Please there is an announcement at the end of this chapter kindly read please ð.
It's important!!! Thanksð
Back to our story :)
***
Siddhartha stood outside the company lobby, hands casually tucked into his pockets, waiting for Ishita to arrive. He glanced around, spotting her almost immediately among the few people entering and exiting the building.
She was easy to recognizeâshorter than Meera, with a timid demeanor and large, curious doe-like eyes that darted around, taking in her unfamiliar surroundings.
A soft smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he made his way toward her.
"Hi, Miss Ishita." he greeted, his voice warm and calm.
Ishita turned to the sound of her name, her wide eyes meeting his.
"Hello, Mr. Madhav." she responded politely, offering a nervous smile.
Siddhartha gestured toward the building.
"Shall we?" he asked, guiding her toward the elevator.
As they stepped inside, Siddhartha pressed the button for the top floor and adjusted the collar of his suit, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
"So, did Meera tell you what you'll be doing today?"
Ishita nodded, her voice steady but tinged with apprehension.
"Yes, she told me I'd be finishing the interview she started with you."
Siddhartha looked at her, his expression shifting slightly as if he was weighing his words carefully. He hesitated for a moment, then spoke with a measured tone.
"Actually, Miss Ishita, you wonât be interviewing me today."
Ishita blinked, confusion flickering across her face. "What? But Meera saidâ"
"Yes, she did." Siddhartha interrupted gently. "But there's been a change of plans. Meera isn't aware of it, and it doesnât involve her."
Ishitaâs brow furrowed in confusion, her mind racing to make sense of the situation.
"If Iâm not interviewing you, then who am I supposed to interview?" she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.
Just as the words left her mouth, the elevator chimed, and the doors slid open. Siddhartha stepped out into the gleaming corridor, glancing over his shoulder as Ishita hurried to follow.
"You'll be interviewing Arjun Madhav. The Chairman. " he said, his tone calm but decisive.
Ishitaâs eyes widened in shock. "What? But youâreâ"
"Like I said, Miss Ishita, the plans have changed." His voice softened, sensing her rising anxiety. "And donât worry, this wonât affect your project or your results. Everythingâs been arranged."
Though his words were meant to reassure her, Ishita still felt a ripple of uncertainty. She glanced around the sleek, modern hallway as they approached a set of polished doors.
Her thoughts were a whirlwind of questions, but she kept them to herself, realizing that she had no choice but to go along with this.
Ishitaâs nervousness was apparent in her small, hesitant steps, while Siddhartha walked with a calm, reassuring presence by her side.
"Don't worry, okay? Just ask the questions you need to, and nothing else." Siddhartha said gently, glancing at her. His tone was casual, but he could see the fear in her eyes. She nodded silently, biting her lip.
They stopped in front of Arjunâs office door, the polished wood gleaming under the soft overhead lights. Siddhartha raised his hand to knock, but before doing so, he took one last look at Ishita.
She looked like a frightened kitten, wide-eyed and trembling. For a brief moment, he felt a twinge of guilt. He knew Arjun's temper all too well.
"Relax, okay?" he said again, trying to offer a smile. "Itâs just an interview." His attempt at comforting her fell flat. Her fear was too deep-rooted.
He knocked, and almost immediately, a deep, commanding voice echoed from the other side. "Come in."
Siddhartha pushed open the door and stepped inside, revealing Arjun, who was already standing near his desk, his broad shoulders tense with anticipation. A small smile tugged at Arjun's lips as he saw the door open.
"Meera." he said softly, his expression softening with an eagerness that quickly vanished when he realized it wasnât her. Instead, it was another girl, timid and trembling, standing behind Siddhartha.
Arjunâs face immediately darkened, his smile vanishing, replaced by a look of pure displeasure. His brow furrowed into a deep scowl, and his voice was laced with annoyance. "Who is she? Where the hell is Meera?"
Siddhartha raised an eyebrow at Arjunâs reaction.
"Bhai, this is Ishita." he said calmly. "Sheâs the one who will be interviewing you today. Meeraâs isâ"
"THE FUCK!" Arjunâs sudden roar cut him off, making the air around them crackle with tension.
