Chapter 50: Chapter Fourty Six.

“What about him?” Arjun’s voice was low and heavy, dripping with restrained anger.

Meera flinched slightly but held her ground, her heart racing. She could feel the storm brewing in his tone, but she had to speak her mind.

“I’ve been trying to reach him.” she said, her voice trembling but determined. “I’ve called his phone over and over, and it’s not going through. Something is wrong.”

Arjun’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. Her concern for Veer stoked the flames of his already simmering rage.

“And why..” he growled, his voice like a blade cutting through the tension, “..are you telling me this? Do I look like his babysitter? His mother? Or am I—”

“You have something to do with this, Arjun, and I know it!” Meera cut him off, her voice rising with defiance.

Arjun froze, his dark eyes locking onto hers. For a moment, the air seemed to still. Then, with a humorless chuckle, he turned away from her, his steps deliberate and slow as he crossed the room.

Reaching the floor-to-ceiling window, he placed his hands in his pockets and stared out at the city sprawling beneath him.

The view was breathtaking, but there was no softness in his gaze.

“Ranveer... Ranveer... Ranveer.” he murmured, his voice dark and mocking, each syllable drawn out as if he were tasting the name.

And here I thought she was here for me..

“You’re really so... invested in him, aren’t you?” he continued, his tone sharp and biting.

“Let him go, Arjun.” Meera interrupted, her voice cracking but resolute. “Wherever you’re planning, please... don’t drag an innocent—”

“Innocent?” Arjun spun around, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

The word seemed to ignite something in him.

“Did you just say innocent?” he asked again, his voice rising slightly, a cold edge to it.

Meera stood her ground, her anger simmering just beneath the surface, but the intensity in his gaze made her falter.

Then, Arjun threw his head back and laughed—a deep, unsettling sound that echoed through the room.

Meera’s confusion grew as his laughter subsided, replaced by an eerie smirk.

He took slow, measured steps toward her, closing the distance between them with predatory precision.

“And you’re right.” he said, his voice soft but menacing, his smirk deepening. “I do have something to do with Veer’s disappearance.”

Meera’s breath caught in her throat, and she instinctively raised her hand to her mouth.

“Oh my God.” she whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

Arjun stopped mere inches away from her, towering over her like a shadow.

His dark gaze bore into hers, and his smile was anything but reassuring—it was twisted, almost gleeful.

“Did you–” Meera stammered, her voice shaking. “Did you kill him?”

Arjun tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable for a moment before his lips curled into a sickening smile.

“I wish..” he said softly, his voice dripping with malice.

Relief washed over Meera for a split second before he leaned in closer, his next words chilling her to the core.

“...But not yet.”

Meera’s heart sank, her knees threatening to give out as she stared at him in horror. She could see the cruel delight in his eyes, and it terrified her more than any threat he could utter.

"Arjun, please." Meera’s voice was soft, trembling with desperation. She clasped her hands tightly as if praying, her eyes wide and brimming with tears. "I beg you, let Ranveer go. Don’t hurt him. He’s has done nothing to you."

Arjun leaned in closer, his jaw clenching as her words seeped into him like poison. He hated it—the way she spoke his name with such pleading sorrow, but not love.

The way her concern was for someone else, someone unworthy in his eyes. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, the veins on his forearms straining as he struggled to rein in his fury.

And yet, he couldn’t.

With a sudden motion, he grabbed her jaw, his grip firm but not harsh, just enough to hold her face steady, forcing her to look directly into his eyes. His touch made Meera freeze, her breath hitching as fear coursed through her veins.

“Why?” he hissed, his voice low and dangerous, laced with fury that threatened to explode. “Why, Meera? You claim to hate criminals, to despise people like me, yet here you are, crying and begging for the life of one. Am I that bad?” His voice cracked slightly, the vulnerability buried beneath his anger making his words cut deeper. “Why can’t you look at me the way you look at him? Why can’t you love me the way you love that f*cker?”

Meera’s chest tightened. She squirmed, her hands coming up to try and push his away, but his grip, though not bruising, was unyielding.

“Arjun, you’re hurting me.” she whispered, her voice breaking as she struggled against him. “Please, let’s go.”

But Arjun wasn’t listening. His dark eyes burned with raw intensity, and his voice grew louder, more erratic.

“You feel so comfortable in his arms.” he spat, his breath hot against her face. “Why not mine? Why is it so easy for you to accept him but not me? Tell me, Meera, what do I have to do? Should I become crueler than he could ever dream to be? Should I show you the lengths I’ll go to for you? I will destroy this entire city—this entire country—if that’s what it takes to have you!”

