âAre you sure about this?â Karan asked, his voice tinged with apprehension as he watched Arjun adjust his cufflinks in front of the mirror. Arjunâs sharp, calculating gaze met Karanâs through the reflection, the tension in the room palpable.
âYes, Iâm sure.â Arjun replied flatly, returning his focus to his own reflection, perfecting the small details of his attire. His tone left no room for argument, but Karan wasn't convinced.
Karan let out a heavy sigh, his mind racing with unease.
âYou know, I donât have a good feeling about this. It feels like... a bad idea.â
Arjunâs expression didnât falter. "Your point?" he asked, voice cold, eyes still locked on his own reflection.
Karan hesitated, choosing his words carefully. âDoes she even like you?â he finally asked, knowing full well the question might set Arjun off.
For a brief moment, Arjun's face hardened. His jaw clenched, and silence hung between them.
Karan almost regretted asking, but then Arjun spoke, his voice low and deliberate.
âShe will.â he said with chilling confidence.
Karan raised an eyebrow, his doubt obvious. âAnd what if she doesnât? You know, forcing someoneââ
âIâm not going to force her.â Arjun snapped, cutting Karan off with a scowl.
Karan wasnât buying it.
âReally? You practically ordered her to come to this dinner with you, without telling her anything. She barely knows whatâs coming, and from what Iâve seen, sheâs terrified of you.â He paused, searching Arjunâs eyes for any sign of reason.
âWhat makes you so sure sheâll want to be with you? Do you even know if she feels anything for you, beyond fear?â
Arjunâs gaze darkened. He stared at Karan through the mirror for a long, tense moment before slowly turning to face him.
There was an unspoken warning in his eyes, but Karan held his ground, unwilling to back down this time.
He cared for Arjun, but more importantly, he feared what Arjun's obsessive pursuit of Meera might doâto both of them.
âGo and pick her up.â Arjun commanded, his voice colder than before. He turned his back and strode toward the door without waiting for a response. The conversation was over, in his mind at least.
Karan watched him leave, a deep sense of pity settling in his chestâfor Meera, and maybe for Arjun too.
As the door clicked shut, Karan exhaled slowly, shaking his head. Arjunâs obsession was blinding him, driving him to make decisions that felt more like traps than gestures of affection.
He lingered in the room for a moment, knowing full well that Arjun wasnât the type to heed warnings or second-guess himself.
No matter how well-intentioned Karan's advice, it was clear Arjun had already made up his mind, consequences be damned.
Karan ran a hand through his hair and muttered under his breath.
âI hope you know what youâre doing, Arjun. But I really pity that girl.â
With a heavy heart, Karan grabbed his jacket and headed out the door, off to do what he was toldâto pick up Meera and deliver her to whatever grand, twisted plan Arjun had devised for the evening.
***
Meera's eyes were glued to her phone screen, anxiety crawling up her spine with each passing second. Her heart raced as she re-read the message from Arjun that had arrived just five minutes ago:
Will be there in 10 minutes.
The simple words seemed to tighten the invisible knot of fear coiling in her chest. She felt suffocated by the weight of the unknown, the anticipation of what this dinner might bring.
"It's not too late to run, you know." came a voice from the doorway, startling Meera out of her trance. She gasped, her grip tightening on the phone, and turned to see her sister, Veda, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed. Her casual posture betrayed the concern in her eyes.
Meera sighed, attempting to force a smile, though her nerves were showing in the way she clutched her phone. Veda walked into the room, sitting beside her on the bed, her presence a familiar comfort.
"I just came to check on you." Veda said softly. "I donât like seeing you this stressed."
"Veda, itâs fine." Meera replied, her voice slightly shaky.
"Itâs just dinner, right? Iâve had dinner with him before." She tried to sound convincing, more for herself than for Veda.
"Actually, no." Veda corrected, raising an eyebrow. "The last time wasnât dinnerâit was lunch. And you didnât go with him, you were dragged there. This is different." She almost rolled her eyes but stopped herself, sensing Meeraâs tension.
Meera gulped. "Stop making it worse, Veda." she muttered, though she knew her sister was right.
Veda gave her a sympathetic smile.
"Di, relax. Itâs just dinner. Whatâs the worst that can happen? Heâs not going to kidnap you... or kill you."
Meera shot her a sharp glare.
"Thanks for that comforting thought."
Veda chuckled, but then her tone softened. "Look, just be yourself. Go, have the dinner, and leave. Nothing to worry about, okay?"
