Chapter 12: Chapter Eleven.

~Drunk in Infatuation~Words: 9699

Dedicated to kpopforeverbtsbp.

As the BMW came to a stop in front of the exquisite restaurant, the golden lights illuminating the exterior seemed to dance in harmony with the luxurious vehicle's sleek design.

The restaurant, one of the most renowned in India, was owned by a close friend of Arjun's, and its opulent ambiance was a testament to its esteemed reputation.

Arjun stepped out of the car, his tall, athletic frame commanding attention. His hair was styled to perfection, and his black three-piece suit accentuated his broad shoulders and chiseled physique.

Despite his cold, stoic expression, he exuded an aura of confident masculinity that was impossible to ignore. It was as if he had been sculpted by the gods themselves, every feature meticulously crafted to create a masterpiece of male beauty.

As he closed the door behind him, his eyes scanned the surroundings before settling on the other side of the car.

He opened the door and extended a hand, his gaze fixed on the slender, well-manicured hand that grasped his. He gently pulled out a young lady, her beauty captivating in its understated elegance. Her raven-black hair cascaded down her back, framing an oval face adorned with minimal makeup. Her brown eyes sparkled with warmth, and her gentle smile hinted at a kind soul. This was Suhana, daughter of the affluent Agarwal family, controllers of a multi-billion-dollar empire.

As they entered the restaurant, the manager greeted them with a deferential bow.

"This way, Mr. Madhav and beautiful Miss." he directed, leading them to their assigned table. The setting was intimate, a two-seater reserved exclusively for Arjun and Suhana.

Arjun pulled out the chair for Suhana, his movements economical and precise. She smiled her thanks, but Arjun's expression remained impassive, his interest in the evening's proceedings seemingly nonexistent.

He took his seat, his eyes scanning the menu with a practiced air of detachment.

The manager, well-versed in the art of catering to the elite, approached their table with caution.

"What would you like, sir?" he asked, his tone deferential, his eyes darting to Arjun's face in search of any hint of displeasure.

As they perused the menu, Suhana's gaze danced across the pages, taking in the array of exotic dishes.

"Oh, Arjun, look! They have Seared Scallops in a Saffron-Infused Cream Sauce." she exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Arjun's eyes flicked to the menu, his gaze scanning the options with a practiced air of detachment.

"I'll have the Lamb Chops" he said finally, his voice low and even.

Suhana's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"And I'll try the Golden Caviar Biryani." she said, her voice full of anticipation.

The manager's face lit up with a smile. "Excellent choices, sir and madam" he said, his voice dripping with obsequiousness.

"I'll have our chef prepare your dishes immediately."

As they waited for their food to arrive, Suhana couldn't help but steal glances at Arjun, wondering what lay beneath his enigmatic exterior. But Arjun's expression remained inscrutable, his eyes fixed on some point beyond the horizon.

"Um, So...Arjun?" Suhana stated, her voice barely above a whisper. Arjun's gaze fixed on her, his eyes piercing as he waited for her to continue.

"Your father told me about his party coming up next week Saturday, and he invited me" Suhana said softly, her cheeks flushing with a gentle blush. She was the type of girl who was shy and clingy, traits that Arjun typically found off-putting.

Arjun nodded curtly, despite not having given it much thought.

"I know, I will be picking you up too." he said, his tone detached.

Suhana's face lit up with a wide smile, and she blushed even deeper.

"By then, we can announce our relationship publicly, and—" she started to say, her voice filled with excitement.

But Arjun cut her off, his gritted teeth betraying his growing irritation.

"Don't. This is just a dinner, not a date." he growled, his anger simmering just below the surface. He knew all too well that his father had likely orchestrated this entire scenario behind his back.

Suhana's smile faltered, and she nodded timidly, her eyes cast downward.

"Oh, yes, yes, your father did say...slowly, and—" she stammered, trying to fill the awkward silence.

But Arjun's patience was wearing thin. "Enough!" he barked, his anger boiling over.

Suhana cowered, her voice barely audible. "I'm sorry." she whispered.

Arjun let out a tired sigh, his shoulders sagging in resignation. "It's okay" he muttered, his tone softening slightly.

Just then, their dishes arrived, and the server bustled over to attend to them.

