His eyes shut, fists clenched as he tried to regain control and only then he followed her out.
***************
When the ceremony began, Mishti remained beside Avni the entire time as Karan stepped forward, taking the sacred thread from the priest to tie it around Avni’s wrist. Avni hesitated at first, her body stiff with reluctance, until Mishti gently nudged her, urging her to let this happen.
Avni finally extended her hand. Karan’s own emotions mirrored hers because this was the first time he was performing something so sacred for his sister. As he held her wrist, memories of their childhood hit both. Avni, too, was pulled into the past, back to Raksha Bandhan days when she and Karan would tie rakhis to each other, promising to protect each other, when they were still young, when their parents were alive, and celebrations were filled with joy.
Karan noticed Avni’s eyes had welled up. Before he could stop himself, he gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, his own eyes burning with the same memories.
Rajat and Abhimanyu watched the two with a soft smile, deeply moved by the fact that finally Karan could openly show his affection for Avni. Mishti, too, felt her heart swell, unable to suppress the happiness rising within her.
But Avni quickly pulled away, brushing his hand aside and dabbing her eyes with a tissue instead. That movement loosened the sacred thread Karan had just tied. Both Karan and Mishti noticed it instantly.
Without thinking, both reached forward at the same time, steadying the thread on Avni’s wrist, refusing to let it slip. Together, they retied it, gently. Avni realised what was happening and, without resistance this time, held her hand out properly, allowing them to finish.
As they tied the thread, Karan’s eyes met Mishti’s and his earlier words about rewriting their ending echoed between them, even in the silence. Karan was too determined. This time,he wasn’t going to let his wife walk away. No matter how much she still resists him.
Mishti pulled her hand back the moment Karan’s fingers brushed against hers. She stepped away, diverting her focus elsewhere. Once the thread was secured, Karan stepped back too, giving space for the priest to complete the remaining rituals. And the ceremony continued.
Mishti had planned to stay low-key through the wedding rituals. But habit had its own way of taking over.
She found herself interacting with the guests, especially those from Rajat’s side, moving with ease, almost as if she were still playing the role of Karan’s wife at his sister’s wedding. She checked in with the servers, quietly asking them to start serving the appetisers at the other end of the garden where most of the guests were gathered.
That’s when someone suddenly covered her eyes from behind. Mishti froze for a split second, and then she knew.
“Komal!” she squealed, the happiness bursting out of her even before the hands were removed.
Komal laughed and stepped back. Mishti instantly turned around and pulled her into a tight hug.
“Why are you so late?” she asked. “You were supposed to come this morning.”
“My flight got delayed,” Komal replied, still smiling. “I can’t believe I’m seeing you again, Mishti.”
Mishti nodded, just as happy. “Did you meet Avni and Rajat yet?”
“I just did,” Komal said. “Abhimanyu introduced me to Avni.”
Almost on cue, Avni walked up to them.
“Mishti,” she asked curiously, “how do you know Komal?”
Mishti hesitated, momentarily unsure how to answer, when Komal stepped in smoothly.
“We met when Mishti had a minor accident in India once. We became friends after that.”
Avni looked surprised. “Oh… that’s strange.” She tilted her head slightly. “Komal knows Rajat, too. But Mishti, isn’t it odd? You knew my cousin brother’s fiancée, yet you didn’t know Rajat… or Karan?”
Mishti nodded hesitantly, when Abhimanyu walked over.
“Then the world is not very small, Avni,” he said lightly. “As the people say. It’s just a saying.” He then changed the subject quickly. “Rajat is calling you. His aunt has just arrived from Delhi.”
Avni nodded and walked away.
As soon as she was gone, Abhimanyu turned to Mishti and Komal.
“It’s getting difficult to handle Avni’s questions.”
Komal didn’t hold back.
