Chapter 69: Chapter Sixty Two.

Meera sat nestled against her father’s side on the couch, feeling the warmth of his embrace as she recounted everything that had happened.

The tension in the room was palpable, her mother’s face lined with worry while Jiya sat on the one-seater, her eyes filled with sympathy as she listened.

“…And that’s how we left. The whole place exploded, and we had to rush Arjun to the hospital.” Meera finished, her voice trembling slightly. She could still hear the distant echo of gunfire in her mind, the weight of everything pressing down on her.

Her father tightened his hold around her, as if afraid that if he let go, she would disappear.

"Thank God." he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I’m just grateful my daughter is safe." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his grip never loosening.

Her mother, tears brimming in her eyes, managed a weak but relieved smile.

"Oh, my goodness… Thank God Arjun came in time." she said, her voice shaking.

Meera simply nodded, her own emotions too tangled to speak.

"You need to get out of these clothes." her mother said gently, standing up and reaching for Meera’s wrist to guide her upstairs. But before she could, Jiya was already on her feet.

"Don’t worry, Aunty." Jiya interrupted softly. "I’ll take care of her."

Meera’s mother hesitated. "No, dear, you’ve done enough already. Your parents must be worried sick. You should go home and—"

"Aunty." Jiya cut in again, her voice firm yet gentle. "I already told my parents I’ll be staying here for a week. I want to be here for Meera. And you and Uncle haven’t had a proper night’s sleep in three days." She paused, glancing between them with pleading eyes. "Now that she’s home, please rest. You both need it."

The kindness in Jiya’s words made Meera’s mother tear up. Her father let out a heavy sigh, his face weary.

"Are you really okay, beta?" he asked again, his eyes searching Meera’s face.

Meera gave a small but reassuring smile. "I’m fine, Papa." she said softly. "And Jiya’s right. Please rest. I’ll be okay. I promise."

Her father exhaled deeply before nodding. "Alright." he conceded. "But if you need anything—anything at all—just call us."

He kissed her head again, but as his eyes trailed down to her attire, a fresh wave of grief flashed across his face. Meera could see it—the devastation in his eyes.

He had always imagined seeing his daughter in a wedding dress, but not like this. Not under these horrifying circumstances.

She wasn’t supposed to be forcefully married off to a monster like Ranveer. She wasn’t supposed to be dragged into a world of danger and fear.

His fists clenched as he swallowed back his emotions. What Ranveer did was unspeakable. And if he was being honest with himself, he was relieved—no, grateful—that Arjun shot him.

Meera saw the turmoil in his expression but didn’t say anything. Instead, she reached out and squeezed his hand, a silent reassurance that she was still here.

Her father exhaled heavily before standing up with her mother.

"We’ll be in our room." he said softly, giving her one last look before walking away with his wife.

The moment they were gone, Jiya let out a sigh, plopping back onto the couch.

"God, Meera… I still can’t believe any of this actually happened." she said, shaking her head. "It feels like some kind of twisted movie."

Meera let out a tired laugh, but it quickly faded. "I wish it was."

Jiya studied her closely before patting the space next to her. "Come here."

Meera hesitated, but then she walked over and sat beside Jiya, leaning her head on her best friend’s shoulder.

"Don't get mad at me though, but I was the one who told Arjun you went missing." Jiya suddenly said.

Meera froze, her eyes widening in shock at Jiya’s confession.

"You… You told Arjun?" she gasped, staring at her.

Jiya winced, quickly holding up her hands. "Meera, please don’t be mad. I—I had to. Your parents were terrified, and so was I. I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing." she said, her voice laced with guilt.

Meera expected to feel anger, but instead, a wave of warmth washed over her.

Jiya had done it out of love, out of fear for her. How could she be mad at someone who cared so deeply?

Instead of glaring or scolding her, Meera surprised Jiya by pulling her into a tight hug.

"You are the most amazing friend anyone could ever ask for. Thank you, Jiya." Meera whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Jiya let out a breath of relief, then giggled. "Glad you’re not going to kill me for it." she joked, hugging her back.

When they pulled away, Jiya wrinkled her nose and tugged at the fabric of Meera’s ruined wedding attire.

"But seriously, we need to get you out of these disgusting clothes. The fact that that maniac forced you to wear them makes me want to burn them."

Meera let out a sigh, the memories of what happen few hours ago flashing through her mind like a haunting reel of nightmares. "Yeah… I just want to forget everything about that place."

As they started walking upstairs toward Meera’s room, Jiya suddenly blurted out, "By the way, who the hell is this Mahira?"

Meera stiffened at the name. Even hearing it sent a chill down her spine.

"Someone I never want to come across again." she muttered, her jaw tightening as she recalled Mahira’s ruthless, calculating gaze.

1:00 AM

Meera sat on her bed, knees drawn up to her chest, hugging a pillow tightly. The soft glow of the moon filtered through her open window, casting a silvery light across the room. She stared outside, her mind in turmoil.

Is he okay? she wondered. Was I wrong to leave him like that?

She had to come home. She had to see her parents. But the thought of Arjun lying in that hospital, injured and alone, gnawed at her insides.

