The Luthra mansion was in chaos. The wedding rituals had begun, but Karan was nowhere to be found. His absence was impossible to ignore, and tension filled the air. Rishabh was especially restless, not just because of his own wedding but also because his brother wasn't there to support him. Since morning, he had been trying to reach both Karan and Preeta, worried about her after everything that had happened, but they had avoided everyone. Kareena Luthra, as expected, had already blamed Preeta. She was convinced that Karan was with her, and when Shrishti accidentally revealed that Sarla was in the hospital, Kareena took it as confirmation. Rishabh and Rakhi wanted to visit Sarla, but the rest of the family stopped them, saying they could go after the wedding.
Meanwhile, Karan and Preeta were already taking action. They had contacted the police. Forensic experts confirmed that the video was real, undeniable proof of Sherlyn and Prithvi's betrayal. The police had discreetly positioned officers throughout the mansion to ensure neither of them could escape. But Karan wasn't taking any risks. He went a step further and hired extra security to guard every entrance and exit. This time, no matter what tricks they tried, Sherlyn and Prithvi weren't going anywhere.
This time, the rats had nowhere to run.
Karan and Preeta slipped in through the back door, moving quietly to Karan's room. Time was slipping away.........they had to get ready before the wedding began. Karan's stylist was already waiting, aware of the urgency. Without a word, they separated, Preeta stepping into the bathroom while Karan disappeared into his walk-in closet. When they emerged, it was as if the universe had conspired to make them a perfect pair.
Karan stood tall in a black kurta, his plum jacket tailored to perfection, enhancing his broad shoulders and effortlessly commanding presence. The stylist had styled his hair in a wolf cut, sharpening his already striking features, and giving him an air of quiet arrogance and authority. But it wasn't just his transformation that held weight in the air, it was the woman standing before him.
Preeta.
She was a vision. Dressed in a flowing plum lehenga embroidered in gold, she looked ethereal, almost unreal. Her hair cascaded in soft waves, framing her face, the golden shimmer on her skin catching the light like tiny flecks of stars. Her lips, painted in deep plum-red, parted slightly as she met his gaze. She wore no necklace, letting her collarbone remain bare, an unspoken elegance in the simplicity. A delicate maang tikka adorned her forehead, her golden anklets whispering against the floor with every step she took.
Karan's breath hitched. He had seen Preeta a thousand times before, in every shade of emotion, in every argument, in every moment of stubborn defiance. But this was different. This was a moment he wanted to capture forever. Preeta, feeling the weight of his gaze, lowered her eyes, a soft blush creeping onto her cheeks. The way he looked at her......intense, unguarded, almost reverent, made her heartbeat stumble.
Karan took a step closer, his fingers itching to reach out, to trace the golden shimmer on her skin, to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear just for an excuse to touch her. But he didn't. Not yet.
"You..." His voice came out lower than intended. "You look..." Preeta swallowed, unable to hold his gaze for too long. "What?" she whispered. Karan exhaled sharply, shaking his head with a smirk, but his eyes remained dark with something she couldn't quite name. "Breathtaking." He was sure that if the stylist and his team weren't in the room, he would have already had her pinned against the wall. His self-control was hanging by a fragile thread, stretched tight between his need to hold back and the sheer temptation standing in front of him. He was grateful for the interruption, yet furious about it at the same time.
