Page 143 of No Boss
Silence settled across the room.
Sarita watched him long enough for him to know she was deciding to refuse.
He met her gaze. Unhurried. Respectful. Unmoving.
“Maa,” he added, softer now, “you always say auspiciousness comes from intention as much as timing. But if there is a religious or astrological need, we will follow it. Rajpurohit ji?”
Sarita’s eyes narrowed, very slightly.
Rajpurohit ji hesitated, then surrendered with dignity. “No such requirement. Only custom.”
“Excellent.”
Naina’s shoulders shook as she tried to contain herself.
Sarita did not spare her a glance. “You are negotiating.”
“I am optimising.”
That did it. Naina buried her face in her hands.
Rajpurohit ji flipped pages again, now with the caution of a man choosing survival. “There is… a muhurat. Two weeks from now. Very strong.”
Abhinav inclined his head. “That will do.”
“That will do?” Naina blinked, her mind racing ahead through decorations, outfits, chaos.
Sarita’s lips curved for a moment before she exhaled. “Fine.”
The word settled into place.
Devendra looked up. Gauri released a breath she had been holding.
“It is decided then,” Rajpurohit ji confirmed. “Engagement and wedding together. Two weeks.”
“Two weeks,” Naina breathed, as if witnessing history.
Meera had not moved. Her pulse had.
‘Two weeks.’
Her eyes lifted and met his.
He was already watching her. There was an inevitability in his expression, as if he had simply aligned the world with what he had already chosen.
Heat rose to her face.
She lowered her eyes again.
“Devendra ji,” Sarita continued, seamless, “you will not worry yourselves with arrangements. Everything will be taken care of.”
Gauri’s composure wavered.
Devendra straightened. “Thakurain Sa, we couldn’t…”
“You can,” Sarita answered, gentle yet firm. “And you will.”
“And until the wedding,” she added, glancing once at her son, “the bride and groom meet only in the presence of elders. As tradition requires.”
