Minutes later, he was telling my parents with that signature CEO smoothness, "Uncle, Aunty... Lavika aur main thoda bahar jaa rahe hain. Wapas aa jaayenge kal tak. I hope that's okay?"
My mom chuckled and waved us off. "Jaao jaao"
"Haha" I muttered, as he took my hand and led me out the door.
🧸ྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀི 
We reached one of the most luxurious areas in the city—quiet, green, peaceful. 
My brows knitted. "Yahan? Kya kaam hai yaha?"
He didn't answer. 
Just led me toward a massive gate. 
The house beyond it was something out of a Pinterest dream—huge, modern, all glass and white stone, with a sprawling garden, and a private pool that shimmered under the sun.
"Ishaan..." I breathed. "Yeh... kisika ghar hai?"
He unlocked the front door, tugged me in, and turned to face me.
"Ours."
My brain stalled. "WHAT?"
He looked so casual, standing in that big, echoing living room like he already belonged. "India mein ek base chahiye tha. Business bhi expand ho raha hai... but more than that, I wanted this to be ours. A place where we could come back. After marriage... if you'd like... we could even shift here."
My hands trembled slightly. "You bought this house without even telling me?"
"I know. I should've asked. But I wanted to surprise you. Aur agar tum chaho, toh we can keep it or sell it or turn it into a memory." 
He stepped closer. 
"I just wanted to show you that I see a future with you. Not just in England, not just in messages or hospital hallways—in walls, in rooms, in a life."
God, this man.
I exhaled slowly. "You... think of everything, don't you?"
"Only when it comes to you."
My gaze flickered around the space—there was an open kitchen with marble counters, a cozy sunken lounge, a spiral staircase leading to the upper floor. 
Everything was spotless, waiting. Waiting for us.
"I love you" I whispered.
He grinned. "I do more."
He pulled me toward the master bedroom. 
The floor-to-ceiling windows opened up to the pool. 
The bed—of course—was king-sized, draped in jet black sheets.
His voice deepened. "Want the rest of the house tour? Or should I show you what the bed feels like first?"
My breath caught.
"Ishaan..."
"Say yes," he said, pressing his forehead to mine. "Say you want this. Say you're mine."
I didn't say it. 
I grabbed his collar and kissed him.
His lips were warm, urgent, claiming mine like he was afraid I'd disappear if he didn't hold me tight enough.
I couldn't tell if it was the way he kissed me or the way his hands knew exactly where to hold me, but something inside me melted. 
My fingers tangled in the collar of his shirt, pulling him closer, closer, until we were flush against the door of the bedroom he hadn't even shown me fully yet.