Chapter 35: Chapter Thirty Three.

"Papa? Are you sure this is a good idea?" Meera's voice trembled, her anxiety growing with each step they took in the bright morning sun.

The day was warm, but the weight of what was ahead made the sunlight feel harsh, almost suffocating.

Everything around her—the bustling sounds of the street, the distant honks of traffic—seemed distant, as if the world was moving while she stood still, caught in a storm of fear.

Her father, walking beside her, remained calm, his face set with quiet determination.

"We don’t have much of a choice, Meera. This has gone on too long. We need to speak to Mr. Madhav before things get worse." he said firmly, his words steady even though Meera could sense the tension beneath them.

Arjun’s father wasn’t just any man—he was an ex-mafia boss, someone with a reputation that still made people tread carefully around him.

He had passed the reins of his empire to Arjun, but his influence hadn’t faded.

Meera had met him once, at his birthday party, where he’d been friendly to her—almost warm. But even then, there had been a dangerous edge to his smile, something that made it clear that beneath the charm was a man not to be crossed.

Now, they were walking straight into his territory, asking for help.

The plan sounded simple—too simple.

Talk to Mr. Madhav, explain the situation, and hope he could rein in his son. But Meera knew better than to trust appearances. Nothing about dealing with someone like him would be easy.

She bit her lower lip, trying to hold back her spiraling thoughts. Her heart pounded as they continued down the street, the busy morning around them contrasting sharply with the dread settling deep in her chest.

A deep sigh escaped her, and her father, ever aware, glanced at her.

"Meera." he called gently, his voice just loud enough to break through her thoughts. His hand touched her arm, a small gesture of comfort. "You know this isn’t your fault, right?"

Meera shook her head, not able to meet his gaze.

"Papa, it is my fault." she whispered, guilt twisting in her chest. "If I hadn’t gotten involved with Arjun, none of this would be happening. I brought this on us." Her eyes remained fixed on the ground, watching her steps, as if doing so would distract her from the overwhelming sense of responsibility crushing her.

Her father sighed, slowing his pace to match hers. "Beta, you didn’t ask for any of this. You didn’t choose for Arjun to become this way. There’s no way you could have known how dangerous things would get. We’ll handle this together. You’re not alone in this."

His words were meant to comfort her, but they did little to ease the storm inside her.

Meera felt as if she had dragged her family into something dark and dangerous, far beyond anything she could have imagined. As Arjun possessiveness grew, and she realized too late how much control he sought over her life.

Now, it wasn’t just her own safety at risk—it was her family’s as well. And standing in front of Arjun’s father, a man with a past soaked in blood and power, felt like walking into a lion’s den.

She looked at her father, seeing the concern etched in his face. He was trying to be strong for her, to protect her, but she couldn’t shake the guilt.

"But what if Mr. Madhav doesn’t help? What if he’s just like Arjun? What if he doesn’t care?" The words tumbled out of her, her deepest fears finally voiced.

Her father paused, turning to face her. His eyes were gentle but firm, a quiet strength in his gaze.

"Then we’ll find another way. But I don’t think Mr. Madhav will ignore this. He’s dangerous, yes, but he’s also a man of principle in his own way. He won’t tolerate his son causing this kind of trouble. Not if we can make him understand what’s going on."

Meera nodded weakly, but the dread in her stomach only grew. She had seen Mr. Madhav’s, He may have been friendly to her that one time, but his reputation as a ruthless ex-mafia leader was impossible to forget.

He was a man who had built his power through fear and control, and even though he had stepped back to let Arjun take over, that shadow still loomed large.

They hailed an auto rickshaw, and as they climbed in, the city moved around them—indifferent, bustling with life. Her father gave the driver the address, and the vehicle jerked forward, carrying them closer to the Madhav estate.

As they weaved through the chaotic traffic, Meera tried to steady her breathing, but the weight in her chest grew heavier with each passing minute. The guilt of getting involved with Arjun in the first place gnawed at her, but so did the fear of what they were walking into.

***

Two thick files landed on the table with a heavy thud, reverberating through the otherwise quiet room.