He has Karan with him though. Besides I'm sure his family will show up for him.

She let out a deep sigh, turning her head to the side. Jiya was curled up beside her, fast asleep, her face serene.

Meera smiled faintly, her heart aching with gratitude.

Jiya reminded her so much of her sister, Veda—always protective, always there for her when she needed someone the most.

But even with Jiya’s comforting presence, sleep refused to come.

Every time she closed her eyes, she was back in that hellish place—the scent of blood, the distant echoes of gunfire, the lifeless bodies on the cold floor.

She was shocked she hadn’t thrown up back then. Maybe it had been the adrenaline. Maybe she had been too terrified to process everything.

She clenched her fists. I should be happy it’s over. But something still felt incomplete.

Lying back down, she pulled the blanket over herself, forcing her eyes shut. Yet, one image refused to leave her mind.

Arjun.

His intense gaze. His smirk. The way he had protected her without hesitation. The way he had looked at her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.

Why am I thinking about him so much?

She sighed again, turning onto her side. It didn’t matter. Right now, all she could do was try to sleep.

With the lingering thought of Arjun in her mind, she slowly drifted off into uneasy dreams.

♧♧♧

One week had passed.

Seven days since she had broken down in her father’s arms and told her family everything—the forced wedding, Ranveer, Mahira, the fire, and most of all… Arjun.

Seven days since she had last heard from him.

Seven days of restless nights, of waking up in a cold sweat, the smell of blood, the memory of his pale face as they wheeled him away.

And seven days of waiting.

Waiting for a call that never came.

Meera clutched her phone so tightly her fingers ached, but she didn’t care. Her heart hammered against her ribs, her mind racing with possibilities.

Was he still in the hospital? Was he okay?

Or… did something happen to him?

The thought sent a sharp pang through her chest.

No. He was fine. He had to be.

But then why did this silence feel so suffocating?

She paced the length of her bedroom, her bare feet pressing into the soft rug, her breath shallow and uneven.

Call him.

The thought whispered in her mind, tempting, taunting.

Just one call. Just to hear his voice. Just to know he was alive.

But what if he ignored it?

What if she had been nothing more than a passing moment to him?

No. That wasn’t possible. Not with the way he had looked at her that night. Not with the way he had bled for her, fought for her, destroyed everything in his path to get to her.

But then why hadn’t he reached out?

The ache in her chest twisted tighter.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Jiya stepped inside.

Meera froze.

Jiya took one look at her and sighed, crossing her arms. “Okay, spill.”

Meera swallowed, “Spill what?”  trying to compose herself, but Jiya wasn’t fooled.

“Oh, don’t play dumb.” Jiya scoffed, walking over and plopping down onto the bed.

“You’ve been like this for five days straight. Pacing, staring at your phone like it’s about to explode, sighing every five seconds. What’s going on?”

Meera bit her lip, looking away toward the window. The soft evening breeze made the curtains sway, but even that did nothing to calm her nerves.

Jiya’s voice softened. “Meera… what’s wrong?”

Meera hesitated before sighing heavily and turning back to face her best friend.

“I’m just a bit worried.”

Jiya tilted her head, her sharp eyes scanning Meera’s face before her lips curled into a knowing smile.

“This is about him, isn’t it?”

Meera’s breath hitched.

Jiya smirked, leaning back on her elbows. “Arjun Madhav.”

Meera flinched at the name, her fingers tightening around her phone.

“W-What?” she stammered.

“Oh, please.” Jiya snorted. “I may not have been there, but I know you, Meera. And you don’t get this worked up over just anything. You’ve been waiting for him to call, haven’t you?”

Meera opened her mouth to deny it, but the words wouldn’t come out.

Because it was true.

She had been waiting.

Every day, every night—hoping.

And yet, there was nothing.

Not a single call. Not a single message. And she was scared to put onr through.

Her chest tightened.

“I… I don’t know.” she muttered, sitting down beside Jiya. “I mean, he got shot, Jiya. I left him in that hospital, and since then… nothing. What if something happened to him?”

Jiya studied her carefully before her expression softened.

“You really care about him, don’t you?”

Meera stiffened, looking down at her lap.

Did she?

Arjun was dangerous, reckless, possessive, and a whole package of a deadly ruthless person.

And yet, when he had come for her that night, when she had seen him bleeding, vulnerable—something inside her had shifted.

Now, all she could think about was whether he was okay.

“I don’t know.” she whispered.

Jiya let out a knowing hum.

Jiya sighed, but there was no judgment in her eyes.

“Meera.” She reached out, squeezing her hand. “If you’re this worried… just call him.”

Meera’s pulse spiked.

If she did would he answer?

Her fingers trembled as she looked down at her phone.

One call.

Just one.

"B-But what if he doesn’t pick up?" Meera mumbled, gripping her phone tightly as anxiety clawed at her chest. "Or what if he’s mad that I left? What if—"

Jiya groaned loudly, throwing her hands in the air before placing them firmly on Meera’s shoulders. "Meera! Stop!" She shook her lightly.

Meera blinked, startled. "W-What?"