Ishita gasped audibly and shrank back, instinctively moving closer to Siddhartha as if seeking protection.
Siddhartha's confusion grew, his voice rising with concern. "Why are you so mad? Itâs just an interviewâ"
Arjunâs eyes burned with fury as he stepped closer, his fists clenched.
"Where. The. Fuck. Is. Meera?" His words came out in a low, menacing growl, and the room felt stifling with the weight of his anger.
Siddhartha tried to keep his composure, but Arjun's aggression was unsettling.
"Bhai, I gave you the file this morning. Didnât you read it? The name was changed. Meera won't be here again, so Ishitaâ"
He didnât get the chance to finish. In a split second, Arjun swung a vicious punch straight to Siddharthaâs jaw. The force sent him staggering backward, his vision blurring momentarily from the blow. Ishita screamed in terror, backing into the wall as tears welled up in her eyes.
Get out!" Arjun growled at Ishita and the poor girl ran out trembling.
"I see this coming!" Arjun growled, his chest heaving with rage. "I knew you were trying to keep Meera away from me, Siddhartha!" His voice was venomous, dripping with accusation. "You think I donât see it?!"
Siddhartha wiped the blood from his lip, grimacing in pain.
"What the hell are you talking about?" he spat, still reeling from the punch. "Youâre insane! Youâre getting engaged in a few weeks. Have you forgotten?"
Arjunâs fury didnât wane. In fact, his eyes only darkened further as he took a menacing step forward, towering over Siddhartha.
"That was father's decision, not mine!" His voice was a dangerous whisper. "I wonât tolerate you meddling in this. Meeraâs mine!."
"Sheâs not yours!" Siddhartha shot back, standing his ground.
"She doesnât love you! How can you be so blind? You havenât even told her how you feel. All you do is hover over her, scaring her half to death. Sheâs terrified of you, Arjun!"
Those words hit their mark, but not in the way Siddhartha intended. Arjunâs eyes went cold, and before Siddhartha could react, Arjun lashed out again, another punch connecting with his cheekbone. Siddhartha stumbled, the pain sharp and searing, but this time Arjun wasnât finished.
In one swift motion, Arjun pulled a gun from his desk drawer, the metallic click echoing through the room as he cocked it, pointing the barrel directly at Siddharthaâs head.
Siddhartha froze, his heart pounding in his chest. For a brief second, the room felt utterly silent, the weight of the moment suffocating.
Arjun's eyes were wild, teetering on the edge of reason, his finger dangerously close to the trigger.
"Arjun." Siddhartha whispered, his throat dry, "you need to calm down."
But Arjunâs grip on the gun tightened, his breathing ragged and unsteady.
"You donât get to tell me what to do with Meera." he snarled, his voice trembling with barely contained rage.
"Stay the fuck away from her. Or I swear, Iâllâ"
"She doesnât love you." Siddhartha said, his voice firm, though fear still gnawed at him.
"You need to stop this madness."
His face twisted with torment, battling between rage and denial.
"You're getting engaged, Bhai." Siddhartha pressed, his eyes fixed on his brotherâs. "Meera doesnât belong in your world."
"I let you be because you are my brother." Arjun said. "but I know how far I can go to get a threat out of my way." he said and head out his office. Siddhartha held his chest breathing in relief.
"I'm sorry Meera." Siddhartha whispered.
***
Meanwhile.
"I guess I won't be bored for a very, very long time." Twinkle chuckled, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she and Meera made their way to the checkout desk.
Twinkleâs arms were filled with books, each one promising a new world, and she could hardly contain her enthusiasm.
Meera, ever patient, smiled at her animated demeanor while gathering the rest of the books Twinkle was borrowing.
As Meera scanned the books one by one, the faint sound of a notification chimed from Twinkleâs phone. She glanced down at the screen, her expression shifting from contentment to frustration.
Her brows furrowed, and she let out an exasperated groan, loud enough to catch Meera's attention.
âUghhh, this again." Twinkle muttered under her breath, clearly annoyed.
Meera paused mid-scan and looked up. "Everything okay?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
Twinkle sighed dramatically, slipping her phone back into her pocket.
