Abhimanyu nodded. “Exactly. And why are you afraid when we are there? Even if my brother chooses not to guide you, we will. Always.”
Komal stepped in then. “This is actually a good thing, Mishti. Staying at home alone, waiting for Karan, thinking about himall the time, is not good for you. You need work, people, and challenges. You need something that belongs to you.” She hesitated briefly before adding, “And who knows, maybe seeing you work so efficiently will make Karan notice you differently. Though I am not sure men like him ever change.”
Abhimanyu laughed softly. “Let Mishti Bhabhi be around him all the time. At work, at home, everywhere. Even his stubborn heart will have to change for her.”
Mishti smiled at that, but the fear had not vanished. This was no longer about proving anything to Karan. It was about standing on her own, building something for herself, learning and growing through the opportunity placed before her.
The rest, she left to God.
***************
KW Capital Ventures
Mishti stepped into the towering premises of KW Capital Ventures for the first time, wearing an elegant soft pastel kurta set. It was not an outfit chosen for a boardroom, yet it carried a grace that could not be ignored. Her jewellery was minimal, and her hair was pulled back neatly.
Her wardrobe back in Wadhwa Mansion was full of traditional dresses and a handful of party dresses, nothing meant for corporate look or power meetings. Everything had happened too suddenly for planning or preparation. But she knew this was only the beginning. Tomorrow, she would dress for the role she had been given. Today, she walked in as herself.
Rajat walked on one side of her, Abhimanyu on the other, as they crossed the expansive lobby. As they walked, Rajat spoke to her about the company, about how Karan had expanded KW Capital Ventures from the ground up, about the risks he had taken, the battles he had fought, and the reputation he had guarded fiercely. Abhimanyu added details in between, with pride in his voice as he spoke of his brother’s relentless passionfor running this company. Mishti listened quietly, absorbing every piece of information she was given.
Employees paused to greet her as they passed, some congratulating her with warm smiles, others with professional nods. The news had already spread. Everyone knew that Karan Wadhwa himself had announced his wife's joining the board of directors the previous night. Each congratulation made her heart flutter.
Her own brother, Daksh, had never once believed in her capabilities enough to introduce her to his business world or trust her with responsibility. Here, despite whatever his reasons were, Karan had given her an opportunity.
Half of the day gone with Rajat and Abhimanyu giving her a brief idea of the company, the present board members and how the business functioned.
When Mishti had first learned about Karan’s business, before marriage, she had not been impressed. KW Capital Ventures had sounded intimidating to her then, a world of numbers, power, acquisitions, and calculated risks that felt far away from human emotion.
But today, standing inside those walls, listening to how the company actually functioned, she began to see it differently. She understood now that this was not just about profits and dominance. The firm even invested in struggling enterprises, revived failing ventures, created employment, and backed ideas that needed both money and faith to survive. There was structure, discipline, and purpose behind every decision. The people here did not move blindly; they worked with intent, responsibility, and long-term vision.
Being briefed, being included, and being treated as an insider shifted her perspective completely. For the first time, she saw the business not as something ruthless, but as something built with strategy, patience, and impact.
By late afternoon, Rajat and Abhimanyu had settled her comfortably in Rajat’s cabin before stepping out to attend to urgent matters. The board meeting was an hour away, and they wanted her calm and prepared before it began. Until then, the day had passed without a single glimpse of Karan. He had neither come to see her nor reached out in any way, a silence that spoke loudly of how little her presence in his company mattered to him.
Left alone now in Rajat’s cabin, Mishti looked around, revisiting everything the two men had explained to her about the firm and its functioning, when the door opened again, and Kanika walked in.
The door remained ajar behind her, clearly expecting to find Rajat inside. But when her eyes landed on Mishti instead, her expression darkened instantly with irritation.
“So,” Kanika said coldly, folding her arms, “from spiking my orange juice with spice, you have come down to this. Wanting a seat next to me on the company board now?”
Mishti drew a slow breath, forcing herself to remain calm.
Kanika stepped closer. “If you think working here is going to take Karan away from me, you are sorely mistaken. He will not be swayed by your work. You may have Rajat and Abhimanyu backing you, but Karan is onmyside. And he always will be.”
“My side or not, I have never demanded anything from Karan,” Mishti replied. “I don’t need to claim my place in his life loudly either. I am his wife, and that itself gives me the right over him, whether he accepts it or not.”
Kanika’s smile did not waver.
“Whatever rights you think you are entitled to from Karan,” she said calmly, almost indulgently, “he has already given them to me. You exist only in name, Mishti. A wife for appearance’s sake. And that is all you will ever be.”
The words struck deeper because Mishti recalled Karan himself had once told her that he and Kanika had stayed in Kanika’s room that night in Lonavala, a truth he had admitted without hesitation. He had no reason to lie to his own wife about something like that. Hearing Kanika repeat it now only sealed what Mishti had already feared. They had an affair.
Her vision blurred with tears. Today was meant to be different. It was the first step towards her professional beginning. But, once again, Kanika and Karan’s unspoken relationship had crept in to stain it.
Kanika noticed the change in her expression.
“You know, Mishti, it is almost painful to watch you like this. One day or another, your marriage is going to give you nothing but heartbreak. Why wait for that day?” She paused, studying her. “I can see how unhappy you are with him. Why cling to a relationship that has no foundation? Take my advice.Leave Karan.”
Mishti’s eyes brimmed over.
