Mishti exhaled, then nodded. “Yes.”
Avni let out a delighted squeal and threw her arms around Mishti, hugging her tightly. Mishti hugged her back, silently praying that her decision to return to India was right.
CHAPTER 31
One Month Later – Jaipur, India.
It was morning when Mishti woke up in her hotel room in Jaipur. They had landed from London late the previous night and checked in straight away at TheRajmahal Palace, a sprawling seven-star luxury resort that looked like it had been carved out of royal history itself. The jet lag still clung to her body, but she had managed to sleep for five to six hours. It was enough to steady her, not enough to quiet the hunger that now made her stomach growl.
She pushed herself out of bed, walked to the tall glass windows, and drew the curtains aside.
Fresh air rushed in as she cracked the window open slightly. She was in India.Her homeland. Even the air here was warm and grounding. Just breathing it in felt strangely healing, as if she had been holding her breath for months and finally allowed herself to exhale.
Mishti had messaged Komal last night, a simple text telling her she had landed in Jaipur for the wedding of her boss’s daughter. When Komal had learned, a month ago, that Mishti would be in India for two weeks, she had immediately planned to come down as well. She was flying in sometime this week, just for a day or two. Mishti, too, could hardly wait to see her again.
She leaned forward and looked down at the pool and garden area below.
The place was already alive. Staff moved briskly between pathways. Decorators adjusted floral arches. Guests from the groom’s and bride’s sides checked in, family after family arriving with luggage, laughter and chatter. It was nothing short of another big fat Indian wedding, happening right in front of her eyes. And without warning, it reminded her of her own.
Her wedding to Karan had been nothing like this. No destination wedding. No extended celebrations. No indulgence. It had been quick, almost rushed. Because Karan had wanted it that way. The contrast between what she saw now and what she had lived through tightened her chest.
But just then, a sudden chill ran through her. Not because of the weather. Jaipur was warmer than London. This chill came from the thought that followed. She was close tohimnow. Karan was no more continents away, or oceans apart. He was just a few hundred miles away from Jaipur.
Suddenly that realisation stirred something she had been trying very hard not to ignore.
An urge to see him. Just once. Even from afar.
She did not know if she would. But the wanting rose anyway. Mishti swallowed it down, forced herself to turn away from the window, and headed straight for the bathroom to shower.
Breakfast hours were already long over. She would have to order something later. But before that, she needed to meet VK and Avni, to check on them and see how things were progressing. And of course, help them with the arrangements here.
She took a long shower, letting the warm water wash away the last traces of travel fatigue. She then stepped out, dressed in a pair of fitted jeans, a soft pastel green cotton ethnic kurta, light and breathable for Jaipur’s weather. She had not bought any wedding clothes and still had to shop for them here from thelocal market. Maybe tomorrow, she thought and then made her way downstairs towards the main garden.
Decorations were still in progress. Strings of lights were being tested and retested. Fresh flowers lay in neat stacks, waiting to be arranged. Fabric drapes fluttered lightly in the morning breeze. There were colours and movement everywhere, and lots of excitement was building around. Watching it all brought a deep, unexpected happiness to Mishti’s heart. Avni deserved nothing less, she thought.
That was when she spotted Avni and VK.
They stood at the centre of the garden, engaged in conversation with a woman who looked like an event planner, tablet in hand, gesturing animatedly as she spoke. Mishti walked towards them at an easy pace. By the time she reached close, the discussion seemed to have wrapped up. The woman nodded, smiled, and walked away.
Avni and VK turned towards her.
“Hey, Mishti. Did you sleep well?” Avni asked immediately.
Mishti nodded. “I did. What about you?”
“Don’t ask. I hardly slept for three hours. Still can’t believe my marriage is in two weeks,” she pouted.
VK laughed, patting her back. “Wait for the pre-wedding rituals to begin and then tell me how you barely sleep.”
Mishti agreed. The excitement mixed with the nervousness of a bride was something else altogether. She had that same kind of flutter when she was going to get married to Karan. Avni at least knew the man she was marrying, loved him, but for Mishti, it was like walking in a dark hole.
“It feels so good to be here,” Mishti said, diverting herself, looking around. “I’m really glad I didn’t miss this.”
“Of course.” VK nodded. “We wouldn’t have let you miss it at all, Mishti.”
Then, almost casually, Mishti turned to Avni and asked, “By the way… where’s the groom and his family? I’m eager to meet them. Are they already here, or have they not checked in yet?”
Avni chuckled at her enthusiasm. “They’ve arrived early this morning.” Then, after a brief pause, she added with a teasing smile, “But it’s not like you haven’t met anyone from the groom’s side yet. You already have, babes. He’s right here.” As she said that, Avni curled her arm around VK’s arm comfortably.
