Chapter 46: Chapter Fourty Two.

Arjun paced alongside his sleek, black car, running a hand through his already tousled hair, his jaw clenched, growling under his breath.

His thoughts were a storm, a chaotic mess of anger, frustration, and something even darker—possessive obsession. He’d had enough of watching her from a distance, confined to screens and images.

Tonight, he’d see her, feel her presence for real.

Just then, the door to her house opened, and there she was. Meera stepped out, looking hesitant but determined, her eyes wary as she searched for him in the dim light. Arjun’s gaze devoured her instantly, taking in every detail, every movement.

She was dressed in soft pajamas, a matching top and pants, making her look almost innocent, so unaware of how alluring she was, how dangerously tempting. His hand clenched into a fist, desire and anger blending into a dark need to claim her, here and now.

As she approached him, hesitant steps carrying her closer, Arjun’s patience snapped. In one swift motion, he closed the distance, grabbing her wrist and pulling her firmly against his car.

He pressed her back against the cool window, trapping her between him and the unyielding metal, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. Meera gasped, her pulse racing as her hands instinctively went to his chest, pushing against him.

“A-Arjun… stop, please.” she whispered, her voice trembling.

His eyes narrowed, and a bitter smile crossed his lips.

“Why are you with him, Meera?” His voice was cold, laced with accusation.

“Arjun, you’re hurting me” she winced, her fingers pressing against his chest.

He clenched his jaw, his grip only loosening slightly as anger sparked in his eyes.

“And you don’t think you’re hurting me too? Huh, Meera? Do you think this is easy for me?” His voice rose, frustration boiling over. Before she could answer, she gathered the strength to push him back, her breath coming in shallow bursts.

“What is wrong with you, Arjun?” she shouted, her tone sharp. “Don’t you understand? I don’t like you at all. I’m with him because… because I like him.” she stammered, her words spilling out, her gaze pleading.

His face twisted with barely restrained fury, his fists shaking with the effort to hold back his rage.

“No.” he hissed, his voice a low, dangerous growl. “No, Meera. You don’t see it yet. You’re mine, you hear me? You were made for me, not for him. I—” His voice broke for a moment, raw emotion flaring in his eyes. “I love you, Meera. I’ve never felt this way before, and I won’t let some prick steal you from me.”

He took another step closer, his voice darkening with every word. “I will ruin him, break him, burn everything he has until there’s nothing left.”

“Arjun, please!” she pleaded, her voice desperate. “Please don’t do this. Leave Veer out of this. He has nothing to do with whatever… this is.”

“Don’t. Say. His. Name!” he seethed, a deadly fire in his eyes.

“I’m—I’m sorry.” she stammered, her voice softening, realizing how volatile he had become. “But please, Arjun… leave him alone. He’s a good man.”

Her words only enraged him more. The idea that she would beg for Veer, defend him, made his emotions twist into something dark and dangerous.

Was she really willing to fight for this man? To go this far for him? The thought alone set his blood boiling with jealousy, an emotion he could barely contain.

His hand moved to her jaw, cupping it, his fingers firm but not enough to hurt. He tilted her face up, his dark eyes boring into hers, holding her gaze captive, forcing her to face his truth.

His breath was warm against her skin as he leaned closer, his voice low and venomous.

“You can try to deny it all you want, Meera. But no one else will ever have you. I don’t care what you feel for him or anyone else.” His thumb brushed her cheek, a deceptively tender gesture, but his tone was anything but soft. “You are mine, Meera. And I’m not letting you go.”

Arjun’s gaze was intense, his voice low and controlled, but his eyes were burning with barely contained fury.

“Let me make it easy for you, Meera. Break up with him.” he demanded. “The engagement, the relationship… everything. End it.”

Meera’s eyes widened, disbelief and anger flooding her face.

Gathering every ounce of strength, she pushed him away, her breath shaky but her voice defiant.

“Never!” she spat, glaring at him with a fire he hadn’t seen before. “I hate you, Arjun. I hate you with every cell in my body. You’re nothing but a criminal—a parasite. I would never, never be with you. Leave Veer out of this! You’re a menace to me and my family. Just leave me alone. Go!”

For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Meera’s words had hit their mark, and she could see the way his jaw tightened, his eyes darkening with raw anger.

Without warning, he spun around, slamming his fist into the car window with such force that a loud crack split the air.

Meera gasped, taking an instinctive step back, eyes wide in terror as she watched him, pulse racing.

Arjun barely flinched, his hand now bleeding, but he didn’t even look at her. Rage radiated off him as he slammed his fist into the car once more, a web of fractures spreading across the glass.

The silence between them was chilling, and Meera was rooted to the spot, caught in his tempest of fury. But without another word, Arjun climbed into his car, the engine roaring to life.

In an instant, he was gone, speeding away into the night, the sound of tires screeching against the asphalt.

Meera stood there, her chest heaving, pulse still racing. Trembling, she quickly turned and rushed inside, closing the door behind her as though to keep the storm outside, then went to her room.

