Chapter 61: Chapter Fifty Five.

Arjun leaned back in his leather office chair, his brows furrowed in frustration.

He had lost track of how many times he had called Meera, only for each call to go unanswered.

His fingers tightened around the phone as he sighed, setting it down on the polished desk. The silence in the room felt heavy, amplifying the unease that had been gnawing at him all day.

Just as he was about to reach for his phone again, it buzzed.

His heart leapt for a moment, a flicker of hope sparking in his chest, but when he looked at the screen, his expression darkened. It wasn’t Meera. It was Karan.

Groaning in irritation, Arjun pinched the bridge of his nose before reluctantly answering.

“What?” he snapped, his tone sharp.

“Woah, woah! Who pissed in your coffee today?” Karan’s teasing voice came through the line, laced with amusement.

Arjun rolled his eyes. “What do you want, Karan?”

“Relax, man. You sound like you’re about to bite someone’s head off.” Karan chuckled.

“I just called to check in. Thought maybe you’d want to hit the club later tonight? You sound stressed, and trust me, it’ll do you some good to let loose.”

Arjun’s jaw tightened as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.

“I don’t have time for that. And aren’t you in a relationship? Why are you still hanging out at clubs?”

Karan laughed nervously. “Ha ha, very funny. I swear it’s just to hang out. No funny business, I promise.”

“Right.” Arjun’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “If you don’t have anything important to say, stop wasting my time.”

“Rude as always.” Karan muttered under his breath, though Arjun caught it.

“Karan.” Arjun said, his voice low and menacing, “don’t push me.”

“Fine, fine! Look, call me if you change your mind, okay? Or if you need anything.” Without waiting for a response, Karan ended the call.

Arjun stared at his phone, the tension in his shoulders refusing to ease. His mind wandered back to Meera, and an unfamiliar pang of worry twisted in his chest.

Why isn’t she answering?

He told himself she was probably busy or ignoring him on purpose.

After all, she’d made it clear how she felt about him. But deep down, a voice whispered that something wasn’t right.

Sliding the phone into his pocket, he leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. Despite everything, he couldn’t stop himself from hoping.

Call me, Meera. Just call me.

But the silence was deafening, and his hope was met with nothing but the echo of his own thoughts.

♧♧♧

The atmosphere in the Ahuja household was thick with tension and worry. Meera’s parents paced the living room, their anxiety mounting with each passing second.

The clock on the wall ticked relentlessly, reminding them of how late it had become, and still, there was no word from Meera.

Her phone wasn’t reachable, and the darkness outside only deepened their fears.

Jiya sat nervously on the couch, wringing her hands. She was just as worried, the knot in her stomach tightening with every passing moment.

“This isn’t like her.” Meera’s mother said, her voice trembling as she clasped her hands together. “Meera never stays out this late without informing us.”

Meera’s father paused his pacing to look at Jiya. “Did she say anything to you before she left school, Jiya? Anything at all?”

Jiya shook her head, her expression filled with regret.

“No, Uncle. The last time we spoke was when we were on the school premises. We parted ways, and everything seemed fine.”

“Oh, my God.” Meera’s mother whispered, her voice breaking as tears welled up in her eyes.

“I hope nothing has happened to my daughter.” She sank into the chair, her hands trembling as Jiya rushed to her side to console her.

Meera’s father stood frozen, his fists clenching as guilt washed over him.

Was he failing to protect his daughter? His mind raced with questions, none of which he had answers for.

After a moment of silence, Jiya suddenly straightened up as an idea struck her. “Wait.” she said, her voice hesitant but firm. “Why don’t we call Arjun?”

Meera’s mother looked up sharply, her tear-streaked face filled with confusion. “Arjun?”

Meera’s father frowned deeply, suspicion and anger flashing in his eyes.

“I-I mean.” Jiya stammered, realizing how it must sound.

“She was once taken by Arjun’s father, wasn’t she? Maybe they have something to do with this again.”

Meera’s mother’s expression shifted to one of hope as she turned to her husband.

“M-maybe Jiya is right. What if they’re behind this?”

Her husband’s jaw tightened as he mulled over the suggestion.

“You have a point, but I don’t have the numbers of those criminals.” he said, his voice laced with bitterness.

“It’s past 9 p.m. If anything has happened to my daughter…” His voice faltered for a moment before he continued, his tone darker.

“They will regret ever crossing paths with my family. I’ll make sure they crumble.”

Meera’s mother clutched his arm, her desperation evident.

“P-please go. Go to their house and bring back my daughter. Why are they doing this to her?” Her voice broke, and she sobbed against his chest. He pulled her into a protective embrace, kissing the top of her head as he tried to steady his own emotions.

Jiya watched them, her heart heavy with guilt and fear. Seeing Meera’s parents so distraught only deepened her resolve to find her friend. She stood abruptly and approached them.

