Meanwhile, Suhana clung to Arjun's hand, her voice dripping with curiosity as she gazed across the room.
"Wow! I didn't know Siddhartha finally showed his girl? I thought he still kept his relationship a secret." she said, her eyes fixed on Meera and Siddhartha, who were laughing and chatting together.
Arjun's mind, however, was a maelstrom of emotions.
"She said she was busy! SHE FUCKING SAID SHE WAS BUSY!" he mentally seethed, his composition shattered by the intensity of his emotions. His eyes blazed with fury, his grip on the wine glass tightening until it shattered in his hand.
The sound of shattering glass was like a trigger, releasing a torrent of emotions that Arjun had been struggling to contain.
A few shards of glass pierced his arm, and blood dripped from the wounds, but Arjun didn't even flinch.
Suhana's voice was laced with concern as she reached out to him.
"Oh my God, Arjun! You're injured! Let me clean-" But her words were cut short as she saw Arjun's eyes fixed on Siddhartha and Meera, his body language screaming with tension.
Arjun's eyes seemed to bore into Meera's very soul, his gaze burning with an intensity that made Suhana's blood run cold.
He looked possessed, his anger and jealousy consuming him like a dark, primal force. Suhana's grip on his hand tightened, but Arjun shook her off, his movements jerky and uncontrolled.
Without a word, Arjun strode towards Siddhartha and Meera, his long legs eating up the distance.
"Meera." Arjun's voice was low and rough, like he was struggling to contain a fierce storm brewing within him.
The sound sent a shiver down Meera's spine as she turned around to face him. Their eyes locked, and Meera felt like she was drowning in the intensity of his gaze. His stare was piercing, as if he could see right through her.
"Um, hi, A-Arjun." Meera stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
For some reason, she felt like she was caught stealing, especially with the way Arjun was looking at her. His eyes seemed to bore into her very soul, making her feel guilty and anxious.
Just then, her eyes drifted away from Arjun's intense gaze, and she saw a beautiful young girl heading towards them, calling out to Arjun. Her long, raven-black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and her emerald green dress sparkled in the light, making her look like a radiant gemstone.
"Arjun, we need to clean your wound. You're still bleeding!" Suhana's voice was laced with concern, and Meera's attention was drawn to Arjun's clenched fist. She gasped as she saw the blood dripping from his hand, her eyes widening in shock.
"Oh God! Bhai, you're bleeding!" Siddhartha exclaimed, his voice filled with alarm. Mrs. Madhav gasped and rushed towards Arjun, her face etched with worry.
All this time, Arjun's eyes remained fixed on Meera, his gaze burning with a mix of emotions. He was angry, happy, and furious all at once, his feelings swirling together like a maelstrom.
He was angry at Meera for being with Siddhartha, happy to see her again, and furious at himself for still having feelings for her.
As the commotion around him grew, Arjun's grip on his emotions began to slip. His eyes flashed with a warning, his jaw clenched in an effort to contain the storm raging within him. Meera, sensing the tension, took a step back.
Suhana, however, rushed towards Arjun, her voice filled with concern.
"Arjun, let me help you. We need to clean that wound." She reached out to take his hand, but Arjun shook her off, his eyes never leaving Meera's face.
Meera's heart pounded in her chest as she gazed into Arjun's intense eyes, her mind racing with questions.
Why was Arjun so angry? And staring at her like that?
"Son, come please, you're bleeding." Mrs. Madhav's voice echoed through the air, filled with concern and a hint of urgency.
Arjun's gaze lingered on Meera for a moment before he turned to face his mother. She slowly moved towards him, her eyes fixed on the blood dripping from his hand, and gently coaxed him away from the group.
Suhana followed closely behind, her eyes darting between Arjun and Meera, a mixture of curiosity etched on her face. As they walked away, the tension in the air began to dissipate, leaving Siddhartha and Meera alone once again.
The drama that had just unfolded didn't go unnoticed by Mr. Madhav. He had been watching from a distance, his eyes scanning the room with a keen interest.
