Silence filled the chamber, pressing into every corner.
Sarita looked at Meera, her eyes filled with a gratitude that did not need words. Abhinav’s hand tightened on Naina’s shoulder. His attention moved to Meera and remained there.
Meera received it all, her eyes bright with what she felt for them.
Pandit ji waited. When the air settled, he led them to the edge of the spring along the wall. They gathered there as he began the prayers. The water moved beside them, catching the glow of the lamps.
Meera bent, touched the water, and pressed her fingers to her forehead.
Abhinav watched her and followed.
The prayers came to an end. Pandit ji turned and gestured toward the section of the wall kept open.
He unwrapped the chisel and tested its edge.
Abhinav’s name came first.
The first strike rang out, iron against stone. The sound cut through the chamber, echoing across every carved surface. Each mark settled into the wall with a weight that did not fade.
Blow after blow, the name took form.
Abhinav Kumar Anand
The wall accepted it, as it had accepted every name before his.
Then… Meera Abhinav Kumar Anand.
Set beside his.
The chisel carved into the stone, each strike binding her to the lineage, to the space, to him.
Pandit ji stepped back.
Meera moved forward without thought. Her hand rose, her fingers touching his name first. The edges felt sharp, alive against her skin.
Then her own.
She traced it, trying to understand how it had come to be here, how it now belonged among centuries of names.
Her hand paused in the space between them.
Not empty.
A promise of eternity.
She turned.
Gauri stood with tears in her eyes. Devendra’s hands remained folded, his head bowed. Naina watched, her eyes fixed on the names.
“Could you give us a moment?” Meera’s voice came rough, then steadied. “Ji and I will come up. I need to speak with him. Here.”
Devendra led Pandit ji out. Gauri guided Naina toward the stairs.
Sarita came to Meera, cupped her face in both hands, and kissed her forehead. Her fingers brushed Abhinav’s arm in a single squeeze before she followed the others.
The chamber emptied. The spring moved along the wall. Lamps burned in their niches.
Meera turned.