An Innocent Crush ?

"I got the bill. You guys wait outside," Dhruv offered with a smile.

"No way! I'll pay for it," Vikram insisted.

Dhruv laughed. "What, you've grown up so much that you won't let me handle this anymore?"

Vikram rubbed his neck, chuckling, while Dhruv nodded and headed to the counter. The girls, meanwhile, were already out by the exit, shopping bags in hand.

Vikram stepped up to pay, but the cashier smiled politely, "Sorry, sir, Mr. Mehra has already taken care of it."

Vikram turned to Dhruv, clearly confused. "Oh... alright..."

"Vikram, since we didn't have dessert, how about grabbing some cake?" Dhruv suggested.

Vikram grinned. "Which flavor?"

"Chocolate..."

Vikram smirked. "Kiara's favorite, right?"

Dhruv paused, glancing over at him. "Nope, I actually like chocolate..."

"Really?" Vikram raised an eyebrow, teasing.

"Are you buying the cake or not?"

Meanwhile, Kiara let out a tired sigh, stretching her arms. "Guys, let's just wait for Dhruv sir and Vikram near the main exit. The smell of food is making me hungry all over again."

Reshmi and Shanvi exchanged a look before bursting into laughter.

"You and your love for food," Reshmi teased, nudging her. Kiara rolled her eyes but grinned. "I can't help it. Besides, if I stay here any longer, I might end up ordering another meal."

Shanvi shook her head in amusement. "Let's go before that actually happens."

The three of them stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the ground floor. As the doors closed, Shanvi leaned against the railing, arms crossed, and asked, "So, when are you and Vikram getting married?"

Reshmi blinked in surprise. "Uh... don't know..."

Shanvi's expression turned serious. "You should do it as soon as possible."

That shift in tone instantly caught Reshmi's attention. Her smile faded as she frowned. "Why are you saying it like that?"

Reshmi narrowed her eyes at Shanvi, sensing the shift in her tone. "What do you mean by that?"

Shanvi sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Look, I'm not trying to scare you, but you know your family better than anyone. If they really want to keep you away from Vikram, they'll find a way... legally or not."

Reshmi swallowed, the weight of those words sinking in. "...Yeah."

Shanvi continued. "And if they somehow file a case against Vikram, it could get messy."

Reshmi's stomach twisted. She had thought about this before, but hearing it out loud made it feel more real. "So... what are you saying? That I should just rush into marriage?"

Shanvi turned to face her fully. "I'm saying, if you and Vikram are serious about each other, having proof of marriage protects both of you. Once you're legally married, no one... not your family, not society, not even the law can separate you."

Reshmi bit her lip, her mind racing. She knew Shanvi was right. Love wasn't always enough... sometimes, you needed something concrete to stand on.

Kiara smirked. "And Vicky will marry you right now if you ask him... He is pretty whipped..."

Shanvi chuckled. "Exactly. Talk to him, Reshmi..."

The elevator dinged, the doors sliding open to the ground floor. Kiara looped her arm through Reshmi's. "Whatever you decide, we're here for you."