CHAPTER 11
Wadhwa Mansion
Mishti just stared at the man, wide-eyed, while Komal hurried to him.
“F*ck, that’s… definitely not part of my plan,” Komal exclaimed, rushing forward as the man in front of them coughed violently, clutching his throat. “Someone, please bring water, quickly!”
Maria hurried to fetch a glass while Mishti panicked as his coughing grew worse. Even through his discomfort, his eyes flickered between Komal and Mishti in confusion.
When Maria returned with the glass, Mishti quickly stepped forward, offering it with both hands. “Here… drink this,” she said softly.
He took it and gulped it down in one go, his chest heaving until the coughing finally subsided. Komal instinctively placed a hand on his back and rubbed it gently.
“Breathe,” she murmured, her tone suddenly softer, more personal. “You shouldn’t have drunk that. It wasn’t meant for you.”
The man shot her a half-glare between breaths. “You made it, didn’t you? Don’t tell me this was one of your experiments again.”
Mishti blinked in confusion, looking from him to Komal. There was something strange in the way he spoke to her…like they knew each other. Komal, on the other hand, looked both guilty and flustered.
“I just added a little pepper,” she confessed. “It wasn’t supposed to burn your lungs.”
He groaned, rolling his eyes. “Unbelievable. And who exactly was this supposed to be for?”
Before Komal could respond, footsteps echoed on the staircase.
“Abhimanyu?”
Mishti stiffened instantly at the sound of Karan’s voice as he descended the stairs with Kanika following close behind.
“Hello, brother,” Abhimanyu straightened immediately, a grin spreading on his face despite his recent coughing fit.
“When did you get here?” Karan asked. “And what’s wrong with you? Why were you coughing?”
Abhimanyu laughed lightly. “Nothing serious. I just drank some juice, and well, let’s just say my throat didn’t approve.”
Karan’s gaze darkened as he turned toward Maria. “Who made that juice?”
Maria fidgeted before she opened her mouth, about to take the blame, when Mishti stepped forward.
“I made it,” she said firmly.
“No, she didn’t. I did.” Komal immediately interjected.
Karan’s eyes moved between them, his patience already wearing thin. He looked ready to snap, but before he could, Abhimanyu caught his arm.
“Bro,” he said calmly. “It’s fine. I drank it too fast, that’s all. I’m fine now.”
Karan exhaled, still unconvinced. “Are you sure? You don’t look okay to me. Should I call a doctor?”
Komal raised an eyebrow. “You don’t need to. I am a doctor.”
His glare returned instantly. “You’re the last person I’d trust with anyone’s health in this house.”
Komal crossed her arms. “Well, your brother doesn’t seem to share that opinion.”
Abhimanyu chuckled, watching their exchange. “Relax, both of you. I’m fine.”
Komal moved closer to check his pulse. “You sure there’s no burning in your throat? Any irritation in your chest?”
Abhimanyu smiled faintly. “If I say yes, you’ll make me drink something worse, won’t you, Doctor?”
Mishti noticed their comfort again, and this time even Karan did, but he didn’t question yet.
Before Mishti could ask, Kanika’s voice sliced through the moment. “Looks like someone drank my juice.”
The implication wasn’t lost on anyone. Mishti’s heart thudded.
Yes, it was meant for Kanika, and poor Abhimanyu drank it.
Her attention shifted to Abhimanyu again.
His features were softer than Karan’s, and that name?
Abhimanyu. She had read it in that old photo diary of Karan’s mother.
Was he the same little boy who was in those pictures?
That’s when Abhimanyu’s eyes met hers, and he grinned.
“In all this, I forgot to wish and introduce myself to Bhabhi,” he said warmly before smiling at Mishti again. “I am Abhimanyu, Karan’s younger cousin brother. And I must say, Bro made a good choice. You’re even prettier than your picture.”
Karan’s eyes lingered on Mishti, whose cheeks flushed immediately at the compliment. Kanika, on the other hand, looked like she was ready to bite her tongue in half.
“Thanks, Abhimanyu.” Mishti smiled softly. “I didn’t know you were coming, or else I would’ve made sure your welcome was more special. After all, you’re Karan’s brother… his family.”
Abhimanyu grinned, clearly charmed as he glanced at Komal once. “I like giving surprises.”
“Abhimanyu,” Karan interrupted. “You should rest. Maria, set up his luggage in his room?”
Maria nodded and immediately left outside.
“Rest? Come on, bhai, I just got here. I brought gifts for both of you. I missed the wedding, remember?”
“Not now,” Karan said sharply. “I have a work dinner to attend with a client. We’ll talk later tonight.”
“Fine,” Abhimanyu said with a grin. “Then I’ll spend some time with Bhabhi and Dr Komal till you’re back.”
