Abhinav's handshake with Ishani was firm and respectful. "Raghav's been talking about you nonstop. I was starting to think he'd made you up."
"All good things, I hope," Ishani said.
"Disturbingly good things. Made me wonder what kind of woman could actually put up with this one." He gestured at Raghav with affectionate exasperation.
Then he turned to Divya, and his expression shifted to something warmer. "And you must be the one who brought Vikram Khanna to his knees."
Divya flushed. "I didn't… He chose to…"
"She's still in denial," Vikram cut in, standing to clasp Abhinav's hand with the easy familiarity of someone who'd met him before. "Good to see you, Abhinav. Sorry it couldn't be under better circumstances."
Something flickered across Abhinav's face, grief, quickly masked. "Thank you."
"Your father was a good man," Kavita said softly, reaching across to squeeze Abhinav's hand. "We were heartbroken to hear."
"Thank you, Aunty." Abhinav's smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's been... difficult."
An awkward pause settled over the table.
"Well, you're here now," Harshit said firmly, the way he did when redirecting conversations at board meetings. "And we're glad for it. Been too long since we’ve met."
"Far too long," Abhinav agreed, settling back into his seat as everyone else took theirs. "Though I have to say, Uncle, the last time I saw you, you didn't have a viral superstar son making declarations on national television."
Vikram groaned. "Not you too."
"Millions of people, Vikram. Million of people." Abhinav's grin turned wicked. "I watched the replays at least five times. Very Bollywood. Very dramatic. Very you."
"It worked, didn't it?" Vikram's hand found Divya's under the table, squeezing gently.
"Clearly." Abhinav glanced between them, taking in the easy intimacy, the way Vikram's thumb stroked her hand absently, the way Divya leaned slightly toward him without seeming to realize it. "She's still here, which means the grand gesture actually paid off."
"She's stuck with me now," Vikram said with unmistakable satisfaction. "Made sure the whole world knew it."
"Subtle as always," Raghav muttered.
"Subtlety is overrated," Vikram shot back. "You should try grand gestures sometime."
"I planned an entire week of anonymous gifts and a Valentine's Day reveal," Raghav protested. "That was plenty grand."
"Anonymous gifts that she figured out were from you by day seven," Vikram pointed out. "Very mysterious."
"Not all of us need an audience of millions," Ishani threw a napkin at Vikram.
The easy banter continued through lunch. Abhinav traded familiar jibes with both brothers, the kind that came from years of friendship. He discussed business casually with Harshit, asked Kavita about the foundation's latest projects with genuine interest, matched wits with Ishani like they'd known each other for years.
Divya watched, fascinated by the dynamics.
"So, Abhinav," Harshit said, setting down his fork with the deliberate air of someone getting to business. "Raghav mentioned you're planning to relocate to India?"
"Temporarily." Abhinav's easy expression shifted, something complicated flickering beneath. "Dad left me an estate in Jaipur. The family seat, as it were."
"The Singh haveli," Kavita said warmly. "I remember your father talking about it. Such history."
"Too much history." Abhinav's jaw tightened slightly. "And too much responsibility I didn't ask for."
"You're not keeping it?" Vikram asked, leaning forward with interest.
"I have a life in Dubai. A career. A bungalow overlooking the Marina." His frustration was barely concealed. "I can't just drop everything to play feudal lord in Rajasthan."