CHAPTER 24
Wadhwa Mansion – Two days later
Two days had passed since the fever had finally loosened its grip on her body, yet the weakness lingered stubbornly, refusing to leave. Mishti had not gone to work even once during that time. Today, too, she had taken a break, allowing herself to rest. It was 08:30 in the morning when she stepped out of the bathroom, freshly showered, her damp hair loosely braided over one shoulder.
She chose to wear a simple salwar suit today and slowly came out of her bedroom for the morning puja. Ever since she had fallen ill, she had skipped praying in the morning, unable to go down to the temple space in the house. But this morning, she felt a little stronger. Not fully recovered, but enough to try.
Holding the staircase railing, she slowly began descending the stairs, one step at a time. But halfway down, the weakness crept up on her without warning. The steps blurred before her eyes, her grip loosened, and her balance almost faltered.
Before she could lose her strength and fall, an arm wrapped firmly around her waist, steadying her. She did not need to look up to know who it was. She knew her husband that much. In the very next moment, his strong arms lifted her effortlessly off her feet, pulling her against a solid chest.
Karan held her in his arms protectively, bridal style, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Although Mishti wassurprised by the way he carried her in his arms, she had also started realising one thing lately. Whenever she was in trouble, Karan was always there. Before she could even call out.
Her arms instinctively went around his shoulder for balance, clutching the fabric of his shirt. The closeness of their bodies had always made her heart stumble. Today was no different.
Karan did not move immediately. He just looked down at her, in both anger and concern that he did not attempt to hide these days.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded. “You are barely back on your feet. You should be resting in your room.”
Mishti looked up at him and smiled apologetically. “I needed to do my morning puja,” she said gently. “I skipped it for two days already. I could not skip it today.”
Karan let out a low groan, and without saying anything more, he adjusted his hold on her and started descending the stairs, carrying her down.
“God is not running away,” he muttered under his breath. “And he is definitely not marking attendance for you to be this punctual.”
She chuckled softly, resting more comfortably against him. “For someone who claims he does not believe in God, you seem to know quite a lot about Him.”
He shot her a glare, the warning to stop teasing him was clear in his eyes, although there was no real bite in it.
Karan stopped at the entrance of the temple room and carefully lowered her to her feet, making sure she was steady before letting go. The moment her weight shifted back onto the floor, Maria appeared.
“Good morning, Sir, good morning, Ma’am, the breakfast is ready,” she said gently, her eyes flickering between the two of them.
“Serve it,” Karan said, checking his watch. “I’m already running late for work.”
Mishti shook her head at once though towards Maria. “I will not have anything, Maria. Just serve him and Abhimanyu.”
The flat refusal made him turn fully toward her again. “Why?” he asked sharply.
“Because I am fasting.” She smiled.
Karan frowned. “You fast only on Mondays for Lord Shiva. Today is not even Monday.”
The fact that he remembered it again surprised her. Mishti’s eyes softened for a fleeting second before she spoke again.
“Yes. I know,” she said quietly. “Yet, today I am observing a nirjala fast.”
His brows knit together. “Nirjala?” he repeated. “No food, no water?”
She nodded. “Not even a sip.”
“For what?” he almost snapped.
“For Abhimanyu and Komal.”
Karan looked at her as if trying to read between her words, but she continued before he could question her further.
“They have been waiting for so long to settle down,” she said. “They deserve to get married without any further delay. Today is a very auspicious day for the nirjala fast. So, through this fast today, I want to pray to God to ease all their worries, to remove every obstacle from their path, so that they find their happily ever after, the soonest.”
