Chapter 45: Chapter Fourty One.

Holy Sh*t, didn't know it's five days already!!!!!!

😳😳

♡♡♡

One week had passed, a whole seven days without a word from Arjun. No phone calls, no texts, nothing. It was as if he had disappeared from her life, a shadow that had finally retreated. And Meera couldn’t be happier.

She had feared he would never back off, but now it felt like a weight had lifted. Her family, too, was visibly more at ease, no longer haunted by Arjun's looming presence.

In the past few days, Meera’s life had taken a brighter turn. She’d been spending more time with Ranveer, growing closer with each passing day.

The warmth and comfort he brought to her life were new but felt like they had been there forever. His gentle nature and unwavering support were a far cry from the intense possessiveness she’d been subjected to.

Ranveer was, to her, the perfect man—kind, steady, and someone who could make her heart flutter with just a smile.

As she left her classroom, Meera’s phone chimed. She rummaged through her bag, fishing it out to see Ranveer’s name flash across the screen. Her face softened, a deep blush spreading over her cheeks.

“Ohhh, look at you blushing again!” Her friend Jiya appeared beside her, grinning. “Let me guess… our dear Veer?” Jiya clutched her hands together, sighing in exaggerated romance.

Meera rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t hide her own smile as she read Ranveer’s message.

“Oh, you look like a tomato!” Jiya teased, giggling. Meera shot her a playful glare and walked ahead, but Jiya trailed after her, unable to keep her laughter down.

“Come on, lover girl!” Jiya nudged her as they entered the cafeteria.

“Jiya, please, you’ve been teasing me all week. Don’t I get a break?”

“From me? Never! Do I look like someone who knows how to shut up?” Jiya tilted her head with a mischievous grin, making Meera groan dramatically.

“So when do I get some peace?” Meera challenged, crossing her arms.

“Hmm, I’d say… about a year after your wedding.” Jiya’s grin widened.

“Are you out of your mind?” Meera gasped, and Jiya just laughed harder, enjoying the playful banter.

Trying to ignore her friend’s teasing, Meera refocused on her phone, her fingers quickly replying to Ranveer’s message.

After a pause, Jiya's tone shifted slightly, and she looked at Meera more thoughtfully.

“By the way, our party is this Wednesday. So… will Siddhartha be there? Or, you know… him?”

Meera froze for a second, the light in her eyes dimming.

She took a deep breath, her grip tightening around her phone. “I don’t know, Jiya. Honestly, I hope not. I just… I really don’t want anything to do with them ever again.”

Jiya reached over and held Meera’s tense hand, her voice soft.

“Hey, relax. It’s okay. Like I said, it’s not mandatory. And honestly, I’m so happy that all that Arjun drama is behind you. I mean, your family doesn’t have to worry anymore, and neither do you.”

Meera exhaled, feeling her friend’s reassuring words settle her nerves. She looked at Jiya, grateful.

“You have no idea, Jiya. It’s like my family and I can finally breathe again. I’m just so relieved everything’s back to normal.”

Jiya smiled, her tone back to its usual cheerfulness.

“Alright then! Let’s celebrate our drama-free lives by getting something delicious. I’m starving.”

“Same here.” Meera chuckled, and with that, the two made their way to the cafeteria food counter, ready to enjoy a day that, for once, felt as bright as her smile.

♡♡♡

"Ranveer Luthra—26, CEO of Luthra Enterprises, a conglomerate with tentacles spreading across various Asian countries, and, shockingly, the co-founder of LenXtech, a rapidly growing technology brand expanding its reach into India." Karan was carefully laying out every single detail about Meera’s new love interest to a silent but seething Arjun.

Arjun looked nothing short of dangerous. His jaw was clenched tight, his eyes bloodshot with barely controlled rage, his hair still damp, falling in messy strands over his forehead, casting a shadow that made his gaze all the more lethal.

The dim light of the room only sharpened the tension, the quiet a ticking bomb waiting to explode.

Arjun’s fingers wrapped tightly around a glass of whiskey, his gaze fixed on a monitor displaying live feeds of Meera’s every move—university, work, home.

The realization that her life seemed untouched by his absence only stoked the fury within him.

With each word Karan said, Arjun’s fingers dug deeper into the leather armrest, leaving indents as his patience withered.

It was one thing to see Meera smiling, oblivious to his torment, but knowing she was close to Ranveer, laughing with him, letting him in… it was more than he could stand.

He didn’t just feel angry, he felt betrayed, burning with jealousy and an obsession he couldn’t shake.

Karan took a deep breath, cautiously continuing.

“It also seems that Meera and Ranveer have known each other for quite a while. Apparently, she even had a crush on him back—”

A shattering sound interrupted him. Karan’s eyes darted up, where Arjun’s bleeding fist was still clenched around the remnants of the glass, the shards pressing deeper into his skin.

Blood dripped down his knuckles, pooling on the polished wood of his desk. Karan let out a low sigh—he’d lost track of how many times he’d seen this over the past week.