Her hands shook as she pulled out her phone, needing to hear Veer’s voice, to know he was okay. The phone rang twice before he answered.

“Well, you really can’t get me off your mind, can you?” Veer teased gently, his familiar warmth grounding her for a moment.

“Veer.” she managed, her voice barely above a whisper, “where are you? Are you… are you okay?”

There was a pause, his tone immediately shifting from playful to concerned.

“Meera? You sound off. Are you okay?”

She swallowed, trying to steady her voice, but it came out thin and shaky. “Y-yes, I’m… I’m fine. I just needed to know you’re safe. Are you?”

“Yes, I’m okay.” he replied, his voice firm, a protective edge creeping into it. “But you don’t sound fine, Meera. Are you sure? Do you want me to come over?”

“No, no.” she replied quickly, glancing toward the door as if she expected Arjun to reappear at any moment.

“My mom and dad… they’ll be home soon. I’m… I’m okay. Good night, Veer.”

“Meera, wait—” Veer’s voice was cut off as she ended the call, unable to hold back the sob that slipped out.

She slumped onto the edge of her bed, her head buried in her hands as her body trembled with leftover adrenaline and fear.

How did it come to this? She’d thought she was finally free, finally rid of him. But Arjun’s threats, his dangerous fixation, haunted her every moment. Taking a shaky breath, she tried to steady herself.

But the image of his fury, his violent reaction, lingered in her mind, making sleep seem a far-off, impossible thing.

♡♡♡

Arjun stood in the dimly lit warehouse, his face shadowed but his rage unmistakable. In his hand was a heavy, blood-streaked spanner, his grip tight as he loomed over the traitor who had crossed him.

The man was barely recognizable—a bloody mess, slumped against the chair he was tied to, his face swollen and bruised, blood pooling around him from a gash above his brow, his mouth a mixture of blood and shattered teeth.

No one dared to step forward, not even Karan, who usually tried to reason with him during his rages. Tonight, Arjun was beyond reason.

With a snarl, Arjun raised the spanner again, his voice a deadly, chilling whisper that echoed through the silent room.

"Why the fuck can’t she love me?” he roared, bringing the spanner down with brutal force onto the traitor’s cheekbone, the sound of bone cracking resonating through the air.

The man cried out weakly, his breath rasping as he struggled against his bindings.

The blow didn’t calm Arjun’s fury—it only seemed to fuel it.

“Why? Why? Why?” he shouted with each swing of the spanner, the metallic taste of fury filling his senses. His voice grew more ragged, frustration breaking through the fury.

He continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous, almost pleading tone as he clenched his fists.

“It’s all your fault, you—your fault!” Arjun slammed the spanner down again and again, a storm of aggression pouring out until, finally, he let the spanner clatter to the ground beside him.

He took a step back, running a trembling hand through his hair as he stared down at the man in the chair, his breathing heavy, his shoulders rising and falling with each ragged breath.

“She has to love me… she’s supposed to. She… she has to.” His voice drifted off, caught somewhere between madness and desperation, and he broke into a dark, unsettling laugh that echoed against the concrete walls.

Karan and Vikram, watching from the shadows, exchanged uneasy glances, feeling the chill of his words sink in.

They could see it—Arjun’s obsession was spiraling, reaching a dangerous fever pitch. The mere mention of Meera seemed enough to send him over the edge these days, and there was a growing fear that no one could pull him back.

Arjun’s laughter died off, replaced with a steely resolve. He straightened, his eyes sharpening.

“I want Ranveer here by tomorrow. Alive. Bring him to me.” he growled, his voice hard and unyielding as steel, before he turned on his heel and strode out, leaving bloody footprints in his wake.

As the door slammed behind him, Vikram shook his head slowly, whispering, “I pity the fool who made him this crazy.”

Karan glanced at the broken man tied to the chair, the man’s breaths shallow, his gaze vacant. “He’s not the only one who deserves pity.” he murmured, casting a final glance at the bloody scene before them.

♡♡♡

"He was here again?" Meera’s father asked.

Meera sat across from her father in the warm glow of the living room, her hands trembling as she recounted the night’s events.

She could still feel Arjun’s intense presence lingering, even though he was gone. Her father listened quietly, his expression growing graver with every word.

"Yes Papa.” she murmured, her voice wavering. “He looked different… something was wrong. It was like there was a darkness around him, something dangerous. I don’t know how else to explain it, but… I’m scared. I’m scared for Veer." Her voice broke, and she drew in a shuddering breath, looking to her parents with pleading eyes.

Her father shared a concerned look with her mother, a silent exchange that seemed to communicate their shared worry and helplessness.

“Beta, don’t worry, okay?” he said softly, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Arjun’s temper… it’s fierce, but he knows boundaries. Veer will be fine.”

Meera gave a small nod, trying to draw comfort from his words, but the unease wouldn’t leave her. “Thank you, Papa.” she whispered.

