At first, the revelation shakes the family to its core. Merjem’s father, Senad, is firm and still bitter about the wounds left by the Bosnian War while Merjem’s mother, Nizama, tries to act as a mediator, struggling with her fears and memories from the war.

 

As the family prepares for Nikola’s arrival, Merjem fights for her relationship and her parents to see Nikola beyond the labels of ethnicity. At the dinner, Nikola’s kind and respectful demeanor begins to chip away at the family’s defenses. While Nizama softens, Senad remains cold and combative, challenging Nikola’s intentions and bringing up the painful past. Nikola’s heartfelt words about his love for Merjem and his determination to make her happy planted a doubt in Senad’s rigid views. 

 

By the end, the family isn’t fully reconciled, but there’s a fragile sense of hope. The shared baklava becomes a quiet symbol of connection, hinting at the possibility of moving past old wounds to embrace a new future.