Chapter 59: Chapter Fifty Three.

The room was a mess of broken glass, spilled alcohol, and Veer’s raging fury.

The VIP lounge of his club, usually a symbol of power and exclusivity, now mirrored the chaos inside him.

“It was me! She was supposed to be mine! Mine!” Veer roared, throwing an empty bottle across the room. It shattered against the wall, joining the growing pile of glass shards scattered on the floor.

Slumped on a velvet couch, his suit disheveled and his hair a wild mess, Veer took another long swig of whiskey straight from the bottle.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his hands trembled with a volatile mix of anger and desperation.

He grabbed his phone again and dialed Meera’s number, his fingers shaking.

The call didn’t connect. It hadn’t for hours. He growled in frustration, slamming the phone onto the table.

“She blocked me.” he muttered bitterly, his voice cracking. “She blocked me, but I’ll keep calling. She’ll hear me. She has to.”

Veer’s chest heaved as he downed the rest of the bottle, his mind spiraling deeper into obsession.

“That bastard Madhav! He’s taking her from me!” He shouted into the empty room, his voice echoing.

Suddenly, the heavy door creaked open. A server cautiously stepped inside.

“Mr. Luthra, you have a visitor.” the man said, his voice trembling slightly at the sight of Veer’s unhinged state.

“Get the f*ck out!” Veer bellowed, his rage snapping toward the intruder.

The server quickly retreated, leaving the door ajar.

Veer sneered and stumbled toward the table, muttering, “Visitor? I don’t want visitors. I want Meera. Only Meera.”

The faint sound of heels clicking against the hard floor interrupted his rant. It grew louder, purposeful, and steady.

A figure appeared in the doorway—a woman dressed in a tight black gown that hugged her curves.

Her high stilettos clicked with every step, her gloved hands holding a sleek black hat tilted over one eye. She exuded confidence and danger, her presence commanding the room.

“Tsk, tsk.” she said, her voice low and taunting as she stepped inside. Her heels crunched on the broken glass, unfazed. “How can one woman cause so much damage to a man like you, who is notorious and Dangerous?”

Veer turned, his bloodshot eyes narrowing at her.

“Who the hell are you?” he growled, his voice dripping with suspicion.

The woman smirked and sat on one of the leather chairs, crossing her legs elegantly. She picked up a glass from the table, inspecting it as if bored.

“You don’t need to know who I am.” she said smoothly, setting the glass back down. “But what if I told you I could help you get Meera back?”

Veer froze, her words cutting through the haze of alcohol and anger clouding his mind.

His expression softened briefly, hope flickering in his eyes before suspicion returned.

“Help me?” he repeated cautiously, his voice hoarse. “Why? What’s in it for you?”

The woman let out a dark, melodic laugh.

“Smart boy.” she said, leaning forward slightly. “Let’s just say… your victory aligns with my goals. You see, I have my reasons to want Arjun Madhav out of the picture. And helping you get your Meera might just… serve my purpose.”

Veer narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. “What’s your angle? What do you want from me?”

She chuckled again, leaning back in the chair with a sly smile.

“You couldn’t give me what I want even if you tried. But don’t worry—I can take care of that myself.”

Her cryptic response made Veer uneasy, but his desperation overshadowed his wariness. “You’re serious?” he asked, his voice trembling. “You can help me?”

“Absolutely.” she said confidently, standing up and extending a gloved hand toward him. “So… do we have a deal?”

Veer hesitated, his gaze shifting between her hand and her face.

Her smile was alluring but dangerous, and her eyes gleamed with something he couldn’t quite place.

Seconds passed in tense silence before he finally reached out and shook her hand.

“Deal.” he said firmly, his voice laced with determination.

The woman’s smile widened into something almost predatory.

“Good.” she purred, her fingers tightening around his hand before letting go.

As she turned to leave, her heels clicking rhythmically against the floor, she glanced over her shoulder with a smirk.

“Oh, and Mr Luthra? Buckle up. Things are about to get very… interesting.”

With that, she disappeared into the shadows, leaving Veer standing in the middle of the wrecked room, his heart pounding and his mind spinning with possibilities.

♡♡♡

Meera paced back and forth in the living room, clutching her phone tightly, her thumb repeatedly hitting the call button.

Every time, the call failed to connect, her frustration and fear mounted.

“M-Meera, beta.” her father said softly from his seat on the couch, watching her wear herself thin with anxiety.

“You need to calm down, okay? You’re going to make yourself sick.”

Meera barely registered his words, her pacing never faltering.

“Papa, it’s been over a week.” she said, her voice trembling. “Veda hasn’t called. I know she’s busy, but why is her number not going through? It’s been ages since she was last online, and her emergency line isn’t even working! Something is wrong—something has to be wrong!”

Her father sighed heavily, running a hand through his graying hair.

“Meera, you know your sister. She’d rather bury herself in her computer and that tech stuff she loves than bother with WhatsApp or phone calls. Those internships can be grueling, you know that. She’ll call soon, beta. Just give it time.”

Meera stopped pacing and turned to him, her face a picture of anguish.

“Papa, this isn’t like her. Even if she’s busy, she always sends a text, something. This… this silence isn’t normal.”

