Chapter 47: Chapter Fourty Three.

I'm sorry for not publishing on time, I was sick and very down, had to go to the hospital for needed care. I'm fine now though, just a bit weak.

I'm sorry for not writing for long! I will make it up for you all.

I will drop this chapter to warm you'll eye and publish a longer one(s) tomorrow :)🌹

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Meera glanced at her phone screen for what felt like the hundredth time. Still nothing. No text, no call, not even a missed notification from Veer.

She frowned, unable to shake off the unease creeping up her spine. It was so unlike him.

Veer always made it a point to text her, even during his busiest school hours. She didn’t want to sound needy or selfish, but this radio silence was unusual.

With a sigh, she slipped her phone back into her bag, determined to stop obsessing.

"Maybe he’s just busy"  she told herself. Yet, the thought didn’t do much to soothe her nerves.

As Meera stepped out of the main entrance, the bustling crowd of students faded into the background. She was lost in her thoughts, wondering if she should text Veer first when a cheerful, high-pitched voice broke through her haze.

"Meera!"

She looked up, her frown melting into a smile as she saw a familiar face waving enthusiastically from a sleek car parked by the curb.

Ishita was stepping out, her vibrant energy impossible to miss.

"Ishita!" Meera called back, genuinely happy to see her.

"Hey, gorgeous!" Ishita beamed, striding over and pulling Meera into a warm hug. Her vibrant presence felt like a burst of sunshine, immediately lifting Meera's spirits.

Meera chuckled as they pulled away. "How did you know where I go to school?"

Ishita flashed a mischievous grin, flipping her hair dramatically. "Oh, you know... I have my ways."

"Sid, huh?" Meera teased, shaking her head as they both laughed.

"Come on, we have so much to catch up on!" Ishita said, linking her arm with Meera’s and practically dragging her toward the car.

Once they were inside and comfortably settled, Ishita revved the engine, her stylish sunglasses perched on her nose.

"So, tell me, how’s life? Still the same boring school schedule?"

"Pretty much." Meera admitted with a shrug. "But what about you? How’s work? Sid mentioned you were working on something big."

"Oh, work’s been crazy." Ishita said, her voice tinged with equal parts excitement and exhaustion.

"It’s stressful, but I love it. And yes, there’s this massive project I’ve been managing lately. It’s a big deal, but nothing too overwhelming." She waved it off nonchalantly, though Meera could tell she was secretly proud.

"Nothing too overwhelming?" Meera teased. "That’s not what Sid said. He was practically gushing about how impressive it is."

"Well.." Ishita smirked, her fingers drumming lightly on the steering wheel, "it is kind of impressive, now that you mention it. But enough about me. Tell me what’s been keeping you busy, apart from school?"

As they drove through the city, their conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with laughter and updates on each other’s lives.

Ishita had a knack for turning even mundane topics into something exciting. Meera found herself forgetting all about Veer’s silence for the moment, enjoying the lively banter with her friend.

But deep down, a small part of her still wondered why Veer hadn’t reached out. And though Ishita’s infectious energy was a temporary distraction, Meera couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

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"Thank you." Ishita said with a polite smile as the waiter collected their menus.

Meera leaned back in her chair, distracted by the soft ding of her phone. She quickly picked it up, her eyes scanning the screen.

Ishita raised a curious brow at her friend's sudden focus.

"Siddhartha told me everything, Meera." Ishita said gently, breaking the momentary silence.

Meera paused, her fingers halting mid-scroll. She looked up at Ishita, whose expression had turned serious.

"I’m so sorry for everything you’ve had to go through with Arjun." Ishita continued, her tone filled with genuine concern.

Meera’s shoulders sagged, a wave of frustration washing over her. "All I want is for Arjun to leave me alone. That’s it. I have a—"

"A fiancé now." Ishita finished for her, nodding. "I know, Meera. And I completely understand. Arjun’s behavior isn’t just wrong—it’s obsessive."

"What’s worse is that his family enables it, especially his father. " Meera said, her voice rising slightly with irritation. "He act like everything Arjun does is acceptable!"

Ishita sighed as the waiter returned, carefully setting down their meals. Meera managed a polite smile of thanks before turning her attention back to Ishita.

"Can I ask you something?" Ishita said, tilting her head slightly as she studied her friend.

"Of course." Meera replied, picking at her food.

"Why do you hate Arjun so much?" Ishita asked directly.

