“Don’t be,” he shook his head, then wiped her tears, as he went on. “Because I am happy. After everything in my business collapsed… that land was my only hope, Mishti. My only chance to start again.”
He paused, as if choosing his words carefully before continuing.
“To be honest, somewhere along the way, I started understanding that no matter what I did, no matter how vast a world I tried to create, it never brought me peace. A world built on the blood money of the Wadhwas, first through Trinity that Dad founded, and then through the DG Group I started on my own… it never gave me peace. Not once.”
His lips curved into a faint, almost disbelieving smile.
“But now… owning something so small, living a life so limited… it feels peaceful. I’m happy, Mishti. In my little world. With Divya and Pari.”
Mishti’s eyes suddenly sparkled.
“Pari?” she whispered. “You named her Pari?”
Daksh smiled.
“Yes,” he said softly. “That’s the name you always wanted, remember? For when Divya and I would have a daughter.”
Mishti nodded as she remembered she had always insisted on that name whenever they spoke about their kids.
“It was Divya who reminded me,” Daksh continued. “She suggested it when Pari was born and when we were searching for names. And I couldn’t say no.”
He exhaled slowly. “I don’t know… maybe it was a soft realisation. Or maybe it was because, despite pushing you away all these years… the first time I held my daughter in that hospital, I missedyou.”
Mishti sucked in a shaky breath.He did?
“Holding Pari in my hands, I remembered the dayyouwere born,” he went on. “You were just as tiny as her. I hated you then. But seeing my daughter… seeing how much she resembles you… It made me regret, even if just a little, how I always pushed you away.”
His voice cracked.
“Pari’s soft, sweet face kept reminding me of you… of the sister I had watched grow up, even if I never acknowledged her as one.”
He fell silent for a moment before adding, “So, when Karan came and revealed the truth… I broke down.” His voice trembled. “I finally understood how wrong I had been, Mishti. And I regret it. All of it. Please forgive me. For everything I said and did.”
Mishti listened to him intently. By the time he finished, her eyes were wet, and his eyes had a softness for her that had been missing for years. She reached for Daksh’s hands first, holding them.
“I stopped waiting for apologies years back, bhai,” she smiled sadly. “What I waited for was this. For you to see me. To accept me. That is enough.” His breath caught as she continued, “We were both hurt in different ways. You resented me while I longed for you to accept me as your sister. But today, I don’t want to carry any of that anymore.”
Daksh swallowed, nodding.
“This is one of the best days of my life,” she whispered again. “Because today, I didn’t just get my brother back. I finally feel like I belong to his family.”
“You do,” he said, pulling her for another hug. “You aremysister, and nothing can come between us ever again.”
When they pulled apart slowly, both still emotional, Mishti added almost shyly, “And bhai… despite everything, the best thing you ever did for me was marrying me off to Karan.”
She turned her head then, her gaze finding her husband, who was still around, watching her and Daksh, sorting their issues. There were pride, relief, and happiness in Karan’s expressions, and as soon as his eyes met Mishti’s, that look was everything they did not need to say aloud.
Daksh noticed it too. He cleared his throat and turned fully toward Karan. “I know you and I have never been on the same page,” he said honestly. “We have always stood against each other. But now that I have my sister back, and I plan to see her more often, I hope we can at least try to get along. For her sake.”
Mishti held her breath, her eyes flicking to Karan, with hope written all over her face.
Karan glanced at her first once, reading her without effort, then looked back at Daksh.
“You named your daughter Pari, right?” he asked casually. “The name Mishti had chosen long ago?”
Daksh blinked, nodding. “Yes.”
“You remembered that, and honoured it,” Karan continued, “that definitely earns you a point.” He shrugged lightly. “So yes. Anyone who gives my wife the love and respect she deserves is no longer my enemy.”