Her father rose from his seat and placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“I understand you’re worried, but let’s not jump to conclusions. She’s smart and capable, Meera. Whatever it is, she’ll be fine. Trust her.”

Before Meera could respond, her mother joined them, her voice softer but equally firm. “Your father is right, Meera. Veda will call. She always does.”

Meera nodded reluctantly, but her heart was far from at ease. She was about to respond when the doorbell rang, cutting through the room like a knife.

“I’ll get it.” her mother said with a small smile, hoping to distract from the tension.

She walked to the door and opened it, expecting a neighbor or perhaps a friend.

Her smile froze, then faded entirely.

Standing there was Arjun, his imposing figure taking up most of the doorway, and beside him, a beautiful, elegant woman holding several gift-wrapped items.

Her warm smile contrasted with Arjun’s usual unreadable demeanor.

“Um… Greetings.” Meera’s mother said nervously, clutching the door handle a little tighter.

“Who is it?” Meera’s father called from the living room. Meera, overhearing, stood up curiously, her phone still in hand.

“Um… it’s…” Meera’s mother faltered.

“Hello, Ma’am.” Arjun said, his voice calm but commanding. “This is my mother. May we come in?”

Meera’s mother hesitated briefly, glancing back at her husband and daughter before stepping aside. “S-sure… Please, come in.”

The elegant woman’s face lit up with joy as she stepped inside. The moment her eyes fell on Meera, in the living room, she gasped in delight.

“There she is!” she exclaimed, rushing forward before anyone could react. She wrapped Meera in a warm, unexpected hug.

Meera’s eyes widened in shock, her body stiffening. She darted a bewildered look at her father, who seemed just as stunned, his brow furrowed.

Her mother stood by the door, her mouth slightly ajar. Finally, Meera’s gaze met Arjun’s. He was calm, his eyes unreadable, watching her intently.

“You remember me, don’t you?” the woman asked, pulling back slightly, her hands still gripping Meera’s shoulders. Her eyes sparkled with hope.

Meera hesitated. Then, slowly, she nodded with a thin-lipped smile. “Yes, ma’am… I remember.”

The woman beamed and placed her hand gently on Meera’s head. “Bless you, my child. You’re perfect–absolutely perfect.”

She turned to Arjun with an almost triumphant look. “Arjun, she’s everything I could’ve hoped for.”

Arjun’s lips curled into a faint smile, but he remained silent.

“Oh, my manners!” the woman exclaimed suddenly, turning toward Meera’s parents. “Greetings! I’m Radhika Madhav, Arjun’s mother. It’s such a pleasure to finally meet the parents of my soon-to-be daughter-in-law.”

The room fell into stunned silence. Meera’s father and mother exchanged wide-eyed glances, struggling to process the words.

“D-daughter-in-law?” Meera stammered, finding her voice at last. “Aunty, There’s been a misunderstanding. I—”

“‘Aunty?’ Oh, no, no.” Radhika interrupted, wagging a finger playfully. “Call me Ma, dear. You’ll be doing it soon enough anyway.”

Meera’s jaw dropped, her gaze darting back to Arjun, who still appeared maddeningly composed.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Madhav.” Meera’s father finally said, recovering some of his composure.

“Please, have a seat.” He gestured toward the couch, and Radhika smiled warmly, setting the gift-wrapped boxes on the table before sitting down gracefully.

Meera’s mother joined her husband on the adjacent sofa, still trying to mask her unease.

“Mrs. Madhav, it’s an honor to have you here.” Meera’s father continued diplomatically. “But this visit is quite… unexpected.”

“Oh, I understand.” Radhika said with a light laugh.

“I must apologize for not visiting sooner. It’s just that my dear son has been hiding this lovely relationship from me! Imagine my surprise when I discovered he was dating such a wonderful girl–and, mind you, the very girl I’ve always envisioned as my daughter-in-law.”

Meera’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She turned to Arjun, who was now leaning casually against the wall, as if this entire situation was nothing out of the ordinary.

“Wait—what?” Meera blurted out, her voice high with disbelief.

Radhika’s cheerful expression faltered, her attention shifting to Meera. “Is something wrong, dear?”

“Ma, I think you should spend some time chatting with your in-laws.” Arjun interjected smoothly, stepping forward. “Meera and I have a few things to discuss.”

Meera turned to him, her eyes narrowing. “I’m not going anywhere with you—”

“Uncle, I hope you don’t mind.” Arjun said, ignoring Meera’s protests as he gently took her hand.

Her father opened his mouth to object, but Radhika cut him off with a soft laugh. “Young love. Let them be.”

Arjun guided Meera toward the door, her protests growing louder. “Arjun, I swear if you—”

The door closed behind them, cutting off her words.

Inside, Radhika smiled serenely, turning back to Meera’s parents.

“It’s so refreshing to see my son in love. He’s never been this happy before. And to find someone who loves him just as much—it’s a dream come true.”

Meera’s parents exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to say. Outside, however, Meera was far less composed.

“What the hell, Arjun?” she hissed, yanking her hand out of his grip. “You’ve completely lost your mind!”