Meera froze, caught off guard. "What?"

"You’re one of the sweetest people I know, Meera." Ishita began, her tone thoughtful. "You’re kind, gentle, and patient—even with people you barely know. But with Arjun, it’s different. You react so strongly to his name, let alone his presence. And I don’t think it’s just because of his criminal history."

Meera frowned, feeling cornered by the observation. "I mean... isn’t it obvious? He’s a criminal."

"Yes..." Ishita acknowledged with a small smile. "But Siddhartha is his brother, and you’re nothing but kind to him. So, if Arjun wasn’t a criminal, would you still hate him?"

The question struck Meera harder than she expected. She fell silent, her mind racing.

Sure, his criminal lifestyle played a big part in her dislike for him. But even if she stripped away that part of his identity, she realized she’d still feel the same way.

"Honestly, Ishita, yes. I would still dislike him." Meera admitted after a moment.

Ishita blinked, clearly surprised. "Why?"

Meera sighed deeply, setting her fork down. "Arjun embodies everything I despise in a person. He’s rude, controlling, and completely lacks respect—especially for women. Did you see how he talks to Suhana? It’s appalling. He doesn’t match any of the qualities I value in a man."

Ishita listened intently as Meera continued. "I’ve always admired kindness, respect, and gentleness. But Arjun? He’s the polar opposite. He’s arrogant, Crazy, and treats people like they’re expendable. Even if he weren’t involved in illegal activities, I could never overlook his personality. We’re just too different."

Ishita gave her a knowing look, nodding in understanding. "So, it’s not just his actions. It’s who he is as a person."

"Exactly." Meera said firmly. "It’s not about being two opposite sides of a coin. It’s about having no common ground, no shared values."

"You’ve really thought this through." Ishita said softly, admiration flickering in her tone.

"I had to." Meera admitted, her voice dropping. "He’s forced himself into my life in a way that makes me question everything. But I’ve never been more certain about one thing—Arjun and I could never be anything but adversaries."

For a moment, they both sat in reflective silence, the weight of Meera’s words hanging between them.

"Well." Ishita finally said, breaking the quiet with a faint smile, "you’re braver than you think, Meera. Standing up to someone like Arjun isn’t easy."

Meera gave a small, bittersweet smile. "I don’t feel brave, Ishita. I feel trapped."

"Maybe for now." Ishita said gently. "But one day, Maybe things will be clearer."

Meera didn’t respond, but deep down, she hoped Ishita’s words were true. She picked up her fork again, trying to focus on the meal in front of her, even as her mind remained tangled in the chaos that Arjun had brought into her life.

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Ishita pulled her car to a smooth stop right in front of Meera's workplace.

"Thank you so much for lunch... and for the talk." Meera said, her smile warm and genuine as she unbuckled her seatbelt.

"Anytime, babe " Ishita replied with a wink. Then, as if remembering something, she added, "Oh! Siddhartha mentioned something about an upcoming event for your school. He didn’t explain it very well, though."

Meera laughed lightly at the vague mention. "Oh, yes. It's an event for all the students who participated in the project. Basically, it's a networking opportunity with the interviewees and business owners we worked with. It's a great chance to make connections, even though it’s not mandatory."

Ishita nodded, her interest piqued. "Oh, that sounds like fun—and super useful! You know what? I’m definitely coming."

Meera’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Are you sure? I mean, it’s just a school event. It might not be that exciting for you."

"Absolutely sure." Ishita grinned. "Siddhartha and I will be there to cheer you on. It’s not a problem at all, so don’t overthink it."

Meera felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. "Thank you so much, Ishita. It really means a lot to me."

"Of course, darling. You’ve got this!" Ishita leaned over and pulled Meera into a warm hug.

As they broke the hug, Meera stepped out of the car, brushing invisible wrinkles off her skirt.

"Bye, Gorgeous!" Ishita called out playfully, her voice carrying a melodic lilt as she waved through the window.

Meera chuckled, shaking her head at her friend’s infectious energy. She waved back, watching Ishita’s car disappear down the street.

Meera turned and walked into her workplace, her heart feeling a little lighter from the afternoon spent with someone who genuinely cared.

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I love you all, and I'm sorry once again. I will drop two updates tomorrow(WAT,), I finished with one already and writing the other one.

PS: we have different time zone, as at publishing this it's 9:30pm.

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