Karan turned toward Komal, clearly not liking the idea. “Dr Komal will be leaving soon. Right, Doctor?”
“Yes, Mr Wadhwa,” Komal said, meeting his stare evenly. “But before I go, let me remind you that it’s your duty too to ensure your wife doesn’t skip her follow-ups again. That’s the only reason I came myself to check on her.”
“That wouldn’t happen again. I’ll make sure of that,” he replied, giving both Mishti and Komal a hard glare which even Abhimanyu noticed.
“Uh,” Abhimanyu began, “even if you forget, until I am here, I’ll make sure Bhabhi doesn’t forget her follow-ups. I’ll take her personally if required.”
Komal knew he meant what he said. She turned to Mishti. “Alright then. See you soon.”
“Thanks for coming.” Mishti smiled faintly. “We’ll see you on Monday, during my next appointment.”
“No. You’ll meet her much before that,” Abhimanyu added. “In fact, this weekend.”
Mishti blinked. “Weekend?”
“Yes,” Abhimanyu said, winking. “At my welcome party.” Saying that, he turned towards Karan. “Won’t my big brother throw me a welcome party?”
Karan sighed, running a hand through his hair. Abhimanyu had always been impossible to refuse. “Of course,” he muttered. “We’ll have one.”
“That’s like my brother,” he hugged Karan before turning to Komal again. “You are invited, Doctor.”
Komal hid a smile. “Well, then… thank you for the invitation,” she said lightly, glancing at Abhimanyu before turning to Mishti. “I’ll try my best to come.”
“Please do.” He grinned again.
Karan, like Mishti, was observing their conversation, but none of them intervened.
With Komal leaving, even Karan and Kanika left, both heading out for a dinner meeting scheduled with a client.
****************
Two hours later
Mishti served dinner at the table. She had spent the last two hours cooking for Abhimanyu, grateful that at least someone in the house would share a meal with her. Karan never did. Dinner with him had become a forgotten dream long ago.
She asked Maria to call Abhimanyu downstairs when her phone suddenly rang. It was Karan. The sight of his name flashing on the mobile screen made her stiffen. He rarely called her. Why now?
“Hello,” she answered the call.
“Pack your stuff and place it inside my room. Now!” he commanded, leaving no space for questions.
Mishti frowned. “But why?”
“Because I said so. Until Abhimanyu stays with us, I want you in my room. Understood?”
It hit her instantly. This wasn’t about any change of heart. It was only because of his brother. He wanted to keep up appearances.
“And if I don’t?” Her fingers tightened around the phone.
For a few seconds, there was silence. She could almost hear his irritation breathing through the line.
“Then I’ll come there and carry my wife to the room myself,” he warned. “Don’t make me do that.”
He was about to disconnect the call when she spoke.
“Who do you think I am, Karan? A puppet who’ll blindly follow every command you throw at me?”
“Think whatever you like. But remember one thing, I don’t like to be refused. So, just do as I say.”
Karan hung up before she could argue, anger clouding his thoughts as he returned to his dinner table at the five-star hotel.
Kanika was talking to the clients, but his mind wasn’t on the meeting anymore.
The idea of Mishti in his room irritated him more than it should have.
Yet, now that Abhimanyu was home, it had to look normal.
Still, a thought pricked him. Would Mishti really obey him?
Something in him said she wouldn’t. And he couldn’t wait to get home to see for himself.
Back at the mansion, Abhimanyu had freshened up and joined Mishti at the dining table. He looked delighted when he saw the spread of puris, paneer masala, aloo sabzi, dal, jeera rice, and suji halwa for dessert.
“Wow, Bhabhi,” he exclaimed, taking the first bite. “This is heavenly! Just like Maa used to make. She had spoiled me with her cooking until she was alive.”
Mishti smiled softly. “I’m glad you liked it.”
The dinner continued with light talks about Abhimanyu’s bond with Karan and how good brother Karan always had been. When Mishti suddenly asked him about Abhimanyu’s parents, his expression dimmed.
“Dad passed away too early, and Mom had a cardiac arrest, just five years ago. After that, it’s just me and Karan bhai left as family.”
Mishti’s eyes softened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Honestly, even if I’m married to Karan, I hardly know much about his family.”
He chuckled. “That’s understandable. Karan bhai isn’t exactly the ‘let’s sit and share family stories’ type.
So, let me brief you on that. My mom, Mala, and his mom, Asha, were real sisters.
And their husbands, our dads, were real brothers.
We were one big family in every sense, even though we lived in two different cities.
Karan bhai’s family stayed in Mumbai, while mine was in Delhi, where my father handled the other end of our business. ”