He saw the way Arjun had been staring at Meera, how his eyes burning with an intensity. But he chose not to intervene, instead quietly slipping away, leaving Siddhartha and Meera to their conversation.
Siddhartha let out a deep sigh, his eyes scanning the room before landing on Meera.
"This is getting out of hand." he murmured, his voice laced with concern.
Meera's attention was piqued, and she turned to face him, her curiosity getting the better of her. "What do you mean, getting out of hand?" she asked, her voice neutral.
Siddhartha's eyes seemed to cloud over, his expression serious.
"Bhai has been acting...weird for two weeks now. His anger is ten times worse, and it's getting worse by the day."
Meera's brow furrowed.
"Maybe it's stress from work?" she suggested, trying to offer a plausible explanation.
But Siddhartha shook his head, his expression dismissive.
"No, it's something else. Bhai is never stressed from work. He's always been able to handle the pressure."
Meera's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with possibilities.
What could be causing Arjun's behavior? She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the present moment.
"Don't worry, he'll be fine." she said, forcing a reassuring smile onto her face.
Siddhartha sighed, his eyes lingering on Meera's face before he looked away, his expression a mixture of worry and frustration.
The air was thick with unspoken words, the tension between them palpable.
***
Mrs. Madhav's voice was laced with a mix of concern and scolding as she tended to Arjun's wounded palm.
"I've told you to always be careful, Arjun." she said, her eyes locked on his face.
Arjun, however, seemed lost in thought, his mind drifting back to Meera. He didn't even flinch as his mother cleaned and bandaged his wound, removing the small shard of glass that had pierced his palm.
Just as Mrs. Madhav finished, Mr. Madhav spoke up, his voice commanding attention.
"You two can leave. I want to talk to Arjun."
Arjun's gaze snapped towards his father, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Mr. Madhav rarely called him by his name, and when he did, it was usually because he was serious.
Mrs. Madhav and Suhana nodded, exchanging a brief glance before leaving the room. The door closed behind them, and Mr. Madhav's eyes locked onto Arjun's, his gaze piercing.
For a full minute, the two of them simply stared at each other, the tension between them palpable. Finally, Mr. Madhav spoke up, his voice low and even.
"You love her?"
Arjun's expression faltered, confusion etched on his face. Mr. Madhav let out a dry chuckle, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"The beauty Siddhartha brought." he clarified, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Arjun's glare was immediate, his eyes flashing with anger. But Mr. Madhav simply smiled, his expression serious.
"Wow, so nice to finally see that you have feelings for someone."
Arjun's face twisted in a snarl, but Mr. Madhav continued, his voice taking on a grim tone.
"Kill that feeling." The air seemed to vibrate with danger as Mr. Madhav's aura grew more menacing.
Arjun growled, his body tense with anger, and stood up, towering over his father.
"You're getting married to Suhana, so start learning to love her. And kill that feeling you have for that girl. It might be an attraction. You can sleep with her if you want, have fun if it's possible. But you can't marry her. Suhana is the right match for you."
Arjun's face turned red with rage, his fists clenched at his sides.
"It's not an attraction." he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Mr. Madhav's expression didn't change, his eyes remaining serious.
"I don't care. Whatever you want with her, but Suhana is my choice for you."
He turned to leave, but not before adding, "Besides, I see fire in that young lady's eyes. She looks warm here, but it can be easily read that she doesn't like being in this gathering. And she'll be a bit difficult to control."
The door closed behind Mr. Madhav, leaving Arjun seething with anger. He fisted his palm and hit the wall, the sound echoing through the room.
*
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Meanwhile, Meera wandered the party, avoiding the curious gazes of the guests. She headed towards the food area, her mind numb with boredom.
She had expected a birthday party to be fun and full of laughter, but this event was the opposite. People formed groups to discuss business, and the atmosphere was stifling.
As she waited in line for food, she overheard a group of girls talking about Arjun and his girlfriend. Meera's thoughts faltered for a moment.
