Page 231 of No Boss
Her hands trembled against her chest.
"I have nothing to ask of you, Maa. Nothing at all. You have given me more than I knew to ask for.”
Tears flowed without restraint. She did not wipe them.
Abhinav drew her into his arms. His head bent against her hair as he kept her close through the storm passing through her.
When she quieted, he bowed his head.
No words came to him. None felt worthy. What remains to be spoken after you have lived through it, after you have understood that what you once thought was only stone hadwatched you, watches you, will watch over you for as long as you remain.
His eyes closed.
A touch of warmth brushed across his cheek. It passed over his temple, stirred the hair at the back of his neck, and was gone.
He did not move.
Behind his closed eyes, she stood again. Her hand raised, palm turned toward him.
A blessing.
He felt it settle, as real as a hand placed on his head. Then she was gone.
He opened his eyes.
The chamber remained unchanged. The flame. The spring. Meera against him, her hand in his.
His face was wet.
Meera placed her palm against his cheek, over the trace of tears, and kept it there.
He leaned into her touch and pressed his mouth to her palm. Then he rose, and drew her up with him.
He looked once more at the flame and bowed.
They turned toward the staircase together. Toward the light above. Toward the Haveli that waited for them.
They climbed it together.
Epilogue
Dinner the evening after the wedding felt almost unfamiliar in its calm. The Haveli, which had hosted a hundred voices all week, now held only family.
Sarita at the head. Abhinav and Meera beside each other. And Naina, who had spent two courses pretending to eat while clearly bursting with information.
“I have something to tell everyone.”
Sarita set her spoon down. “We know.”
Naina blinked. “You know what?”
“That you have something to tell us. You have had that face since lunch.”
“I have not had a face.”
“You have. A very loud one.”
Naina gave up the argument, set her spoon aside, folded her hands, and tried to compose herself. It lasted barely a second.
