Chapter 34: Chapter Thirty Two.

Meera blinked several times, her eyes darting between her mother and father, trying to make sense of the tension in the room. She could feel something brewing, but it wasn’t clear yet.

"Are you two just going to keep staring at me?" she asked nervously, sensing an odd atmosphere.

Her father cleared his throat, exchanging a quick glance with her mother before he finally spoke. "Meera, do you remember Ranveer?"

Meera furrowed her brows, trying to recall who this person was.

The name sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it.

"Um, no, Papa. I don’t. Who is he?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Her parents exchanged disappointed looks. "You don’t?" her mother asked in surprise, while Veda, her younger sister, giggled beside her.

"Di, you just earned the title of the first lady to forget her childhood crush." Veda teased, barely able to contain her amusement.

"Crush? Ma, Papa? I’m confused." Meera said, growing even more bewildered by the moment.

"Veer, Di. They’re talking about Veer." Veda clarified, her grin wide.

At the mention of Veer something clicked in Meera’s mind. Her eyes widened, and a flood of childhood memories rushed back to her.

"Oh my God. Yes, I remember now! Back then, I called him Veer. I was young, okay?" She flushed with embarrassment, feeling a bit silly.

Her parents chuckled, and Veda’s laughter filled the room. Meera pouted, feeling the heat of their playful teasing.

"Alright, alright. What’s up with him, Papa?" Meera asked, shaking off the embarrassment and returning to a more serious tone.

Her mother started hesitantly, "He’s back in Mumbai and..."

Her father finished the sentence, "And he wants to meet you."

Meera’s frown deepened, confusion flickering across her face.

"I’m sorry, but why does he want to meet me?" she asked, not understanding where this was leading.

Her father sighed, as if trying to piece together the right words.

"Ranveer’s parents reached out to us two weeks ago. They said Ranveer’s coming back to India, and he’s looking to settle down. Apparently, he talked to them about you, and they told us."

Her mother chimed in, "But we haven’t agreed to anything yet. We suggested that you meet again first, see how things go between you two."

"Just some casual dates, nothing too serious." her father added. "He remembers you, and from what we’ve heard, he’s still very fond of you. He talked about you a lot... and well, you’ll see when you meet him. He seems genuinely interested."

Meera sat there, blinking, trying to process everything they were saying.

The room felt like it was spinning, and all she could do was stare at them as they laid out the details.

"Papa, what is all this? And why are you only telling me now?" she asked, feeling overwhelmed by the sudden development.

Her father looked at her apologetically.

"Beta, we know you’ve been busy. You had your interview project, and we didn’t want to add more stress. We also didn’t want to push you into anything without giving you some time to rest. But now that the interview’s over, we thought it was the right time. Besides, he wants to see you this Sunday."

"W-what?" Meera stammered, feeling her heart race. Everything was happening too fast.

Her thoughts tumbled over each other as she tried to grasp the situation.

"Papa, I don’t want to get married right now." she said firmly. "And you just said he wants to settle down."

Her father nodded, his expression understanding.

"We know, beta, and we’re not forcing you into marriage. We told Ranveer that you’re not ready for that yet, and he understands. He only wants to meet you, nothing more."

"Just give it a chance." her mother added softly. "No pressure, Meera. We just want you to see how things go. He hasn’t pushed for anything either."

Meera sat quietly, absorbing their words. Yes, she had liked Veer—Ranveer—back when she was younger. But that was a long time ago.

She wasn’t the same little girl with a crush. She was grown now, with her own life, and marriage was far from her mind.

Sighing, she looked down at her hands, deep in thought.

"Okay, Papa." she finally said, though there was still uncertainty lingering in her voice.

Her father’s tone suddenly grew serious, and when Meera looked up, she could see the weight in his eyes.

"This may also help with getting Arjun off your back." he said quietly, and Meera froze, her body tensing at the mention of Arjun. "If he knows that you’re betrothed to someone else, he might leave you alone."

Her eyes widened as realization dawned on her. This wasn’t just about Ranveer—this could be her way out from under Arjun’s suffocating hold.

