That every expense, from her childhood till today, had been borne by Karan alone. He had never allowed VK to spend even a single penny.
“He sacrificed everything,” VK said softly. “And never once spoke about it.”
Avni lifted her tear-filled eyes toward Karan, who now stood a little away from them, turned toward the window, lost inmemories of the past, reliving everything he had once endured in silence.
Shame and pain washed over Avni.
She swallowed, then turned slowly toward Mishti, a realisation striking her.
“So… that means he married you for revenge?” she asked hesitantly. “You’re not happy with him… that’s why you left him?”
Mishti went blank. She shook her head. “I left him because the guilt that my father is responsible for everything that Karan had to suffer was too much to live with. I ran away not because he was torturing me, but because he was hurting himself in the process. Every time he would see me before him, he would never live in peace. That’s why I chose to leave. He's nowhere at fault.”
Karan turned toward her. His eyes softened instantly.He is nowhere at fault? Really?That’s what she still told his sister? How could someone be so selfless?
Avni didn’t wait another second.
She rushed into Karan’s arms, clutched him tightly, and broke down completely, sobbing against his chest.
“I’m sorry, bhai,” she cried. “I didn’t know this. I’m so sorry for hurting you all the time.”
Karan immediately cupped Avni’s face, gently wiping away her tears. But she kept speaking through her sobs.
“I always thought you wanted the inheritance,” she cried. “I believed you were selfish. And none of you ever corrected me. So I kept assuming I was right. I never even imagined this could be the truth.”
Karan nodded slowly. “None of us wanted your life to be stained with any of this. We just wanted you safe, Avni.Iwanted to see you happy.”
Avni swallowed hard, her eyes lifting to meet his, filled with pain.
“I didn’t know Mom was shot,” she whispered. “You told me it was just an accident.”
Karan exhaled deeply and pulled her closer to him as she broke down again, sobbing into his chest.
After a moment, Avni looked up, her trembling fingers reaching out to wipe the moisture from his eyes this time.
“I will never forgive that man,” she said through clenched teeth. “The man took everything from us, bhai. Everything.”
Karan nodded, brushing the stray curls stuck to her damp forehead.
“He’s in prison,” he said firmly. “And he’ll die there. I promise you that. I will never let him touch our family again.”
Avni nodded and wrapped her arms around him even tighter.
That single embrace eased something deep inside Karan’s heart. He had never imagined this day would come—the day his sister would finally understand the truth behind his actions… and trust him again.
A little distance away, Mishti stood crying too, but these were different tears. Happy ones. Tears of relief as she watched the siblings finally reunite.
VK gently soothed her, and she nodded, wiping her cheeks before stepping closer to Avni and Karan. Avni was still clinging to her brother when Mishti spoke softly.
“I’m sorry, Avni,” she said. “For everything you and your brother had to endure because of my father. If anyone deserves that hatred, it’s me, not Karan. He is the best brother.”
Avni didn’t respond. She didn’t even look at Mishti, and Mishti hadn’t expected her to. Quietly, she wiped her own tears and turned to leave.
That was when Karan caught her hand.
His one arm remained wrapped protectively around his sister, Avni, while the other held his wife in place. His gazelocked onto Mishti’s. He didn’t want her walking away burdened with guilt.
He might have realised it far too late in life, but now he did. Mishti should have never been punished for the sins of her father. Karan was already drowning in regret for hurting her, for forcing her to bear the weight of someone else’s crimes. Never again.