"I can't wait to go to college." she said, her voice filled with a mixture of impatience and longing. Meera didnât need to ask what she meant. She knew exactly what was on Twinkle's mind.
The mundane routines, the overbearing presence of her family, and the longing for independence. Meera couldn't help but smile softly, shaking her head at Twinkleâs melodramatic tone.
"Donât worry, youâll be there soon enough." Meera reassured her, though she knew the words did little to ease the restlessness that comes with waiting for such a big life change.
Twinkle glanced toward the library entrance, her fingers tapping impatiently on the counter.
"Is everything ready yet? My brotherâs waiting outside, and Iâd rather not keep him there too long." she said, sounding as though she were more interested in avoiding a lecture from him than anything else.
Meera chuckled at her impatience and quickly finished scanning the last of the books.
"Alright, alright." she said, speeding up the process. "Youâre good to go."
With a quick, practiced motion, Meera handed over the six carefully stacked books, their covers smooth and crisp beneath Twinkleâs eager hands.
"Here you go. All set!" she announced with a satisfied smile.
"Thanks a ton!" Twinkle replied with a grateful grin. She adjusted the weight of the books in her arms, clearly excited to dive into each one, and made her way toward the libraryâs large doors.
Before stepping outside, she paused briefly, turning back to wave at Meera with a bright smile.
"See you later, Beauty!" she called out cheerfully.
"Enjoy your reading!" Meera waved back, watching as Twinkle disappeared through the doors, her energy and excitement trailing behind her like a burst of sunshine.
As the library door closed softly behind Twinkle, Meera couldnât help but smile to herself. But the previous conversation with Twinkle still creeps in her thoughts.
***
"You are soooo annoying." Twinkle groaned, rolling her eyes dramatically as she slid into the sleek Audi, slamming the door shut with more force than necessary.
She barely glanced at her brother, Varun, who was seated behind the wheel, his expression calm but with a hint of irritation etched across his face. Her annoyance was palpable, and she turned to face him with an accusatory glare.
Varun, unfazed by his sisterâs theatrics, sighed and started the engine.
"You should consider yourself lucky I didnât tell on you." he remarked, his deep voice steady, but there was a subtle warning beneath the surface.
"Whatever." Twinkle muttered, buckling her seatbelt with a huff. She glanced out the window, determined to stay angry, though her brotherâs nonchalant response only irritated her further.
Without another word, Varun pulled out of the parking lot, and they began the drive home.
The quiet hum of the engine filled the space between them as Varun finally broke the silence.
"What were you doing there again?" he asked, his tone more curious than accusing.
"You know we have an entire library at the mansion, right? Stacked with all your favorite books, mind you. Ma and Papa made sure of that."
Twinkle sighed, already knowing where this conversation was heading.
"Two things" she began, lifting a hand as if counting off her reasons.
"One." she said, her voice sharp but not unkind, "I needed fresh air. The house has been suffocating lately, and honestly, that library may be big, but itâs not about the quantity of booksâitâs about the right ones. The public library has a whole different selection. New authors, new genres. Itâs not the same."
Varunâs face remained stoic, his eyes focused intently on the road ahead, but Twinkle noticed a small nod of understanding. He wasnât the type to argue when she had a point.
"Fine." he muttered, his voice gruff.
"Weâll work on that. Maybe Iâll get you some more books or a subscription to something⦠I donât know."
Twinkle smirked, appreciating the small victory but quickly moving on to her second reason.
"And two." she said, leaning back in her seat with a sly grin creeping onto her face,
"I needed to see my future sister-in-law."
Varunâs hands tightened ever so slightly on the steering wheel, his jaw clenching. He darted a quick glance at her before shifting his focus back to the road, clearly uncomfortable. "Twinkle." he began, his voice a mix of warning and exasperation.
"Oh, relax!" Twinkle interrupted, waving off his discomfort.
"I know youâve been obsessed with Veda for, what, four years now? I just wanted to see for myself what all the fuss was about. But, as luck would have it, I couldnât find her today. I did, however, meet her sister, Meera."
