“Of course,” she said quietly. “I will call Doctor Patel now.”
She left the room, closing the door behind her.
Karan dipped the cloth into the cold water, squeezed it out carefully, and placed it against Mishti’s forehead. She flinched faintly, but his hand stilled her gently, and she eased.
He continued doing it, keeping his attention fixed entirely on her face, studying every detail. The paleness of her skin. The tight line between her brows. The weakness in her body felt foreign to him because, in all these months of marriage, he had never seen her like this. Mishti was strength wrapped in grace. Seeing her reduced to this pricked him deeply.
A knock on the door, followed by Abhimanyu stepping inside, broke his thoughts.
“Oh God,” Abhimanyu said softly. “What happened to Bhabhi? Maria told me she has a fever.”
Karan nodded once, without looking up, his hand never leaving its task.
Abhimanyu watched him for a moment, completely stunned. His elder brother sat at the bedside, sleeves rolled up, personally tending to his wife. A small smile curved his lips, liking what he saw, even if he knew Karan himself would never acknowledge it.
“I will ask Komal to come and check on her,” Abhimanyu offered.
“No,” Karan’s response was immediate. “I have asked Maria to call Doctor Patel.”
Abhimanyu sighed, accepting the decision. Just then, Mishti murmured again in her sleep, the same word slipping out, barely audible.
“…love…”
Abhimanyu glanced at her, then back at Karan. “I think she has taken too much stress because of what happened yesterday at the office,” he said gently.
Karan said nothing, just continued cooling her forehead.
Maria entered the room at that very moment and informed them that the doctor would arrive in twenty minutes. Karan acknowledged it with a nod.
Abhimanyu hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “Bhai,” he said, “now that Maria is here and the doctor is on the way, I guess we can leave for the office. We have a meeting with the Japanese client. Mr Tong does not like being kept waiting.”
Karan paused.
For a few seconds, he said nothing. Then he spoke, “You go ahead. Handle the meeting. I will stay here. If you need me, call.”
Abhimanyu felt a quiet satisfaction bloom inside him. The concern on Karan’s face, the way he refused to leave Mishti, spoke louder than any confession ever could.
“Are you sure?” Abhimanyu asked, still testing him. “You are more needed there than here.”
Karan finally looked up and glared. “Go.”
Abhimanyu did not argue further. He hid his smile and left the room quickly.
Once the door closed, Karan let out a heavy sigh, adjusting the blanket around Mishti carefully, ensuring she was properly covered.
What the hell was he doing?
Abhimanyu was right. He should have been at work, focused on the meeting, on the deals, on the plans he had been building for years. Not sitting beside her bed, worrying over a fever.
Not staying back for her.
For a woman who belonged to the Goels.
And yet, leaving her like this never felt like an option.
He closed his eyes briefly. What he was even doing? Every time Mishti was involved, something slipped beyond his control. He was too close to striking the final blow in his revenge. Too close to completing what he had lived for all these years. He could not afford distractions.
But despite his conflicted thoughts, there was something which he was certain about. That even after he took his revenge, Mishti was not going anywhere. She would remain his wife. With him. Until his last breath.
