"Papa, I'm happy," she said softly.
That one sentence — it melted him. 
He didn't say much after that. 
Just placed a hand gently on her head and nodded. 
That was enough.
Adya came to Lavika and wrapped her in a hug. "I'm going to miss you. But I'm also ready for this trip."
Lavika smiled. "Post every detail. I want outfit pics, hotel views, aesthetic cafes... everything."
"And you'll give me a full update on your life too," Adya winked.
Aditya stretched and looked at me. "You're stuck with her till I get back, okay?"
"I'm honored," I replied playfully.
Lavika made a face. "I'm standing right here."
They all laughed again — the easy, familiar laughter of a family that had seen drama, weddings, fights, and love... and still stood strong.
⭑.ᐟ
Once Adya and Aditya had left, the air in the house felt quieter. 
I exchanged a glance with Lavika, and we both knew that this was the moment for us to finally have some time alone. 
We waved goodbye to her parents and made our way toward the living room.
"Whew," I exhaled, collapsing onto the couch. "It's been a crazy few days."
Lavika laughed softly, her voice warm and light. "It's always crazy with our families around. But I wouldn't have it any other way."
She sat beside me, resting her head against my shoulder. 
For a brief moment, we were just two people enjoying the quiet.
But as always, with the calm came questions. 
Her parents soon joined us in the living room, and I could feel the weight of the silence before the inevitable came.
"So, Ishaan," her dad began, his voice soft but firm as always, "What's the plan for you two? When are you thinking of making it till mandap?"
I froze for a moment, unsure how to respond. 
Of course, we had talked about it — many times, in fact — but the question still caught me off guard.
I glanced at Lavika, who was now biting her lip nervously. 
Her parents were waiting, expectant but not forceful. 
I knew they cared for her, wanted what was best for her, and somehow, that made this conversation even more important.
Her mom was the next to speak. "We've known you both for a long time, Ishaan. You're like family to us. But... I have to ask, have you thought about marriage yet?"
The words hung in the air like a heavy weight.
I looked at Lavika, who was still leaning into me, her fingers softly playing with the edge of my shirt. 
She seemed uncertain, but I knew she trusted me to answer for us both.
Taking a deep breath, I met her parents' eyes. "We've thought about it, aunty, uncle. A lot, actually."
Her father raised an eyebrow. "And?"
I chuckled nervously. "And we're taking it slow. We're happy with where we are right now."