Ever since Arjun found out about Ranveer, his anger had been a constant threat, a fire barely kept under control. And Karan had intervened too many times to stop his boss from outright destroying Ranveer in one way or another.

Arjun exhaled slowly, his gaze locked on the monitor as he watched Meera. His eyes darkened with a promise of wrath.

“That man thinks he can take what’s mine. That he can be the one to make her smile, to be close to her.” His voice was low, dangerous. “I could dismantle his entire empire, company by company. I could crush every deal, every contract he holds, and still it wouldn’t be enough.”

The rage in his voice was visceral, almost primal. Arjun wanted more than just revenge. He wanted to erase Ranveer from Meera’s life, from her thoughts, from her world.

His hand flexed again, heedless of the blood still trickling down his fingers. The image of Meera smiling with someone else was a blade lodged deep in his chest, twisting with every laugh, every casual glance she shared with Ranveer.

Arjun’s possessive obsession left him no room for mercy. The only thought that remained was making her his—whatever it took.

Karan watched silently, already calculating what he might need to prepare if Arjun’s simmering fury finally snapped into action.

He knew Arjun wasn’t just speaking empty words. If he decided to move against Ranveer, he’d do it with the full weight of his influence, power, and fury.

♡♡

Meera hurried toward the school parking lot, a bright smile lighting up her face. She scanned the lot, looking for a familiar car, her heart racing with excitement.

Just as she thought she'd spotted it, a gentle tap on her shoulder startled her, making her spin around.

"Veer!" she gasped, her cheeks warming immediately as she took him in under the afternoon sunlight.

The golden rays highlighted his sharp jawline, his warm eyes, and that smirk he always seemed to wear around her.

He looked even more handsome than usual, and the thought made her glance away, flustered.

"Why do you always look away like that?" he teased, his voice low and playful. "Still shy?" His smirk grew, clearly enjoying how he seemed to have this effect on her.

Meera quickly looked back at him, narrowing her eyes in mock indignation.

"I'm not shy! Why would I be shy around you?" she retorted, folding her arms defiantly.

"Oh, is that so?" Veer chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. He took a slow, deliberate step toward her, his gaze locked on hers, making her pulse race. She instinctively took a step back, her defenses crumbling as he drew closer, closing the gap between them.

"Veer… w-what are you doing?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, a hint of nervousness slipping through. She felt her heart pounding, her pulse thrumming in her ears as his face inched closer.

Veer grinned, a spark of amusement dancing in his eyes. He was close enough now that she could feel his breath against her cheek. His gaze lingered on her eyes before dropping to her lips, his own breath hitching as he hesitated.

"V-Veer, we’re outside…" she stammered, her voice trembling as she glanced around the lot, hyper-aware of the possibility of wandering eyes. "People might see..."

For a long, charged moment, Veer’s eyes stayed on her lips, as if debating something. Then, as if realizing the intensity of his own impulse, he pulled back abruptly, a flush coloring his cheeks. He chuckled, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Sorry. I was just… messing around." He cleared his throat, trying to shake off the moment. "Shall we go?"

Her heart still racing, Meera managed a nod, her face warm with embarrassment. She sidestepped him, slipping into the passenger seat of his car, trying to calm herself down.

Veer quickly followed suit, settling into the driver’s seat. He glanced over, noticing her pink cheeks and the way she fidgeted with the strap of her bag, and he couldn’t help but grin.

With a small laugh, Veer started the engine, stealing a final glance at Meera as they pulled out of the lot.

She was looking out the window, a small smile lingering on her face, still slightly flustered from the moment they'd just shared.

He couldn't help but notice the soft blush on her cheeks and the way she absently brushed her hair behind her ear.

"So..." he said, breaking the silence, "how were classes today?"

Meera sighed, leaning back in her seat. "They were fine, I guess. Kind of boring, actually."

Veer glanced over at her with a sympathetic smile. "Sorry to hear that. Maybe we can turn things around. How about we grab some ice cream before I drop you off at work? Might lighten the mood a bit."

At the mention of ice cream, Meera's face lit up, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she nodded eagerly. "Yes, please. That sounds perfect."

"Alright, milady! Off to the ice cream parlour!" he declared, putting on an exaggerated accent that was somewhere between British and just plain silly.

Meera furrowed her brows, giving him an incredulous look, which only made him laugh harder.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he chuckled. "You look cute whenever you make that face."

Meera’s mouth dropped open slightly as she processed his words, then she quickly pouted, crossing her arms and looking away, pretending to be upset.

Veer only grinned wider, glancing over at her from time to time as he drove. She kept up the silent act, looking out the window, but he could see the slight twitch at the corner of her mouth, struggling not to smile.

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry, Miss Pouty." he teased, nudging her shoulder lightly as they stopped at a red light.

Meera shot him a side-eye but didn’t say anything, her lips curling into a small, secret smile.

