Page 191 of No Boss
The effort showed everywhere.
In the restless movement of her fingers. In the glances she kept stealing toward Meera before forcing herself to look away again. In the visible battle happening behind her eyes.
Meera leaned back and closed her eyes.
The underground chamber rose before her again. Abhinav standing in front of her. Still. Hurt.
‘You didn’t trust me.’
The memory pressed deep into her chest.
He had held her. Told her it was over. Told her she was safe. Told her nothing else mattered.
But she had seen him. Nothing was fine. He had forgiven her because he loved her. That did not undo what she had done. Guilt settled deeper with each breath.
“You should eat a little, beta,” Gauri urged.
Meera opened her eyes and nodded without looking at the food.
Naina could not hold back any longer. “Bhabhi…” Her brows drew together. “There’s one thing I don’t understand.”
Meera looked up.
“Bhai left the Haveli in his car hours ago.” Confusion filled her voice now, genuine and unguarded. “We never saw him return through the gates.”
Meera’s fingers tightened around her dupatta.
“But when both of you came back…” Naina paused, trying to piece her thoughts together. “You came from inside the Haveli.”
The room fell silent.
Meera stared at her.
‘He had left Anand Mahal. Then how had he reached the chamber?’
Her heart pounded.
Naina looked between Meera and her parents, searching for an answer. “Is there another entrance somewhere?”
Devendra looked toward Meera for a moment, reading the shock across her face, the questions rising within her. Then he turnedto Naina, his tone gentle. “Bai Sa, tonight has been too much. Especially for you.”
Naina fell silent.
“You stood with us through every hour,” he continued. “After the wedding, I will show you every hidden passage in Anand Mahal and tell you the stories attached to them.”
“You will?” The tension in her face eased.
Devendra nodded, adding warmly, “And tomorrow this Haveli will need you again. The wedding cannot move forward without you.”
That finally pulled the smile back on Naina’s face. “Well, that part is definitely true.”
A soft breath left Meera, close to laughter.
Devendra’s expression softened hearing it.
Naina turned back and wrapped her arms around Meera. “You scared us so much.”
Meera closed her eyes. “I know.”