Arjun was eager to keep the dinner brief, but Suhana seemed determined to draw out the evening, peppering him with questions and keeping the conversation going despite his obvious disinterest.

This was one aspect of Suhana's personality that Arjun found particularly grating. While she possessed a delicate beauty and a submissive nature that many men would find irresistible, he couldn't help but feel a disconnect from her.

His mind kept wandering back to Meera, the one person who had truly caught his attention. She was everything Suhana was not - feisty, strong-willed, and unafraid to speak her mind. Her beauty was not just captivating, but also unique, like a rare gem that he couldn't help but covet.

Meera was like a forbidden fruit, tantalizing and alluring, and Arjun found himself drawn to her with an intensity that he couldn't explain. He couldn't understand why the mere sound of his name on her lips was enough to send shivers down his spine, or why the memory of her scent lingered in his mind long after she was gone.

As he sat across from Suhana, trying to make small talk and pretend interest, his mind kept drifting back to Meera and their encounter fee hours ago.

He couldn't help but wonder if he was simply attracted to her, or if there was something more to his feelings. The naughty scene playing out in his head didn't help, and he knew he needed to leave before things got out of hand.

He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being pulled towards Meera, like a moth to a flame. He was drawn to her strength and her fire, and he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to taste that forbidden fruit.

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For Meera, the interview had been a breeze, and she was relieved to have made it through the first week of the four-week process.

As she stepped out of the house with Siddhartha, she felt a sense of accomplishment wash over her. And, as an added bonus, she hadn't caught a glimpse of Arjun all day, which was just fine by her.

"Your father is coming to pick you up?" Siddhartha asked, falling into step beside her.

Meera turned to him and smiled. "No, I'll just hail a cab." she replied, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

But Siddhartha was insistent. "Let me drop you off then." he offered.

Meera shook her head, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. "No, really, don't worry about it. I'll be fine, and I don't want to bother you."

Siddhartha chuckled and countered.

"Bother? You're not a bother at all, Meera. And besides, it's late, and not all taxi services are trustworthy. You'll be safer with me, and you can save money too."

Meera couldn't resist Siddhartha's warm smile and genuine concern. She felt a sense of ease with him that she hadn't experienced in a long time.

"Well, thanks for scaring me a bit." she teased, and this time, she allowed Siddhartha to drive her home.

As they rode through the quiet streets, Meera felt a sense of comfort with Siddhartha that she hadn't anticipated. They chatted easily, sharing stories and laughter, and before she knew it, they were pulling up to her apartment.

Meera thanked Siddhartha, feeling a sense of appreciation towards him. He smiled and winked, and then drove off into the night leaving Meera feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

As soon as Siddhartha pulled into his driveway, he handed his keys to the waiting guard, who promptly took the car to park it in the garage.

Siddhartha stepped out of the cool evening air and into the warm glow of the house, only to be met with an unsettling sight. His brother, Arjun, was pacing back and forth in the foyer, his expression dark and troubled.

"Bhai, are you okay? And how was the—" Siddhartha started to ask, concern etched on his face as he approached his brother.

But Arjun cut him off, his voice low and urgent. "Where is she?"

Siddhartha's confusion was evident. "Who are you talking about?" he asked, his brow furrowed in puzzlement.

Arjun's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in frustration. "I'm talking about Meera. Where is she?"

Siddhartha's confusion deepened, not just because of the question, but also due to Arjun's strange behavior.

"Um, she left. I dropped her home. Bhai, is there a problem?" he asked, trying to gauge what was wrong.

Arjun's gaze lingered on Siddhartha for a moment, as if searching for something, before he turned and walked away, heading towards the stairs and his room.

Siddhartha stood there, lost in thought, trying to make sense of what had just transpired.

Meanwhile, Arjun stormed into his room, his mind racing with thoughts of Meera.

He grabbed his phone and dialed her number, but was met with a frustrating message from the customer service - 'the number is busy'.

He tried again and again, his frustration growing with each attempt. Finally, he growled out in exasperation.

"Who the fuck is she calling at this time?"

Unbeknownst to Arjun, Meera was peacefully engrossed in writing and arranging the answers from the interview, filing them away in a neat folder, completely oblivious to the turmoil she had unwittingly caused.

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Can I get 5 votes?

Sorry for late update.🙏