“About being human.”
Karan arched a brow. “Pass.”
Rajat shook his head, folding his arms. “How’sshe?”
Karan frowned. “Who?”
Rajat stared at him. “Your wife. The one you married yesterday. Or did you forget that part already?”
Karan’s jaw clenched. “You really think I would forget that? What has been the only motive of my life so far?”
“Come on, Karan.” Rajat leaned forward, elbows on the table. “I know you. You can act cold all you want, but you’re not this brutal. Maybe in business, yes, but definitely not in something as sacred as marriage.”
Karan pushed back his chair and rose, adjusting his cufflinks.
“Then you don’t know me at all, Rajat, and don’t try either,” he said quietly. “You’ll only end up disappointed.”
Rajat held his gaze for a moment longer, searching for the young version of this man he once knew, the one who used to laugh, who used to care. But there was only ice now.
Karan reached for his suit jacket and slid it on. “See you tonight at the Goels’. I’m sure you won’t miss my wedding party.”
Rajat just exhaled, nodding his head as Karan walked out.
CHAPTER 2
Wadhwa Mansion
Standing before the mirror in her room, Mishti adjusted the soft pleats of her blush-pink lehenga, the sequins catching the light like tiny stars trembling across silk. She had pinned her dupatta delicately over her shoulder, and her long hair had been swept into a low bun, from which a few strands framed her face. That was her wedding reception look tonight. Sweet and innocent.Just like her.
She pressed her palms together, trying to calm her nerves. Nothing felt right because Karan wasn’t home yet.
The reception had already begun an hour ago at her mayka (Goel House), and everyone was waiting for them.
Gathering her lehenga in her hands, she walked out of the room.
Maria met her in the hallway, smiling. “Sir’s waiting by the car, ma’am.”
Was he here? Thank God.Mishti nodded before she headed for the driveway. The black Mercedes gleamed under the porch light. And there, leaning against it, was her husband.
Karan stood beside the car, checking the iPhone in hand. But when his gaze lifted, when those dark eyes met hers, everything inside her stilled.
For the first time since their wedding, she saw something flicker in his eyes that wasn’t indifference or frustration. It wasdesire. The kind that a newly married husband has in his eyes for his wife.
Forgetting the phone in his hand and whatever was keeping him busy, his gaze roamed over her. From the delicate curve of her neck, down to the shimmer of her dupatta… and lower, lingering at the strip of bare skin visible between her blouse and lehenga.
Heat rushed to her cheeks as she saw his Adam’s apple bobbing once before he met her eyes again.
He looked like a man trying not to look and failing miserably.
She forgot everything she had planned to ask…about the cold and strange start between them, about why she wasn’t allowed to share his bedroom. All of it vanished under the heat of that gaze.
A soft buzz on his phone brought him back to reality. Karan ignored the notification and pushed the phone into his pocket, waiting for her to get to him.
She took hesitant, baby steps, her fingers nervously clutching the fabric at her sides as she reached him.
“Karan… we need to talk.”
His head tilted slightly, as if the very wordtalkirritated him. Before she could take another breath, he caught her by the arms and pinned her against the car door.
