Chapter 62: Chapter Fifty Six.

Meera's eyes darted across every corner of the dimly lit room where she was being held.

Her wrists throbbed, tied tightly behind her back, and the sticky black tape across her mouth made breathing a challenge.

She felt trapped in the suffocating darkness of the shabby room, with peeling walls and the faint smell of mold. The occasional squeak of rats echoed around her, making her heart pound.

A small, grimy window high up on the wall let in a thin ray of sunlight. Even if she tried, she couldn't reach it.

Her tears had long dried, leaving a faint sting in her eyes. She was exhausted from crying and struggling but no less determined.

Suddenly, something brushed against her foot, and her gaze dropped to see a rat scurrying near her.

She flinched instinctively, pulling her feet back, and the creature scurried away into the shadows.

Just as she calmed her racing heartbeat, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the eerie silence.

They were deliberate and heavy, more than one set. Meera gulped, her muscles tensing as fear crawled up her spine.

The door creaked open, and Mahira stepped in, her sharp features lit by the dim light. Her expression was cold and calculating.

Mahira stepped aside, and Meera's eyes widened when Ranveer entered. Her heart sank as anger replaced the fear in her chest.

She glared at him, her body trembling with a mixture of rage and betrayal.

"Meera!" Ranveer exclaimed, his voice laced with concern as he hurried toward her.

Meera flinched, shrinking back. Her glare intensified, her eyes burning with hatred.

Ranveer paused, noticing the bruise on her cheek. His expression darkened, and he turned sharply to Mahira.

"Why the fuck did you hurt her?" he snapped.

Mahira raised an unimpressed brow, crossing her arms casually.

"I didn't hurt her. I merely told her to stop talking." she said nonchalantly, her eyes briefly flicking to Meera.

"And you should be grateful I haven't killed her yet. Every time I look at her, she reminds me of Arjun."

"She's not with Arjun!" Ranveer retorted angrily. "She's my fiancée! I'm doing all of this to get her away from him so she can finally focus on me. We're going to get married." he declared, glancing at Meera with a twisted smile.

Meera's glare didn't waver. If looks could kill, Ranveer would have dropped dead on the spot.

Mahira rolled her eyes.

"Well, here she is. Your precious fiancée." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "But you'd better act fast. Word is, Arjun is raging and tearing through the city looking for her."

Ranveer stiffened, his confidence faltering for a moment. "It's just Arjun. I can-"

"The entire Madhav family." Mahira interrupted, her tone sharp and mocking.

Ranveer's face paled slightly. "What?" he asked, his voice lower now, tension creeping into his words.

Mahira smirked, sensing his unease. "Yes, the whole Madhav clan. It seems Meera isn't just some random girl to them. Even Mr. Madhav is involved now. And you know as well as I do-when that man is angry, he's a monster."

Ranveer's jaw tightened, and he ran a hand through his hair, trying to mask his growing anxiety.

Mahira took a step closer to him, her voice dropping to a menacing whisper.

"You've got fifteen hours, Veer. Fifteen hours to do whatever it is you want to do. Marry her, claim her, or whatever your twisted mind has planned. But after that, if you haven't done it, I'll kill her myself and send her body back to the Madhav mansion as a little gift."

She turned to Meera, her dark eyes locking onto hers with an icy glare. "You hear that, little girl? You better start getting prepared for your marriage. Because one way or another, this ends soon."

Meera's heart raced, and her stomach churned. She couldn't move, couldn't scream, but her mind was reeling.

Tears welled up in her eyes again, but this time she held them back. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

Mahira cast one last look at Ranveer before walking out of the room, leaving him alone with Meera. Her parting words echoed ominously as the door slammed shut behind her.

Meera's gaze burned into Ranveer, her hatred palpable. Ranveer crouched down in front of her, his expression softening, as though he genuinely believed he was doing this for love.

"Meera, you'll understand someday. I'm doing this for us. Once you're mine, you'll see." he said gently, reaching out to touch her face.

Meera flinched away from his hand, her eyes brimming with disgust. If her hands were free, she would have clawed his face without hesitation.

Ranveer sighed, standing up and pacing the room. "You'll thank me later." he said, almost to himself, as though convincing himself of his own delusion.

Meera's mind raced. She couldn't give up now. She had to hold onto hope-hope that Arjun would come for her.

And when he did, and she gets out of here. She wants nothing! Nothing! to do with their twisted Criminal world again!.

Meera whimpered, her body trembling with a mix of fear and anger. Ranveer stopped pacing and turned to look at her, his expression softening, as if he believed he could ease her fear.

