The moment they were alone, her shoulders finally sagged, as if her body had been holding itself upright by sheer will until this moment. The strength she had put on for everyone else slipped away, leaving her standing there, suddenly feeling smaller and guilty.
Karan noticed it instantly.
He crossed the space between them in two strides and reached for her before she could turn away. His fingers curled under her chin, lifting her face to his.
“Don’t,” he said quietly. “Don’t you dare feel guilty about this.”
Her lips trembled. “Karan—”
“No.” His thumb pressed lightly against her jaw, stopping her words before they could spill out. “Not even for a second.”
That was when she broke.
“How am I supposed to be calm?” she snapped. “How am I supposed to breathe like nothing happened when I know he’s still hurting this family?” Her eyes shone in anger and anguish. “This time, he crossed his line. He didn’t just manipulate or threaten; he almost killed you.” Her breath hitched. “How am I supposed to live with that?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he pulled her towards him, his arm wrapping around her back.
“You’ll live with that because you aremywife… Mrs Mishti Wadhwa,” he said, sternly. “You are not connected to his nameanymore,” he continued. “Not to him. Not to his actions. Not to his sins. So, never feel guilty for whathedoes.”
Mishti just stared at him as he went on. “I am already regretting holding you responsible for all his sins only because you were his bloodline. But never again.”
She shook her head weakly. “But—”
“Whathedoes,” Karan cut in calmly, “hewill pay for. You have nothing to do with it.”
He lifted his hand and wiped the tears gathering at the corner of her eyes. As he did, a sharp pull tugged at the injured spot on his arm. He barely reacted, but the slight wince didn’t escape her.
“Karan.” She pulled back instantly, panic flashing across her face. “Are you okay? Is it hurting?”
He looked at her then and sighed.
“One wince from me,” he said, “and you can’t stand seeing my pain.” His hand slid to her cheek. “So how do you expect me to see you cry like this and live with a pain that isn’t even your fault?”
Mishti stared at him, slowly understanding what he was trying to tell her, not with logic, but with love. Her breathing evened out, the tension easing from her shoulders as she nodded faintly, choosing calm because she knew he needed it from her.
Only when he was sure she was steady did his thumb trace her cheek again, lingering.
“And now,” he murmured, diverting the topic, “coming to the reward for that delicious halwa.”
Her eyes widened in surprise as he leaned closer.
“Karan…” she said softly, her fingers curling around his wrists, suddenly aware of where they were, of the fact that anyone could walk past that room.
But Karan didn’t care. He closed the distance and claimed her lips slowly, almost cautiously at first, as if giving her the chance to pull away.
She didn’t.
The moment his mouth moved against hers, she ached more for him. After their consummation in Jaipur, this was the first time they had been this intimate again. She didn’t resist. She rose onto her toes instinctively, meeting him halfway, kissing him back with more intent, more need.
Karan’s hand slid from her cheek into her hair, fingers threading through the soft strands as he tilted her face just enough to deepen the kiss. The other hand came to rest at her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left to wonder. Misti’s fingers fisted into the front of his shirt, clutching the fabric as if she needed the proof of him there.
His thumb brushed along her jaw as the kiss grew slower, fuller, his lips sucking hers like she was his favourite dessert.
Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps reached them. Mishti felt it first. Her body tensed a fraction, and that spell broke as she immediately placed her palm against Karan’s chest and pushed him back gently. Her cheeks flushed with sudden embarrassment as she saw Maria walking past them,without looking, but her expression was enough to confirm she had seen them kissing.
Mishti avoided her eyes, inhaled once, and purposely diverted the subject before Karan could say a word.