Her father’s words rang in her ears, and slowly, a smile began to form on her lips. This could actually work. Even if she wasn’t ready to commit to Ranveer, this was a golden ticket to finally escape Arjun’s clutches.

"Oh my God, Papa! That could work." she said, her face lighting up with a mixture of relief and hope.

"I thought you’d see it that way." her father said, nodding approvingly.

"You don’t need to worry about Arjun anymore, okay? Focus on meeting Veer. He’s a good man, and this might be the solution we’ve all been waiting for."

Meera nodded, her heart a little lighter now. As she glanced over at Veda, she saw the same excitement and hope reflected in her sister’s eyes.

For the first time in a long while, Meera felt like she had a way out, a chance to breathe again. Even if she wasn’t sure what the future held with Ranveer, the idea of finally being free from Arjun made her feel like she was reclaiming control of her life.

***

Arjun paced furiously in his office, his dark eyes locked on the ticking wall clock as if he could will it to speed up.

His usual suit was nowhere to be seen, instead a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

Two buttons were undone, revealing a glimpse of his chest, and his hair was disheveled, a clear sign that he had been raking his hands through it far too many times.

His mood was dark—simmering with barely controlled rage. Every step he took reverberated with his frustration.

It was Friday, and Meera was supposed to be in his office by now. He had been counting down the hours, waiting impatiently. But she hadn’t shown up.

He didn’t care about the so-called “interview”. As far as he was concerned, all of that could go to hell. All he wanted was to see her.

“Fuck!” he growled under his breath, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. His hand tightened around his phone, and the screen creaked under the pressure, threatening to crack.

It wasn’t just the anger, it was the frustration that gnawed at him. She wasn’t picking up her phone. Every time he called, it either went straight to a forwarded message or disconnected.

The worst part? He couldn’t get her out of his head.

Suddenly, his phone rang. The sharp sound cut through the air like a lifeline, and he stopped pacing abruptly.

Without a second thought, he snatched it up, answering before he even checked the caller ID.

"Where are you?" His voice was hoarse, a mix of desperation and irritation. He held his breath, waiting for Meera’s voice, for some excuse, something—anything to explain why she hadn’t come.

But instead, he was met with silence. His jaw tightened, the tension in his body coiling tighter.

He was about to snap again, but then a giggle floated through the line—a soft, teasing sound that was not Meera.

His brow furrowed in confusion before recognition hit him like a cold wave.

"I didn’t know you wanted to see me so badly." came Suhana’s voice, her tone light and flirtatious, completely oblivious to the storm brewing on his end of the line.

Arjun closed his eyes, cursing silently under his breath as his fist clenched at his side. His patience, already hanging by a thread, snapped.

"Suhana.." he growled, the name rolling off his tongue with barely concealed disdain.

“Hehe, yes?” she responded, oblivious to the shift in his mood.

“This was a mistake.” he said flatly, the words biting and sharp, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

“Wh-what do you mean?” Suhana stammered, her confidence faltering for a brief moment. She sounded confused, maybe even a little hurt, but Arjun didn’t care.

Without bothering to answer, he ended the call abruptly, cutting her off mid-sentence.

He stared at his phone for a second, his mind racing, then tossed it on his desk with a frustration.

The tension in his jaw only grew as he glanced at the clock again. She was supposed to be here hours ago.

“You’re really messing with me, Meera.” he muttered under his breath, his tone dark and dangerous, as if her absence was a personal slight.

Every minute she stayed away only fed the fire burning inside him.

He grabbed his suit jacket from where it had been carelessly thrown on the floor, gripping it tightly in his hand as he stormed out of his office.

He couldn’t wait any longer. If she wouldn’t come to him, then he’d go to her.

One way or another, Arjun was going to see Meera. And she had no idea the storm heading her way.

***

"Why do you even major in this boring Commerce anyway?" Veda teased, rolling her eyes as she lay sprawled out on her stomach, her legs swinging behind her in lazy arcs.

She watched her older sister, Meera, diligently finishing up her assignment.