She was already getting used to his playful nature, and she found it hard to stay mad at him for too long.

Still facing away from him, Meera mumbled, "Fine. But only because you’re treating me to ice cream."

Veer shook his head, amused. He kept up the playful banter as they drove, filling the car with easy laughter and lighthearted teasing, the kind that made every moment together feel like it could stretch on forever.

Soon, they arrived at the ice cream parlour, and he quickly parked, hopping out of the car and coming around to open her door.

As they walked toward the shop, Veer nudged her with his shoulder, earning a shy but delighted smile.

They stood by the glass counter, scanning the array of colorful ice creams and toppings. Meera was focused, eyes wide as she considered her options.

"Alright, so what's it going to be?" he asked, hands on his hips like he was ready for some intense decision-making. "Let me guess—chocolate fudge with extra sprinkles?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "Close, but I think I’ll go with strawberry cheesecake. But with extra sprinkles!" She grinned, looking proud of her choice.

Veer held up his hands in surrender. "Strawberry cheesecake it is, with all the sprinkles you can handle."

He ordered for both of them, and they took a seat by the window, enjoying their treats in comfortable silence. Meera glanced out at the passing cars, a thoughtful smile on her face as she took small bites. Veer watched her, admiring the way she looked so at ease, so genuinely happy.

"So..." he began, breaking the silence, "other than boring classes, how's everything going? Life treating you well?"

She nodded, looking down at her ice cream. "Yeah, things are good. Really good, actually. Especially with…" She trailed off, blushing as she glanced at him.

Veer raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly. "Especially with…?"

Meera quickly averted her gaze, focusing intently on her ice cream. "Nothing." she muttered, unable to hide the smile that played at her lips.

Veer chuckled, deciding to let it slide for now. They finished up their ice creams, lingering a little longer as they talked about everything and nothing.

Veer kept stealing glances, each one making him realize just how much he enjoyed being around her. Finally, with a small sigh, they both knew it was time to get going.

As they walked back to the car, Veer nudged her gently. "Well, I’m glad I could brighten up your day a little. Think you’ll survive work now?"

She looked up at him, a soft smile in her eyes. "Yeah, I think I will. Thanks, Veer."

They shared a quiet smile before getting back into the car. Veer started the engine, glancing over at her one last time before they headed to her work.

♡♡♡

9:34pm.

Meera stepped out of the bathroom, gently rubbing her damp hair with a towel, feeling the warmth from her shower linger as she moved to her bed.

Just then, her phone rang, lighting up. A big smile bloomed across her face as she reached for it, her heart fluttering.

"Hehe, hey, Veer!" she giggled, already envisioning his kind voice on the other end.

But instead, a low, almost breathless voice cut through the line, sending a chill down her spine.

"Jaan… I’ve missed you so much." The voice was heavy, dark, almost panting. Her heart dropped, fear prickling along her skin. She knew instantly who it was.

Arjun.

Her smile vanished, her hands trembling as she clumsily fumbled to end the call, her breath catching in her throat. The phone fell silent, but her mind was racing.

"Why… why won’t he just leave me alone?" she whispered, pressing a hand to her chest as if trying to calm the pounding of her heart.

She felt the walls closing in around her, the familiar sense of panic clawing its way up.

She'd thought it was over, that maybe this time she could finally breathe without the fear of him lurking in the shadows.

But then, the phone buzzed in her hand, the screen flashing with his number again.

She stared, her finger hovering, her mind torn between ignoring it and answering, knowing that silence would only make things worse. Slowly, with shaky fingers, she swiped to answer.

“H-Hello?” Her voice was barely a whisper, betraying the fear she tried so hard to hide.

A deadly calm seethed through the line. "Don’t you ever hang up on me, Meera. Never again, got it?" His voice dripped with menace, each word a dagger she couldn’t avoid. Her voice caught as she managed to croak out a shaky, "Y-yes."

“Good.” There was a cold pause before he spoke again, this time, his voice low and commanding. "Come outside."

She froze, her grip on the phone tightening. "What?"

"Come outside. Now. My patience is thinner than you think. Or would you rather I come in there and drag you out myself?” His voice held a deadly promise, sending another wave of fear through her.

“This house… it's separating me from you. I hate it.” he growled, each word a threat that coiled around her, squeezing.

Meera’s eyes filled with tears, her voice barely holding steady. "N-no, please… I’ll come. Just… wait.."

“Don’t keep me waiting,” he whispered, his voice ice-cold before he hung up, leaving nothing but silence.

The line went dead, yet his presence lingered in every corner of the room, suffocating her.

She stood there, staring at her reflection in the mirror, tears falling as she bit down on her lip to keep from screaming.

The freedom she thought she'd finally found was slipping through her fingers, her heart pounding as she realized there was no escape from him.

With a deep breath, she steadied herself, wiping the tears from her face and summoning what little courage she could muster.

"You can do this meera."