Mr. Madhav, engrossed in his tablet, glanced up, his sharp eyes immediately locking onto his son, Arjun. He then turned to the files, recognizing their significance even before he touched them. A slow smile spread across his face.

"Is it what I think it is?" Mr. Madhav asked, his voice carrying a hint of excitement, a rare chuckle escaping his lips.

Arjun, however, wasn’t in the mood to share his father’s enthusiasm. He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.

"Yes, the Agarwal shares you wanted. I’ve severed ties with them for good. I don’t want anything to do with that family anymore." he replied coldly, sinking into one of the plush leather couches, his tone laced with finality.

Mr. Madhav set his tablet aside and removed his reading glasses, his expression one of satisfaction.

"Ah, my boy." he said with a gleam in his eye, "I knew I could rely on you. Finally, the Agarwals are under my control." He eagerly flipped through the files, savoring each page like a long-anticipated victory.

But as he skimmed through the documents, he glanced at Arjun, noticing the tension in his son’s posture.

"This Meera girl, she's pushing you to the edge, isn't she?" Mr. Madhav said, his tone both amused and curious.

At the mention of Meera, Arjun’s jaw clenched visibly. His hands balled into fists at his sides, but he remained silent, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.

Mr. Madhav chuckled, about to make a light-hearted remark when the sound of rapid footsteps interrupted him.

A man stormed into the large living room, fury written all over his face. He was in his fifties, dressed in a crisp white shirt and pants, with glasses perched on his nose and a head of slightly greying hair.

His eyes burned with rage as he burst through the door, ignoring the guards who struggled to hold him back.

"Where is that BASTARD!" the man bellowed, his voice echoing through the grand space.

Both Arjun and his father stood up, startled by the sudden intrusion. Their eyes met with the man who had barged in—Mr. Agarwal, Suhana’s father.

The tension in the room skyrocketed as all eyes turned to Mr. Agarwal, his face twisted with fury, making it clear this was no ordinary confrontation.

***

Meanwhile When Meera and her father finally neared the towering gates of the Madhav estate, Meera’s heart pounded in her chest.

The house was far grander than the one Siddhartha and Arjun lives in—a sprawling, luxurious mansion that loomed over the neighborhood.

But it wasn’t just the size of the house that intimidated her. It was the knowledge of what it represented. Power. Influence. Danger.

They stepped out of the rickshaw, the large iron gates standing before them like sentinels. Her father stood beside her, trying to offer reassurance, but Meera’s hands trembled.

She knew that despite Mr. Madhav’s polite façade, they were about to enter a world where everything could change in an instant.

If he sided with his son, if he chose to protect Arjun rather than help them, she didn’t know how they would get out of this.

***

Mr. Madhav smirked, a sinister glint in his eyes as his lips curled into a mocking smile. It wasn’t the kind of smile that brought comfort—it was the kind that sent a chill down your spine, laced with cruelty and amusement.

"Well, well." he chuckled dryly, slowly making his way toward where the guards held Jai Agarwal in a tight grip. "That was fast, wasn’t it?"

Jai’s face was twisted with rage, his voice shaking with fury as he struggled against the guards.

"You monster! What have you done?" he roared, his voice echoing through the lavish room.

Mr. Madhav tsked and shook his head, his voice calm and mocking.

"Tut tut, Jai, why so much noise? It’s far too early in the day for such theatrics." His eyes gleamed as he smiled. "Lovely morning, isn’t it?"

"Lovely?" Jai spat, his face contorted with anger. "You destroyed my company! You snake! What did you do to my empire?!"

"Oh, that?" Mr. Madhav’s voice dripped with amusement as he glanced over his shoulder at Arjun, who was lounging on a couch, watching the unfolding drama with cold indifference. "Just bought a few shares. Enough to call it mine, of course." He chuckled, thoroughly enjoying the torment flashing across Jai’s face.

"You planned this all along, didn’t you?" Jai growled, his voice rising in fury. "And the marriage! Was that a part of your scheme too?!"

Mr. Madhav’s face darkened for a moment, the mockery vanishing from his expression as he was about to respond, but the sharp sound of high heels interrupted him.

Suhana, her face pale with desperation, rushed into the room.

"Mr. Madhav—Uncle, please, tell your guards to let my father go!" she pleaded, her voice soft but urgent.

