“Is it?” His brows arched in challenge.
“It is!” She nodded confidently.
Before he could respond, Avni’s voice floated from inside the suite.
“Mishti? Who is it at the door?”
Karan didn’t wait for her answer.
He stepped past Mishti, his shoulder brushing hers, just once, intentional enough to steal her breath, and walked inside, leaving her standing there, with her pulse racing.
Inside, Avni and Komal were fully dressed and ready for the ceremony. Even Avni looked surprised when she saw Karan walking inside, and then Mishti, who followed him.
“VK uncle wants the engagement rings,” he said. “He told me they’re with you.”
Avni nodded and immediately turned toward the closet to fetch them.
Komal, meanwhile, drifted toward Mishti, holding up another pair of jhumkas. “These would look really nice with your lehenga,” she said, trying to get her attention.
But Mishti barely heard her. Not while Karan was still in the room.
Komal then suggested, almost thoughtfully, “You know, a waist chain would go so well with this lehenga.”
Mishti shook her head lightly. “I forgot to buy one the other day when we were out,” she said. “It’s fine. It doesn’t look bad without it.”
Komal nodded in agreement. Karan’s gaze, however, dropped to his wife’s waist again, and he swallowed.
It wasn’t looking bad at all. Just bare, and he knew exactly what that did to him.
Avni returned with the engagement ring boxes and handed them to Karan without saying a word. He took them, gave a brief nod, and walked out.
Only after he had left did Avni turn to Mishti.
“I thought he’d wear a sherwani at least today,” she said casually. “But of course, the man’s in a suit. As usual.”
She then lifted another necklace and held it against herself. “Anyway… how’s this?”
Mishti nodded blankly as her thoughts had already drifted elsewhere. It was Karan’s sister’s engagement. And just like Avni had expected, Karan should be wearing a sherwani. Avni would like it too, even if she was not openly admitting it. That’s it then. The decision was made. She would convince Karan.
**************
An hour later
Mishti knocked on the door of Karan’s hotel suite, with the sherwani bag clutched in her hand. It had been her third knock, and now it was starting to worry her. That’s when the elevatordoor opened on the floor and Karan stepped out with a small box in his hand.
He looked just as surprised to see her standing at his room door. The moment she saw him, even her irritation spilt out.
“Where were you?” she demanded. “I’ve been looking for you all over the hotel for the past hour. No one knew where you were. It’s your sister’s wedding rituals happening, and you are missing without telling anyone. Who does that?”
Karan frowned slightly and walked toward her. The moment he got too close, she instinctively stepped back.
“Why were you looking for me?” he asked evenly. “To say sorry?”
Mishti’s jaw dropped. “Why would I say sorry for?”
He shrugged, his gaze still roaming over her face.
“For not being very kind to me anymore,” he said quietly. “Ever since we met again.”
