Mishti sat still for a long time, her mind replaying Maria’s words. Karan was a lonely man who’d lost everything. No one to love him, no one to teach him gentleness.
Maybe… maybe that’s why he built walls so high.
Could love ever break through those walls? Could she risk her heart for a man who didn’t know how to hold it gently?
But then she remembered Maria’s words again:Sometimes, broken people only need one person who refuses to leave.
Her fingers brushed against the edge of her shawl. Maybe love could heal what anger and loneliness had ruined. Maybe, if she showed him what true love was, he would change.
But as she leaned back against the bed, a whisper of doubt followed. It was a risk. A big one. And she wasn’t sure yet if her heart was strong enough to take it.
**************
Midnight
It was well past midnight. Karan leaned against the counter of the dimly lit bar room, swirling the amber liquid lazily in his glass. The last twenty-four hours had been utter chaos.
First, finding Mishti asleep inhisroom, that stubborn woman, acting as if she belonged there. Then their argument, her decision to leave, and his cold satisfaction that it was finally over.
But fate had other plans. Her accident! The moment he’d seen her bruised face, her fragile body bandaged and pale on that hospital bed, something inside him had cracked. He had told himself it was anger. It had to be. But the truth? The truth was far worse. It was not his anger. It was fear.
Fear of losing someone.
And that made no damn sense.
He downed the rest of his drink in one harsh gulp, jaw tightening as the burn slid down his throat, before pouring another when his phone buzzed on the counter.
Karan groaned. The last thing he needed right now was Rajat calling him. Still, he swiped the call open.
“What?” he muttered.
Rajat didn’t waste time. “Don’t you dare‘what’me, Karan! How could you not tell me Mishti met with an accident?”
Karan’s brows snapped together. “And how the hell do you know about that?”
“I called her,” Rajat replied matter-of-factly. “She told me herself.”
Karan’s grip tightened around the glass. “Why were you callingmywife?”
“Becauseyourwife happens to bemyfriend now too.”
“I don’t like my friends turningmywife intotheirfriend. Stay away from her.”
Rajat chuckled softly. “What’s wrong, Karan? Afraid I’ll spill all your secrets?”
“I’m not in the mood for your nonsense,” Karan growled.
“You’re never in the mood,” Rajat shot back. “And why the hell are you drinking? You should be with Mishti, looking after her.”
Karan let out a bitter laugh. “Not sure who’s drunk right now…you or me. You can’t possibly expect me to care for a Goel.”
“She’s innocent, Karan,” Rajat said quietly. “Whatever feud you have with—”
The glass in Karan’s hand slammed against the counter. “One more kind word about the Goels, Rajat, and I’ll forget we’re friends.”
There was silence for a moment on the line before Rajat sighed. “Fine. But I’ll just say this once. Don’t do something you’ll regret later, my friend. Not with her.”
Karan didn’t reply.