Meera barely looked up, but a smile played at the corners of her lips. She was used to Veda's playful jabs by now.

"Di, you're so intelligent! You could totally be a tech genius or a scientist or something. Why Commerce of all things?" Veda persisted, her voice dripping with mock exasperation.

Meera chuckled softly, finally turning to face her.

"Just because I major in Commerce doesn’t mean my future career will be boring, Veda. There’s more to it than you think."

"Suure..." Veda drawled, her tone deliberately bored as she stretched out the word, not convinced in the least.

Meera set down her pen, leaning back slightly in her chair.

"Think about it. No matter how big a tech company gets, they still need someone to handle the business side of things—advertising, marketing, promotions. You can't innovate without figuring out how to sell those innovations. Commerce plays a huge role in that."

Veda's brow furrowed slightly as she mulled this over.

"Seriously? Commerce is that wide?"

Meera nodded, her eyes brightening.

"Wider than you think. It’s not just about numbers. It’s about strategy, creativity, and...well, basically running the world." she added with a playful wink.

Just as Veda was about to respond, a loud knock echoed from the living room. The sound was so abrupt and forceful that it startled both sisters, their eyes meeting in confusion.

"Who the hell knocks like that?" Veda growled, pushing herself off the bed. Her annoyance was immediate, and her lips twisted in a scowl.

"Maybe it’s just a neighbor?" Meera offered, though her voice lacked certainty.

"If it’s Mr. Ranawat’s son again, I swear I’ll smack his head one of these days." Veda fumed, her fists clenched.

Meera stifled a laugh, her shoulders shaking as she tried to hide her amusement.

"He’s just a kid. He’s probably just messing around."

Veda huffed. "Kid? The moron was flirting with me! I'm nineteen, and he's, what, sixteen? That’s not ‘just messing around.’ The guy’s a nutcase!"

This time, Meera couldn’t hold back and let out a full-bellied laugh, her face lighting up at Veda’s indignation.

"Okay, okay. I’m sorry for laughing." she said, raising her hands in mock surrender, grinning all the while.

Veda glared at her playfully, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, hilarious. Laugh it up, why don’t you?"

But before their banter could continue, their mother walked in, her face drained of color and her hands trembling slightly.

Both sisters froze, the light-hearted mood in the room evaporating instantly as they registered the troubled look on her face.

"Mom?" Meera’s voice came out soft, laced with concern as she stood up from her chair.

Their mother didn’t respond immediately, her eyes darting nervously between her two daughters before settling on Meera. She opened her mouth, but for a moment, no sound came out, as if the weight of whatever she was about to say was too much to bear.

Both Meera and Veda exchanged glances, the earlier conversation about school and annoying neighbors forgotten in an instant.

There was a heaviness in the air now, thick with uncertainty. Meera’s stomach twisted with unease, and she instinctively took a step closer to her mother.

"Ma? Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost." Meera asked, her voice filled with concern as she observed her mother’s pale, trembling face.

"Meera..." her mother stammered, her voice weak and uneven.

"Yes, Ma?" Meera replied, her worry deepening as her mother continued to glance nervously behind her, as if expecting someone to materialize out of thin air.

Meera and Veda followed her gaze, looking over their shoulders, but saw nothing. Their hearts raced with growing apprehension.

"Ma, what’s going on?" Meera’s tone softened, trying to coax an answer out of her visibly distressed mother. "What’s wrong?"

Her mother’s hand suddenly gripped hers with a force that sent a chill down Meera’s spine.

She could feel her mother’s hand shaking, her knuckles white as she swallowed hard before speaking in a voice barely above a whisper.

"He...he is here."

The moment the words left her mother’s lips, Meera’s heart stopped.

She knew exactly who he was, and terror rippled through her body like ice water. Her breathing grew shallow, her eyes wide with panic.

"W-what?" she stammered, her mind racing. "Where’s Papa?"

"Downstairs...with him.." her mother’s voice cracked, her trembling growing more pronounced. "He’s asking for you, Meera."