“Aunty, Uncle.” Jiya began softly, her voice laced with determination.

“I can only imagine how you’re feeling right now, but please trust me when I say Meera will be fine. We’ll find her.”

Meera’s mother managed a weak smile through her tears, reaching out to squeeze Jiya’s hand.

“You truly are Meera’s best friend. Thank you for standing by us.”

“But, dear.” Meera’s father added, his voice gentler now, “it’s late. You should go home. Your parents will worry.”

Jiya shook her head firmly.

“No, Uncle. I’m not leaving until Meera is back home safely. Don’t worry about my parents—I’ve already told them I’ll be staying here tonight.” She glanced toward the door, a glint of determination in her eyes. “Excuse me for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

Before they could question her further, Jiya stepped outside, leaving Meera’s parents exchanging puzzled looks.

As she stood under the dim glow of the porch light, Jiya pulled out her phone and dialed a number she never thought she’d use—one she had secretly saved after the last incident involving Meera.

It was Arjun’s number.

Her hands trembled slightly as the phone rang, but she steeled herself.

Whatever it took, she would get to the bottom of this and bring her best friend home.

♧♧♧

Arjun sat in his home office, flipping through several files, his brows furrowed in concentration.

The soft buzz of his phone on the desk caught his attention. Without glancing at the screen, he picked it up, his tone indifferent.

“Hello?”

“H-hello, Mr. Arjun Madhav.” came a trembling feminine voice from the other end.

Arjun frowned. “Who is this?” he asked sharply, his tone growing stern.

“M-my name is Jiya.” the voice stammered, “Meera’s best friend.”

Arjun froze mid-motion. Meera’s friend? He placed the file down and stood up, his full attention now on the call.

“What about Meera?” he asked, his voice laced with an edge of concern.

There was a brief pause on the line before Jiya replied hesitantly, “M-meera... she’s missing. We thought she might be with you.”

Arjun’s breath hitched. “Meera is missing?!” His voice boomed, startling Jiya on the other end.

“I...I thought maybe she was with you.” Jiya stammered again, her words shaky.

Arjun clenched his jaw, pacing the length of the room. “When was the last time you saw her?”

“Uh... I... we parted ways at school. She said she had to go to work. I had to head to the library, and that was the last time I saw her. Since then, no one has heard—”

Jiya barely finished her sentence before Arjun abruptly hung up.

He stormed out of his office, his heart pounding in his chest. Grabbing his car keys, he speed-dialed Karan on his way out.

The phone barely rang before Karan picked up, his usual lighthearted tone coming through. “Well, look who decided to call—”

“Get Anand to trace Meera’s phone. Now.” Arjun’s tone was low, cold, and brooked no argument.

Karan immediately caught on to the urgency. “What’s going on? Meera?”

“She’s missing.” Arjun snapped. His breathing was heavy, and the frustration in his voice was palpable. “I’m heading to the warehouse now. Don’t waste time.”

“Got it.” Karan replied, his voice now equally serious. The line disconnected.

Arjun threw open the door to his sleek black car and slid into the driver’s seat, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.

His mind raced with possibilities, each more horrifying than the last.

Meera, missing? Who would dare take her?

As he sped through the streets, the city lights blurring past him, his thoughts were consumed by the one person who had somehow become his entire world. Whoever was behind this would regret it.

His jaw tightened. They would pay in blood.

◇◇◇

Arjun arrived at the warehouse, parking his car haphazardly as his mind raced. Slamming the door shut, he strode towards the building with a determined pace, his steps echoing with an air of fury.

His sharp gaze cut through anyone who dared look his way. The moment he entered the control room, his presence commanded attention.

Anand was seated in front of a wall of screens, his fingers flying across the keyboard. Karan stood beside him, arms crossed, his usual carefree demeanor replaced with grim focus.

“What do you have?” Arjun barked, his voice low but dangerous, his aura radiating barely restrained rage.

Anand turned, adjusting his glasses. “We tracked her phone. The last call placed to her was just outside the school premises at 2:06 PM. It was from an unknown number. Upon further digging, I linked the number to someone connected to the Luthra family.”

Arjun’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. “Veer.” he growled, his voice dripping with venom.

Anand nodded grimly. “Yes. However, she never answered the call. The phone’s last recorded location is still near the school. I’ve already sent a team to investigate.”

Arjun’s gaze flicked to the screens, his dark eyes scanning the data. His chest heaved slightly, the only sign of his barely contained anger.

Just then, a voice crackled through the speaker. “Sir, we found Madam’s phone. The screen is cracked, but there’s no other trace of her. It was discarded near the school entrance.”

The tension in the room grew thick as the information settled over them.

“That means—” Karan began, his voice hesitant.

“She was kidnapped.” Anand finished bluntly, his tone heavy.

Arjun’s eyes darkened further, his hands curling into fists so tight his knuckles turned white. A tense silence followed, broken only by Karan’s voice.

