And by all rights, she should push that hand away. Demand to know what he is thinking. As if is, Vijay makes sure to keep his eyes on the wall to not pry on her more than inevitably happened.

She doesn't touch him turn, but there is the turn, however slight, of her head towards his hand, how she had turned up into him the night before. That must be enough for now, and for that, it is everything. "We will." I do. and she realises as she thinks it, that she does, she trusts him, implicitly, with her whole being. More than for stolen kisses, than the warmth of his body against her. With her life.

This isn't the time. She hears more movements, and then the door is pulled open and Jhalkari appears again, dusty, but none the worse for wear. Rattling off her report as she makes room for everyone to come through, a hour or so until the festivities began. But clear for now.