Meera nodded, though her nerves were far from settled.
Veda leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "And after tomorrow, youâll never have to see him again."
That was the plan, after all. Meera had her final interview tomorrow, and the last week of interview would be handled by the team. She would be free of this... whatever this situation with Arjun was.
As if on cue, their mother and father appeared in the doorway, their faces a mix of concern and love.
"Papa." Meera said softly, standing to greet her father. He walked over and pulled her into a tight embrace, his strong arms offering the warmth she needed in that moment.
"Beta, just be safe tonight, alright? Keep your Location on. Veda will stay connected with you. If anything feels wrong, call us immediately." her father said, kissing the top of her head. Meeraâs eyes stung with unshed tears, but she managed a small smile.
"Iâll be fine, Papa. Itâs just one dinner." she assured him, though the words felt hollow. She was more trying to reassure herself than him. "And after tomorrow, I wonât ever see him again."
Her father smiled, though it was a strained smile, one that carried the weight of unspoken fears.
"Thatâs my brave princess." he said softly, his hand gently resting on her shoulder.
"By the way, beta." her mother chimed in hesitantly, exchanging a glance with her husband, "when you get back, thereâs something weâd like to discuss with you." Her tone was gentle, but Meera detected a hint of seriousness that made her brow furrow.
"Is everything okay, Papa? Ma? Are you guys alright?" Meera asked, worry creeping into her voice.
Her father chuckled, shaking his head. "Donât worry, my silly princess. Itâs not something we can discuss now. Letâs get through this first, alright?"
Meera sighed, nodding, just as her phone dinged again. The sound sent a jolt of tension through her.
She glanced down at the screen
'Get in, he will bring you to me.'
"He's here." she whispered, barely able to get the words out.
The doorbell rang at the same moment, a sharp sound that cut through the quiet of the house like a knife.
They all descended the stairs together, Meeraâs heart pounding louder with each step. When they opened the door, they were met by a tall, sharp-dressed man with a polite smile.
"Um... who are you?" her father asked cautiously, stepping in front of Meera protectively.
The man bowed his head slightly.
"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Ahuja. My name is Karan. Iâm here on behalf of Mr. Arjun to escort Miss Meera to dinner." His gaze flicked briefly to Meera, and for a moment, he seemed taken aback.
His smile didnât falter, but his eyes lingered a second longer, as if studying her. Meera felt uneasy under his gaze.
"You must be Meera." Karan said, turning his attention fully to her now. "Shall we?"
Meera hesitated, her stomach twisting with unease.
"Donât worry." he added, perhaps sensing her hesitation.
"Arjun sent me. I wouldnât dare kidnap you. If I tried, well... letâs just say I wouldnât live to tell the tale." He chuckled lightly, but there was something in his tone that made the joke feel more like a grim truth. Arjun wouldnât let anyone else touch herâthat much was clear.
Meera glanced down at her phone, the message staring back at her, then up at Karan. She gave a small nod, more to herself than anyone else, before turning to face her parents.
"Call us if anything happens, beta, okay?" her father said, kissing her forehead one last time. "Be safe."
Meera nodded, trying to keep her voice steady. "I will, Papa."
Karan led her to the sleek black car parked outside. He opened the door for her with a polite smile, but as Meera slid into the seat, she couldnât shake the feeling of dread pooling in her stomach.
She glanced out the window, watching as her house faded from view, her father standing at the doorway, watching her leave.
For the first time, Meera truly felt like she was walking into the unknownâand she wasnât sure she would ever come out the same.
A few minutes passed in the car, with Karan occasionally glancing at Meera from the corner of his eye.
He could sense her discomfort, the stiffness in her posture, the way she kept her gaze fixed outside the window.
She was trying to keep her distance, both physically and emotionally, and Karan couldnât blame her. In fact, he felt a pang of sympathy for her.
Meera, from what he could tell, seemed to be a kind-hearted and modest young woman, entirely unprepared for the world she was being pulled into.
And yet, a small part of him was pleasedâperhaps Arjun did deserve someone like her, someone gentle, someone real. Meera could very well be Arjunâs first experience with genuine affection, something Karan knew was foreign to his friend.
Meera wasnât flashy or manipulative like most women Arjun had crossed paths with. She seemed mature, grounded, and there was a quiet beauty about her that even Karan could appreciate.
He cleared his throat, breaking the silence.
