sits her down on the bed... and turns back to lock the door.)
(The click of the lock echoes in her ears like a warning.)
Ishana: *(suddenly snaps out of it and jumps to her feet)
"What are you doing?! Why did you lock the door?!"
Abhi:(calmly, turning around with a smirk)
"Relax. I just didn't want anyone to disturb us..."
Ishana:(nervous, backing away slightly)
"What do you mean by 'us'?! Are you planning something?! Stay where you are!!"
Abhi:(teasingly)
"You really think I'd jump on you like a wild animal?"
"Don't flatter yourself so much..."
(He sits back on the bed, hands behind his head, totally relaxed.)
"I just wanted to talk — without anyone watching us like we're in a zoo."
Ishana:(crossing her arms, trying to hide how flustered she is)