"Are you sure you don't need a ride to your workplace?" Jiya asked, her voice tinged with concern, as she fitted on her helmet and gazed at Meera.
They stood in the parking space, surrounded by the quiet hum of bikes, student cars and the occasional chatter of students. Classes had ended for the day, and the warm sun cast a golden glow over the scene.
Meera smiled reassuringly, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"No, Jiya, don't worry about me. I'm fine. I'll just hail a rickshaw. You, on the other hand, will be late if you don't hurry. I'm sure Mr. Khan doesn't permit tardiness." she teased, her voice laced with humor.
Jiya chuckled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Okay, okay, take care, babes!" she said, her voice filled with affection, as she swung her leg over the scooter and settled on it.
The two friends shared a warm smile, and Jiya drove away, leaving Meera standing alone, her gaze lingering on the receding figure.
Meera's thoughts turned to her own plans for the day, and she glanced down at her phone to check the time. 2:15 pm. She needed to hurry.
With a sense of purpose, Meera set off towards the school gate, her footsteps blending with those of a few other students heading in the same direction.
Some were chatting animatedly, while others walked alone, lost in thought. Meera fell into the latter category, her mind preoccupied with the tasks ahead.
As she walked, the sounds of the school faded into the distance, replaced by the cacophony of the city.
Meera's thoughts turned to her job. She quickened her pace, her eyes scanning the crowded streets for a rickshaw to hail.
Just then, Meera felt a gentle tap on her shoulder, and she turned around to behold a familiar face - Rohit's. His charming smile on display, and she couldn't help but smile back at him.
"Oh, hey Roh-!" she began
But before she could even finish her greeting, Rohit enveloped her in a warm hug, his excitement radiating like a palpable force.
Meera's eyes widened in shock, her mind struggling to process the sudden display of affection. She hadn't expected Rohit to be so demonstrative, especially in public.
As she stood there, frozen in surprise, Rohit released her and took a step back, his face flushing with embarrassment.
"Thank you so much! The gift ideas were brilliant, and i did few research with my Mom and its exactly what you suggested!" he exclaimed, his words tumbling out in a rush.
Meera's initial shock gave way to understanding as she realized Rohit's enthusiasm was genuine. He had hugged her out of joy, not malice. But before she could respond, Rohit's expression changed, and he looked mortified.
"I-i'm s-so sorry, I didn't mean-" he gulped, his words faltering as he struggled to apologize.
Meera forced a smile, trying to put him at ease. She didn't want him to feel embarrassed or awkward.
"It's okay." she said politely, her voice gentle. "Just don't do that again, okay?" She added, trying to convey a sense of lightheartedness.
Rohit's face still held a hint of embarrassment, but he nodded vigorously, relief washing over him.
"I won't" he said, his voice filled with conviction.
"What did you get her, though?" Meera asked, her curiosity piqued.
Rohit's face lit up with excitement. "Personalized Ancientâ"
As they discussed the gift, Meera's eyes wandered to the side, and her gaze fell upon a car heading towards them. Her eyes widened in alarm as she realized the car was driving erratically, with part of it on the road track and the other side veering off course, straight towards them.
Rohit, oblivious to the danger, continued talking, but Meera's instincts kicked in. She swiftly grabbed Rohit's wrist and pulled him closer, yanking him away from the car's trajectory.
They both stumbled backward, their feet scraping against the sidewalk as they desperately tried to put distance between themselves and the oncoming vehicle.
The car whizzed past, mere inches from Rohit's face, and Meera felt her heart racing with fear. They staggered further away from the sidewalk, their breathing heavy and labored.
"Who the hell was that?!?" Rohit freaked out, his voice laced with panic.
Meera's grip on Rohit's wrist tightened as she struggled to process what had just happened.
"Are you okay?" Rohit asked, his eyes scanning her face for any signs of distress.
Meera nodded, still trying to catch her breath. "Y-yes, I'm fine."
As they stood there, Meera's gaze drifted back to the receding car, and her mind registered something familiar about the vehicle's rear. The license plate, the bumper sticker â it all seemed to stir a memory, but she couldn't quite place it.
Rohit's voice broke into her thoughts.
"What just happened? Was that guy drunk or something?"
Meera's eyes snapped back to Rohit, her expression grim.
"I don't know, but I think we should get out of here. Now."
"Come, my car is just at the corner. I will drop you off," Rohit offered, his voice laced with concern.
Meera hesitated, unsure if she should accept the ride. But the memory of the errant car still lingered, making her skin crawl. She glanced behind her, her heart skipping a beat as she scanned the crowded street. The fear still lingered, making her legs tremble.
