Now Ishaan’s entire attention shifted toward him—not abruptly, but in a slow, deliberate way, as if his mind was quietly setting everything else aside to fully absorb what had just been asked. The ease that had been resting between them moments ago softened into something more attentive, more grounded, and his gaze held Rakshit’s with a stillness that meant he wasn’t just hearing the question—he was understanding the weight behind it.

He hadn’t expected this question. Not tonight, not in the middle of something that had felt so calm just moments ago. A brief flicker of surprise crossed his face before it settled into something gentler, more thoughtful, as if he was choosing not just his answer, but how much truth to unfold with it.