Chapter 73: Chapter Sixty Six

Hey everyone! I just want to clear something up because I’m a bit confused.

A few people have mentioned that my book resembles one called Beautiful Infatuation. But I want to make it very clear—my story comes entirely from my imagination. Writing is something I’m passionate about, and I would never take someone else’s work.

I wasn’t even slightly inspired by that book. My love for Indian movies and series sparked the idea for this story. Honestly, I haven’t found a book here that matches my taste, so I decided to write my own.

And if its so similar, point the part out for me, so I can rewrite it and have a different line, please 🙏 (Biko, I no like wahala)

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Meera pushed open the door to her house and rushed inside, her heart hammering against her ribs.

She looked up and first person she saw was her mother descending the stairs, her saree draped neatly over one shoulder, her face calm—too calm.

Meera exhaled sharply, relief flooding her as she hurried forward, wrapping her arms around her mother.

"Ma, I’m so sorry." she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "A... Arjun—"

"I know, Meera." her mother interrupted gently, patting her back before stepping past her with an unreadable smile. "And that’s fine."

Meera froze, blinking in confusion. Fine? Did she just say fine?

She turned swiftly, watching her mother walk away as if nothing had happened.

"Ma, no—wait, you didn’t even listen to what I was going to say." Meera called out, hurrying after her.

But her mother didn’t stop. Didn’t react. As if she already knew.

And that realization sent a cold shiver down Meera’s spine.

Meera ran a shaky hand through her hair, her thoughts racing as she tried to explain herself.

“It was my mistake, Ma. I went to his place without telling you or papa and I…” She trailed off, guilt clawing at her throat.

She was ready for the scolding, ready for the worry, the panic—anything but the eerie calmness radiating from her mother.

Her mother simply turned to her with a smile, as if Meera hadn’t just confessed something serious.

"Meera Beta." she said in that soft, knowing voice, "you look stressed. Go to your room, freshen up, and come down for breakfast."

Then, with an almost playful tilt of her head, she added, "Or did you already eat at Arjun’s?"

Meera’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened as her mother reached out and lightly patted her cheek before turning away, walking off as if she had just spoken about the weather.

Meera stood frozen, her heart pounding against her ribs.

"What the hell was that about?" she muttered under her breath, her brows furrowing.

There was no lecture. No anger. No pleading for her to stay away from Arjun.

Nothing.

Her stomach churned with unease as she slowly made her way upstairs, her feet dragging against the wooden flooring.

Is Ma okay? she wondered, her fingers tightening around the stair railing.

What happened? What is going on? Why is she so... calm about Arjun?

The moment she stepped into her room, a dull headache throbbed at her temples. She sighed heavily, shutting the door behind her as she leaned against it. The exhaustion she had been holding back all this time was finally catching up to her.

And yet, she couldn’t shake off the unsettling feeling curling in her chest.

Something wasn’t right.

Meera pushed the unsettling thoughts to the back of her mind and headed to the bathroom. The warm water cascading down her skin was a relief, washing away the remnants of last night’s chaos. She took her time, hoping the steam would clear her thoughts, but Arjun’s smirking face and her mother’s strange reaction still lingered.

Once she was done, she stepped out, feeling slightly refreshed. She padded over to her study table and picked up her phone. As soon as she powered it on, the screen lit up with a flood of notifications.

Her heart clenched when she saw Jiya’s name filling the screen.

Jiya (10 Missed Calls)

Jiya: Meera, where are you?

Jiya: Are you okay?!

Jiya: Meera, please reply, I’m scared.

Jiya: Call me the moment you see this.

A small smile tugged at Meera’s lips despite everything. Jiya was always the first to worry. Without wasting another second, she tapped the call button.

The phone barely rang twice before Jiya picked up.

"Oh God, Meera! What the hell happened? Are you okay?!" Jiya’s frantic voice came through. "I called your phone so many times yesterday, but it was switched off! I was losing my mind!"

