Page 160 of No Boss
“He should have to work for it,” Naina declared.
Work for it.
Her throat went dry.
Abhinav Kumar Anand would not search patiently for his name. He would probably pin her hand down, stare at her until she lost all coherent thought, and showed him his name herself.
“Where would you like it?” Sarita’s voice came soft.
Meera blinked. “What?”
“Abhinav’s name, beta.”
“Oh.”
Her right hand opened slowly in her lap, palm upward, eyes dropping automatically to the centre.
Warm fingers. Slow circles. His thumb pressing there.
“This part,” she murmured shyly, touching the middle of her palm. “Maybe here.”
Naina leaned forward. “Hidden in the centre?” Her eyes lit up. “That’s actually beautiful.”
Heat rose to Meera’s cheeks.
Naina flipped another page with great satisfaction. “So we use this bridal design.”
Floral patterns spread across the sheet, intricate enough to look alive.
Meera tried to focus on it. Her thoughts refused to stay.
His hands at her waist. His mouth at her neck. The low, pleased sound he made whenever she curled into him.
“I think this is perfect,” Sarita offered. “Elegant. It suits you.”
“Yes,” Meera answered quickly. Too quickly.
Naina’s eyes narrowed.
Sarita studied her more closely. “Are you okay?”
“I feel warm.”
A soft hum came from Sarita, full of understanding.
Meera shifted slightly, hoping movement would restore some dignity. It failed completely. Her body still tingled in places where his hands, and mouth had been.
“I think,” she requested in a small voice. “I should rest for a little while.”
Sarita smiled and patted her head. “Go.”
“Don’t overthink the design,” Naina added. “It’ll look beautiful.”
That had never been the problem.
Meera bent to touch Sarita’s feet and slipped out into the corridor. Cooler air met her face. She exhaled and walked on, trying very hard not to think about her husband-to-be.
The main courtyard thrummed with activity.