Despite her initial reservations, Meera eventually nodded her head, deciding it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Okay, thanks." she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
As they walked towards the corner, Meera kept looking over her shoulder, her eyes darting between the passersby.
Meera's senses were on high alert, her heart racing with every step.
Rohit opened the passenger door, and Meera slid in, her eyes scanning the surrounding area. She locked the door, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. Maybe she was just being overly cautious, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.
As Rohit started the engine, Meera's gaze drifted back to the rearview mirror, her heart still racing with fear.
Who was that driver, and why had they been driving so recklessly?
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"Who the F*ck is he!" Arjun growled, his grip on the steering wheel tightening to the point of whitening his knuckles.
His mind replayed the scene like a broken record, the image of the guy hugging Meera seared into his brain like a branding iron. The flames of anger licked at his insides, fueling his rage.
As he drove, Arjun's speed limit crept higher and higher, his foot pressing down on the accelerator like it was a lifeline. Suddenly, he slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching in protest as the car skidded to a stop.
He threw open the door and stepped out, his chest heaving with labored breaths.
Arjun's black suit jacket was nowhere to be seen, his white shirt clinging to his torso, the top three buttons undone, revealing a hint of his chest.
His eyes blazed with a fierce intensity, the blood vessels visible beneath his skin like a roadmap of his fury. The thoughts swirling in his head were dark, murderous, and he struggled to rein them in.
He paced back and forth beside the car, trying to calm himself down, but his mind refused to let go of the image.
"She was fucking talking about personal space the other day." he muttered to himself "Is he...?" He shook his head violently, trying to dislodge the thoughts, but they clung to him like a bad omen.
Arjun's hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms as he fought to control his temper. He knew he needed to calm down, but his emotions were in turmoil, threatening to consume him whole. The sound of his own ragged breathing filled his ears, a stark reminder of the turmoil raging inside him.
"For God's sake! Calm the fuck down, Arjun!" he yelled at himself, his voice echoing in the silence. He took a deep breath, trying to rein in his emotions, but his mind refused to let go of the image. He paced back and forth, his feet carrying him in a frantic dance, as he struggled to calm the storm raging inside him.
"Get a grip, Arjun!" he muttered, trying to reason with himself. But the words fell flat, his jealousy and possessiveness rearing their ugly heads.
He knew he had no right to feel this way, but he couldn't help it. The thought of Meera in someone else's arms made his blood boil.
And he does not know why!
Arjun stopped pacing and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He looked up at the sky, feeling the cool breeze on his face, and slowly, his rational thinking began to return. He knew he needed to calm down. But the embers of jealousy still smoldered, waiting to ignite into a full-blown inferno.
.
An Hour ago.
Arjun's voice was firm and decisive as he spoke into the phone
"Cancel my meeting for the rest of the day, I have an important matter to attend to." He didn't wait for his personal assistant to respond, simply hanging up the phone with a sense of urgency.
His mind was consumed by thoughts of Meera, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had been building up inside him.
He needed to see her, to talk to her, to understand why he felt so drawn to her. The confusion was eating away at him, and he couldn't focus on anything else.
Without hesitation, Arjun got into his sleek Ferrari and drove to Meera's college, his heart racing with anticipation.
He waited just outside the school premises, his eyes fixed on the entrance, willing her to appear.
As he sat there, Arjun couldn't help but think about his strange behavior towards Meera. Why did he feel so possessive, so protective of her? He didn't know, but he couldn't deny the emotions that had taken hold of him.
Just as he was starting to feel restless, Meera emerged from the school building, her friend by her side. Arjun's breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight of her. She looked stunning, the sunlight dancing across her fair skin, highlighting her delicate features. Her long, brunette hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and Arjun felt himself getting lost in her beauty once again.
He watched, mesmerized, as Meera laughed and chatted with her friend, completely carefree. Arjun's heart swelled with emotion.
He was beginning to lose his sanity.
As Arjun watched, Jiya, Meera's friend, drove away, leaving Meera walking alone towards the parking lot.
The idea of dropping Meera off and spending time with her sent a thrill through him. A slow smile crept onto his lips as he anticipated their time together.
But as he looked back at Meera, he noticed she was walking away quickly, her steps fast and purposeful.
'Why is she in a hurry?' Arjun thought, his curiosity piqued.
He stepped down from his car, intending to approach Meera, but before he could take a single step, he saw a sight that made his heart skip a beat.
A guy with his charming smile, was walking towards Meera. Arjun's eyes narrowed as he watched Rohit reach out and embraced her in a hug.
His smile disappeared, replaced by a scowl, and his fists clenched at his sides.