Meera sighed, guilt washing over her. "I’m so sorry, Jiya. Something crazy happened yesterday…"

"Spill. Now." Jiya demanded, impatience lacing her tone.

Meera hesitated, debating how much to say, but then an idea struck her. "How about we meet up and talk?"

Jiya was silent for a moment before sighing. "Fine. Meet me at Roastery Café in an hour. No excuses."

Meera smiled. "Of course. See you soon."

After exchanging goodbyes, she tossed her phone on the bed and exhaled deeply. Just as she was about to relax, another notification popped up.

Her stomach twisted when she saw the sender’s name.

Arjun.

Arjun: I’ll pick you up in an hour, wifey. I have a surprise for you.

Meera scowled at the message.

"You’re crazy if you think I want to see you" she muttered, shaking her head.

As if he could hear her, another message appeared instantly.

Arjun: Your crazy man.

Meera gasped, her eyes darting around her room as if he was watching her. A chill ran down her spine.

She frowned at the phone before tossing it onto the bed like it was cursed.

He’s insane. Completely mad

Ignoring the lingering unease, she grabbed her lotion and began applying it to her skin, determined to focus on her own plans.

She chose a cute, pastel-colored dhoti kurta, its soft fabric flowing around her as she got dressed.

With one final glance at herself in the mirror, she took a deep breath and stepped out of her room, ready to meet Jiya–while doing everything in her power to avoid Arjun.

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"What the hell?! Now that's just out of line!" Jiya exclaimed, her voice laced with frustration.

Meera sighed, stirring her tea absentmindedly. "I know… but what’s even weirder is that my mom didn’t say a word about it. Like, she wasn’t even mad."

Jiya’s brows furrowed. "And what about your dad?"

"I didn’t see him when I got home. He had already left for work." Meera shrugged.

Jiya nodded in understanding but kept her eyes on Meera, studying her. The slight tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers clenched around the teacup—there was something there, something she wasn’t saying.

After a beat of silence, Jiya spoke again, her voice cautious. "Meera?"

Meera hummed in response, looking up after placing her cup down.

Jiya hesitated before saying, "I’m not saying I support what Arjun did, and I know drugging you was completely wrong. But… don’t you think he’s serious about you?"

Meera’s face twisted into a deep frown, and Jiya quickly raised her hands in defense.

"Wait, hear me out! I’m not saying you should just accept it, but maybe, just maybe, try to see past his bad sides. I mean, despite everything, he hasn’t actually harmed you, Meera. And today, he was even trying to cook for you—"

"No, Jiya." Meera’s voice was firm, her expression unreadable, but there was an edge of frustration in her tone. "Never. I appreciate that he saved me, and I’ve already thanked him for that. But I want nothing to do with him."

Jiya sighed, shaking her head. "Funny you say that… but have you ever just sat down and thought about everything he’s done for you? Looked past his reputation for a second?"

Meera scoffed, her fingers tightening around her cup.

"Reputation is the most important thing a man has in society, Jiya. And his? It’s built on crime, on things I don’t want to be associated with." She exhaled sharply.

"Besides, isn't he the reason I was kidnapped in the first place? What’s the guarantee that something worse won’t happen if I stay around him?"

Jiya had no response to that. She knew Meera was right.

The conversation settled into silence, tension lingering between them. Meera, still irritated, took another sip of her tea, clearly done with the topic.

Jiya sighed again. Meera was one of the most stubborn people she knew. Once she made up her mind, convincing her otherwise was close to impossible.

Letting the subject drop, Jiya’s gaze drifted toward the glass window overlooking the street. People walked by, lost in their own lives. But then—her eyes landed on something, or rather, someone.

Arjun.

Dressed in all black, he stepped out of his car, his sharp gaze scanning the café.

A slow smirk curled on Jiya’s lips.

Meera, noticing her sudden shift in demeanor, narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Why are you smiling like that?"