“Wait. Doesn’t the school have CCTV cameras? Anand, can you hack into their surveillance system and check the footage?”

Anand nodded, already typing. “On it.”

Minutes ticked by, the room filled with the quiet hum of the computers and the clacking of keys. Finally, a video feed appeared on the largest screen.

The footage showed students leaving the school gates, laughing and chatting. A few moments later, Meera appeared, walking with her tote bag slung over her shoulder. She paused mid-step, pulling the bag down to search for her phone, which seemed to be ringing.

Then it happened.

A black van approached from the opposite side of the road. Before Meera could react, the van screeched to a halt beside her. The side door slid open, and three men jumped out. One suddenly placed a black cover over her head, causingher phone to fall, and it clattered to the ground, the screen cracking. The others wrestled with her as she struggled, her movements frantic. A hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her screams, and within seconds, they had shoved her into the van. The vehicle sped off, disappearing from the frame.

The room fell silent, save for the hum of the machinery.

Karan glanced at Arjun. The mafia king stood motionless, but his stillness was deceptive.

His jaw was clenched so tightly that the veins in his neck and temples bulged. His fists trembled from the pressure, his knuckles ghostly white. His usually composed eyes burned with a deadly rage.

“Find them.” Arjun said, his voice dangerously calm. “Every single one of them.”

Anand hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding.

“I’ll cross-check the van’s plates and trace any recent activity from Veer and his associates.”

Arjun turned on his heel, heading for the door. His voice, cold and unrelenting, echoed behind him.

“Call me the second you have anything. I’m going to make them regret this.”

The air in the room seemed to grow heavier as he left, the weight of his fury hanging like a storm cloud.

Everyone in the warehouse knew one thing for certain—whoever had taken Meera was about to pay a steep price.

◇◇◇

Arjun stormed into the Madhav Mansion, his entire demeanor radiating fury. The faint sound of his parents chatting in the living room reached his ears as he approached.

His mother’s laughter faded as soon as she noticed his stormy expression, and she immediately stood up, her concern evident.

“Arjun, what’s wrong? Is everything alright?” she asked, her voice trembling with worry.

Arjun didn’t answer immediately. His intense gaze fixed on his father, who had also risen from his seat, his brow furrowed.

Arjun’s fists were clenched so tightly that the veins on his hands bulged.

“Meera has been kidnapped.” he said, his voice sharp and controlled, but the underlying rage was unmistakable.

His mother gasped, her eyes widening in shock. “What? Who would—”

“Sweetheart, calm down.” his father interrupted firmly, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You should go inside. We’ll handle this.”

“But—”

“Go.” Mr. Madhav said again, this time in a tone that brooked no argument.

Arjun’s mother hesitated, glancing at her son with worry etched all over her face.

Reluctantly, she nodded and left the room, casting one last anxious look over her shoulder.

The moment she was out of sight, Mr. Madhav’s expression shifted completely.

His usually composed demeanor hardened into something cold and menacing, his jaw tightening as he processed the news.

“Who dares to think they can take a member of the Madhav family hostage?” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. His piercing eyes locked onto Arjun, waiting for answers.

“My team is working on it.” Arjun replied, his tone clipped. “But I have a strong suspicion it’s Ranveer.”

“Ranveer Luthra?” his father sneered, his face darkening further. “That deranged, entitled fool?”

Arjun nodded, his body taut like a bowstring. “He has the motive. He’s been obsessed with Meera for years, and his grudge against me only adds fuel to the fire.”

Mr. Madhav’s lips curled into a snarl. “No one dares to take what belongs to the Madhav family and walks away unscathed. And certainly not that worthless Luthra brat.”

His father began pacing, his sharp gaze burning with determination.

“Listen, Arjun. We Madhavs don’t just retaliate. We annihilate. This isn’t just about getting her back—it’s about sending a message to anyone foolish enough to challenge us.”

Arjun remained silent, but his clenched jaw and narrowed eyes reflected his agreement.

“And this…” his father continued, his voice dropping into an ominous growl, “this has made your mother upset. I will not tolerate that. Whoever dared to upset my wife and take my future daughter-in-law will learn what it means to provoke the Madhavs.”

“We’ll get her back.” Arjun said, his voice resolute. “And when we do, they’ll wish they’d never been born.”

Mr. Madhav stopped pacing and faced his son, his expression grim but determined.

“Good. Do whatever it takes. Use every resource at our disposal. Find her, Arjun, and make them regret ever even having the guts to touch her.”

Arjun gave a curt nod and turned to leave, but not before catching his father’s final words.

“And Arjun.” he called out, his tone colder than ice. “When you find them, remind them of one thing—no one touches what’s ours.”

As Arjun left the room, his steps quick and purposeful, the entire mansion seemed to hum with the silent promise of retribution..

♧♧♧

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