"Suhana!" Jai barked, still struggling in the guards’ grip. "Why are you begging him? He’s the one who ruined us! My empire… everything I’ve built!"

Suhana’s eyes darted between her father and Mr. Madhav, a deep sadness pooling in her gaze.

Then, as if sensing something in the air, she caught sight of Arjun. Her heart sank when she saw the cold, distant look in his eyes.

"Please, Uncle." she whispered again, turning back to Mr. Madhav, her voice breaking.

Mr. Madhav sighed theatrically and gave a signal to his guards, who immediately released Jai. Suhana rushed to her father’s side, holding onto him as he steadied himself.

"Dad, why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion and worry.

Jai’s rage boiled over.

"Why? Because this BASTARD bought more than half the shares of my company! I was tricked, and now everything I’ve worked for is at stake!" His voice cracked with anguish as he glared at Mr. Madhav.

Suhana’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide with shock. She turned to Mr. Madhav, searching his face for some denial, some explanation.

"Uncle? Is this true?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Before Mr. Madhav could answer, Arjun stood up, his voice cutting through the tense air. "Yes. It’s true."

Suhana turned to Arjun, her heart pounding in her chest.

"But why? I mean… we’re getting married. Why would you do this? It will all be ours anyway…"

Arjun’s eyes hardened as he stared at her. "And what made you think we were getting married?" His words hit her like a punch to the gut, and she stumbled back slightly, disbelief washing over her.

"W-what?" Suhana stuttered, turning her gaze to Mr. Madhav in desperation.

"Uncle, what is going on? Was this all just… a lie?"

Mr. Madhav let out a deep sigh, shaking his head as he addressed her gently, almost condescendingly.

"My dear, this arrangement was never about love. Your father and I both knew this was an alliance—a way to merge our empires. But my son," he said, pride flashing in his eyes. "he decided to follow his own heart."

Suhana’s confusion and frustration bubbled over. "I don’t understand… what are you saying?"

"Ask your lovely father." Arjun sneered from the side, his words dripping with disdain.

Mr. Madhav, ever the puppet master, smiled smugly.

"You see, Suhana, I already have a daughter-in-law—someone far more fitting for Arjun." He paused for dramatic effect, his voice growing gleeful. "And I’d love for you to meet her."

Jai, still fuming, clenched his fists. "How could you do this?" he shouted, his voice raw with emotion. "You know how much Suhana loves Arjun!"

Mr. Madhav’s laughter echoed through the room.

"Ah, but does Arjun love her?" he asked, his question hanging in the air like a challenge.

Before anyone could respond, the door opened once more, and a guard stepped in, followed by two guests. All eyes turned toward the entrance as they walked into the room, the tension thick in the air.

Meera stood there, her eyes scanning the room, taking in the scene before her—Mr. Madhav’s smug expression, Jai’s fury, Suhana’s shocked face, and finally, Arjun’s unreadable gaze.

Her heart raced as her eyes locked with Arjun’s. He stared at her, his expression hard to read, but his heart was pounding in his chest.

Could this be real? Was Meera really standing here, in the midst of all this chaos?

Mr. Madhav’s grin widened, his voice booming as he made the grand announcement.

"Ah, there she is! My lovely daughter-in-law." His words hung in the air like a declaration, and Suhana gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as she stared at Meera in shock.

Meera exchanged a quick, nervous glance with her father as he returned the look.

Had she heard Mr. Madhav correctly?

The tension in the room was suffocating, and her pulse quickened.

"Why are you standing there at the door?" Mr. Madhav’s voice rang out, too sweet, too welcoming.

"Come in! Come in!" His tone was falsely warm, a dangerous edge lying just beneath the surface.

Meera gripped her father’s hand tightly as they both stepped further into the room, each step feeling heavier than the last.

Her heart raced, and she fought the urge to turn around and leave, but there was no turning back now.

Arjun moved toward her, his face hard and expression unreadable. But his eyes, those piercing eyes, scanned her with intent, lingering on her appearance.

He took in every detail—her grace, her poise, the way her hair fell softly around her face. She was stunning, and the thought of her being his stirred something possessive in him. She was all his.