Jiya picked up her fork, casually taking a bite of her red velvet cake. "Oh, nothing." she said airily, her smirk deepening.

Meera narrowed her eyes in suspicion, but before she could dwell on Jiya’s smirk, the café door chimed open. She paid no mind to it, assuming it was just another customer.

She reached for her tea, lifting the cup to her lips, but the moment she turned her head, she froze.

Arjun.

Sitting right beside her.

The shock hit her so hard that she gasped, her grip loosening on the cup. A splash of warm liquid landed on her cheek, making her jolt in surprise. Fortunately, it missed her clothes, but the suddenness of it sent her heart into overdrive.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, her breath catching in her throat.

Arjun, however, looked utterly unbothered. If anything, he was amused. His lips curled into a slow, knowing smirk as he pulled out a crisp, neatly folded handkerchief and reached forward.

Meera was still too stunned to react when he gently dabbed at her cheek, wiping away the spilled tea. The gesture was so effortless, so intimate, that it jolted her back to reality.

She jerked away from his touch, her heart hammering. "What the—"

Arjun didn’t seem fazed by her reaction. Instead, he turned his gaze to Jiya, his smirk still in place.

"Miss Jiya." he said smoothly, his deep voice laced with confidence, "is it okay if I borrow my wife for few hours?"

Jiya, the traitor that she was, smirked. Without a moment’s hesitation, she grabbed her handbag and stood up.

"She’s all yours." she said cheerfully, winking at Meera, who gawked at her in pure betrayal.

"Jiya!" Meera hissed, half-rising from her seat.

But Jiya only grinned wider, stuffing the last bite of cake into her mouth.

"Enjoy your date, babes." she teased before sauntering off without a second glance.

Meera stared at her retreating figure, her jaw slack. "Did she just—"

Before she could fully process Jiya’s utter betrayal, she turned back—only to find Arjun now sitting comfortably in Jiya’s vacated seat, as if he belonged there.

Meera clenched her hands into fists. "You—"

"Sweet."

Meera blinked, confused. "What?"

Arjun casually reached for her cup of tea and took a slow, deliberate sip. "Not really my thing," he mused, licking his lips. "But if my wife enjoys it, then why not?"

Meera could only stare at him in disbelief, her mind struggling to catch up.

As if that wasn’t enough, he reached across the table, pushing Jiya’s leftover red velvet cake aside with no hesitation. Instead, he took Meera’s vanilla cake, using her fork to cut a piece.

Her eyes widened in horror as he slid the fork into his mouth, his gaze never leaving hers.

Meera stiffened. The way he licked the frosting off the fork, his lips curling in satisfaction, sent an unsettling shiver down her spine.

Her face heated instantly. She gulped, shifting uncomfortably as she cast a quick glance around, praying no one was watching them.

Arjun leaned forward slightly, his voice low and teasing. "You look flustered, sweetheart."

Meera’s jaw clenched. "You’re insufferable" she muttered, snatching her fork away from his grasp.

But all Arjun did was chuckle, his eyes gleaming with something dangerously close to satisfaction.

Meera’s glare sharpened as she crossed her arms. "Why are you here? Who told you I was here?"

Arjun didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he took another slow bite of cake, his eyes never leaving hers. The deliberate way he moved, the sheer audacity in his expression, made her blood boil.

"I’m here to get my wife." he finally said, voice as smooth as silk.

Meera scoffed, cutting him off sharply. "I am not your wife, Arjun."

If she thought that would deter him, she was sorely mistaken. Arjun remained utterly unbothered, his smirk never wavering.

"No one told me you were here." he continued casually, dabbing at his mouth with a napkin. "My heart just knows where you are."

Meera clicked her tongue in frustration. "Crazy man." she muttered under her breath before abruptly rising from her seat.

She didn’t look at him, didn’t spare him another word—just turned on her heels and marched toward the exit.

