“I’d invited you both. It’s not my fault that you didn’t convey my invitation to her. Anyway, now what’s the issue?”
“She’s leaving after dinner,” Karan declared firmly.
Rajat’s smile faded. “Leaving? It’s already past eleven, Karan. The roads back to Mumbai aren’t safe this late, even with a driver.” He glanced at Mishti and then back at Karan. “You are staying here already. So why can’t Mishti stay with us?”
Mishti shook her head quickly. “No, that’s not necessary—”
“It is,” Rajat interrupted. “No arguments. You’re not ruining my birthday by driving home half-asleep on those hills. You’re staying. End of discussion.”
A few of the other friends who’d overheard joined in. “Come on, Mishti! You can’t ditch the party host! Besides, what’s the rush when Karan’s here too?”
Their persuasion continued. Karan felt the collective gaze on them both. Every instinct of his wanted to refuse, to drag her out of there and away from these knowing smiles. But he also knew the cost. One wrong action, and the gossip would explode.
He exhaled through his nose. “Fine. She’ll stay.”
Rajat grinned triumphantly. “Perfect. Now let’s cut the cake.”
Everyone followed. Rajat made sure to take Mishti along too, almost saving her from more of Karan’s temper.
Karan gave her a hard look, though, the kind that said‘this conversation is not finished’before letting her walk away.
“He’s pretending to be angry,” Rajat said, leaning closer as he led her towards the cake. “You walking in tonight threw him completely off balance.”
Mishti smiled faintly, looking down. “He’s always angry.”
“Yeah,” Rajat said knowingly. “But not like this. This time, it’s very personal.”
Mishti shrugged, having no idea if that was true.
Kanika, who had been silently watching all this, finally approached Karan again.
“Remember what you had said a while ago, Karan? That whenyouget jealous, I would know?”
Karan glared at her, knowing what she was about say.
“I know now,” she said with bitterness on her tongue. “I know now how jealousy looks on Karan Wadhwa.”
Karan ignored her and strode away in that same fury which had been circling him ever since Mishti had shown up here tonight.
****************
After the party
Rajat personally showed Mishti to the guest room on the upper floor. It was large and cosy, dimly lit with warm yellow lamps and a balcony overlooking the moonlit hills.
“This will be yours and Karan’s room for the night,” he said, flashing a friendly grin.
“Thank you,” she replied softly, glancing around. “And… thank you for inviting me. It felt nice meeting all of Karan’s friends. They were all so kind.”
Rajat smiled, genuinely pleased. “I’m glad you came. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
Her eyes darted around the room, almost searching. “Where’s Karan?”
“On a drink spree, as usual,” Rajat said with a light shrug. “But don’t worry, I’ll bring him up when he’s done.”
She nodded. The moment Rajat left, a strange silence filled the space again. Mishti stared at the room and then at the empty bed. This was the first time she’d be sharing a room with Karan, even if it was only for a night. She knew he had agreed to it only to avoid drama in front of their friends. Nothing more. Still, the thought of being in one room with him made her pulse flutter.
With a deep breath, she decided to change out of her saree first before he showed up in the room. But the moment her hand reached behind to loosen the satin doris of her blouse, they snagged and twisted even more. Maria had warned her she might need help removing this blouse tonight. But here, inthis unfamiliar room with no one to turn to, she stood helpless, unable to untangle the stubborn knots on her own.
