Karan broke their eye contact first, turning away and heading back inside the resort. He had too much waiting for him. His sister’s wedding to manage, an angry wife’s defiance to face, and the task of making her agree to return with him to Mumbai and live with him again. Because that house, without her presence, was as empty and lifeless as his own stone-hard heart.
****************
Next Morning – Hotel Breakfast Lounge
Mishti came down to the breakfast lounge the next morning. It was already crowded, filled with guests and their constant chatter. She wanted to finish quickly and stay detached from all the noise.
She had barely taken a few steps inside when Avni spotted her.
“Mishti!” Avni’s face lit up instantly.
Before Mishti could even react, Avni was already beside her, wrapping her in a warm hug. They exchanged good morning wishes, Avni fussing lightly about how she should have come down earlier, how good the Indian breakfast was, and how the day was already packed.
“You’re eating with us,” Avni declared, not asking, but deciding.
Mishti stiffened as Avni gestured toward their table, where Rajat’s extended family was seated. And there…wasKaran.
Ever since she had entered the lounge, his eyes had been on her. She could feel it without looking. That intense attention from him bothered her far more than open confrontation ever could.
She hadn’t even dried her hair properly. It still fell loose, slightly damp, brushing her shoulders. There was almost no makeup on her face. She was dressed simply, in faded denims and a soft chikankari kurta that made her look painfully out of place amid the silk dresses, heavy jewellery, and carefully styled guests.
Not wanting to trigger questions in Avni’s observant eyes, Mishti nodded after a brief pause and walked with her toward the table.
Unluckily, the only empty chair was right opposite Karan’s, next to Avni. Abhimanyu was seated there too, along with Rajat and VK. Abhimanyu noticed her first and offered a polite smile. She saw it but chose to ignore. She was done with this circle. Done with men who knew things and chose silence.
She did, however, look at VK and forced out a good morning. No matter what, he was still her boss, and she could notdisrespect him. He smiled back and greeted her as she took her seat.
The conversations at the table continued easily.Relatives laughed, plates were passed, and Avni and Rajat became the centre of constant teasing. Someone joked about how Avni glowed. Someone else teased Rajat about surviving a lifetime with her dramatic moods. The only two people not speaking were Karan and Mishti. Karan ate his breakfast in silence, but his eyes barely left her face. She pretended not to notice it and focused on her own food.
It was only after she finished eating that he picked up a bowl of gulab jamun, the one she loved, and slid it toward her. Mishti froze at the gesture, especially because it happened in front of everyone, even though most were too busy chatting to notice. She lifted her eyes to meet his and shook her head. “No, thanks.”
Karan did not hide his displeasure. He set the bowl down, leaned back slightly in his chair, and said, just loud enough to be heard. “That’s a first. You denying dessert.”
Mishti’s eyes widened in alarm. Was he about to reveal, in front of everyone, that he knew her so well because she was his wife? Avni frowned, confused. Even though she barely interacted with Karan, something about his tone made her curious.
“How do you know she can never deny desserts?” she asked, looking between them.
Mishti swallowed, her eyes never leaving Karan’s face. Neither did his leave hers.
“A woman whose name itself means sweetness, how could she possibly dislike desserts?” he replied calmly, as if it meant nothing at all. “I just guessed.”
Mishti let out a sigh of relief. He hadn’t revealed anything. But she knew Karan. And she knew how much he enjoyedplaying such games. This was another part of his manipulation. He was just toying with her again.
Avni shrugged it off and continued eating, while Rajat held back a smile and glanced at Abhimanyu. Both of them were stunned, watching Karan softly flirt with his wife, something that had never happened before. And strangely, it was worth witnessing.
Mishti finished her juice and then turned to Avni, fully aware that Karan could hear her too.
“I won’t be around for a few hours today,” she said. “I need to shop for a few outfits for the next two weeks. You know I haven’t brought any traditional clothes.”
Avni nodded, then suddenly grinned.
“Uhh… I’ll join you,” she said. “I have a few last-minute things to buy as well.”
Before Mishti could respond, Avni turned to Rajat.
“Rajat, can you take Mishti and me shopping today?”
Rajat agreed instantly, smiling. “Have I ever said no to you? Of course I’ll take you both.”
