"Thanks so much for the ride, Jiya." Meera said, handing over the helmet with a grateful smile.
"No problem, but seriously, are you sure you'll be okay?" Jiya asked, her brow furrowed with concern as she gazed at Meera with worried eyes.
Meera looked up at the intimidating gate, its sharp spikes reaching towards the sky like skeletal fingers, before turning back to her friend. She sighed and nodded reassuringly.
"I'll be fine, don't worry. I made it through the first day, didn't I? And if anything happens, my ghost will make sure to haunt them!" Meera joked, trying to lighten the mood with a chuckle.
Jiya giggled, but her expression quickly turned serious again.
"Don't even joke about that, Meera. Just be careful, remember? Keep a safe distance from...you know who. At least 10 feet away, no matter what. Okay?" Jiya lectured, sounding like a worried mother.
Meera laughed and playfully rolled her eyes. "Got it, Mom! And don't worry, I'll make sure your phone is on speed dial, right after my parents' numbers. I'll be like, 'Hey, Jiya, send help!'"
Jiya smiled slightly, but her concern was still evident.
"I mean it, Meera. Don't underestimate him. He's not someone to mess with."
Meera's grin faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered.
"I know, I know. I'll be careful. I promise. Now stop worrying and go home. Your mom will be wondering where you are."
Jiya nodded, seeming to accept Meera's reassurance.
"Okay, fine. But call me as soon as you can, deal?"
"Deal!" Meera agreed, watching as Jiya ignited the scooter and drove away, feeling a mix of emotions: gratitude for her friend's concern and a hint of fear for what lay ahead.
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"Oh my Miss Meera, please come in" Vid said with a warm smile, bowing slightly as she swung open the door to welcome Meera.
"Mr. Madhav will be with you shortly. Can I offer you something to drink? Perhaps some tea or water?" Vid asked politely, her eyes sparkling with hospitality.
Meera gave her a gentle smile and shook her head graciously.
"No, thank you very much, Vid. I'm okay." she politely declined, her voice soft and melodious.
Vid nodded with a smile "If you need anything at all, just call my name." she said, her tone reassuring.
"Okay, thank you." Meera replied, her eyes already scanning the living room, her first time incident still playing in her head.
With a final smile, Vid left, leaving Meera alone in the spacious room. As soon as Vid left, something clicked inside Meera, and she quickly reached for her phone, her fingers moving swiftly as she settled her notepad and questions on the coffee table.
After a few rapid presses, she put the phone to her ear, and the ringing indicated she was calling someone.
"Hello, beta! Are you okay?" a worried voice boomed from the other side of the phone, making Meera smile.
"Hey, Papa! Yes, yes, I'm good" she reassured him, her voice light and cheerful.
"Oh, good." her father sighed in relief, the tension in his voice palpable even over the phone.
"Papa, can you come pick me up in the next two hours? I should be done then." Meera asked, her brow furrowed slightly with concern.
"Sure, beta! I'll be there right on time, okay?" her father promised, his voice laced with a mix of worry and determination.
Meera smiled, knowing how scared her father was, and the trouble it was giving him. She didn't like it at all, feeling a pang of guilt for causing him distress.
But she pushed the feeling aside, focusing on the task at hand. She had to get through this meetings with Mr. Madhav, no matter what.
And for a month.
Shortly after, Siddhartha descended the stairs, his footsteps echoing through the room.
"Meera." he called warmly, his eyes locking onto hers with a gentle smile. Meera's gaze drifted towards him, and she couldn't help but return the smile.
"Hello, Sid" she replied, her voice soft and friendly.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting," Siddhartha said, his brow furrowed slightly in concern.
"Oh no, not at all," Meera assured him, shaking her head.
Siddhartha chuckled and plopped down on the couch with a thud, slowly caressing his neck as he settled in.
"Alright then, everything set? Because I'm fully ready" he joked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Meera's gaze lingered on him, and she noticed the faint lines of stress etched on his face.
"You look stressed though. Work?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Siddhartha passed her a tired look, his smile faltering for a moment, and Meera's heart skipped a beat. She felt a flutter in her chest, and her mind wandered to how handsome he looked even when exhausted. She mentally shook her head to clear the thoughts.
'Stop thinking crazy, girl!' she scolded herself.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine." Siddhartha said, his voice reassuring.
"I had to take care of a few things in the office today, and it was not...fun" he admitted, his eyes clouding over.
Meera giggled, trying to lighten the mood.
"I think I can cut short our interviewâ"
Siddhartha's expression turned determined. "No, no, don't worry. I'm fine. So let's begin, yeah?" He grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
Meera looked at him for a while, still worried about his health, but if he insisted, well then... She nodded, though her mind still lingered on his well-being.
Meera knew recording wasn't necessary, but for some reason, she believed she still needed it, just in case she missed something.
"Okay. Let's pick up from where we stopped" She discreetly pressed the video record button on her phone
"What advice would you give to a young entrepreneurs looking to make a mark in their industry?"
"I would say don't be afraid to think outside the box and challenge conventional wisdom. Surround yourself with talented people who share your vision, andâ"
As the interview continued, the conversation flowing effortlessly between Meera and Siddhartha, an hour slipped by unnoticed.
The room was filled with the soft hum of the air conditioner, creating a cozy atmosphere.
Unbeknownst to the duo, a silent observer had entered the room.
