Abhi:"No need for that, baby. We'll figure it all out together, don't worry!"
Wife 1:"You're really good at flirting, aren't you?"
Abhi:"No, no... These kinds of things just come to my mind when I'm with her!"
Wife 2:"Wow, I guess you're really lucky, Ishana, to have a life partner like him... You'll enjoy your life with him by your side!"
Ishana:"Okay, okay, enough about me! Let's talk about you guys. How's your married life going?"
She turns to Cousin 1 and Cousin 2 with a playful smile.
Ishana:"And this question is for both of you."
Cousin 2:"It's going perfectly fine!"
Cousin 1:"Yeah, exactly, perfectly fine!"
Ishana:"On the bed?"
Abhi's eyes widen in surprise, his mind racing as he looks at Ishana, thinking…
Abhi:(What the hell did she just say? Is she really this bold? If she's this frank, why doesn't she talk to me like that? I wish she would... I want to be the closest person in her life.)
Cousin 1:"I don't think that's an appropriate question, Ishana."
Cousin 2:"Yeah, with three outsiders around, you really want to ask us something like that?"
Ishana:"Hmm... feels like you're avoiding my question."
Cousin 1:"Well, maybe we should focus on you. This isn't exactly the place to talk about personal matters, right?"
Abhi:"Uh, well, I don't know how close you guys are to talk like this... I'm a little stunned, to be honest. It's kind of refreshing, though. It's good if we can solve the other problems..."
Ishana leans in closer to Abhi, whispering softly in his ear.
Ishana:"Take my cousin-in-law with you and talk to them... You'll figure it out."
Abhi:"Okay."
Turning to Wife 1 and Wife 2 with a casual smile.
Abhi:"Would you two like to join me for a drink? I'd like to talk to you both."
Wife 1:"Who are you asking?"
Abhi:"Both of you, actually."
Wife 2:"Okay, let's go then."
They head over to a quieter corner of the terrace, leaving Ishana, Cousin 1, and Cousin 2 behind.
Once the others are out of earshot, Ishana turns to Cousin 1 and Cousin 2 with a slightly more serious look.
Ishana:"Alright, now you can tell me what the problem is. Don't hide it."
Cousin 1:"There's nothing to tell, Ishana..."
Cousin 2:"Yeah, he's right. There's nothing going on."
Ishana:"Then why the hell is there so much awkwardness between you two? It's like you don't even talk to each other!"
Her tone is curious, but there's a bit of frustration in her voice, as if she's been sensing this distance between them for a while.
Ishana:"You guys are living in the same room, but you're like roommates. What's going on?"
Cousin 1:"It's just... well, we've only been married for three years. We're still trying to understand each other."
Ishana:"Understand each other? What do you need to understand? You two never even slept together? You've never been attracted to each other?"
Her voice is a mix of curiosity and disbelief. She can't help but wonder how they can be so distant after years of marriage.
Cousin 2:"It's... not like that. It's complicated, Ishana."
The tension between them is palpable now, and Ishana is not letting go of the conversation. Her eyes lock onto them, almost daring them to open up.