Varun let out a heavy sigh, trying to keep his frustration in check.
"You really need to stop meddling." he said firmly, though there was a hint of vulnerability in his voice.
Twinkle, unfazed by his tone, grinned even wider.
"Meddling? Iâm just curious! Besides, I have to say, these sisters are like goddesses. Both of them are stunning in their own ways. Iâve seen pictures of Veda on your phone, and let me tell you, after meeting Meera today, I totally get why you're head over heels, younger version will be fire."
Varunâs grip on the wheel tightened further, his knuckles turning white.
"Waitâwhat do you mean youâve seen pictures on my phone? Twinkle, have you been snooping around my stuff again?"
Twinkle laughed lightly, though she could tell he was genuinely upset now.
"Oh, calm down." she said breezily.
"Itâs not like I was prying. I knocked on your door earlier, but when you didnât answer, I went in to check on you. While I was there, your phone was just lying on the desk, and I mightâve glanced at the screen. Thatâs all. Nothing malicious."
"Thatâs not the point!" Varun snapped, his patience wearing thin.
"Iâve told you before, stop going through my things. You wouldnât like it if I did the same to you."
Twinkle rolled her eyes again but softened her tone slightly.
"Okay, okay, I get it. I wonât do it again. But seriously, you should relax a bit. Youâre so tense whenever I bring up Veda, and I donât know why. I mean i get that you are obsessed with her, so chill."
Varun exhaled slowly, loosening his grip on the wheel as he let her words sink in.
"Itâs just... complicated, Twinkle." he muttered, his voice softer now. "Iâm not ready to talk about it."
Twinkle, sensing the shift in his mood, decided to let it goâfor now.
"Fine." she said with a small smile.
"But just know, I think youâve got good taste. And from what Iâve seen of her sister, Meera, they both seem like great people."
Varun didnât respond immediately, but Twinkle noticed the tension in his shoulders ease slightly.
They continued the drive in comfortable silence, the weight of the conversation settling between them but no longer heavy with frustration.
Twinkle stared out the window, her thoughts drifting. Despite the bickering, she knew Varun appreciated her looking out for him, even if heâd never admit it.
"Besides, Varun, you really need to tell Veda how you feel." Twinkle said softly, her voice tinged with concern.
"Youâre getting worse every day, and I donât want what happened last time to happen again." Her expression saddened as she glanced at her brother, watching him grow more distant by the day, tangled in his own emotions.
Varun pulled the car to a stop as the traffic light turned red, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.
His eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, but Twinkle could see the weight of her words settling over him. He let out a long, heavy sigh before turning to face her, his expression conflicted.
"I canât tell her." he murmured, barely above a whisper, but Twinkle heard the vulnerability in his voice.
Her brow furrowed in confusion. "But why?" she pressed gently, her gaze searching his face for an answer.
"Youâre Varunâhandsome, hardworking, the kind of guy any girl would be lucky to have. Sure, youâre not exactly friendly, or funny, or sweet, orâ"
"Okay, okay, I get it!" Varun groaned, cutting her off before she could finish her list of his less-than-perfect qualities. Despite his frustration, there was a faint hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Twinkle grinned mischievously, glad she had at least lightened the mood a little.
"The point is." she continued, her tone serious again "Iâm sure sheâll like you if you talk to her, use your Charm!. Youâve got to stop stalking her from the sidelines and actually talk to her."
Varunâs smile faded, and his eyes darkened with uncertainty.
"Thatâs the problem." he muttered, glancing away as if ashamed to admit it.
"Every time I try to talk to her, I just... freeze. I canât think straight when sheâs around. I get so lost in her presence, I canât even form a sentence. And, Iâm..." He hesitated, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Iâm scared."
Twinkle's expression softened, her playful teasing replaced with genuine concern.
"Scared of what?" she asked quietly, leaning in a little closer to him.
Varun swallowed hard, his grip tightening on the wheel as though he were bracing himself for what he was about to say.
"Rejection." he confessed, his voice barely audible. He glanced over at Twinkle, his eyes betraying the vulnerability he so often tried to hide.