“Now, go rest.” her mother added gently, standing beside her and smoothing a hand over Meera’s hair. “Try to sleep. We’re here.”

Meera forced a smile, nodding again. She was about to head up the stairs when she paused, frowning.

“Where’s Veda? I haven’t seen her all evening.” she asked, suddenly realizing her younger sister’s absence.

“Veda’s spending the night with a friend.” her mother replied quickly.

Meera caught a flicker of something in her mother’s eyes—was it worry?

She couldn’t shake the suspicion that there was more to it. But then she let it go, too tired to question further.

“Oh, and Papa… did Veda tell you anything about… about the situation?” she asked, hesitantly.

Her father sighed, and she saw the shadow of a heavy truth cross his face.

“Yes, beta.” he said, nodding solemnly. “Your sister… she’ll be leaving soon, for her safety and ours. It’s better if she goes sooner rather than later.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “But we’ll make sure she’s okay. Just try to rest now.”

Meera felt a weight lift slightly at his words, nodding as she made her way up the stairs.

But as she reached her room and settled into her bed, the familiar comfort of her home couldn’t chase away the fear still gnawing at her. Arjun’s face—his wild eyes, his threats—replayed in her mind like a dark omen.

On an impulse, she picked up her phone and saw a string of messages from Veer waiting for her, each one filled with his usual warmth, his words meant to soothe and cheer her up. She felt a pang of relief, reading them over and over before typing a quick reply.

“Goodnight, Veer. Thank you for being you.” she typed, sending him her words like a small wish for his safety.

Laying her phone down, she whispered a prayer into the silence.

“Please, God… please keep him safe.” she murmured, closing her eyes, hoping somehow it would be enough to protect him from the storm she feared was coming.

♡♡♡

Next morning.

Meera and Jiya made their way through the bustling school grounds, with Meera looking lost in thought, her usual spark dimmed. She barely noticed the students rushing past or the chatter echoing around them. Jiya’s observant gaze swept over her friend, noticing every sign of worry in her face and the heavy silence between them.

“Meera, you’ve been awfully quiet.” Jiya said gently, nudging her shoulder.

“And you look really stressed. What’s going on?”

Meera blinked, snapping out of her daze as she tried to compose herself.

“Oh… nothing. I’m fine, really. Just, you know… stayed up late doing homework.” She forced a small smile, hoping Jiya would buy her excuse, but she knew better.

Jiya arched a skeptical eyebrow. “Uh-huh, because I believe that.” she said, giving Meera a knowing look. “Come on, you can tell me what’s really going on. I’m all ears.”

Before Meera could think of what to say, her phone started ringing, cutting into the conversation.

As they strolled through the hallway, Meera fished her phone out of her bag and glanced at the screen—a number she didn’t recognize flashed across it.

She was about to dismiss the call, feeling too drained to deal with a stranger, but Jiya nudged her.

“Pick it up, Meera.” Jiya insisted. “Who knows? It might be important.”

“What if it’s a prank call?” Meera mumbled, hesitant.

Jiya rolled her eyes. “Then we’ll hang up, simple. Just answer already!”

With a sigh, Meera pressed the call button and held the phone to her ear.

“Hello?”

A bright, cheerful voice burst through the speaker.

“Yeeee!!! Gorgeous! Hey!!! Remember me?” the girl on the other end squealed, and it took a moment for Meera to place the voice.

She gasped, her eyes lighting up with recognition. “Oh my God! Ishita? Is that you?”

“The one and only!” Ishita laughed, sounding just as bubbly and full of energy as Meera remembered.

“Guess what? I’m in Mumbai! We have to meet up. When are you free?”

Meera’s smile grew wide, the first genuine one Jiya had seen on her face all day. “Oh, by one, I’m done with classes. How’s that?”

“Perfect, gorgeous! I’ll see you then!” Ishita sang before hanging up.

As Meera slipped her phone back into her bag, she felt a warmth spread through her—a temporary distraction from her worries. Jiya, however, was still curious.

“Ishita?” she asked, quirking an eyebrow. “You mean Siddhartha’s girlfriend, right? The one you met at that party?”

Meera nodded, her eyes softening with fond memories.

“Yeah, that’s her. It’s been a while since we last saw each other. She’s always been so fun to be around. I’m curious to see what she’s up to.”

Jiya raised an eyebrow. “And… what does she want with you?”

“Not sure.” Meera replied, shrugging lightly. “But I guess I’ll find out soon.”

With a last glance at the clock, Jiya grabbed Meera’s arm.

“We’re already late for class, Miss Social Butterfly.” she teased, pulling her down the hallway.

Meera chuckled, feeling a little lighter with the unexpected reunion on the horizon, and together, they slipped into their classroom, letting the familiar buzz of campus life surround them as they took their seats.

Yet, even as the day wore on, a sense of unease lingered beneath the surface.

But for now, Meera let herself enjoy the anticipation of meeting Ishita, hoping it might offer a break from everything hanging over her.

♤♤♤

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