His voice rose to a shout, his words vibrating with an almost manic energy. His eyes, bloodshot and wild, bore into her with a ferocity that made her blood run cold.

Summoning every ounce of strength she had, Meera pushed against him with all her might, breaking free from his grip.

She stumbled back, gasping for air, her chest heaving as she tried to steady herself. Her heart pounded in her ears, but the fire in her own chest roared to life, and she snapped.

"Why don’t you understand that I don’t want you, Arjun?” she shouted, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and defiance. “Do I have to keep telling you? Over and over? I will never love you! And who the hell told you Veer is a criminal? Not everyone is like you, Arjun!”

Her words were daggers, each one slicing through his rage, feeding his growing storm.

“Veer isn’t cruel! He isn’t manipulative, or controlling, or insane like you!” she continued, her voice rising as tears spilled freely down her face. “You’re ruthless, scary, and dangerous, and all the worst things I’ve ever feared. You’ll never be like Veer. You’ll never be anything like him because he has a heart. You? You’re heartless. You don’t understand love, Arjun. You understand possession.”

The room fell into a suffocating silence as her words echoed, hanging in the air like a loaded gun.

Arjun stood still, his fists trembling at his sides. The fire in his eyes didn’t dim—it grew, a raging inferno fueled by her rejection.

His lips curled into a snarl, and his chest rose and fell with the effort to contain himself.

“Fine.” he growled, his voice dripping with venom.

The word was sharp, final, and it made Meera’s stomach drop.

He stepped closer, his tone a low, menacing whisper. “If I can’t have you, no one can.”

His dark eyes bored into hers one last time before he turned on his heel and stormed out of his office, slamming the door so hard it rattled on its hinges.

Meera was left standing there, her body trembling and her mind spinning with the weight of what had just happened.

She sank into the nearest chair, clutching her chest as tears streamed down her face, the realization dawning on her that she was in far deeper trouble than she had ever imagined.

Just then, Meera’s phone buzzed, breaking the tense silence that had enveloped the room. She glanced down at the screen, her blurry vision clearing just enough to make out the notification.

She exhaled sharply, her trembling fingers tightening around the device as she pushed herself up from the chair.

Wiping the tears from her cheeks hastily, Meera straightened her posture, trying to compose herself.

Her heart still raced, her mind still spinning with the heated confrontation that had just transpired, but she forced herself to take a deep breath.

With one last glance around the cold, imposing office that now felt suffocating, she turned and walked out, her steps hurried but purposeful. She couldn’t afford to crumble now—not when she needed to figure out what to do next.

♡♡♡

Meera sat on her bed, her back resting against the cushioned headrest, a pillow nestled on her lap.

The soft glow of the moon filtered through the curtains, casting a silver sheen across the room. The moonlight illuminated her delicate features, her troubled eyes reflecting the same light as the night outside.

She gazed at the moon, her expression distant, her thoughts tangled in a web of fear and regret. The stillness of the night only amplified the chaos within her mind.

“Why can’t he just leave me alone?” she whispered, her voice breaking the heavy silence.

Her fingers clutched the edge of the pillow tightly, her knuckles whitening as the weight of her thoughts pressed down on her.

“He’s made me so unhappy. So utterly miserable.” she murmured, her voice tinged with despair.

“I wish I’d never crossed paths with him. If only I hadn’t agree to accept the project like that, or even follow Siddhartha to their home … none of this would have happened.”

Meera’s words trailed off, her voice barely audible now, and she sank further into her thoughts.

The room felt suffocating, her worry for Veer a constant, gnawing ache in her chest.

Her gaze wandered absentmindedly, and then it landed on something across the room, catching the moonlight as it sparkled faintly.

Her brows furrowed, curiosity pulling her out of her dark thoughts. She slid off the bed and padded softly across the floor to her vanity.

There, on the mirror table, was a glimmering crystal-like shell. She froze for a moment, surprised by its beauty in the moon’s glow.

“Goodness.” she murmured, picking it up gently, her fingers brushing over its smooth surface. “I completely forgot about this.”

She turned it over in her hands, marveling at its intricate patterns, the way the moonlight danced across its surface.

It was stunning, even more so than when she had bought it weeks ago as a potential gift for Arjun’s Father birthday.

The thought brought a faint, bitter smile to her lips.

Her mind drifted to the old woman at the shop who had told her the story of the shell.

A tale of a fearless warrior who had loved one woman with all his heart, but his love was unrequited.

The memory of the story tugged at her heart, a sense of melancholy settling over her.

