???
The morning shoot wrapped at noon. Divya gathered her notes, confirmed the afternoon schedule, and was heading toward the production van when a familiar golden blur nearly knocked her over.
"Pista!" She laughed as the retriever jumped up, tail wagging frantically. "Down, boy. Down."
"He missed you." Ishani appeared, holding Pista's leash with one hand while scrolling through her phone with the other. "We all did. How was the shoot?"
"The usual." Divya scratched behind Pista's ears. "Vikram being impossible. The crew pretending they don't notice. Farhan looking like he's aged ten years."
"The blocking thing again?"
"Every intimate scene."
Ishani grinned. "That man is ridiculous."
"That man is mine," Divya said, then immediately flushed at how possessive that sounded.
"Look at you." Ishani bumped her shoulder. "Two months ago you couldn't even say his name. Now you're claiming ownership."
"He claimed me first."
"True." Ishani's expression softened. "You know the entire internet is obsessed with you two, right? 'Couple goals' and all that?"
Divya had seen some of it. The fan edits. The articles. The hashtags. #VikYa trending worldwide after Filmfare. The clips of his declaration replayed millions of times.
It should have been overwhelming. Instead, it felt... right. Like the world finally saw what had always been true.
"Come on." Ishani tugged her toward the hotel. "Lunch with the family. And Raghav's friend Abhinav is joining us."
???
The hotel restaurant had been partially reserved for the Khanna family. Harshit and Kavita were already seated at the head of the table when the rest of them arrived, Vikram and Divya, Raghav and Ishani.
They'd barely settled into their seats when a familiar voice called out.
"Uncle! Aunty!"
A man strode into the restaurant, and Harshit's face lit up immediately. He stood, pulling the newcomer into a warm embrace.
"Abhinav! It's been too long."
Tall, well-built, with sharp features softened by warm brown eyes and an easy smile. Something about his bearing suggestedold money and older manners as he greeted Kavita with equal warmth, then turned to Vikram.
"Vikram." The handshake was firm, familiar. "Good to see you. Though I have to say, your declaration made international news. Very dramatic, even by your standards."
"It worked, didn't it?" Vikram grinned, gesturing to Divya beside him.
"Clearly." Abhinav's smile turned knowing before he shifted his attention to Raghav. "And this one, still terrible at returning calls, I see."
"I called you back," Raghav protested.
"Three days later."
"I was busy getting married."
"Fair point." Abhinav's expression turned warmer. "Which brings me to the introductions I've been waiting for." He turned to face the two women he hadn't met. "The infamous sisters-in-law."
"Abhinav." Raghav gestured between them. "My wife, Ishani. And Vikram's wife, Divya."