"You look beautiful tonight, Miss Meera." he complimented, trying to ease the tension in the car and coax her into conversation.
Meera barely acknowledged him, offering only a faint hum in response, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her dress.
Karan tried again, sensing the need for a softer approach.
"I noticed you spoke Punjabi with your parents before we left. You donât look entirely Punjabi." he said, smiling to make the comment seem light-hearted.
"My papa is from Punjab, and my mom is from Tamil Nadu." she answered quietly, her voice so soft it barely reached him.
"Ah, that explains it!" Karan nodded with enthusiasm, trying to warm her up. "No wonder you're so beautifulâyou've got the best of both worlds." He added with a wink, though Meeraâs only response was a muttered, "Thank you."
She wasnât opening up, but Karan wasnât giving up.
"You donât have the golden skin tone like your mom though, your sister does. Youâve got a softer, more porcelain look." he continued, trying to keep things casual. "My girlfriendâs Tamil too."
Meera gave him a tight-lipped smile, clearly uninterested in engaging in small talk.
Karan, sensing her continued unease, decided to try a different approach. He glanced at her again, more seriously this time.
"You know, Arjun isnât a bad person." he said, his tone carrying more weight.
Meera turned her head sharply, meeting his gaze for the first time since theyâd entered the car.
Her expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of somethingâperhaps doubt, perhaps disbeliefâin her eyes.
"You seem close to him. Relatives donât usually speak ill of themselves, even if they should." Meera replied, her voice steady but cool, a quiet challenge embedded in her words.
Karan smirked inwardly. A spitfire, he thought. There was more to Meera than her quiet demeanor suggested.
"You should be grateful." Karan pressed, trying to find a way through her guarded exterior.
"Arjun is very gentle with you. Doesnât that tell you something? Heâs never been like this with anyone else. Thatâs got to count for something, right?"
Meeraâs brow furrowed, and she shook her head slightly, turning her gaze back out the window.
"And why canât he show that gentleness to others too?" she asked, her tone edged with frustration.
"What makes you think heâs being gentle with me? A man who is rude to his fiancée cannot be kind to anyone else."
Karan felt the sting of her words, but he didnât know how to respond. She wasnât wrong, after all.
Arjunâs behavior toward Suhana had been cold, distant, even cruel at times. Karan had seen it himself, but this situation with Meera was different, wasnât it? Or was it?
Meera continued, her voice softer now but no less firm.
"A criminal will always be a criminal. You canât sugarcoat that, no matter how âgentleâ he may act toward me. And Iâm not lucky, Karan. Meeting Arjun wasnât a blessingâit was a curse."
Her words hung in the air like a dark cloud, heavy with unspoken truth. Karan shifted uncomfortably, unable to argue with her.
He could see the sadness in her eyes as she looked out the window, as if she were staring at a future she no longer had control over.
The car fell into a deep, tense silence once again. Karan tapped his fingers lightly on the steering wheel, his earlier optimism fading.
He thought about what she had said. Meera wasnât like the other women Arjun had dealt withâshe wasnât seduced by power or charm. She saw through it, saw the man behind it, and perhaps that was what scared her the most.
Karan cleared his throat again, trying to shake off the tension.
"Youâre wrong about one thing, though." he said, almost to himself.
Meera didnât respond, but he continued anyway.
"Arjun may be a lot of things, but Iâve never seen him like this with anyone. Youâve gotten under his skin, Meera."
Her silence was her only answer, and Karan couldnât help but feel a pang of pity for her. He knew all too well what Arjun was capable of, and the thought of Meera being pulled deeper into his world made Karan uneasy.
As they neared their destination, Karan glanced at her one last time. She was still staring out the window, her expression distant, her thoughts somewhere far from the present.
He wanted to offer her reassurance, to tell her things would be okay, but he couldnât bring himself to lie. Not when he wasnât sure himself.
The car slowed as they pulled up to the grand restaurant where Arjun waited. Karan parked and turned off the engine, but neither of them moved. The weight of what was to come seemed to press down on both of them.
Finally, Karan spoke, his voice softer this time. "Are you ready?"
Meera didnât answer right away. She took a deep breath, as if steeling herself, before finally turning to face him.
"Do I have a choice?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Karan hesitated, then shook his head. "Not tonight."
â¤â¤â¤
Okay wait! Before you kill með, yes! I know this chapter is short, but the next chapter will be drop by tomorrow and I will make it longer.
This is just 2580 words instead of 3500 words!
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