For a split second, Meera’s world seemed to tilt. The air felt suffocating, her throat tight. This was her fault. She knew it. She was the reason for the heavy fear hanging over her family. It was all because of him—Arjun.

Meera bit her lip, fighting back the wave of guilt and dread that threatened to overwhelm her. She couldn’t fall apart now.

With a steadying breath, she turned to Veda, her voice quiet but firm. "Take care of Ma, Veda."

Veda looked at her, fear evident in her eyes, but nodded. Meera could feel her sister’s silent support, even in her own fear.

Without another word, Meera turned and headed out of the room, her footsteps heavy with the weight of what was about to unfold.

She walked down the hallway, her pulse quickening with each step as she approached the stairs. The dim light of the house did little to soothe the sense of doom clenching her chest.

When she reached the top of the staircase, she froze. There, lounging in the one-seater that belonged to her father, was Arjun.

His posture was as relaxed as if he owned the place, one leg crossed over the other, his fingers tracing the armrest like he was toying with the house itself.

He looked every bit the predator, in complete control, unbothered by the tension in the air.

Her father stood opposite him, but kept his distance. He didn’t speak, and the space between them felt thick with unspoken words and barely restrained fear.

Meera’s eyes locked onto Arjun’s the moment she stepped off the last stair.

The intensity of his gaze was like a storm ready to swallow her whole, dark and unreadable, but burning with a purpose that sent shivers down her spine.

She walked over to her father, standing beside him, and whispered, "Papa?" Her voice cracked with the weight of it all.

Her father turned, his expression both protective and resigned.

He pulled her into a side hug, his arm wrapped tightly around her as if shielding her from the very danger sitting in front of them.

But they both knew that even his protective embrace wasn’t enough to keep Arjun at bay.

And in that moment, Meera felt the full gravity of the situation pressing down on her, knowing that her life, her family’s safety, was in the hands of the man sitting across the room, a man whose obsession with her threatened to destroy everything.

"Meera?" Arjun’s deep, commanding voice cut through the silence, his presence heavy in the room.

Meera turned to face him, her irritation barely masked.

Every time she saw him, it was as if her freedom slipped further away.

Why couldn’t he just leave her alone? Why did he keep coming back?

"Why are you here, Arjun?" she asked, doing her best to hide the growing frustration gnawing at her insides.

Arjun didn’t answer right away. He just stood there, staring at her in a way that made her uncomfortable.

His eyes were dark, piercing, as if they could see right through her. Then, for the first time, she saw something new—a smirk. It wasn’t a kind smile, but the movement of his lips broke his usual stern, impassive expression.

A small flicker of mockery played across his face.

"Why didn’t you come to the office today, Meera?" His tone was casual, but there was an underlying threat that made Meera tense. She glanced at her father, uncertain, before looking back at Arjun.

"I-I was—"

"Mr. Madhav, I am terribly sorry for my daughter’s mistake.." her father interrupted, stepping in front of her protectively. "She wasn’t—"

"I want Meera to speak." Arjun cut him off, his voice sharp. Meera nearly glared at him for his audacity, but fear kept her expression neutral.

She swallowed, gathering her courage. "I wasn’t feeling well today, and besides, it’s the last day of the interview. All the questions are finished."

Arjun’s smirk faded. His expression grew dark, cold. "Why didn’t you come to the office today, Meera?" he asked again, but this time his voice was different.

It was lower, more menacing, almost a growl. The air in the room shifted, and Meera’s heart pounded in her chest.

Her father, sensing the danger, instinctively stepped in front of her, pulling her behind him protectively.

"Mr. Madhav, please—" her father started, but the words died on his lips as Arjun reached into his coat and pulled out a pistol.

The room froze.

Arjun pointed the gun directly at her father, his face contorted with a fury that sent a chill down Meera’s spine.

"Don’t come between us." he growled, his finger resting too comfortably on the trigger.

Meera’s blood ran cold. Her breath hitched, and for a moment, time seemed to stop.

Her father, standing in front of her, looked as if he might collapse. The terror in his eyes mirrored her own.

