Divya’s eyes widened. “You did what?”
“Yes,” Mishti said calmly. “It’s yours now. You and Daksh bhai can decide whatever you want to do with it. I won’t interfere. It’s just a small gift from me for the baby. Please… don’t deny me even this.”
Divya’s eyes filled as she pulled Mishti into a hug. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice almost choking. “Thank you so much.”
“But why now, Mishti?” she asked, pulling back. “You can give this after the baby is born.”
Mishti froze for a brief second before she smiled. “It doesn’t matter,” she said lightly. “Now or later… It’s the same. Please, bhabhi. Just take it.”
Divya studied her face for a moment, sensing there was more left unsaid, but finally nodded. “Alright,” she said softly. “I’ll take it.”
Mishti hugged her again, tighter this time. As Divya’s arms wrapped around her, Mishti closed her eyes and exhaled in relief.
What she had come here to do… was finally done.
Now, only one thing remained.
Karan.
CHAPTER 29
Wadhwa Mansion – A week later
It was close to midnight when Mishti finally stood outside Karan’s bedroom, her fingers trembling as they closed around the cold knob. She hesitated, her palm resting there longer than necessary, reconsidering doing this, something she had been avoiding for the last two weeks. Since the night his past had been torn open before her, guilt had consumed her. Although she had kept her distance since then, she knew it could not undo the damage her father had caused Karan.
Despite that, she had promised herself to keep her distance as long as possible from her side. But tonight, she could not. Because she knew tomorrow would change everything. And before that happened, she needed this one moment. Just one. To see him. To carry the sight of him with her, without expectation or demand.
Fortunately, the door was unlocked. Karan had probably forgotten to lock the room tonight. Slowly, she turned the knob and eased the door open.
The room was dark inside, with only the faint glow of the city filtering in through the curtains. Her eyes adjusted gradually, and then she saw him.
Karan lay asleep on his stomach, one arm tucked beneath the pillow, the other resting loosely beside him. A dull ache settled in her chest as she realised she had never seen him like thisbefore. They had never shared a room, never shared nights that allowed her to know his sleeping habits, what he looked like when he rested. What it felt like to lie beside her husband, to watch him sleep, to feel the steady rhythm of his breathing in the dark. What it was like to have his arm draped around her waist, holding her protectively. She hardly knew any of this.
Tears welled in her eyes at the sight of him sleeping so peacefully. He looked untouched by the years of fury that had shaped him. Peaceful, almost boyish.
After all, this deep sleep was the only time he truly found rest, the only hours when his dark past loosened its hold, when hatred for her and her family fell silent, and the fire of revenge stopped burning through him.
Her heart twisted painfully at the thought.
She had come only to look. She reminded herself of that. One glance, and then she would leave, without leaving behind a trace of herself. But standing there, inside his room, the distance she had forced between them for days collapsed under the proximity. Unable to stop herself, she stepped inside, bare feet, silently, until she stood beside the bed and let herself look at him properly then.
His hair lay disordered against the pillow, strands falling across his forehead. He was shirtless, the comforter covering below his waist, leaving his back bare. His muscles relaxed in sleep instead of held rigid as they always were when he was awake. His breathing was slow, even, the rise and fall of his body was steady.
He looked at ease. She knew that peace was an illusion, something he would never truly have as long as she remained a part of his life. Her eyes filled again, and she pressed her lips together to keep the sob from escaping. If he woke now, or saw her standing here, watching him like this, she would not survivethe look in his eyes. She had no explanation for why she was here.
Before her resolve could falter completely, she turned away and quietly slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her. Only when she was safely away did she allow herself to breathe again.
Inside the darkened room, Karan stirred. His eyes opened slowly, and he rolled his head toward the door. He could not explain it, but he was certain someone had been in the room. In fact, not just anyone but her.Mishti.
It was not a fleeting thought or a half-formed dream. It was his gut feeling that she was here, standing beside the bed, watching him, careful not to disturb him. The thought made his jaw tighten.
Was it just his mind playing tricks on him?
As far as he knew, she would never dare to cross that boundary again. Not after everything he had said to her two weeks ago. Not after the distance he had drawn between them again. And yet, he knew Mishti. Since when had she ever followed his rules? Since when had she not challenged him, even in her silence?
Still, why would she come here at this hour?
The urge to get up and walk into her room rose sharply within him. To confront her. To ask her why she had come, if she truly had. But the part of him that had enforced distance pushed that instinct away. He had chosen this separation, and he would not be the first to break it.