Arjun smirked, his dark eyes locking onto hers. “I told you, Meera. I don’t lose. Not when it comes to you.”

Meera glared at him, her heart pounding in her chest.

“You think you can just waltz into my life, make these insane declarations, and expect me to go along with them? You’re delusional!”

“Am I?” he asked, taking a step closer. “You can fight me all you want, Meera. But deep down, you know this is where you belong—with me.”

Then, without warning, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Meera froze, her anger momentarily overshadowed by the intensity in his gaze. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Arjun stood silently, his piercing gaze fixed on Meera as she lashed out at him.

Her frustration was palpable, her cheeks flushed, her arms crossed over her chest.

Every word she spoke was sharp and cutting, but Arjun remained eerily calm, a small, maddening smirk tugging at his lips.

“Why can’t you just understand?” Meera snapped, her voice rising.

“I don’t want you in my life, Arjun! I want nothing to do with you! And now you’ve gone and lied to your mom—your mom—telling her we’re dating? Are you out of your mind? Are you crazy?”

Arjun’s smirk widened, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Of course I’m crazy.” he said smoothly, his voice low and velvety. “Crazy for you, Meera.”

His words, though spoken with a playful edge, sent a chill down her spine.

“You’re disgusting.” she spat, her tone filled with venom. She tightened her arms across her chest, subconsciously pushing her figure forward.

Arjun’s gaze flickered downward, his smirk faltering for just a fraction of a second as he caught sight of the curve of her neckline.

The skin revealed above her blouse was soft, alluring, and utterly distracting. Heat surged through him, and he clenched his jaw, quickly averting his eyes.

He swallowed hard, a muscle ticking in his jaw as he shifted his weight.

“Focus, Arjun.” he muttered to himself under his breath.

“Are you even listening to me?” Meera demanded, stepping closer to him, her glare unwavering.

“You need to go back inside, right now, and tell your mom the truth. Tell her it’s all a lie! We are not dating, and I am definitely not going to be your family’s daughter-in-law.”

Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she continued, “First your father, now your mom. Who’s next, Arjun? Your grandparents? Should I prepare myself for a family reunion of lies?”

Arjun studied her in silence, his expression unreadable. Then, he let out a slow, deliberate sigh, running a hand through his dark hair.

“You’re beautiful when you’re angry.” he said softly, almost as if speaking to himself.

Meera froze, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t change the subject!” she snapped.

“I’m not.” he replied, his tone casual but his eyes smoldering with intensity. “I’m just stating the obvious.”

Meera’s fists clenched at her sides, her anger boiling over.

“You’re impossible! Do you think this is some kind of joke? You’ve dragged me into your twisted world without my consent, and now you expect me to just... go along with it? Wake up, Arjun! This isn’t some romantic fantasy!”

Arjun took a step closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over her smaller figure. His smirk returned, but there was a dangerous edge to it now.

“This isn’t a fantasy, Meera.” he said quietly, his voice dropping to a low, intimate timbre. “This is real. And no matter how much you fight it, no matter how much you deny it, you belong to me.”

Meera’s breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest. She took a step back, but Arjun followed, closing the distance between them.

“Don’t come any closer.” she warned, her voice trembling slightly.

“I don’t lie, Meera.” he continued, ignoring her protest.

“Not to my family, not to myself, and definitely not to you. When I told my mother about us, I wasn’t lying. Because in my mind, you’re already mine. And soon enough, you’ll see it too.”

Her eyes burned with fury and disbelief. “You’re delusional.” she whispered.

“Maybe.” he admitted with a shrug. “But you’ve got to admit, my kind of delusion is hard to resist.”

Meera let out a frustrated growl, pushing against his chest.

“You’re insufferable! Stay away from me, Arjun. I mean it.”

He caught her wrists gently but firmly, his smirk softening into something more sincere.

“You can fight me all you want, Meera.” he said softly, his voice carrying a surprising hint of vulnerability. “But you can’t fight what’s meant to be.”

For a moment, their gazes locked, the tension between them crackling like electricity.

Meera’s heart raced as she searched his face for any sign of weakness, but all she found was unwavering determination.

“I’ll never be yours.” she whispered, her voice shaky but resolute.

Arjun’s smirk returned, more playful this time. “We’ll see about that.”

With that, he released her wrists and stepped back, giving her space.

Meera stared at him, her confusion growing with every passing second.

Could he truly have feelings for her? Did Arjun really care so deeply that he refused to give up, no matter how many times she pushed him away?

The intensity in his eyes was undeniable, and for a brief moment, doubt crept into her mind.

No, Meera! she scolded herself inwardly, shaking off the dangerous thoughts.

Don’t fall for this. He’s a criminal, remember? Someone you’ve been taught to avoid at all costs. This isn’t love—it’s obsession. He’s not someone you can trust.

Her jaw tightened as her resolve returned. She raised her eyes to meet his, this time with a fiery glare.

“I will never be yours"

Still, somewhere deep inside, a small voice whispered questions she refused to entertain.

♤♤♤

Okay for those of you, that didn't know yet. I will post 4 times a week and according to my schedule.

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Love you all 💋