CHAPTER 49 #3
She turned her head then, her gaze finding her husband, who was still around, watching her and Daksh, sorting their issues. There were pride, relief, and happiness in Karan’s expressions, and as soon as his eyes met Mishti’s, that look was everything they did not need to say aloud.
Daksh noticed it too. He cleared his throat and turned fully toward Karan.
“I know you and I have never been on the same page,” he said honestly.
“We have always stood against each other. But now that I have my sister back, and I plan to see her more often, I hope we can at least try to get along. For her sake.”
Mishti held her breath, her eyes flicking to Karan, with hope written all over her face.
Karan glanced at her first once, reading her without effort, then looked back at Daksh.
“You named your daughter Pari, right?” he asked casually. “The name Mishti had chosen long ago?”
Daksh blinked, nodding. “Yes.”
“You remembered that, and honoured it,” Karan continued, “that definitely earns you a point.” He shrugged lightly. “So yes. Anyone who gives my wife the love and respect she deserves is no longer my enemy.”
Mishti stared at him, stunned. Did he really just say that?
Daksh let out a short laugh, shaking his head as he looked at Mishti. “What have you done to him? This is not the man I remember.”
She blushed, slipping her arm around Daksh again, hugging him from the side, meeting Karan’s eyes once more, and giving him a soft, wordless smile.
It was a ‘thank you’ meant only for him.
For understanding her. For choosing peace.
And most importantly, for trying to make room in his world for her family, too.
Before Karan could react, either with a word or even an expression, Divya’s voice floated in from behind.
“Why am I missing all the fun?” she asked lightly.
Everyone turned at once.
Mishti’s breath caught as she saw her. Divya stood there with little Pari in her arms, the five-month-old fast asleep against her chest. Mishti instantly crossed the distance without a second thought, her face breaking into a smile that came straight from her heart.
The two women hugged, holding each other tightly, as if making up for all the lost months in that one embrace.
Mishti pulled back first, her eyes going straight to the baby and her excitement was barely contained. She leaned closer, carefully and touched Pari’s tiny arm, afraid to wake her.
“She’s so cute,” she whispered, almost to herself. “She looks like you, Bhabhi… but those cheeks,” she added with a soft laugh, glancing at Daksh, “those are definitely Daksh bhai’s.”
Daksh chuckled from where he stood. “Do you mean to say I have chubby cheeks?”
Mishti smiled, not denying it.
Karan watched them all quietly. If someone had told him once that the Goels would ever stand inside his home like this, laughing, bonding, becoming family, he would have punched that person for even thinking on those lines.
Yet here they were. In his house. In his life.
In his heart. And the truth was, he felt no hatred anymore.
Whatever past the Goel siblings had carried, they had paid for it in full.
Enough had been taken from them already.
The man who truly deserved punishment, their father, was living his own hell now, stripped of power, connections severed, more charges pressed down on him because of the airport shootout.
That chapter was closed in Karan’s life now.
Divya’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she looked at Mishti. “I was waiting in the car till you and Daksh sort out. Didn’t want to steal the spotlight.”
Mishti chuckled as Divya continued. “And I’m not going to ask you this time how you’re doing… or if you’re fine,” she said, giving her a knowing smile. “Because I can see it written all over your face.”
Mishti looked at her, surprised and a little shy.
“You’re glowing, Mishti,” Divya added gently.
Mishti bit her lower lip and nodded slowly. Yes, she was glowing in love. Because she was truly happy in every sense now with Karan.
Sensing the need to give them space, Daksh stepped forward and gently took Pari from his wife. The baby wriggled a little, then settled comfortably in her father’s arms.
Divya held Mishti by the shoulders. “How could you just leave for London like that? And you didn’t even stay in touch with me at least. Why?”
Mishti’s smile faltered with guilt. “I’m sorry,” she said honestly.
“I know I should have stayed in touch at least with you. I wanted to. But I was scared Daksh bhai would find out. And then hiding the land thing would become impossible. I didn’t know how to handle it.
” She paused, then smiled again, brighter this time.
“But now that we’re all together, I’m not letting you go so easily.
I’m going to bother you a lot. I’ll come every month to Panchgani. Especially to spend time with Pari.”
Almost on cue, Pari stirred in Daksh’s arms, her eyes fluttering open.
Mishti gasped softly. “She woke up.”
Daksh smiled and carefully handed the baby to her. Mishti took Pari into her arms with awe, holding her close, her face glowing with a happiness that felt complete.
Divya and Daksh settled comfortably in the living room, while Karan stood a little aside, completely taken by the sight in front of him.
He watched his wife cradle her niece, love pouring out of her effortlessly.
Mishti then sat with Pari in her arms, lost in soft baby talk.
She looked nothing short of an angel to him.
He literally couldn’t stop smiling as he watched her speak to Pari in that childish, affectionate tone, pressing gentle kisses to the baby’s cheeks, swaying her carefully, all while still holding a conversation with Daksh and Divya at the same time.
This felt like family. Seeing his wife with a baby like that gave him ideas of how to expand that family soon.
A while later, he excused himself to check on the dinner arrangements. Mishti immediately offered to come along, but he shook his head.
