Ishana:"You guys are living with each other because you're married, right?"
Cousin 1:"You could say that..."
Ishana:"But don't you even like her a little more than that? I mean, come on, it's been three years!"
Cousin 1:"It's not that I don't like her, I do... just a little bit. But every time we try to talk, we end up arguing. It's like we're always on different pages."
Cousin 2:"What?! How can you argue with her for three years? That's insane!"
His tone is a mix of disbelief and frustration.
Cousin 2:"You need to understand her, man. You have to know what she wants, or it's never going to work!"
Ishana:"Exactly! That's what I've been trying to say."
Ishana leans forward slightly, more serious now.
Ishana:"Listen, it's life. You need to make her comfortable around you. And seriously, what were you two doing on your first night together?"
Cousin 1:"I… I thought she was nervous, so I gave her space and… I slept on the couch."
Ishana's eyes widen in disbelief as she shakes her head.
Ishana:"What?! You slept on the couch?! I can't believe this..."
She laughs, shaking her head in a mixture of disbelief and amusement.
Ishana:"So, you love her, right? And you care about her?"
Cousin 1:"Yeah, I do."
Ishana:"Okay, then go tell her you love her! Right now!"
Cousin 1:"It's not that easy, Ishana. If I go to her, she'll just start arguing with me. She won't even let me say anything."
Ishana:"Bro, you need to learn how to control a girl. Let me teach you. Just go up to her—get close to her. Really close. So close that you can feel her breath, look into her eyes and say exactly what you want to say."
She pauses, her voice low and confident.
Ishana:"I bet you, she won't say a single word. And here's the trick: hold her waist tightly. Because if you don't, she'll pull away."
Cousin 1:"Are you sure about this?"
Ishana:"Ten thousand percent sure."
Ishana gives him a small but encouraging push.
Ishana:"Now go!"
Cousin 1:"Okay..."
He walks nervously over to where his wife and the others are standing. Khushi notices him approaching and looks up from her conversation, sensing something's different.
Cousin 1:"I… I wanna talk to you, Khushi. Can you come with me for a minute?"
Wife 1 (Khushi):"Hmm, sure..."
She looks at him with a raised eyebrow, a little confused but intrigued.
Wife 1:"Excuse me, guys. I'll be back in a minute."
Abhi, glancing at the two of them, gives a teasing smile.
Abhi:"Sure, you can go. But talk politely, alright?"
He grins, making light of the situation, though there's a hint of curiosity about what's going to happen.
The two walk to the far corner of the terrace. Cousin 1 grabs Khushi's wrist gently but firmly, guiding her to the other side of the terrace where it's quieter. He's feeling his heart race now.
Cousin 1:"Khushi..."
He pulls her in close, his body nearly pressing against hers. There's no space between them now. Her breath catches slightly, feeling the heat of the moment.
For a moment, it feels like the world stands still. Cousin 1 looks deep into her eyes, his heart pounding as he's overcome with a sense of urgency. His words barely escape his lips, but they feel like they carry all the emotions he's been holding back for years.
Cousin 1:"I love you."
Without giving her a chance to respond, he leans in, capturing her lips with his. The kiss is intense, raw, and passionate. He's so lost in the moment that he doesn't even notice that everyone on the terrace is watching them, eyes wide, some of them even exchanging amused glances.
Khushi:(She's stunned, breathless. This is all so sudden. He said he loves her, and before she could even process the words, he's kissing her. It's everything she had hoped for but never truly believed would happen.)
Khushi:(It's like a dream come true. I've waited for three years for this. I never imagined it would feel this real, this intense.)
Her heart races, and she wraps her arms around him instinctively, letting herself melt into the kiss. She can't help but smile against his lips, feeling like she's in a dream. A dream she'd been waiting for, for so long.