Soft instrumental music played in the background—something classical with tabla undertones. 
The waiter brought them to a corner table layered with colorful cushions and low wood. 
A diya flickered on the table, casting shadows across their hands.
They ordered quickly—mojito for Ishaan, pineapple juice for Lavika, some red sauce pasta, margherita pizza, and a few other small bites. 
While waiting, Lavika leaned back, sipping from her glass slowly.
The cold pineapple juice touched her lips and tongue sweetly. 
She held the straw for a second longer than needed, gazing ahead. 
Ishaan looked up, momentarily distracted from his phone—and stilled.
His gaze dipped to her mouth wrapped around the straw.
"You trying to kill me?" he muttered.
She blinked. "Huh?"
"Nothing," he mumbled, tearing his eyes away. "Just... keep doing what you're doing."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but he was already busy looking at his phone again.
The screen lit up with a message.
And then—he laughed. 
Loudly. 
Carelessly. 
A kind of laugh that came without hesitation.
Lavika's heart dipped.
"What's so funny?" she asked, too quickly.
Ishaan smirked, still chuckling. "Ivaan sent a reel. His nonsense humour, as always. Made me laugh."
Her lips pressed into a line.
"What?" he asked, noticing the flicker of doubt in her eyes. "Kya hua, jaan?"
She looked at him, her expression soft but loaded. "Bas... lag raha hai jab se chle hain ghar se, aapka dhyan meri taraf nahi hai. I don't know... kuch badla sa lag raha hai."
He frowned, immediately reaching out for her hand. "Arey, meri jaan. No. Aisa kuch bhi nahi. Come here."
She hesitated for a second, then shifted over to his side of the table and sat beside him.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, kissing her temple gently. "You're overthinking. And because you're overthinking, I'll over-explain. Fair deal?"
She gave a weak nod.
"Office ka kaam tha. Eshaani text kar rahi thi—she's trying to manage some meetings. Time crunch ho raha hai. She said we can't delay any longer, so I might have to leave a bit earlier than I planned."
Lavika tilted her face toward him. "Hmm. Eshaani... she's close to you, right?"
He blinked. "Work-wise? Yeah. We've worked together for almost five, six years now."
"So... she's single?" Lavika asked, a little too casually.
Ishaan's smile twitched. "Why?"
"Bas dekh rahi hoon... mere hone wale pati ke aas-paas kaun rehta hai jab main nahi hoti."
He raised his eyebrows, amused. "Possessive doctor activated?"
She shrugged innocently. "Self-defence mechanism."
He sighed. "I don't know about her personal life. She keeps it private. But... ek secret hai."