A surge of possessiveness and anger coursed through him, and he felt the urge to "kill" - to destroy the guy, who was touching Meera, who was making her laugh. Arjun's eyes blazed with intensity.
As Arjun watched, Meera and Rohit continued chatting and smiling, their conversation effortless and joyful. But to Arjun, the sight was like a dagger to the heart, twisting and turning with every passing moment. He felt his breathing become heavy, his chest constricting with a mix of emotions - anger, jealousy, and possessiveness.
His eyes turned bloodshot, his gaze fixed intently on Rohit, his mind racing with dark thoughts. He couldn't bear the sight of Rohit's smile, his laughter, his very presence near Meera. Arjun's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white with tension, as he struggled to contain his emotions.
Without thinking, Arjun got back into his car, his movements swift and jerky. He started the engine, the roar of the car echoing through the air, and his eyes remained fixed on Rohit. For a moment, he considered confronting him, teaching him a lesson, but something held him back.
Instead, Arjun's thoughts turned sinister. He imagined himself hitting Rohit, running him over, erasing him from Meera's life forever.
With a surge of adrenaline, Arjun zoomed off, speeding away from the scene, leaving Rohit and Meera behind.
As he drove, Arjun's anger only intensified, his mind consumed by dark thoughts and emotions. He didn't know where he was going or what he would do, but he knew he needed to get away, to escape the uncontrolled emotions and jealousy that threatened to consume him whole.
*
*
*
10:55pm
The blasting ringing of Meera's phone pierced through the silence, shattering her peaceful evening. She glared at the screen, her annoyance growing with each passing moment.
Who could be calling at this ungodly hour? She thought to herself, her irritation evident in her voice as she picked up the phone.
"Hello?" she said curtly, her tone a clear indication of her displeasure.
"Who was he?" a deep, menacing voice growled from the other side, sending a shiver down Meera's spine.
She hesitated, taken aback by the intensity of the caller's tone. She glanced at the number on her screen, and her eyes widened in shock as she realized who was on the other end of the line.
"Mr. Madhav?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Answer my fucking question, who was he?" Arjun yelled, his voice like thunder, making Meera jump. She could hear his heavy breathing, his anger palpable even through the phone.
Meera's mind raced as she tried to process what was happening.
What was he talking about? And why was he so furious?
"I-I'm sorry, who are you talking about?" Meera stammered, trying to buy time, her mind racing with possibilities.
But Arjun was having none of it.
"That fucker you were with after school." he growled, his words dripping with venom.
Meera's eyes widened in realization as she remembered her encounter with Rohit.
Meera bit her lips, her heart racing with anticipation.
What did he want from her? And why was he so angry about Rohit? She hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
"That was Rohit. He's my course mate." Meera explained, trying to sound calm despite the growing unease in her chest.
But his response only added to her shock.
"Why was he touching you?" he asked, his voice low and menacing. Meera's eyes widened in surprise.
How did he know about Rohit? And why was he so angry?
"M-Mr. Madhav, I have to sleep." Meera stammered, trying to brush off the conversation. But before she could hang up, she heard a loud crash from the other side of the phone, followed by Mr. Madhav's angry growl.
"Why?"
Meera's anger flared up.
What business did he have, asking her about Rohit?
And how did he even know she was with him? She questioned herself, feeling a sense of unease creeping up her spine.
"Mr. Madhav, he was not touching me." Meera clarified, trying to keep her tone neutral. "And how did you know I was with Roh-"
"Stop calling his name!" he growled, his voice like thunder.
Meera was taken aback. What was wrong with this man?
"Mr.-" she started to say, but Arjun corrected her.
"Arjun. Call me Arjun" he barely whispered, his voice sending shivers down Meera's spine.
Meera hesitated. She couldn't bring herself to call him by his first name.
"I'm sorry, but I can't" she said firmly.
But Arjun's response only made her more uncomfortable.
"Why? You call Siddhartha by his name!" he accused, his tone bitter.
Meera defended herself. "That's because Siddhartha is a friend." she said, trying to reason with him.
But Arjun's heart ached at her words. He wanted to be her friend, to be close to her. "Good ni-" she started to say, but he cut meera off.
"I want to be your friend" Arjun said suddenly, his words taking Meera off guard.
But Meera was firm.
"No, sorry. I'm okay with the ones I have. And please, Mr. Madhav, I don't like night calls."
"Then you better get used to it." Arjun's response only made her roll her eyes mentally.
Meera was done with this conversation.
"Not going to happen." she said firmly, before hanging up on him and blocking his number.
As she lay down to sleep, Meera couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.
How did he know about Rohit?
Was he stalking her? She laughed at the thought, trying to reassure herself.
'You think crazy!'
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