Then her hands came up, gripping Mishti tightly, as if she had been holding this back for months.
“I missed you,” Maria said finally, her voice breaking despite herself. “This house… it felt empty without you.”
Mishti swallowed hard. “I’m sorry I left like that.”
Maria pulled back just enough to look at her face. “Don’t apologise,” she said firmly. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Karan joined them, interrupting their conversation. “After you left…” he said, looking at Mishti. “Maria stopped smiling the way she used to.”
Mishti looked at him, surprised as he continued. “She still took care of everything, never neglected anything. But she barely spoke to me. At least, not the way she used to. She was deeply angry with me. She didn’t say it outright, but I knew.”
Mishti was surprised as she looked between Maria and Karan.
“Because she knew how I hurt you,” he added. “And that you left this house because of me.”
Mishti felt a pang of sadness. She stepped forward and hugged Maria. “Thank you,” she said softly, “for standing by me even when I wasn’t here. And for still looking after him in my absence.”
Maria held her tightly. “I would never stop doing that.”
As they hugged, Maria lifted her eyes and smiled at Karan. He smiled back at her, knowing she had forgiven him now. He could read that in her eyes.
The staff began unloading their luggage from the car, and Maria immediately stepped forward, saying she would have everything taken to their respective rooms.
That was when Karan interrupted.
“All the luggage goes tomyroom, Maria,” he said calmly. “Including Mishti’s.”
Mishti looked at him at once, her gaze locking with his, understanding exactly what he meant.
Karan didn’t look away. His eyes stayed on hers as he added, “Mishti is staying in my bedroom…our bedroom.”
Maria felt an immediate surge of happiness. She already knew from Abhimanyu how Karan and Mishti had been slowly growing closer. And after the way Karan had arranged her griha pravesh, the way he had carried her into the house despite being injured, this only confirmed it. Now, him wanting to share his bedroom with her said everything.
Karan continued to look at Mishti, who was still processing what he had just said.
“What if I still choose to stay in the other room… the one you made me live in before?” she asked, challengingly.
Karan knew she was testing him. He didn’t break eye contact. Not for a second.
“Then I’ll move there with you,” he replied without hesitation. “The choice is yours. I don’t care which room we stay in, as long as we share it. Like every husband and wife should.”
A faint smile curved her lips. He truly wanted to live with her. She finally turned to Maria, who was waiting quietly for their decision, and said, “Please move my luggage to his room.”
Maria’s smile widened instantly. She nodded, clearly pleased, and left with the staff to take care of everything.
Abhimanyu walked closer, fanning himself dramatically. “Uff… the heat in this house is increasing day by day, isn’t it, bhai?”
Karan shot him a mocking glare.
Abhimanyu only laughed. “Alright, alright. Let’s call it a day. I think we’re all exhausted.”
“I need to make a few calls,” Mishti said.
Karan nodded in agreement and then turned, heading toward the stairs with Abhimanyu, making his way to the bedroom.
CHAPTER 45
Late At Night
