She forced a smile. “Who said your brother doesn’t know how to show love? He does. Karan iss duniya ke sabse acche pati hain (Karan is the best husband in this world).”
The words left her lips just as Karan entered the living room from the dinner meeting. He froze at the sight of his wife glowing in the lamplight, smiling as she called him the world’s best husband.
Mishti and Abhimanyu had no idea that he was already back home and was overhearing their conversation.
Abhimanyu blinked in disbelief at what he’d just heard. “Wait, what did you say? Karan bhai and the world’s best husband? Really?”
“Yes, he is,” she said gently. “You know, once, I went to the temple while I was fasting. A small shard of glass pricked my foot, and when Karan came to know, leaving all his work behind, he came there just to find me and make sure I was fine. And not just that, he even treated the wound himself.”
Abhimanyu’s brows shot up. “You’re kidding, right? I can’t even imagine him doing that. Karan bhai doesn’t skip a single meeting, even when he’s running a fever.”
Mishti continued telling him more about that day, portraying Karan in a good light. Karan, who stood a little away from them, at the door, hadn’t expected Mishti to defend him, not when he’d given her nothing but silence, coldness, and rejection. She was still seeing good in him when all he’d done was push her away.Every single time.
He recalled that day which led to that temple moment…the flash of panic when he heard her cry out over the phone, the way he had rushed there without a thought, found her sitting on the temple steps in pain, the blood on her foot, the tears in her eyes. Yes, he had treated her himself, even carried her back home in his arms. But he’d buried that memory, because it didn’t fit into the reason he’d married her. His mind had tried to reason with him, ever since that day, why did he care? Why did he show so much concern towards Mishti? But every time, he had tactfully shut his mind from overthinking about that incident. Becausethis wasn’t the kind of relationship he’d ever wanted with her. Their marriage had no real purpose, nothing beyond the title of husband and wife, bound together only to makesomeone’slife a living hell. And yet… for one fleeting second, he had cared back then.
The memory of it burned. The thought of thatsomeone, the reason behind all of this, flared again, fuelling his anger, and he couldn’t bear to hear more.
In two long strides, Karan stormed inside the living room.
“I didn’t know behind that innocent face, my wife could be such a good liar,” he mocked.
Mishti jerked to her feet. Abhimanyu rose too, shocked. Karan’s dark gaze locked on her, every inch of him radiating fury.
“Don’t lie to my brother about how good our marriage is. He already knows I was least interested in this alliance.”
Mishti was speechless. What did he mean by that? Abhimanyu, who was watching them, didn’t like what he heard either.
“Bhai—” he began.
“Stay out of this,” Karan snapped without even looking his way.
Mishti’s throat tightened. “I didn’t lie,” Mishti replied. “I just said what Ifeltthat day at the temple. You did come for me, ignoring all your work. You did care enough to help me that day, to tend my wounds.”
“Oh, please,” he scoffed. “Don’t glorify that moment. I came there looking for you because I didn’t want a repeat of that hospital incident. I didn’t want my wife,a Wadhwa,landing in a hospital again and giving people a chance to mock me for negligence. For not taking care of you. That’s all. Don’t twist it into something emotional.”
Mishti stiffened. So that was it for him? A fear of public humiliation? Nothing more?
She swallowed, fighting the sting in her eyes, “Fine. But if you’d already told Abhimanyu how uninterested you are in this marriage, then why did you suddenly order me to move into your bedroom today, for his sake?”
The room fell silent. Even Abhimanyu looked between them, confused. Karan’s eyes simmered with a fury she couldn’t read, a pain she couldn’t see, a rage she didn’t understand.
“Because I didn’t want another emotional lecture from him,” he said, jerking his chin toward his cousin. “I knew he’d start with his nonsense… ‘Give Mishti a chance, give this marriage a chance.’And I had no patience for it.”
“Bhai, you’re crossing a line,” Abhimanyu interrupted. “She doesn’t deserve this.”
Karan turned his gaze briefly to him. “You havenosay in my marriage. So, just stay quiet.”
Abhimanyu’s face fell.
Mishti stepped forward despite the tremor in her knees. “Why do you talk like this? Why so much anger? Why do you treat me like this? What have I done to make you hate me so much?”
Karan met her eyes, and something vicious, something broken, flickered in his gaze.
“You exist,” he muttered. “That’s enough.”
Abhimanyu inhaled sharply. “Bhai—”
“I’m done.” Karan loosened his tie angrily. “I’ve had a long day. We’re not discussing this further.”
