Almost at the same time, again, Abhimanyu corrected himself. “I mean, she is my friend.”
And Komal, at the same time, corrected herself and said firmly, “Girlfriend.”
Mishti blinked once. Then she laughed, unable to hold it back any longer. The two of them looked even more embarrassed now.
Mishti reached for Komal and pulled her into a hug. “I cannot believe this,” she said, smiling. “But I had my doubts. I am so happy for you both.”
She pulled away and turned to Abhimanyu, who was visibly blushing by then. “Since when are you two dating?”
“Two years,” he replied.
Komal nodded. “We met on a dating site. I needed a distraction from work, and he was just… there. Looking for casual dates. We started talking. It just happened. Attraction turned into real feelings, and we are finally here. Taking one step at a time.”
“Wow.” Mishti’s smile widened. “My brother-in-law has made my job easier. I no longer have to find him a bride.”
Abhimanyu chuckled.
“Wait. Does Karan know?” Mishti asked next.
Komal shook her head quickly. “No. He doesn’t. And all thanks to your brother-in-law here, who never brought it up.”
“That’s because I was travelling constantly,” Abhimanyu defended himself. “And some things need to be said face to face, not over phone calls.”
Komal turned to Mishti again. “He wouldn’t go ahead without Karan’s approval. And Karan already dislikes me enough for standing by you all the time.”
Mishti understood and smiled teasingly. “So that is why you have always been so protective of me. Because I am Abhimanyu’s bhabhi.”
“That too.” Komal smiled back. “But more than that, I could not stand watching one of my most beautiful patients suffer like this in her personal life.”
Mishti waved that away gently. “Do not worry. Now that I know everything, I am officially Team Abhimanyu and Komal. I will try to convince Karan.”
Abhimanyu’s face lit up. “Thank you, Bhabhi.”
He hugged her without hesitation and then pulled Komal in as well, turning it into a clumsy but heartfelt embrace.
“Unbelievable,” Rajat’s voice drawled from the living room as he walked in. “Here I thought I had finally found one woman to flirt with. Turns out she is already taken.”
Komal rolled her eyes while the others laughed, knowing he had heard everything.
Rajat congratulated them both. “Convincing Karan is going to be fun. Imagine his face when he finds out his brother is in love with the doctor who never misses a chance to scold him.”
Mishti swatted Rajat’s arm lightly. “Do not scare them. We will convince him together. He cannot refuse all his favourite people.”
Rajat chuckled, nodding in agreement, then looked at her with a faint smile on his lips.
“So, Mrs Wadhwa,” he asked lightly, “are you ready for your first day at work? The entire board and staff are waiting to welcome you today.”
Mishti’s smile faded. She looked from Abhimanyu to Rajat, her expression turning serious.
“About that…Why was I not informed earlier?” she asked quietly. “This is not a small thing. A decision like this should not be taken without even telling me. I can understand Karan not sharing it with me, but what happened with you two?”
Rajat and Abhimanyu exchanged a glance, both looking unmistakably guilty. Rajat spoke first.
“Look, Mishti. We thought that bringing you onto the board would mean you could spend more time around Karan. And maybe he would finally see what a capable woman he has married.” He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yes, we should have told you prior. But everything happened so suddenly that we did not think it through.”
Mishti shook her head slowly. “But I have no experience,” she said. “Working in a company is one thing. Being on the board is something else entirely.”
“You will be a non-executive director for now,” Rajat explained. “You will not be making decisions on your own. Karan and we will handle that.”