"You donât get it, Twinkle. You know the weight of our family name. The reputation that comes with it."
Twinkle nodded slowly, understanding where this was going.
"Veda doesnât want anything to do with that, I've knownher for years." Varun continued, his voice tinged with regret.
"Our family... itâs not just about wealth or status. Everyone knows about our familyâs involvement in the mafia. Itâs all over Asia. And Veda... she hates criminals."
He spoke the last sentence almost to himself, his voice filled with a kind of sorrow Twinkle had rarely heard from him. The confession hung in the air between them, heavy and unavoidable.
Just then, the traffic light turned green. Varunâs gaze flickered back to the road, and with a resigned sigh, he ignited the car, preparing to drive off. But before he could even press down on the accelerator, a car zoomed past them at full speed, barely missing their vehicle.
Twinkle gasped, her heart racing as the blur of the speeding car disappeared down the street.
"Who the hell is driving that car? Is he trying to kill himself?" Twinkle exclaimed, her heart still racing as she twisted in her seat to watch the speeding car tear down the road, the sound of its engine roaring like a distant storm.
Her eyes widened as the vehicle swerved dangerously between lanes, barely missing other cars. For a brief moment, she thought sheâd just witnessed an accident in the making.
Varun, who remained remarkably calm throughout the whole ordeal, glanced into his side mirror. His expression barely shifted, but there was a knowing glint in his eyes, a flicker of recognition that quickly gave way to a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Arjun." he muttered under his breath, almost as if the name itself explained everything.
"Huh?" Twinkle asked, turning back to face him, her confusion evident.
"Itâs nothing," he said dismissively, his tone casual. "Letâs just go home."
Twinkle could still feel the weight of her brotherâs struggle pressing down on him, and she realized just how deeply Vedaâs rejectionâor even the thought of itâterrified him.
It wasnât just about his feelings for her. it was about everything that came with being a part of their family.
"Varun." Twinkle said quietly, her voice gentle
"I get that youâre scared. And I know the familyâs reputation complicates things. But youâre in the mafia, so what? Youâre...you right? Mafia or not. I'm just scared, last time you almost went crazy.. i'm sure Veda will love you just the way you are if you just open up, huh?"
Varun clenched his jaw, his eyes still locked on the road as he drove.
"Itâs not that simple." he said, his voice tight with frustration.
"Iâm not just a guy with a complicated family. Iâm the guy from that family. I canât change that, Veda hates it and she won't love me like this."
Twinkle watched him, feeling a pang of sadness for her brother. "You donât know that for sure." she said softly. "Maybe sheâs different. Maybe she doesnât care about all that as much as you think."
Varun didnât respond, his silence speaking volumes. Twinkle sighed
"Just think about it, okay?" she added, her voice hopeful. "Youâve been carrying this weight for too long, You are hurting yourself Varun."
Varun remained silent, his gaze fixed straight ahead as they drove. But Twinkle could see the conflict in his eyes, the flicker of doubt and fear mingling with the smallest spark of hope.
And for now, that was enough.
***
Will drop continuation late this night or tomorrow âï¸ð.
I have an announcement!!!
Please I'm not good with this writing thing yet, and like most of you will know, this is my first book to write, it's not edited. I just write, proofread (most times) and update. Never really had to recheck my work properly.
After writing this book to the very end and before I started Veda and Varun story, I will have to edit my novel again and make it stand out.
I just want to have a rigid stand on my writing skill and I know I will before I finish this book (as im usingthis story to practice). I will just have to keep improving myself, so Veda and Varun story will be more intriguing, suspense and perhaps steamyð¤«ð.
And thank most of you for the support I really appreciate thatð¥ºðâ¥ï¸.
Also please I need just little help from my readers! Can you please (on my knee) let me know how the story is going, if it's good or not. I need honest reviews though, everyone learn everyday and as a writer I held to audience complains to give them the best! No harsh/rude comment though (Mind you, I'm gentle, but there are limitð)
So please your comment counts and votes too. I really want to connect with my readers ð¤ð¹
I FREAKING LOVE ALL OF YOUUUð¹ð¹ð¹ðððððð..
Namasteðð