CHAPTER 44 #3
He circled the puja thali around them, a little awkwardly, like someone welcoming a bride home for the first time.
He forgot half the steps, like when to apply the tilak, when to shower the rice, and this time, Mishti herself quietly guided him, telling him what came next.
He followed her instructions, step by step.
Then, with Karan still holding her hand, she gently nudged the rice kalash forward with her foot.
It felt like a beginning, not just another return, but her first real beginning in this house.
Just as Mishti was about to step inside the house, Karan suddenly pulled her hand back. Before she could understand why, he bent slightly and lifted her into his arms.
She gasped in shock. Not because of the gesture, but because his arm was injured.
“Karan, what are you doing?” she asked, alarm flooding her voice.
“It’s our tradition,” he replied calmly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “The groom carries his bride into their home.”
She stared at him, stunned, as he carried her forward, walking into the mansion with her held close against his chest. Abhimanyu only shook his head, grinning openly, and followed them inside with Maria.
Karan did not put her down until they reached the living room. The moment her feet touched the floor, Mishti turned to him at once, her hands going straight to his bandaged arm.
“Did it hurt?” she asked urgently. “Are you okay? Your stitches… did it hurt?”
He looked at her, took in the panic in her eyes, and shook his head lightly. “No. I’m fine.”
That was when Abhimanyu spoke from the side. “Bhabhi, that’s called self-inflicted pain.”
Mishti turned to him, confused. “What do you mean?”
Abhimanyu laughed. “There’s no such tradition in our family where the groom has to carry the bride in his arms. Looks like bhai has started one of his own now.”
Mishti froze. Then slowly, she turned back to Karan. He was standing there with that infuriating, unapologetic smirk on his face.
Without thinking twice, she lifted her hand and hit his arm. The same bandaged arm. Gently, but firmly. Then she turned away.
He immediately winced. “That hurt,” he complained.
She glanced back at him while walking toward Maria and said flatly, “You deserved it.”
Mishti stepped closer to Maria and wrapped her arms around her without saying a word.
Maria froze for a second.
Then her hands came up, gripping Mishti tightly, as if she had been holding this back for months.
“I missed you,” Maria said finally, her voice breaking despite herself. “This house… it felt empty without you.”
Mishti swallowed hard. “I’m sorry I left like that.”
Maria pulled back just enough to look at her face. “Don’t apologise,” she said firmly. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Karan joined them, interrupting their conversation. “After you left…” he said, looking at Mishti. “Maria stopped smiling the way she used to.”
Mishti looked at him, surprised as he continued. “She still took care of everything, never neglected anything. But she barely spoke to me. At least, not the way she used to. She was deeply angry with me. She didn’t say it outright, but I knew.”
Mishti was surprised as she looked between Maria and Karan.
“Because she knew how I hurt you,” he added. “And that you left this house because of me.”
Mishti felt a pang of sadness. She stepped forward and hugged Maria. “Thank you,” she said softly, “for standing by me even when I wasn’t here. And for still looking after him in my absence.”
Maria held her tightly. “I would never stop doing that.”
As they hugged, Maria lifted her eyes and smiled at Karan. He smiled back at her, knowing she had forgiven him now. He could read that in her eyes.
The staff began unloading their luggage from the car, and Maria immediately stepped forward, saying she would have everything taken to their respective rooms.
That was when Karan interrupted.
“All the luggage goes to my room, Maria,” he said calmly. “Including Mishti’s.”
Mishti looked at him at once, her gaze locking with his, understanding exactly what he meant.
Karan didn’t look away. His eyes stayed on hers as he added, “Mishti is staying in my bedroom… our bedroom.”
Maria felt an immediate surge of happiness.
She already knew from Abhimanyu how Karan and Mishti had been slowly growing closer.
And after the way Karan had arranged her griha pravesh, the way he had carried her into the house despite being injured, this only confirmed it.
Now, him wanting to share his bedroom with her said everything.
Karan continued to look at Mishti, who was still processing what he had just said.
“What if I still choose to stay in the other room… the one you made me live in before?” she asked, challengingly.
Karan knew she was testing him. He didn’t break eye contact. Not for a second.
“Then I’ll move there with you,” he replied without hesitation. “The choice is yours. I don’t care which room we stay in, as long as we share it. Like every husband and wife should.”
A faint smile curved her lips. He truly wanted to live with her. She finally turned to Maria, who was waiting quietly for their decision, and said, “Please move my luggage to his room.”
Maria’s smile widened instantly. She nodded, clearly pleased, and left with the staff to take care of everything.
Abhimanyu walked closer, fanning himself dramatically. “Uff… the heat in this house is increasing day by day, isn’t it, bhai?”
Karan shot him a mocking glare.
Abhimanyu only laughed. “Alright, alright. Let’s call it a day. I think we’re all exhausted.”
“I need to make a few calls,” Mishti said.
Karan nodded in agreement and then turned, heading toward the stairs with Abhimanyu, making his way to the bedroom.