He was standing. And she happened to be in his line of sight.
“Maa… look at this sky tonight,” her voice came soft, unguarded. “It’s so clear.”
Her hands rose as she gestured at the beautiful night.
“I’ve been coming here since I was small. When sleep wouldn’t come. I sit here and talk to you. It always helps. Today, I need help.”
Abhinav leaned against the wall, careful not to make a sound.
“Because today was strange.”
Her hand dropped into her lap.
“He went to Lakshmi Aunty.” The consideration lived in her voice, not the words. “He didn’t have to. He was in the middle of a groundbreaking deal for his company. Fifty million dollars. That’s a lot of money.”
Abhinav raised a brow.
She drew her knees closer, folding into herself just a little.
“I’ve seen him solve problems. I thought that belonged to the boardrooms.” Her voice quieted further. “I didn’t think it meant kneeling on a burning stone for a stranger.”
Abhinav’s jaw set.
“When I saw him standing there…” she continued, “it felt as if something had reached inside him and he didn’t know what to do with it.”
His breath slowed.
“I’ve seen him angry. Controlled. Sure about everything.” A faint shake of her head as she dropped her gaze. “I hadn’t seen him look… like that.”
She let out a breath.
“And then he just… decided. Approved everything without even discussing the cost.” Disbelief slipped through. “Like this place was already in him.”
Her fingers tightened in her lap.
“Which is very inconvenient for me,” she added, almost irritated, “because it’s easier to fight a man who doesn’t care.”
She looked up at the sky.
“He cares.”
She stated without a doubt.
“He just doesn’t know it yet. Or he does and won’t admit it. Either way… he cares.”
She bit her lip.
“He’s also a tyrant,” she added, firmly.
“A well-meaning tyrant,” she corrected, as if accuracy mattered. “Which is worse.”
Abhinav’s mouth twitched before he stopped it.
“Forget I said that,” she muttered. “That is not a compliment.”
The breeze passed over the terrace.
“The point is…” she pulled her thoughts together, “today he acted like a Thakur Sa.”