She frowned lightly, unable to believe that. “You thinkIcan change him?”
“I think you already have,” Rajat said simply. “My mom used to say, if a woman decides something with her heart, even the hardest mountains move. You just need to believe it.”
Mishti looked out the window again, the Mumbai city slowly approaching in the distance. Rajat’s words sounded like hope, but right now, they felt impossibly far. Karan’s walls were too high, too thick. She wasn’t sure she could ever break through them.
Still, when Rajat suddenly added with a smile, “But in all this, don’t lose your own sunshine, okay? Keep smiling. Keep fighting your battles with love and dignity,” she couldn’t help but smile back.
“You’re a good friend, Rajat,” she said softly. “Karan’s lucky to have you.”
He bowed his head dramatically. “Finally, someone said it aloud. I’ll make sure to remind him of that every day.”
She laughed, the ache in her chest slowly easing for the first time since morning. And as the car rolled onto the main road toward Mumbai, Mishti thought that maybe hope wasn’t gone completely. Maybe it was just waiting for its turn.
CHAPTER 10
Wadhwa Mansion
Maria was relieved when Mishti finally returned home that afternoon. She bustled out of the kitchen, her eyes lighting up the moment she saw her ma’am walk in. “You’re back!” she exclaimed, taking the small overnight bag from Mishti’s hand. “How was the party? How did Sir react seeing you there?”
Mishti forced a small smile. “It was… fine.”
She didn’t have the strength to recount what had happened, especially the moments in the bedroom that still burned in her memory. Maria saw the turmoil flickering in her eyes even though Mishti tried to mask it with polite smile, and decided not to pry further.
***************
The mansion felt emptier that night. Karan hadn’t returned home since leaving early morning from Lonavala. When Maria had texted him to ask about dinner, at Mishti’s insistence, his reply had been curt:I’ll be home past midnight.
Mishti had eaten quietly with Maria sitting beside her at the dining table, giving her company. Post dinner, she tried distracting herself with a fashion magazine in the living room, though her eyes kept drifting toward the clock every few minutes. It was well past midnight when she finally heard the familiar growl of his car engine outside.
Within moments, Karan entered. His navy suit clung perfectly to him, his tie still in place. He looked as though he could still walk straight into another board meeting without missing a beat. Even exhaustion dared not to touch him.
Despite knowing she was there, he didn’t spare her a glance and brushed past her, heading straight for the staircase.
“Karan,” she called softly, rising to her feet. He didn’t respond.
“We need to talk,” she said, following him up the stairs. Still no response. He walked into his bedroom, and she entered behind him.
To her surprise, he didn’t tell her to get out this time. He removed his watch, set his phone on the table, and began unbuttoning the cuffs of his shirt.
“Where did you sleep last night?” Mishti finally asked what had been haunting her throughout.
He froze for a micro second but didn’t look up. “In Kanika’s room,” he said flatly.
Her throat tightened at his reply. In Kanika’s room? How can he? What was it supposed to mean?
“In… Kanika’s room,” she repeated softly, as if saying it aloud would make her believe it. Karan smirked faintly at her expression, clearly pleased by the flicker of hurt that crossed her face.
“Does Rajat know?” she whispered, forcing herself to meet his gaze.
Now Karan froze mid-motion. His head tilted slightly toward her this time. “What?”
“Does Rajat know,” she repeated, “that his best friend is sleeping with his sister…despite being married to someone else?”
That did it.
Karan turned sharply, crossing the space between them in two long strides. Before she could step back, his hand gripped her upper arms, and pressed her against the wall behind, pinning her there. His face was inches from hers.
“Kanika and I are adults,” he said coldly. “We don’t need anyone’s permission. Not Rajat’s. Not yours.”