"Arjun?" Meera’s voice trembled as she spoke, trying to keep herself from falling apart.

"Please, please... I’m sorry. I was scared, okay? Please, put the gun away. Leave my papa out of this." Her voice cracked, and tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn’t let her father get hurt because of her.

She stepped forward, placing herself between the barrel of the gun and her father. Her heart raced, every instinct telling her to run, but she held her ground.

Arjun’s gaze softened slightly as he looked at her, his eyes meeting hers. There was something in her tears that seemed to stir something deep within him.

His hand, still clutching the gun, began to lower slowly, almost reluctantly.

"Go upstairs, Mr. Ahuja." Arjun commanded, his eyes never leaving Meera’s face.

"W-what? N-no.. I’m not leaving my daughter with—" her father started to protest, but Meera cut him off.

"Papa, please." she said softly, turning to him. "Go. Ma and Veda are in the room. I’ll be fine. Please, just go." Her voice was filled with urgency, but also with a quiet determination.

Her father hesitated, his eyes filling with tears as he looked at her.

His protective nature screamed against leaving her, but there was something in her tone that told him he needed to trust her.

She squeezed his hand gently, trying to comfort him, even though her own fear was overwhelming.

"Beta, I can’t—"

"Please, Papa" Meera whispered, her voice breaking.

He looked at Arjun once more, his shoulders sagging in defeat. He had never felt more helpless.

He was supposed to protect his daughter, but now he was being forced to walk away, leaving her in the hands of a man who terrified him. He hated himself for it, for being powerless, for not being the father Meera needed right now.

With a heavy heart and tears threatening to fall, he turned and walked toward the stairs, his footsteps echoing through the house. He disappeared from view, leaving Meera and Arjun alone in the tense silence of the living room.

Meera felt a wave of emotions crash over her—relief that her father was out of harm’s way, but also fear, overwhelming fear, of what Arjun might do next.

She stood there, facing him, unsure of what would happen now. The tension in the air was thick, suffocating. Every second that passed felt like an eternity.

Arjun finally holstered his gun, his eyes never leaving Meera’s. There was an intensity in his gaze, something dark and possessive.

He stepped closer, closing the distance between them, and Meera’s heart skipped a beat.

"What do you want from me, Arjun?" she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear.

His smirk returned, but this time, it was more controlled, more dangerous. "You, Meera." he said, his voice low. "I want you."

She swallowed hard, feeling the weight of those words sink in. She had known, deep down, that this was what it had always been about. But hearing him say it made it real, terrifyingly real.

And in that moment, she knew—no matter what it took, she had to find a way out.

"Give me your phone," Arjun commanded, his voice sharp and cold. Meera’s heart raced as she hesitated for a moment, clutching her phone tightly.

"Why?" she asked, her voice small, though she already feared the answer.

"Give. Me. Your. Phone." he gritted out, each word filled with a menace that sent a shiver down her spine.

Trembling, she handed the phone over, her fingers barely able to let go of it.

Arjun’s eyes darkened as he scrolled through her phone. With each swipe, his grip on the device tightened, as if her betrayal was written in every message, every block of his number. His jaw clenched visibly, and Meera felt her pulse quicken as the tension in the room became suffocating.

"Why did you block me?" His voice was low and dangerous, a quiet fury that she had grown to dread. "And on both of my lines?"

"P-please… I’m sorry. I was scared." she stammered, her words tumbling out in a desperate plea.

Arjun’s gaze was unrelenting, his dark eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her want to shrink away.

He took a step closer, his presence overpowering. "Scared of what?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, but laced with something far more threatening.

He stepped closer still, his breath brushing against her face as his gaze dropped to her lips. "Scared of what?" he repeated, his voice softer, yet somehow more dangerous.

Meera's heart raced, her body frozen as he inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of her perfume.

Suddenly, without warning, Arjun’s arm snaked around her waist, pulling her body flush against his. Meera gasped, her heart thundering in her chest, panic seizing her.

"Meera." he whispered, his voice hoarse and filled with a dangerous yearning. "Are you scared of me?"