“No,” he said softly, eyes still on her. “You stay here. Spend time with them. I’ll be right back.”
He walked toward the kitchen, leaving her staring after him, once again in awe of the man she had married.
***************
A few minutes later, Karan was still in the kitchen with Maria, checking that everything was on track.
He asked her to have the table set and also instructed her to move Daksh and Divya’s luggage to the guest room, telling her they would be staying the night.
Maria smiled knowingly, nodded, and stepped away to carry out his instructions.
When Karan pulled out his phone to glance at a message, he suddenly felt familiar arms wrap around his waist from behind. Mishti had come into the kitchen and hugged him, resting her cheek against his back.
He turned at once, drew her to him, and gently pinned her against the cool marble counter, with his body shielding hers.
“Thank you,” she said, looking up at him with shiny eyes.
Karan knew exactly in what context she was thanking him. So, he did not question it. Instead, he bent and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead.
“I like seeing my wife happy,” he replied. “So, you don’t need to thank me for that.”
Mishti’s eyes filled all over again, emotion threatening to spill as she held on to him, feeling once more just how deeply he loved her now. She slid her arms around his neck, and Karan instinctively pulled her closer, as if the space between them did not deserve to exist.
“Karan Wadhwa is officially ticking all the husband goals boxes now,” she murmured, her lips curving. “You really are breaking your own record, you know.”
He arched a brow, amused. “You’re keeping count?” he teased. “I didn’t know that. So, tell me, do I get something if I cross a milestone?”
“Anything,” she replied, leaning closer, her breath mingling with his.
Their faces were barely inches apart when he suddenly smiled to himself. That smile confused her instantly.
“What?” she asked, searching his face.
“I was just remembering you with Pari,” he said, smiling again. “The way you held her, cradled her. Someone already has great motherly skills.”
Mishti pouted, narrowing her eyes playfully. “That’s because I have to babysit my grumpy husband sometimes and tolerate all his tantrums.”
“Is it?” His hands slid lower, from her waist to her soft b*tt curves, pulling her flush against him. His voice dropped. “Do you also keep count of how many swats you give your dear husband?”
She blushed, but did not pull away. “I do. That’s because I’m obsessed with his arse,” she said shamelessly. “Not my fault, is it?”
That was it. Karan leaned down and captured her lips in a deep kiss. The sound of it alone tempted them to keep going, his hands kneading her soft curves, holding her pressed to him. A warm desire curled between them.
It was Mishti who finally pulled back first, breathless. “We have guests,” she whispered. “And I don’t want to look flushed the whole evening. Divya Bhabhi will notice, and she’ll tease me about it for the rest of my life.”
Karan eased back, too, but did not let her go. His arms were still secure around her as she looked up at him.
“Now that you’ve patched things up between me and Daksh bhai,” she said, “there’s still one thing left to do. And it should be your next priority.”
“And what is that?” He was genuinely confused.
She frowned at him. “How can you forget? Abhimanyu and Komal?”
Karan let out a slow exhale, already guessing where this was going.
“This weekend, we are going to Komal’s father, Dr Sharma,” Mishti continued, “and officially ask for her hand for Abhimanyu. We’ve delayed this enough, Karan. Not anymore.”
He pressed his fingers to his forehead dramatically. “I have no problem with Abhimanyu getting married,” he said. “But that doctor Komal…”
Mishti gently hit his arm, already knowing he was only joking now. “Enough of your Tom and Jerry with Komal,” she said. “And I already know you two are getting along just fine.”
“We’re just adjusting,” he replied, shrugging lightly. “For your sake and for Abhimanyu’s.”
Mishti chuckled, then leaned in to kiss his cheek. “That’s why I always say,” she murmured, “Karan iss duniya ke sabse achhe pati hai.”
Karan felt something warm settle in his chest. Earlier, he hadn’t deserved those words. Back then, she had told them to keep up appearances, to make things look normal in front of others. But now, when she said it, he knew she meant every word.
He pulled her closer again, lifting his hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “That’s because Mishti iss duniya ki sabse achhi patni hai. Period.”
She giggled, then caught his hand and tugged him gently. “Come on,” she said. “We have guests waiting. And besides, you still haven’t taken Pari in your arms.”
He froze mid-step, genuinely startled. “Me?”
Mishti stopped them at the kitchen door and turned to him, teasing. “Practice, Mr Karan Wadhwa,” she said. “By the time we become parents, we need to be hands-on.”
He thought about it for a moment, then grinned. The kind of grin she had never seen on his face before. They hadn’t planned for children yet, but the way life was unfolding between them now, it felt like it would happen sooner than they imagined. A few months, maybe a year at most.
Their fingers entwined naturally, like they had always belonged there. Karan raised their handhold, pressed a kiss on her knuckles and walked back together into the living room, ready to be the best hosts for the Goel family waiting outside.
Karan had entered her life carrying vengeance, and Mishti had stepped into his world carrying hope she herself did not fully believe in then.
Revenge had taken what it needed, but love had stayed behind to rebuild what was left.
The man who had once been her punishment was now her partner.
Sometimes, even the most broken beginnings could still lead to something whole.
Just like their marriage…It was no longer a hellish revenge. But a hard-won love.