And Karan lost whatever control he had left.
Mishti trembled, unable to meet his gaze. Her chest rose and fell unevenly as memories flooded her mind…the morning after their wedding, when he had stormed into the bedroom, furious to find her sleeping on his bed. The way he had brutally ordered her out, warning her never to step into his space again.
And now that same man was looking at her like he wanted to kiss her.
Yes. He looked exactly like that.
His eyes traced every inch of her face with a fascination she had seen many times before, back when they lived together. But every time he had closed that distance between them, it had ended the same way…with hurtful words, with emotional wounds she carried alone.
She couldn’t let herself fall into that trap again. Not this time. So the moment he stepped further closer, Mishti shoved him. Her palms hit his chest, pushing him back.
“Don’t,” she snapped.
Karan staggered half a step back, stunned.
“Let me remind you, Mr Karan Wadhwa, you married me for revenge. You’re not supposed to come this close to me because you hate me. You may choose to forget that truth whenever it suits you, but it’s carved into my heart forever now. So don’t you ever cross that line with me again.”
Karan clenched his jaw. Her words were already bitter, but what angered him more was his inability to control what had just happened.
A single tear slipped down her cheek as she continued. “This could just be another way of yours to toy with me, to manipulate me into agreeing to live with you again. Whatever reason you want me back for, it doesn’t matter anymore. Because for me, it’s over. I don’t want your hatred, and I don’t want your love either. Just stay away from me. As far as possible.”
The words pierced straight through his chest, hurting as if someone were slowly tearing the life out of him.
Mishti wiped the tear away and turned toward the changing room. She wasn’t going to stay there a moment longer, even though a small part of her heart whispered, what if this time… what if Karan truly wanted to change something in their marriage?
No.
That hope was wrong, and she wouldn’t allow herself to cling to it anymore. She walked into the changing room to rid herself of the lehenga immediately.
**************
Throughout the drive back to the resort, Karan remained grumpy behind the wheel, while Mishti pretended to beexhausted, staring out of the window. She had lied to Avni, telling her that the lehenga hadn’t fit her properly and that she’d stopped trying it halfway. Since they weren’t supposed to buy it, she claimed she didn’t want to try another one in her size. Avni, though disappointed, was convinced.
The moment they reached the resort and stepped out of the car, Avni walked toward the back, heading for the boot to take out the shopping bags. Rajat told her the staff would handle it and have everything delivered to her room, but she refused to listen. When she couldn’t pull out one specific bag she was searching for, Karan walked over to help, while Mishti waited quietly nearby for Avni so they could go inside together.
When Karan assisted Avni in pulling out the pink bag she was struggling with, Avni snapped at him.
“Who asked for your help? Just go away. I don’t need you. I can do it myself.”
Karan was seething now, but he didn’t let her struggle alone. He spotted the bag first, tugged it free from the pile, and handed it to her.
“Don’t spoil your mood over such silly things,” he said.
Avni scoffed. “Really? You know what the biggest mood spoiler is? Knowing thatyou’regoing to attendmywedding.”
Mishti felt the sting of those words. Rajat immediately stepped in, scolding Avni.
“What is wrong with you, Avni? He’s your brother. He has every right to be there.”
“Wow. How convenient.” Avni shrugged. “As a brother, he had many other responsibilities to fulfil too. When he didn’t care about those, why does it matter now?”
Karan didn’t respond. He simply exhaled, forcing down every emotion raging inside him.
Mishti recognised that look instantly, the one that appeared when something cut him deeply. She felt a pang of empathy,unable to understand why Avni was so cold toward him. What had happened between them to create such distance? She really needed to know.
But Karan didn’t wait any longer. As soon as the staff arrived to unload the luggage, he handed over the car keys and walked inside.
Avni turned to Rajat. “You always take his side.”