If he had a girlfriend, why was he calling her at night to ask about her schedule?
Doesn't he respect her?
Doesn't he know it was wrong and disrespectful to call a girl at night despite having a girlfriend?
Her mind whirled with questions, but she pushed them aside, focusing on the present moment.
She took her food and found a quiet spot to eat, her eyes scanning the room with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
Siddhartha had excused himself to talk to some business partners, promising to return and introduce her to someone.
Few minutes passed.
Meera sighed, feeling like she was losing her mind for being comfortable with the number of criminals she was surrounded by.
Meera was lost in thought, her mind wandering as she gazed out at the crowd, when someone tapped her shoulder.
She turned around, and her eyes widened as she took in the sight of a very good-looking guy. He looked younger than her, but his chiseled build and bulging muscles gave off a different impression. His dashing appearance was accentuated by his wavy brown hair, which partially covered his eyes, adding to his mystique.
He wore a black shirt with three buttons undone, revealing a hint of his toned chest, and a black pant that seemed to fit him perfectly. His fingers were adorned with several rings, giving off a hint of edginess. A tattoo peeked out from beneath his shirt, partially visible on his chest and neck, adding to his enigmatic aura. His face was gorgeous, with a strong jawline and hooded eyes that seemed to hold a thousand secrets.
Meera's head tilted slightly as she tried to place him. She had seen him before, but she couldn't quite remember where.
"Hi, Meera." he said, his voice low and hoarse, sending a shiver down her spine. His tone was neutral, neither friendly nor unfriendly, just...mysterious.
"Um, hello...Do I know you?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion.
His eyes locked onto hers, and his gaze seemed to bore into her very soul.
"My name is Varun." he said, his voice dripping with an air of mystery. "I was the one who helped you and...Veda at the grocery store."
Meera's eyes widened as the memory clicked into place.
"Oh yeah, you're the gentleman! Thank you, and I'm sorry for Veda's behavior." she apologized on her sister's behalf.
As she looked at him now, she couldn't help but notice the difference in his appearance. The day she saw him at the grocery store, he was quiet and dressed casually, with no tattoos or rings in sight. But now, he exuded an aura of confidence and danger, making her feel uneasy.
"Where is Veda?" he asked, his voice sounding longing and his eyes taking on a desperate glint.
Meera's brow furrowed in concern.
"Oh, um, she's at home...Is there a problem?" she asked, her voice cautious.
Varun's gaze dropped, and his fist clenched, his body language screaming tension.
"Meera?" he called, his voice intense and low, sending a shiver down her spine.
For a moment, Meera was scared of him. He looked...dangerous and possessed, his eyes burning with an inner fire that made her heart skip a beat.
She took a step back, her mind racing with questions.
What was going on?
Why was he looking for Veda with such desperation?
And what did he want with her sister?
Varun's eyes snapped back up to hers, and he took a step closer, his presence making her feel like he was invading her personal space.
"I need to see her." he said, his voice low and urgent, his eyes boring into hers with an unspoken message.
"What?" Meera whispered, her mind still reeling from the intense encounter with Him.
He looked like he was about to say something, but then he sighed and shook his head, growling slightly under his breath.
"Sorry...um, you know the Madhav family?" he asked, diverting the conversation. Meera took a few seconds to collect her thoughts, her heart still racing from the sudden intensity of the moment.
"Um. Y-yeah, i-i mean n-no. I-I was invited by Siddhartha" she stammered, trying to compose herself. Varun nodded, his eyes still fixed on hers, before turning and walking away, leaving Meera to shiver in the dark aura he had left behind.
"Now I see why Veda said he's a stalker." she murmured to herself, her mind whirling with questions about Varun's intentions.
Just then, Siddhartha called out her name, and Meera turned to see him standing beside a beautiful girl. The girl's eyes sparkled as she pulled Meera into a tight hug.
