“Don’t worry,” Karan said quietly. “I’ll be alright. Go now.”
Avni walked up to Mishti then and wrapped her arms around her without saying anything. Mishti held her back just as tightly. The tears came to her eyes before she could stop them. For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
“I’ll be coming back to London next month,” Avni said, pulling back just enough to look at her.
Mishti nodded, recalling that Avni and VK, along with Rajat, were coming to London to handover some responsibilities at the Sahara Foundation properly. Now that Avni was married to Rajat, who had his business spread in India with Karan, she wasgoing to live there permanently, and the two wanted VK also to live with them now. Thankfully, VK had agreed. They would still look after the foundation. But the day-to-day work would be managed by someone else there. The Mathur family would just oversee everything from India.
Avni searched Mishti’s face again and said quietly, “So… we’ll meet again there.”
Mishti managed a slow nod. “I’ll wait for you.”
Avni hugged her again, tighter this time.
“Who is dropping Mishti off at the International airport?” VK asked, looking at others.
“I am,” Karan answered immediately, “I’m driving her there.”
Mishti’s heart thudded hard at his words. He was finally going to be there with her,alone.
With that, VK, Rajat, Kanika and Avni drove away in their car from the driveaway of the private terminal, leaving just Mishti and Karan now.
Avni’s face still turned back toward them through the rear window, her hand lifted in a lingering wave until the vehicle disappeared beyond the security gate.
Karan exhaled slowly before turning toward their car, already parked a short distance away. His driver was standing alert beside it. Without looking at Mishti, he spoke to him first.
“International terminal,” he said evenly. “Take us straight there.”
Mishti froze for a second, then caught up to him in two quick steps. She grabbed his arm, fingers curling around his sleeve with frustration.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice almost shaking. “Why are you running away from me like this? You are not even talking to me.”
He stopped walking.
She moved closer, still holding his arm tighter. “This is not support, Karan. This is you punishing yourself and making me feel guilty for my decision. Do you know how unfair that feels?”
He turned to her fully, then cupped her face.
“I am not running,” he said with absolute clarity. “And I don’t want you to feel guilty. Ever.”
She searched his face, already teary. “Then what is this?”
“This is me holding my heart back again,” he said, swallowing his pain. “Because I don’t know how to let you go without breaking. And I don’t want to stop you either.”
Her breath hitched.
“But I have realised that love is not possession. It is not control. It is choosing your partner’s happiness, even when it hurts like hell.”
His thumb brushed the corner of her eye where tears had begun to gather.
“This time will be different,” he continued. “We will stay in touch. You won’t disappear from my life like before. I will still keep my eyes on you, whether you like it or not. For your safety.”
A tear slipped free.
“And?” she whispered, prompting him.
He hesitated, then said it anyway. “And if you allow me, I would like to come see you in London sometimes.”
Her lips trembled, unable to reply to that.