"You’re overthinking again!" Jiya huffed, narrowing her eyes. "Let’s get one thing straight. This is a man who barged into a wedding filled with armed guards, got himself shot, and still managed to save you. Do you seriously think he wouldn’t answer your call?"

Meera’s lips parted, but no words came out.

Jiya sighed, crossing her arms. "He’s obsessed with you, Meera. Like, full-blown, ‘would burn the world down for you’ obsessed. Trust me, if he sees your name pop up on his phone, he’ll answer before the first ring even finishes."

Meera chewed on her lower lip, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

Was Jiya right?

Arjun had risked his life to save her. He had gone against powerful people like himself, gotten himself injured, and had still looked at her like she was his entire world.

And yet…

She still feared silence.

What if she had misunderstood everything? What if now that the dust had settled, he regretted everything?

Her fingers trembled as she hovered over the call button, but before she could press it—

A soft knock interrupted them.

"Meera, dear?"

Her mother’s voice floated into the room as the door creaked open.

Meera quickly shoved her phone behind her back, glancing at Jiya before looking at her mother with a small smile. "Yes, Mama?"

Her mother stepped inside, her gaze sweeping over both girls before settling on Meera. Concern flickered in her warm brown eyes.

"Are you okay?" she asked gently.

Meera hesitated, then nodded, forcing a smile. "I’m fine, Mama."

Jiya, ever the supportive best friend, grinned. "She’s just thinking too much, Aunty. Same old Meera."

Her mother hummed, unconvinced, but didn’t push further. Instead, she smiled softly.

"Someone’s here to see you."

Meera frowned, exchanging a puzzled glance with Jiya.

"Who?" she asked, her heart suddenly pounding against her ribs.

Her mother didn’t answer, only offering a knowing smile. "Come downstairs and see for yourself."

Jiya gasped dramatically. "Ooooh, mysterious! I love it."

Meera, however, was frozen in place. Her palms grew clammy as she tried to process her mother’s words.

Someone was here to see her.

Who?

Her heartbeat quickened.  was it him?

Jiya grabbed her arm, shaking her playfully. "Come on, let’s go!"

Taking a deep breath, Meera forced her feet to move, pushing aside the nervousness curling in her stomach as she stepped out of the room with Jiya right beside her.

As soon as Meera stepped into the living room, her gaze swept across the room, her heart pounding in anticipation. But the moment she saw Siddhartha and Ishita standing there, a flicker of disappointment crossed her face.

She had hoped—prayed even—that it would be Arjun.

Still, she quickly masked her emotions and smiled warmly at the two of them.

"Meera!" Ishita called out, concern lacing her voice as she rushed forward and pulled Meera into a tight hug.

Meera closed her eyes briefly, accepting the comforting embrace. Ishita’s hold was firm, filled with warmth and worry, and Meera felt a lump forming in her throat.

Siddhartha followed closely behind, offering Meera a reassuring smile as Ishita finally pulled away, scanning her face for any signs of distress.

"We heard what happened." Ishita said softly, her brows knitted together.

"How are you feeling now?" Siddhartha asked gently, his tone filled with genuine concern.

Meera mustered a small smile, though the weight of the past week still sat heavily on her shoulders.

"I’m… okay now." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "At least, I think I am."

Her eyes flickered toward the door, her heart betraying her mind as it held onto a foolish hope that maybe, just maybe, Arjun would walk in behind them.

But the entrance remained empty, and she let out a small sigh.

"Sorry we came late." Ishita said, drawing Meera’s attention back to her. "I was out of India when it all happened. Siddhartha called me and told me everything, so I took the next flight back."

Meera’s eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, God, Ishita! You didn’t have to do that." she said, guilt creeping into her voice.

Ishita scoffed, rolling her eyes playfully. "Oh, please, Meera. I would do it again if I had to. You’re my friend, and I was worried sick." Then, her expression darkened slightly, her voice turning sarcastic. "Honestly, I’m just glad that moron managed to save you."

Meera instantly knew who she was referring to, and despite herself, she let out a soft chuckle.

"W-where...Is he alright?" Meera softly asked

Siddhartha, who had been silently watching, smirked before folding his arms. "You mean Arjun?" he teased, clearly amused.

Jiya, who had been standing quietly beside Meera, suddenly burst into laughter but quickly covered her mouth when Meera shot her a glare.

Meera’s face warmed slightly, and she shifted awkwardly.

"H-How is he?" she asked again hesitantly, her voice betraying her concern.

Siddhartha’s smirk grew. "Well, he actually left the hospital the very next day." he said, shaking his head in exasperation. "Typical Arjun behavior. No patience whatsoever."

Meera’s brows furrowed in concern. "The next day?"

Ishita scoffed. "Of course, he did. Crazy-ass man." she muttered, shaking her head. "But I’ll give him credit. At least he had the decency to save you."

Meera giggled softly, her shoulders relaxing a little.

"You don’t have to worry." Siddhartha assured her. "Arjun is fine."

Meera let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

'Good,' she thought. 'He’s fine'. That's all what she needed to hear.

And for the first time in a week, her heart felt just a little lighter.

♧♧♧

Sorry I didn't drop this yesterday! Well here it is...

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