He walked toward her slowly, crouching down to her level. Without a word, he carefully peeled the tape from her mouth.

Meera winced slightly, the adhesive stinging her skin. As the tape came off, Ranveer's thumb lingered on her lips for a moment longer than necessary, brushing lightly against them. His gaze darkened as he took in their softness and natural pink hue.

"Meera." he began, his voice soft, almost tender. "I'm sorry, okay?."

Meera's glare intensified, her anger simmering just beneath the surface.

"What exactly are you sorry for, Ranveer?" she snapped, her voice sharp. "For not telling me the kind of person you truly are? For teaming up with some deranged woman who despises Arjun just to use me as a pawn? Or maybe you're sorry for planning this twisted, delusional scheme to marry me against my will? Which one is it?"

Ranveer opened his mouth to respond, but she didn't let him. "I don't want your sorry. I want to leave and go back home. Let me go!" Her voice rose with each word, her anger spilling over.

But instead of looking angry or guilty, Ranveer smiled-a slow, unsettling smile that made her blood run cold.

"You look so hot when you're angry." he said hoarsely, his voice tinged with amusement.

Meera recoiled slightly, her brows furrowing in disbelief. "You're sick, Ranveer. Absolutely sick. Get me out of here!"

Ranveer shook his head, his expression softening again as if he pitied her.

"I can't do that, Meera. Don't you see? I can't let you go back to him. To Arjun." He swallowed hard, as if even saying the name caused him pain. "I've lost you to him once. I won't let it happen again."

Meera's chest heaved with frustration, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Ranveer, listen to yourself. This isn't love. It's obsession! You're hurting me, and you think that's okay? You think any of this is okay?"

Ranveer leaned closer, his eyes glinting with a strange mix of desperation and determination.

"I know you're angry now, but once we're married, everything will change. You'll see, Meera. The love you had for me before...it'll grow again." His voice softened as he smiled, a smile that sent a chill racing down her spine.

Meera shook her head vehemently. "I don't agree to this! I'll never agree to this. You're a Crimi-"

"And so is Arjun!" Ranveer yelled, his voice booming as he cut her off. His expression twisted with jealousy and rage.

"He's no better than me, Meera. But somehow, you've convinced yourself that he's better?. Why? Why do you prefer him over me?"

Meera's heart raced as his words hit her like a slap. She gulped, trying to steady her voice. "I...I never said I preferred him..." she whispered, her voice trailing off.

But her conscience betrayed her.

You're praying for him to come and save you, aren't you? the thought echoed in her mind, mocking her.

Ranveer's hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was gentle, but it made her skin crawl.

His eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, the room seemed to shrink, suffocating her.

"We'll be perfect together, Meera. I just know it, you have a crush on me back then and i love you, the love you have for me will grow back, i know it." he murmured softly, his tone dripping with certainty. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her face.

Meera's body froze as she realized what he intended to do. At the last moment, she jerked her head to the side, his lips grazing her cheek instead of her mouth.

Ranveer pulled back slightly, his jaw tightening as frustration flickered across his face.

"You'll come around." he said, his voice low and controlled, as though trying to convince himself as much as her.

Meera turned her head away, tears threatening to spill again. She clenched her fists behind her back, her mind screaming with a singular thought...

Arjun, please. Find me.

♧♧♧

Arjun paced relentlessly behind Anand, who was hunched over the glowing screens, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he continued to analyze every scrap of data to find Meera.

Arjun's face was a storm of fury and worry, his sharp gaze locked on the monitors.

Karan entered the control room, taking in the scene with a heavy sigh. Arjun hadn't slept since Meera's disappearance.

His shirt was rumpled, and his jaw was tightly clenched, a reflection of the rage simmering within him.

"Don't worry." Karan said softly, placing a reassuring hand on Arjun's shoulder. "We'll find her."

Arjun didn't respond, his intense focus fixed on Anand's progress. Every second felt like an eternity.

Suddenly, Anand's voice broke through the tense silence. "Sir! I found an exact match for the Van seen in the CCTV footage." he announced, his tone urgent.

Arjun stopped pacing and moved closer to the screen, narrowing his eyes at the image of the van.

"But there's more." Anand continued. "The vehicle was routed under a company associated with the Khan family."

Arjun's brows furrowed deeply, his fists clenching at the mention of the Khans.

"The Khans?" he growled, his voice dangerously low.

"We couldn't get a clear shot of the kidnappers." Anand explained, "but I managed to isolate the driver's face from the footage. His name is Jacob Alfred. He's not an Indian citizen, and according to my data, he works for the Khan Corporation."

