“I cannot believe this,” Mishti exclaimed into the phone, “This is such wonderful news. I am so happy. Congratulations, Bhabhi.” She paused, listening, her smile widening further. “I am coming to meet you this evening, after work. I cannot wait to see you. Please pass my love and wishes to Bhai too. I am really so happy.”
She ended the call with a breathless laugh and turned around, only to find Karan standing there. She did not hesitate even for a second and rushed toward him, excitement spilling out of her.
“You know what?” she said, her eyes shining. “Divya Bhabhi is pregnant. She and Daksh bhai are expecting their first baby.”
For a few seconds, Karan said nothing as the words registered slowly. He just looked at her, taking in her joy, her openness, the way happiness sat on her so naturally.
Mishti’s smile faltered when he gave her no reaction at all. She tilted her head, still glowing with happiness, and nudged him softly with her words. “Say something,” she urged.
Karan then exhaled. “So?” he finally said. “What is there to be so overexcited about? Divya is pregnant,not you.”
The words were barely out before he regretted them. Why had that thought even crossed his mind? Why suddenly did Mishti’s pregnancy surface in his head?
Even Mishti stared at him for a second, clearly taken aback. The comment had caught her off guard, too, yet even then she did not stop smiling. This time, the smile had nothing to do with Divya’s news, though.
“IfIwere pregnant, Mr Karan Wadhwa,” she said in a playful tone, “I would keep you on your toes all the time with my constant mood swings. You would not get a moment of peace.”
He had no intention of indulging that thought, yet it rose vividly in his mind before he could stop it. Mishti, waking him up at midnight with cravings, insisting he drive her out just for ice cream. Mishti, eating all her favourite cuisines without guilt, laughing when he pretended to scold her. Mishti, dragging him through stores, holding up tiny clothes for their unborn child, asking his opinion as if it mattered more than anyone else’s. And later, in her third trimester, her feet swollen and aching, and he sitting at her feet despite himself, easing the soreness with careful hands just so she could sleep better.
The images struck too close, and he didn’t even know why.
Karan snapped himself out of it, his jaw tightening as if to physically lock those thoughts away. None of it made him feel good, and that was precisely the problem. He cannot, or rather would not want to have a future with Mishti like that.
He turned to walk away when her fingers closed around his hand. It should have startled him, but it did not. Lately, Mishti had begun to touch him without hesitation, as though she believed she had a right to him. And disturbingly, he had not stopped her.
“I am going to meet Bhai and Bhabhi after work,” she said quietly, holding his hand just long enough to make the point. “Ijust wanted you to know. So you do not scold me later for not informing you.”
Karan did not respond but didn’t deny her either. He withdrew his hand and looked past her, shifting his attention to Maria, who had just stepped out of the kitchen.
“I’m not having breakfast,” he said. “When Abhimanyu is down, tell him I’ve left for the meeting already.”
Maria nodded and quietly moved away, but Mishti did not stop there. She followed Karan through the corridor.
“Oh yes,” she said, catching up with him just as he reached the porch. “You and Rajat have that meeting with the Lexi Group today, right? I hope you are home for dinner.”
Karan did not slow down. He did not turn. His mind was already trying to detach itself from her voice, from the ease with which she spoke of dinners and evenings together, as if they were normal.
But Mishti followed him right up to the car. “And do not skip lunch either,” she added lightly. “You tend to forget food when you are busy. And then you don’t even like me reminding you at the office.”
That was enough.
Karan stopped abruptly, then turned around, and before she could register what was happening, he pulled her toward him, steering her back until she was pressed against the closed door of his car.
“What is wrong with you today?” he demanded. “Why are you talking so much?”
Mishti looked up at him, unafraid. When she pouted slightly, his grip tightened for a fraction of a second before he willed it to loosen.
“I don’t know,” she replied honestly. “Ever since I heard Bhabhi’s news, I…” She stopped, her gaze dropping to his chest,as though she was gathering courage. Then she looked back up at him. “It really hit home, you know.”
“Hit home?” he repeated, wondering if she really said that. “I hope you are not so innocent as to believe that a couple living in two separate rooms can get pregnant.”
Her cheeks burned instantly, the colour spreading fast. But Karan was not done.
“If you don’t know that,” he added coolly, “you should ask your doctor friend Komal. She will explain everything to you and clear your misunderstandings.”
Mishti frowned now. The embarrassment faded, replaced by mild irritation. She did not entirely dislike the way he spoke, even now. There was a strange familiarity in his irritation, a teasing undertone disguised as annoyance.
“I know that much,” she replied. “But—”
