Karan let out a quiet breath of relief, helping her sit up with his hand steady on her back.
“Get her something to eat,” Karan ordered.
“But, Sir,” Maria hesitated, “she’s fasting.”
“And I just broke her fast,” he barked. “Didn’t you see that? Now take her to her room and make sure she eats.”
Maria nodded quickly, helping Mishti to her feet, whose mind, though dizzy, was wide awake now. She looked at the glass in Karan’s hand, realising he had made her drink water. He had broken her fast himself, unknowingly.
It didn’t matter that it wasn’t intentional. What mattered was thathe had done it.
Her heart fluttered as she looked at him one last time before leaving the room. Karan stood there, still tense, still angry, but a small smile curved her lips despite the exhaustion. Her Teej fast had been completed after all. God had given her another sign that her marriage wasn’t doomed yet. There was still hope. And that hope, faint but glowing like the lamp in the mandir, was enough to keep her heart alive.
****************
A week later – Wadhwa Mansion
Mishti was in her bedroom arranging fresh lilies in the vase when the low growl of Karan’s car engine broke the silence. She hurried to the window just in time to see him striding out of the house, sharp in a black casual shirt and jeans, his duffel bag slung carelessly over one shoulder. He took the keys to his car from the driver and got inside. Where was he going with a duffel bag? Wasn’t he coming home tonight?
Maria appeared in her room, that very moment, asking her what she would like for dinner.
“Maria, do you know where Karan is going?”
Maria shook her head. “No, Ma’am. He didn’t say anything. Just said he would be back tomorrow late afternoon.”
Mishti’s frown deepened.Tomorrow?
She reached for her phone. There was only one person who could possibly know…Rajat. She scrolled to his number and hit call.
“Ah, Mishti!” Rajat’s cheerful voice boomed through the receiver. “I was just about to call you!”
She blinked, taken aback. “You were?”
“Of course. To check if you and Karan have started or not for Lonavala.”
She was confused.
“Lonavala?”
“Mishti, c’mon. Didn’t Karan tell you? It’s my birthday today.”
Mishti’s eyes widened. “Oh, I didn’t know. I’m so sorry, Rajat! Happy birthday!”
He laughed softly. “No apologies. But you are coming right, with Karan? Just like every year, my friends have hosted a small party tonight, in my farmhouse in Lonavala. We all do stayovers. This time, you too are joining the group.”
Her heart skipped. “Karan… has already started, I guess. And I cannot come. But please enjoy your day, Rajat.”
“Wait a minute. Karan has already started and he didn’t tell you? But I’d invited you too.”
Mishti hesitated, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “He didn’t mention it. And I don’t think it’s right for me to come. You’re celebrating with your friends; I don’t want to intrude.”
“Mishti, don’t even think like that,” Rajat said warmly. “You’re family now. Everyone’s excited to meet you properly as Mrs Mishti Wadhwa. Come on, you have to meet Karan’s friends. You’ll love them.”
She smiled faintly at his attempt to make her feel included, though a nervous flutter rose in her chest. “Still… if Karan didn’t tell me, maybe he doesn’t want—”
“Stop right there,” Rajat interrupted. “You’remyguest, not his shadow. And if my best friend has a problem with that, he can take it up with me. You’re coming, Mishti. No excuses.”
Mishti could almost picture his grin on the other side. “You don’t take no for an answer, do you?”
