His hand stopped mid-air.
‘Marriage.’
The word hung in place, refusing to settle.
He looked at his mother. She did not correct it.
His gaze returned to the gate.
The young man stood straighter now, smiling at something Devendra said. The careful dressing, the composure, none of it felt neutral anymore.
He was here for Meera.
That thought struck clean.
Abhinav stalled. Then something tightened low in his chest, quick and possessive, like his instincts had stepped in and decided this situation was already unacceptable.
“Marriage?” he repeated, his voice flat.
“Mm.” Sarita nodded, watching him with open interest. “Devendra ji has been looking for a match. The boy works in hotel management. Good position.”
Abhinav’s fingers closed around his cup. He did not drink. His eyes stayed on the man at the gate.
Naina leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, her tone deliberately bright. “He looks decent enough. Don’t you think, Bhai?”
Abhinav did not answer. His jaw locked, the muscle there pulled tight.
Across the table, Sarita and Naina exchanged a look.
A very specific look.
Naina bit the inside of her cheek, barely containing a smile, and reached for her tea with exaggerated calm. Sarita lowered her gaze to her cup, amused.
At the gate, the family moved inside. Devendra spoke. The younger man listened, nodding in attention.
“Devendra ji seems quite pleased,” Sarita added.
Abhinav’s gaze followed them until they turned the corner and disappeared toward the family quarters.
Toward Meera.
The courtyard did not feel the same after that.
He stared at the empty stretch of stone where they had stood, as if the turn they had taken could be undone if he stared long enough.
Naina resumed her chatter.
Abhinav barely heard a word. His body remained where it was. His mind, though, had already followed them inside.
???
Twenty-three minutes.
Abhinav knew because he had checked his watch enough times, even if he would never admit to it.
Time had moved with insulting calm while he sat through tea and conversation, while somewhere inside his own Haveli a man he had never seen before was being given uninterrupted access to Meera.
Access.
