“Perfect.” Meera reached for her glass of water, her throat dry.
Gauri kept her eyes on her, seeing more than Meera wanted seen.
Meera looked at the framed image of Kuldevi on the opposite wall.
‘Maa, thank you for the way out.’
The flame burned steadily. Meera took that as a sign.
Next Evening
Abhinav checked his watch again. Irritation pressed sharp under his skin. Forty-five minutes gone. The tea beside him had gone cold.
He had been cornered.
Naina had walked into his office earlier with that bright, determined smile he knew too well. The one that left no room for refusal.
“Maa says you’re working too much. Tea in the courtyard. Family time. Non-negotiable.”
Now he sat here. Phone in hand. Emails open. His sister talking.
“You should have seen the block printing, Bhai,” Naina went on, her hands moving with her words. “The detailing is insane. They haven’t changed their methods in centuries. The colour alone…”
“Hmmm.”
He did not look up.
The Singapore numbers on his screen were still wrong. Red where they should have been green.
Across from him, Sarita watched in silence, her teacup resting in her hand, her attention on her son. “Your tea is getting cold.”
“It’s fine.”
He did not reach for it.
“I also found the most beautiful silver work,” Naina continued, untouched by his disinterest. “One craftsman, seven generations, Bhai. Seven. I bought three pieces just for design reference…”
The crunch of tyres on gravel cut through her words.
Abhinav’s attention shifted.
A white hatchback rolled to a stop at the gate. Not flashy, but well kept. A young man stepped out, circled the car, opened the rear door, helping an older couple out.
Abhinav’s gaze fixed on the younger man.
Neatly pressed shirt. Polished shoes. Clean shave. He stood straight. Confident.
Devendra reached the gate faster than usual, greeting them with folded hands and a bow that went deeper than politeness.
Not routine visitors.
“Who are they?” Abhinav asked, reaching for the fresh cup a servant had placed beside him, though his eyes stayed on the scene.
Sarita took her time with a sip. “They’ve come to meet Meera.”
“For what purpose?”
She set her cup down with care. “Marriage, I think. Devendra ji mentioned someone would be coming.”