Mishti stared at him, stunned. Did he really just say that?
Daksh let out a short laugh, shaking his head as he looked at Mishti. “What have you done to him? This is not the man I remember.”
She blushed, slipping her arm around Daksh again, hugging him from the side, meeting Karan’s eyes once more, and giving him a soft, wordless smile. It was a ‘thank you’ meant onlyfor him. For understanding her. For choosing peace. And most importantly, for trying to make room in his world forher family,too.
Before Karan could react, either with a word or even an expression, Divya’s voice floated in from behind.
“Why am I missing all the fun?” she asked lightly.
Everyone turned at once.
Mishti’s breath caught as she saw her. Divya stood there with little Pari in her arms, the five-month-old fast asleep against her chest. Mishti instantly crossed the distance without a second thought, her face breaking into a smile that came straight from her heart. The two women hugged, holding each other tightly, as if making up for all the lost months in that one embrace.
Mishti pulled back first, her eyes going straight to the baby and her excitement was barely contained. She leaned closer, carefully and touched Pari’s tiny arm, afraid to wake her.
“She’s so cute,” she whispered, almost to herself. “She looks like you, Bhabhi… but those cheeks,” she added with a soft laugh, glancing at Daksh, “those are definitely Daksh bhai’s.”
Daksh chuckled from where he stood. “Do you mean to say I have chubby cheeks?”
Mishti smiled, not denying it.
Karan watched them all quietly. If someone had told him once that the Goels would ever stand inside his home like this, laughing, bonding, becoming family, he would have punched that person for even thinking on those lines. Yet here they were. In his house. In his life. In his heart. And the truth was, he felt no hatred anymore. Whatever past the Goel siblings had carried, they had paid for it in full. Enough had been taken from them already. The man who truly deserved punishment, their father, was living his own hell now, stripped of power, connections severed, more charges pressed down on him because of the airport shootout. That chapter was closed in Karan’s life now.
Divya’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she looked at Mishti. “I was waiting in the car till you and Daksh sort out. Didn’t want to steal the spotlight.”
Mishti chuckled as Divya continued. “And I’m not going to ask you this time how you’re doing… or if you’re fine,” she said, giving her a knowing smile. “Because I can see it written all over your face.”
Mishti looked at her, surprised and a little shy.
“You’re glowing, Mishti,” Divya added gently.
Mishti bit her lower lip and nodded slowly. Yes, she was glowing in love. Because she was truly happy in every sense now with Karan.
Sensing the need to give them space, Daksh stepped forward and gently took Pari from his wife. The baby wriggled a little, then settled comfortably in her father’s arms.
Divya held Mishti by the shoulders. “How could you just leave for London like that? And you didn’t even stay in touch with me at least. Why?”
Mishti’s smile faltered with guilt. “I’m sorry,” she said honestly. “I know I should have stayed in touch at least with you. I wanted to. But I was scared Daksh bhai would find out. And then hiding the land thing would become impossible. I didn’t know how to handle it.” She paused, then smiled again, brighter this time. “But now that we’re all together, I’m not letting you go so easily. I’m going to bother you a lot. I’ll come every month to Panchgani. Especially to spend time with Pari.”
Almost on cue, Pari stirred in Daksh’s arms, her eyes fluttering open.
Mishti gasped softly. “She woke up.”
Daksh smiled and carefully handed the baby to her. Mishti took Pari into her arms with awe, holding her close, her face glowing with a happiness that felt complete.
Divya and Daksh settled comfortably in the living room, while Karan stood a little aside, completely taken by the sight in front of him. He watched his wife cradle her niece, love pouring out of her effortlessly. Mishti then sat with Pari in her arms, lost in soft baby talk. She looked nothing short of an angel to him.
He literally couldn’t stop smiling as he watched her speak to Pari in that childish, affectionate tone, pressing gentle kisses to the baby’s cheeks, swaying her carefully, all while still holding a conversation with Daksh and Divya at the same time.
Thisfelt like family. Seeing his wife with a baby like that gave him ideas of how to expand that family soon.
A while later, he excused himself to check on the dinner arrangements. Mishti immediately offered to come along, but he shook his head.
“No,” he said softly, eyes still on her. “You stay here. Spend time with them. I’ll be right back.”
He walked toward the kitchen, leaving her staring after him, once again in awe of the man she had married.
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