She could feel his minty breath on her skin, his body heat radiating against her. She tried to pull back, but he held her firm, his grip possessive. "Answer me, Meera." he growled, his voice dropping lower, sending a wave of dread through her.

"Yes." she whispered, barely able to get the word out.

A twisted smile flickered on Arjun’s lips, a dangerous light gleaming in his eyes.

"Meera, you drive me insane." he said, his voice rough, his eyes gleaming with a dark hunger. "You don’t have to be scared of me. I would never hurt you."

He leaned in, his lips brushing dangerously close to her ear. "I missed you so much today, Meera." he confessed, his voice thick with emotion. "I almost went mad. I just wanted to see you, to feel you. You’re the only one who keeps the monster in me under control. Don’t be afraid of me... please."

Meera’s eyes widened in fear as she saw the madness in his gaze. He wasn’t just obsessed—he was lost in his own delusions, and she was the object of his twisted affection.

"I’ll do anything, Meera." he continued, his voice desperate now. "I can be the man you want. Just don’t be scared of me."

Meera shook her head, panic overtaking her. "No… no, please let me go. I don’t want this." she begged, pushing against him with all her strength, trying to put distance between them.

But Arjun wasn’t listening. His grip on her tightened as he held her against him.

"I can’t let you go, Meera." he whispered, his voice filled with longing. "You don’t understand… I need you. Today, without you, I felt like I was losing my mind. I just need to be near you."

"Please." she pleaded again, her voice breaking, "you have a fiancée, Arjun. Suhana. You need to leave me alone."

At the mention of Suhana, Arjun’s expression shifted, a flash of annoyance crossing his face.

"Suhana and I are not getting married." he said coldly. "She means nothing to me. You’re the one I want, Meera."

Meera’s heart sank. There was no reasoning with him, no escape from the obsession that had consumed him.

"Get ready tomorrow." he said suddenly, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument.

"What?" Meera blinked, confused, her mind racing to keep up.

"We’re going out on a date tomorrow." Arjun continued, his tone casual, as if everything was perfectly normal. "You’re going to spend the whole day with me."

Her world seemed to shatter around her. A cold dread settled in her chest.

"No… I-I can’t." she stammered. "I’m spending the day with my parents tomorrow."

"Cancel it." Arjun ordered, his tone final. "We’re going out."

He stepped even closer, his hand lifting to brush a stray lock of hair from her face. Meera flinched at the contact, her breath catching in her throat.

His fingers grazed her cheek softly, a stark contrast to the violence in his presence.

"You smell so good." he whispered, his voice low and dangerous. "Wear pink tomorrow. I love you in pink. You look like a doll… my doll." His eyes darkened, and Meera felt a wave of nausea rise in her.

Arjun leaned in, inhaling the scent of her hair before pulling back. His expression was unsettling, half-hidden behind the shadow of his messy hair.

He looked devastatingly handsome, but to Meera, he was nothing more than a nightmare she couldn’t escape.

"See you tomorrow, baby." he said softly, his voice laced with possessive affection. "And don’t block me again." His eyes lingered on her for a moment longer before he turned and walked toward the door.

As soon as he left, the weight of everything crashed down on Meera. Her legs buckled beneath her, and she collapsed to the floor, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Tears spilled from her eyes, the fear, the exhaustion, the helplessness overwhelming her.

Her family, having heard everything, rushed down the stairs.

Her father, mother, and Veda gathered around her, their faces filled with concern and sorrow. They held her, whispering reassurances, but Meera could barely hear them through the sound of her own sobs.

In that moment, she knew that things had gone too far. Arjun wasn’t going to stop, and she didn’t know if she could survive what was coming next.

♤♤♤

Lmao😆😆 Guys!! This chapter is more than 4500 words. I got so Carried away writing I didn't see the number 🤣😆.

Longest chapter so far!!

Anyways, Here is another chapter update. Next Update will be tomorrow.

I'm feeling better now 🙂🙃😌

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I love you all ♥️♥️♥️