Arjun didn’t hesitate. He stood as well, following her as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

The moment Meera stepped outside the café, she felt it—his presence, his heat, the overwhelming weight of him behind her.

Then, suddenly—his hand wrapped around her wrist.

"Hey!" She gasped, twisting against his grip. "Let go of me!"

Arjun ignored her protests, his grip firm but not painful as he pulled her toward his car, his strides confident, unwavering.

"Arjun!" she snapped, trying to dig her heels into the pavement. "I said, let go!"

He said nothing, merely opened the car door for her as if this were the most normal thing in the world.

Meera yanked her arm free and shot him a murderous glare. "I am not getting in that car."

That made him pause. Then, slowly, a smile stretched across his face—one that sent a shiver down her spine.

Arjun leaned in just a fraction, voice dropping into something dangerously low, something that made her breath hitch. "Do you want me to kiss you?"

Her heart stopped.

Meera’s eyes widened in horror as she quickly looked around, scanning the street for any bystanders who might be watching this insanity unfold.

"Are you crazy?!" she hissed.

His smirk deepened. "Yes, crazy for you."

Meera swallowed hard, pressing herself back as he took another step forward.

"You look like an angry wife." he mused, eyes twinkling with amusement. "An angry wife upset that her husband didn’t kiss her before he left for work."

Meera blinked.

She stared at him, completely dumbfounded.

"Isn’t he shameless?" she thought furiously. No. He’s beyond shameless. He’s insane.

But Arjun wasn’t backing down. If anything, he looked like he was enjoying this—enjoying her.

Meera inhaled sharply. If she kept standing here, bickering with him in broad daylight, people would start getting the wrong idea.

She clenched her jaw, sending him a final glare before she huffed and ducked into the car.

The moment she did, she heard it—his low chuckle, deep and victorious.

She turned just in time to see his smirk widen, as if he had just won a battle he knew he would never lose.

Without another word, he shut the door for her, taking his time before strolling over to the driver's side.

Meera exhaled sharply, her pulse still erratic.

Please, let him not do something crazy this time.

Meera kept chanting the words in her head as Arjun slid into the driver’s seat, his movements as effortless as ever.

He turned the key, the engine purring to life beneath his touch. Without another word, he pulled onto the road, driving with the same calm confidence that always unnerved her.

Meera took a slow breath, gripping the hem of her dress. "Please take me home." she said, her voice firm.

Arjun didn’t even glance her way.

Instead, he spoke as if she hadn’t said a word. "How much do you like technology?"

Meera blinked, frowning in confusion. "What?"

She turned to face him, searching his expression for any signs of mischief, but he remained frustratingly unreadable.

"Um… not really a fan." she admitted hesitantly. "Why?"

Arjun merely shrugged, his grip on the steering wheel relaxed. "No reason."

That alone made her suspicious.

Meera sat up straighter, watching the road carefully. Minutes passed, and the scenery outside became unfamiliar—too unfamiliar.

Her stomach twisted.

"Arjun?" She turned to him sharply. "Where are you taking me?"

He didn’t answer immediately. The streetlights cast shadows across his face, highlighting the sharp edges of his jaw, the slight smirk playing at his lips.

"Arjun." she repeated, her voice rising with unease. "Where the hell are we going?!"

Then, just as panic began to coil in her chest, the car rolled to a smooth stop.

Meera’s eyes darted outside.

Her breath hitched.

A towering, state-of-the-art building loomed before her, its sleek glass windows reflecting the city lights.

At the very top, glowing letters spelled out a name she recognized instantly—one of the most renowned gadget and technology stores in the country.

She turned to Arjun in utter disbelief. "What—"

"To get you a better device. Latest model."

Meera's mouth fell open.

She turned back to the building, then back to him, her heart pounding.

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Can I please get votes here? 🥲🥲 I know I submitted late, I'm sorry!😭😭😮‍💨