And he loved that thought.

"S-she? She was the one?" Suhana's voice broke the silence, her words barely audible as they escaped her lips. Her eyes were wide with shock, pain flickering across her face.

Mr. Madhav chuckled, his voice filled with twisted amusement. "I know, she’s beautiful, isn’t she?"

"Uncle… Arjun… please, tell me this is all a joke." Suhana’s voice trembled, her heart clearly breaking. She looked between them, her hope fading with every second.

Jai, her father, saw the despair on her face, and his heart shattered. His rage, once directed at the Madhavs for their manipulation, now turned into raw fury. He spun toward Mr. Madhav, seething with hatred.

"You’re a monster!" Jai yelled, his voice shaking with anger.

Mr. Madhav’s patience seemed to snap. His amused facade faded, replaced by irritation.

"Ugh! I’m tired of this. Here I am, about to welcome my lovely daughter-in-law, and you ruin the moment with your incessant whining, trying to make me seem like the villain." he said, glaring at Jai.

His patience fully gone, he signaled the guards. "You may excuse yourselves now." he said coldly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

The guards didn’t hesitate. They moved swiftly, dragging Jai and Suhana toward the door despite their protests.

Jai’s curses filled the room, while Suhana cried out for Arjun, pleading with him, struggling to escape the guards’ grasp. But Arjun stood stone-faced, indifferent to her pleas.

Meera and her father stood frozen, watching the chaotic scene unfold, stunned by the cruelty and coldness of it all.

When the doors finally closed behind Jai and Suhana, a heavy silence settled over the room, only broken by the pounding of Meera’s heart. She exchanged another glance with her father, the confusion and tension thick between them.

Mr. Madhav broke the silence with an unsettling smile.

"Sorry about that, my dear. Just… family matters." he said casually, as if nothing unusual had just happened.

"Please, come and sit." Mr. Madhav gestured toward Mr. Ahuja with a false hospitality, as though the earlier outburst was nothing more than an inconvenience.

Meera’s father hesitated, but he finally relented and sat down, trying to maintain some semblance of composure.

As they settled, Arjun moved closer to Meera. Too close. His towering presence sent an unsettling chill through her, and she instinctively took a step back.

His voice was low, rough with emotion as he leaned in. "Why are you here, Meera?" he asked, his eyes locking onto hers, searching for something.

Meera’s breath hitched, her gaze darting toward her father and Mr. Madhav, who were seated and speaking quietly.

"I-I came—" she stammered, trying to find the words, but Arjun’s soft, unexpected chuckle cut her off. Her eyes widened in surprise.

Did he just… chuckle?

"You know." he said, his voice husky and filled with intensity, "I’m so glad you’re here."

"W-what? You are?" Meera asked, her voice filled with uncertainty. What could possibly make him glad about this situation?

Arjun’s grip on her hand was unexpectedly gentle, his thumb brushing against her soft skin. "Yes." he said, his eyes darkening slightly. "My father wanted to see you."

Her confusion deepened. "Huh? Why?"

Arjun’s voice dropped lower, almost tender. "Well, he needs to see his soon-to-be daughter-in-law, doesn’t he?" His words were sweet, but to Meera, they felt like chains tightening around her.

The idea of becoming part of this dangerous family, tied to them in such a way, filled her with dread.

She pulled her hand away from his, her heart pounding in her chest. Arjun frowned at the gesture, his dark eyes narrowing slightly in displeasure.

But before he could say anything, he leaned in closer, his breath hot against her skin as he sniffed her, sending a shiver down her spine.

It was a strange, possessive gesture that made her retreat further, creating a wide distance between them.

Arjun’s eyes followed her every move, dark and predatory. There was something dangerous about the way he looked at her now, and Meera knew she had to put some space between them.

She quickly turned and walked toward her father and Mr. Madhav, leaving Arjun behind, though she could feel his gaze burning into her back as she went.

"So, Mr. Ahuja, how can I help my in-laws today?" Meera heard Mr Madhav voice as she approached, his tone polite but strained.

She sat down beside her father, her nerves still rattled. Before she could fully settle, Arjun joined them, choosing the couch closest to Meera, his presence looming.