Karan's confusion mirrored on his face as he leaned closer to the screen.

"The Khans? Why would they have anything to do with Meera? They don't have any history with her-."

Arjun's gaze darkened, and his jaw tightened further. "Maybe not with her." he muttered, his voice low and menacing, "but they've always tried to cross paths with me. This might be their way of playing a dangerous game."

Anand hesitated before adding, "I traced Jacob's current location. He's holed up at one of the Khan warehouses on the outskirts of the city."

Arjun didn't hesitate for a second. "Send me the location." he ordered. "I want to have a little... talk with him."

His tone was cold, and the deadly determination in his eyes made it clear that Jacob wasn't going to enjoy this conversation.

"Yes, sir." Anand replied, immediately forwarding the location to Arjun's phone.

Karan tapped Anand on the shoulder, a small gesture of acknowledgment for his good work, before quickly following Arjun, who was already striding out of the control room.

"Arjun." Karan called out, trying to match his pace. "Listen, you can't just storm in there. If this is tied to the Khans, it might be bigger than just Jacob."

Arjun stopped in his tracks and turned to Karan, his eyes burning with fury.

"I don't care how big it is.." he said coldly. "They took her. They'll pay for it. Every single one of them."

Karan exhaled heavily, knowing there was no point in arguing. Arjun was a man possessed, and there was nothing that could stop him now.

As Arjun reached his car, he turned back to Karan briefly.

"Call the team. I want backup on standby. If the Khans think they can use Meera as a pawn, I'll show them just how wrong they are."

With that, he got into his car, revving the engine and speeding off toward the warehouse. Karan quickly dialed the team, preparing for the storm that was about to descend.

♧♧♧

The silence in the shabby room where Meera was held captive was broken by the loud creak of the door.

Her heart raced as several men stepped inside, their intimidating presence filling the space. She instinctively pulled against the ropes binding her wrists, her wide eyes darting to each man.

Mahira walked in moments later, her expression laced with contempt and smugness. "It's time to move you." Mahira announced, her voice cold and devoid of empathy.

"Move me? To where now?" Meera demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and defiance.

Mahira's lips curled into a smirk. "To the place where your so-called wedding will happen, of course." she sneered.

Meera's stomach churned at the thought, her mind racing to find a way out.

"I'm not going anywhere with you." she snapped, though her voice betrayed her panic.

Mahira raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Meera's defiance. She turned to one of the men, giving him a curt nod. The man stepped forward, pulling a white cloth from behind him.

"No... no, don't you dare-" Meera's protests were cut off as the man swiftly pressed the cloth over her nose and mouth.

She struggled fiercely, twisting and thrashing in an attempt to free herself, but the overpowering fumes made her movements sluggish.

Her vision blurred, her limbs grew heavy, and within moments, she went limp, unconscious in the man's grip.

Mahira sauntered over to where Meera lay slumped in the man's arms. She crouched down slightly, studying Meera's serene, unconscious face.

A sinister glint appeared in her eyes as her gaze roamed over Meera's form, appraising her like a piece of merchandise.

"She'd fetch millions in the brothel trade." Mahira mused, her voice cold and calculating. "With that face and figure, she's exactly what men would pay top lakh for."

One of the men shuffled uncomfortably but remained silent.

Mahira straightened and snapped her fingers. "No time for distractions. Pick her up and take her to Ranveer. We're already running behind schedule." she commanded, her tone sharp and impatient.

The man who had drugged Meera stepped forward, untying her wrists and releasing her legs from the bindings.

As he scooped her up into his arms, he couldn't help but glance at her face. Even in her unconscious state, there was an undeniable allure about her that made him pause.

He felt his cheeks flush slightly, and he gritted his teeth, shaking his head to dispel the thoughts.

What's wrong with me? he muttered under his breath, adjusting his grip on her.

"Stop gawking and move!" Mahira barked, snapping him out of his trance.

The man clenched his jaw and nodded, carrying Meera out of the room in a bridal hold.

As he walked down the dimly lit hallway, he muttered under his breath, "Even in her sleep, she's dangerous."

Mahira followed closely behind, her heels clicking against the cold concrete floor.

Her smirk widened as she thought of the chaos that would unfold once Arjun realized where Meera will be married to his worse enemy.

For Mahira, this was all part of her twisted game-a game she fully intended to win.

♧♧♧

Hiii!!! Hehe🙂

I'm to publish this by 1 pm (W.A.T) But I might forget. I need to cross this off my schedule for today!

I hope you enjoyed this! Next update is on Thursday.

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