ARGUMENT

Abhi:

"Oh... I have the habit of waking up early in the morning."

Mother:

"Hmm, and look at my lazy daughter. She's still sleeping."

Abhi:

"It must be because she had too much to drink last night."

Mother:

"No, she always sleeps until 10 or 11 in the morning. She's just lazy."

Abhi:

"Hmm..."

Mother:

"Have some tea!"

Abhi:

"Hmmm..." (When will she wake up...? I need to explain things to her...)

(I drink the tea and head to take a bath.)

Ishana (thinking):

"Ugh... Damn, my head... I feel like I'm about to die."

(I wake up, my eyes barely open. My head is pounding...

Wait... something happened last night... What was it...?

Abhi... on someone's lap...?

No, someone was on Abhi's lap!!!

I remember now—what happened last night?!

(I quickly get up and go outside.)

Mother:

"Finally, my lazy daughter is awake!"

Ishana:

"Mom!!! I need to tell you something... I'm calling off this engagement."

Mother:

"What?!"

Ishana:

"Yes, you heard me right."

Mother:

"Stop joking around so early in the morning! And get ready. You have an appointment at the parlor for waxing and makeup... Today's your engagement, remember?"

Ishana:

"Mom, I'm not joking! I'm serious!"

(Meanwhile, Abhi finished his bath, got dressed, and went downstairs for breakfast. He noticed Ishana was awake, talking to her mom. He couldn't quite hear the conversation, but he sensed something was off.)

Abhi (thinking):

She's talking about calling off the engagement?! What?!

(He hurried toward them.)

Abhi:

"No need to worry, Mom. She's just joking!" (I grab her hand and cover her mouth with one hand.)

Mother:

"Oh…"

(Abhi pulls Ishana with him to the terrace.)

Abhi:

"You really are something... I thought your brother was joking about this last night, but I guess he was right... You should've given me the chance to explain! Are you really in a hurry to break this engagement? Am I that annoying?! What's your problem? Tell me—what's wrong? Do you not like me, or is it that I don't treat you well?"

Ishana (thinking):

(I was talking to Mom, and suddenly Abhi grabbed my hand and dragged me to the terrace. He's angry, asking me so many questions... I don't even know where to start.)

"Listen, Abhi, it's not about you. What I don't like is marriage. It has nothing to do with you. It's my own issue. The thing is, I feel stuck with you, and it's not about how you treat me or anything.

Yes, I want to break off the engagement. I like my freedom. I don't want to have to ask for permission for everything I do."

Abhi (shocked):

"What the hell are you trying to say?! It's not about me?! We're getting married, and you're saying it's not about me? We're getting married to each other! How is this not about us?! And when did I ever say I'd put you in a cage? We're getting married, but I'm not restricting you from doing anything. I've told you this before! You don't have to ask me for permission to do whatever you want.

So what exactly is the problem with marriage? Can you just explain it? I'm not getting it."

Ishana (thinking):

It's not that I'm being restricted… But I just hate the idea of marriage. I have so many reasons. First of all, look at us—we're arguing... I hate arguments. Why can't people live their lives peacefully? Why do they have to argue over every little thing?

(But even if I try to explain, he won't understand what I mean. He won't get it.)

"Look, Abhi... you're taking this too far. This argument is going nowhere. We don't need to keep going."

Abhi:

"Am I taking it too far?! You're the one who told Mom you're calling off the engagement! And yet, you're blaming me for taking it too far?! You didn't even give me the chance to explain what happened! You just assumed everything. Do you hate me that much?!"

Ishana:

"There you go again..." (She said it calmly, trying to diffuse the tension.)

"Just... drop it, okay?"

(Abhi lets go of her hand and takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself.)

Mother (from downstairs):

"Mark, go find Ishana and take her to the beauty parlor. She's getting late for her appointment. I don't know where Abhi took her."

Mark:

"But Abhi is here, he'll take her to the parlor. Why do I need to?"

Mother:

"Just tell him she has an appointment."

Mark (thinking):

I looked in Ishana's room, but she wasn't there. I checked Abhi's room, and they weren't there either. I guess I'll check the terrace...

(I went upstairs and heard their voices. There they were, still arguing.)

Looks like they haven't solved their issues from last night yet. Maybe I should wait here until they're done.

(He quietly waits near the terrace)