“How ironic.” Meera said softly, her voice laced with sadness. “The warrior fought with honor, but in my case, Arjun isn’t a warrior. He’s a cruel lord... ready to conquer, to take without regard.”

She shook her head, exhaling deeply, and carried the shell back to her bed. Sitting down, she held it up to the moonlight once more, her fingers tracing its delicate curves.

It was a bittersweet reminder of how beautiful and fragile life could be—how something so enchanting could also bring sadness.

Clutching the shell close to her chest, she whispered,

“I just pray Veer is okay… wherever he is.”

Her words hung in the air. With the moon as her silent witness, Meera closed her eyes.

♤♤♤

“Haa!!!” Veer’s agonized scream echoed through the dimly lit cage. The sound bounced off the cold, gray walls, blending with the faint metallic tang of blood in the air.

His face was a canvas of pain—bruised, swollen, and smeared with dried blood. One eye was almost shut from the swelling, and his breath came in ragged, uneven gasps.

Arjun sat calmly in a chair just a few feet away, a twisted smile playing on his lips as he observed the scene before him.

His posture was relaxed, one leg crossed over the other, as if he were watching a show crafted for his amusement.

The dim light above cast long shadows across his face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw and the cold glint in his eyes.

Veer coughed, spitting blood onto the floor, his glare defiant despite the state he was in.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” he rasped, his voice hoarse but dripping with venom.

Arjun tilted his head slightly, his smile widening.

“Enjoying? Perhaps.” he said smoothly, his tone casual, almost conversational. “But let’s call it... justice.”

One of Arjun’s men, a burly figure with scars marking his knuckles, landed another brutal punch to Veer’s gut, making him double over and groan in pain.

His body sagged against the chains that held him upright, rattling slightly as he tried to catch his breath.

“Enough.” Arjun finally said, raising a hand lazily. His voice carried an edge of authority that was impossible to ignore. The man immediately stepped back, wiping his knuckles on a cloth as he shot a glance at his boss.

Arjun leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he studied Veer like a predator toying with its prey.

“You’re tougher than I expected.” he remarked, almost admiringly. “Most men would’ve broken by now. But you?” He chuckled, a dark, humorless sound. “You’ve got fight left in you. I respect that. I'm not surprised though, the heir of the Luthra Family is a beast himself. ”

Veer raised his head slowly, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

His expression was hard, his eyes burning with defiance despite his weakened state.

“You think this makes you powerful, Madhav?” he spat. “Beating a man while he’s chained? You’re nothing but a deranged man.”

The smile on Arjun’s face faltered for a brief moment, his jaw tightening at the insult.

But instead of lashing out, he let out a low chuckle, his amusement returning.

“You know, Ranveer, you have quite the mouth for someone in your position.” He gestured toward Veer with a flick of his fingers. “And yet, here you are–chained, helpless, and entirely at my mercy.”

Arjun stood, his imposing figure casting a shadow over Veer as he slowly approached him. He crouched down to Veer’s level, their faces inches apart.

“Do you know why you’re still alive?” Arjun asked, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

Veer didn’t respond, his labored breathing the only sound between them.

Arjun leaned closer, his voice cold and sharp as a blade. “Because of my Meera.”

At the mention of Meera, Veer’s eyes darkened. “You don’t deserve to say her name, she is NOT YOURS.” he growled, his voice filled with fury despite his battered state.

Arjun smirked, unfazed by the venom in Veer’s tone.

“Meera... she’s the only reason you’re still breathing. If it weren’t for her, I’d have disposed of you long ago. But you see, I’m a patient man.” He stood abruptly, his voice rising with controlled anger. “And I want her to know that she belongs to me. Not you. Not anyone else. Only me.”

Veer forced a laugh, though it came out as more of a cough.

“You’ll never have her, Arjun. She’s not yours, and she never will be. No amount of chains or threats will change that.”

Arjun’s smile vanished, replaced by a cold, deadly expression. He stepped back, his fists clenched as he stared down at Veer.

“We’ll see about that.” he said icily. “But for now, consider this a warning. Stay out of my way, Ranveer, or the next time we meet, I won’t be so... forgiving.”

He gestured to his men, who immediately began unlocking the chains that bound Veer. Arjun turned and strode toward the door.

As he reached the exit, he paused, glancing over his shoulder.

“And one more thing.” he said, his voice dripping with menace. “Tell Meera I said hello.”

With that, he walked out, leaving Veer crumpled on the floor, gasping for air but still glaring after him with unyielding determination.

"You will pay for this." Veer growled