"Oh my God! YOU ARE GORGEOUS!!! Finally, I'm so happy to finally meet you!" the girl beamed, her enthusiasm infectious. Meera smiled back, feeling a genuine connection with the girl, despite not knowing her.
"You are beautiful too, I love your dimples." Meera complimented, and the girl blushed, her eyes sparkling with delight.
"Oh, my manners! My name is Ishita, and this moron's girlfriend." she grinned, playfully rolling her eyes at Siddhartha. Meera's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Siddhartha, who was scratching the back of his head, looking sheepish.
"You have a girlfriend?" Meera teased, her voice laced with amusement. Siddhartha cleared his throat, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Yes, we just live in different states. She's a model." he said, but received a smack on the head from Ishita.
"Ex-model, I'm a fashion designer now!" Ishita corrected, her eyes glinting with mischief. Siddhartha winced, rubbing his head.
"Ouch! Sorry, baby." he whined, and Meera laughed, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Ishita.
"It's so wonderful to meet you, Ishita." Meera said, dying down her laugh. "You seem like someone who's full of life."
"Thank you, Meera! You seem nice and so reserved. You look like someone who doesn't like gatherings like this." Ishita observed, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Meera smiled wryly. "Well, I needed to do this for a Siddhartha. Also, he promised to show me someone. I guess that was you, and it's so amazing."
"Are you even comfortable?" Ishita asked, her eyes scanning the room with a critical gaze.
"Honestly, knowing I'm surrounded by mafias and criminals, I'm not." Meera admitted, feeling a sense of unease. "But again, for a friend..."
Ishita's eyes showed gratitude, and she smiled warmly at Meera.
"You are a wonderful person, To go out of your zone to mix with people you don't like."
Just then, an announcement was made, gathering people around. Ishita pulled Meera along, and they headed towards the spiral stairs, where Mr. Madhav stood, his eyes surveying the crowd with an air of authority.
"Hey, wait!" Siddhartha called out, but Ishita just waved at him, her eyes fixed on Mr. Madhav.
"Let's go, Meera! I want to hear what he has to say." Ishita said, her voice filled with excitement, and Meera followed.
"Good evening to everyone, and a warm thank you for attending my party." Mr. Madhav announced, his voice booming through the hall. The crowd erupted into applause as he continued, "As we all know, my title has been passed down to my son, and so is a new title coming up."
The audience clapped again, their faces filled with excitement and curiosity. Mr. Madhav's eyes scanned the room, his gaze lingering on Meera for a moment, his stare intense and piercing. Meera felt a shiver run down her spine as she wondered why he was looking at her like that. She was just a guest, after all.
"My son, Arjun Madhav, the Lord who has run the empire for years, I now stand to announce to you his beautiful fiancée, Suhana Agarwal." Mr. Madhav declared, his voice filled with pride.
The hall erupted into cheers and applause once more, with some guests even whistling and shouting congratulations. Suhana, who had been standing off to the side, stepped forward, a radiant smile on her face. She looked like she was on top of the world, her eyes shining with happiness.
Arjun, however, seemed less than enthused. His gaze scanned the room, his eyes searching for something or someone. And then, they settled on Meera. For a moment, their eyes locked, and Meera felt like she was drowning in the intensity of his stare.
Ishita, who had been standing beside Meera, let out a low growl, her voice venomous.
"Ugh! Seriously?? That leech?? Is your father nuts?? Why will he set Arjun with that, good-for-nothing whore?"
Meera gasped, shocked by the vitriol in Ishita's words. She was taken aback by the cussing, and by the way Suhana looked like a sweet girl.
Why the insult?
What had Suhana done to deserve such venom?
Ishita's words seemed to have gone unnoticed by the rest of the guests, who were still cheering and congratulating Arjun and Suhana. But Meera felt like she had been punched in the gut, her mind reeling with questions.
What was going on?
Why was Ishita so angry with Suhana?
As the applause died down, Arjun and Suhana stepped forward, their hands clasped together in a symbol of unity. But Meera couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.
But really, she does not care.
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Can I please get 10 votes??