The next day, Shubman walked into the café, his usual spot ready for him, and as soon as he stepped in, Khushi's mom caught his eye. She was at the counter, busy with some pastries, but she smiled at him warmly as he approached.

"Good morning, Shubman!" she greeted with a cheerful tone.

"Morning, aunty," he replied, his voice light and easy, but his thoughts still lingered on Khushi. He couldn't shake the feeling that everything about her felt like a dream he never wanted to wake from.

As Khushi's mom prepared his coffee, she glanced at him, her gaze softer than usual. There was something in her eyes that made Shubman curious, but he didn't ask. Instead, he took a seat by the window, waiting for his drink. He could feel her watching him for a while, her expression unreadable, and he found it a bit amusing, trying to figure out what was on her mind.

Finally, Khushi's mom came over with his coffee, handing it to him with a smile that held a knowing gleam. "You know," she began casually, "Khushi talks about you all the time."

Shubman froze for a moment, unsure of what to say. He knew how close Khushi was to her family, but hearing her mom mention that was different. His heart thudded in his chest.

"Really?" he asked, trying to sound casual, though his voice gave away the excitement he was trying to suppress.

"Yes," she continued, leaning a bit closer, "She tells me how much you've been there for her, how sweet you are. Honestly, she's never been like this with anyone else." She paused, as if weighing her next words carefully. "I can see it, you know? The way she talks about you... she's in love with you, Shubman."

Shubman's breath caught in his throat. Love. The word hung in the air like an unspoken promise. His heart seemed to skip a beat. Khushi loved him. He already knew it in his heart, but hearing it from her mom made everything feel so real.

Khushi's mom gave him a knowing smile. "But... you've got to promise me something."

Shubman raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's that?"

"Promise me you won't tell her I said this," she said, her voice lowering to a whisper. "I don't want her to know just yet. She's so shy and doesn't want to admit it, but I can tell. And she's been so happy lately. You make her so happy, Shubman."

Shubman smiled, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. He nodded, feeling both touched and overwhelmed by her words. "I promise, aunty. I won't tell her."

Khushi's mom smiled at him again, her eyes filled with warmth and something like approval. "Good," she said, turning to walk back to the kitchen. "You're a good guy, Shubman. Don't ever change. She deserves someone like you."

Shubman sat there for a moment, the words echoing in his mind. She deserves someone like you. He couldn't help but smile to himself, the weight of her mom's words sinking into his heart.

As he took a sip of his coffee, he couldn't stop thinking about Khushi. How did he end up here? How did he find himself falling so deeply for someone who had captured his heart without even trying? Every moment with her felt like a blessing, and hearing that her mom saw the same thing made his heart swell.

It was like a puzzle piece had clicked into place. Shubman realized that, even though he didn't think it was possible to fall any harder for her, he had. Every word, every look, every gesture made him fall even deeper.

And now, he was certain—he was in love with her too.

Khushi was busy behind the counter, working with a focus that only came when she was fully immersed in something. Her mind was a little distracted, but her hands moved with practiced precision as she prepared orders. Suddenly, she felt the familiar presence of Anjali leaning against the counter, her playful grin making it clear that she wasn't there just for the coffee.

"How's my favorite couple doing?" Anjali teased, her voice full of mischief.

Khushi couldn't help but roll her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips. "I swear, Anjali, you never get tired of this, do you?" she shot back, pretending to be annoyed, but clearly enjoying the banter.

Anjali leaned in closer, a dramatic sigh escaping her lips. "I can't help it, Khush! You and Shubman are literally goals. He's like... the perfect guy. You've got to tell me all the details. When's the wedding?"

Khushi shook her head, laughing softly but trying to get back to her work. "Please, stop. You're making me blush."

"Blush?" Anjali raised an eyebrow. "You've got *it* bad. I can see it. You're totally whipped."

Khushi was about to respond when she caught a glimpse of Anjali's face, her eyes almost sparkling with excitement. "And what about Kunal?" she asked, teasing back, "Seems like you've got it bad for him too."

Anjali's cheeks turned a shade of pink, and she quickly turned her head to look away, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Okay, maybe I do," she admitted in a quiet voice. "But, Khushi, Kunal is amazing. He's everything I never knew I needed."

Khushi was trying to stifle her laughter, biting her lip. "Okay, okay, stop before I gag," she said, trying to sound dramatic. "You two are like one of those cheesy rom-coms."

Before Anjali could retort, Khushi heard a light chuckle coming from behind her. She turned to see Kunal standing there, a wide grin plastered on his face, clearly having overheard the entire conversation. He wrapped his arms around Anjali from behind, pulling her into a hug.

"Hey, I couldn't help but overhear," Kunal said, his voice full of affection. "Anjali, stop swooning over me so much."

Khushi couldn't resist anymore, letting out a teasing laugh. "You two seriously need to get a room," she said, shaking her head with a smirk. "I can't believe you're both this cheesy."

Anjali looked up at Kunal, her eyes filled with happiness and warmth. "Well, we are in love," she replied with a wink, causing Kunal to chuckle even more.

As she watched them interact, Khushi felt something inside her warm up even more. There was something so cute about their relationship, the way they just fit together so naturally. And it reminded her of her own relationship with Shubman.

That thought made her smile to herself.

As she turned back to continue with her work, she caught a glimpse of Shubman coming in through the door, his smile instantly making her heart flutter. He gave her a small wave as he walked up to the counter.

Khushi returned his wave with a grin, feeling a sense of contentment settle in her chest. This was real. She and Shubman were together now, and it felt like the start of something beautiful.

Shubman walked up to the counter with his usual easygoing smile, but this time, there was a glint of something else in his eyes. As he leaned on the counter, he gave Khushi a playful look, his voice full of affection and mischief.

"Hey, future wifey," he said, the words rolling off his tongue as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Khushi's heart skipped a beat. She felt warmth rush to her cheeks, but she couldn't help but match his teasing grin. With a twinkle in her eye, she leaned back a little and playfully replied, "Hey, future husband."

The air between them seemed to hum with the lightheartedness of the moment. It was as if the world around them had quieted, leaving only the two of them in this sweet bubble of affection and inside jokes. Neither of them could stop smiling, and for a moment, it felt like no one else mattered.

Kunal and Anjali, who were sitting nearby, exchanged an amused glance. "Well, it looks like they've got it all figured out," Anjali whispered to Kunal, who nodded in agreement, a teasing smile spreading across his face.

Khushi caught their exchange and rolled her eyes, though her smile was still wide and warm. "You guys are so dramatic," she said, turning back to Shubman with a wink. "But yeah, future husband, what can I get you today?"

Shubman chuckled, his heart light and his eyes never leaving hers. "I'll take the usual... and maybe a smile from my future wife."

Khushi laughed, the sound bright and carefree, as she started preparing his coffee. "You've got it, future husband," she said, her tone softening for a moment before she resumed her work.

As she handed him his coffee, Shubman took it with a smile, his fingers brushing hers just slightly. He didn't need to say anything else.