Arjun stood in the doorway, his eyes locking onto Meera like a magnet. His heart began racing again, the familiar flutter in his chest a sensation he couldn't ignore. He stood there, frozen, studying her every move. Her facial expressions captivated him - the way her lips curved up to laugh or smile at something Siddhartha said, the way her eyes sparkled with amusement.
Arjun's gaze lingered on her, his mind drinking in every detail. He noticed the way her hair fell in soft waves down her back, the way her hands gestured animatedly as she spoke.
His fists clenched involuntarily, a surge of emotion coursing through his veins.
Meera, oblivious to the new presence, continued to chat with Siddhartha, her laughter and smiles filling the room. Arjun's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he watched Siddhartha's charming smile and effortless charm.
A pang of jealousy stabbed at his heart, and he felt his breathing slow, his eyes never leaving Meera's face. He was transfixed, unable to look away, as the scene before him played out like a movie he couldn't pause.
Just then, Meera's gaze drifted upwards, her eyes accidentally meeting Arjun's intense stare. His expression seemed to darken, a scowl twisting his features, and Meera felt a shiver run down her spine.
The sudden change in mood was palpable, and Siddhartha sensed it too, his eyes flicking towards Arjun in confusion.
"Bhai!" Siddhartha called out, his voice laced with concern, but Arjun snapped out of his trance-like state and swiftly headed up the stairs, ignoring both Meera and Siddhartha.
Arjun stormed into his room, slamming the door shut behind him. He collided his fist with the wall, his breathing heavy and labored.
"F*ck! It's just a girl! IT'S JUST A GIRL!" he yelled, his voice echoing off the soundproofed walls as he aggressively punched the wall again.
"Yeah, just a girl that has messed up your mind," his conscious mocked, its voice dripping with sarcasm. Arjun growled, his frustration boiling over.
He stumbled backwards, his eyes closed, and raised his head towards the ceiling. His chest heaved with each ragged breath, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn't process. The tension in his body was palpable, his fists still clenched, as if ready to strike again. The silence in the room was oppressive, punctuated only by Arjun's heavy breathing, as he struggled to calm the storm raging within him.
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".....working on a new initiative that will allow us to expand into new markets while maintaining our commitment to sustainability. I'm excited to share more about it in the coming months" Siddhartha answered with a smile.
"Alright, Siddhartha, that's it for today. Thank you for your time." Meera said professionally, her voice crisp and clear.
Siddhartha only smiled, his eyes shining with pride and admiration for her effort and dedication. He had noticed a transformation in Meera from the start - she was a well-rounded, moral, modest, bold, mature, feisty, and intellectual woman. Someone with principles, and he loved that very much.
Meera took her phone and stopped the video, smiling at it while checking on the footage.
"Meera, are you thirsty? I know I am. Would you like something to drink?" Siddhartha politely asked, his voice breaking into her thoughts.
"Just water will do, thanks." she replied, her eyes still fixed on her phone, her thumbs scrolling through the video.
Siddhartha stepped away to the kitchen, leaving Meera alone. Very satisfied with the video, she smiled to herself again, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
Feeling a presence behind her, she assumed it was Siddhartha returning with her water.
"The video is amazing, Sid. This is amazing, a total of six questions asked" she said, standing up to turn around and face him.
But instead, she saw Arjun standing there, his eyes fixed intently on her. Her once calm heart began to accelerate in fear, her instincts screaming at her to be cautious.
She instinctively took a step back, creating a safe distance between them, even though she knew it might not be enough. Her eyes locked onto Arjun's, her mind racing with questions - what was he doing here? Why was he looking at her like that?
"Um...Siddhartha...is-" Meera started to say, but Arjun cut her off, his voice low and soft, almost to himself, but Meera still heard him.
"Meera," he said, his eyes fixed on hers, his gaze piercing.
Meera's heart skipped a beat as she felt a shiver run down her spine.
"Why are you always calling his name?" Arjun asked, his tone grim.
Meera gulped, her eyes darting around the room, praying that Siddhartha would return and rescue her from this uncomfortable situation.
"I...I thought you might be looking for him" she stammered, trying to find her words.
Arjun took a step closer to her, his movements fluid and deliberate.
"I asked you a question" he said, his voice firm, his eyes boring into hers.
Meera took a step back, trying to maintain some distance between them.
"I...I was just trying to help." she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Are you done with the interview?" Arjun asked, as he moved even closer to her, invading her personal space.
Meera nodded, trying to stand her ground.
"Yes, I'm done." she said, her voice firmer now.
"And can you please move back a bit? There's something called personal space." she added, trying to sound braver than she felt.
Arjun raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise on his face.
"How is it your personal space?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"The last time I checked, this was my house."
Meera frowned, her fear momentarily forgotten.
"No one said it isn't your house," she replied, her eyes narrowing in defense.
"But as a guest, their space includes where they stand and sit, and others invading it is inconvenient for them."
Arjun was taken aback by Meera's feisty response. He smiled mentally, impressed by her spirit.
"How is it invading if you stand in my house?" he teased, trying to provoke her further.
For some reason he enjoyed it.
"What if I needed something at the place you are? Does that mean you are invading my property spaces too?"
Meera looked at Arjun like he was dumb.
"'Meera, this man is just trying to mess with you.' she thought to herself.
"Do you like when your space is invaded, Mr. Madhav?" she asked, her voice firm, her eyes flashing with defiance.
Arjun's expression turned stern, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"Depends" he said, his voice low and husky.
Meera felt a shiver run down her spine as Arjun took another step closer to her. She could feel his warm breath on her skin, making her heart race.
"On what?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
"On who's invading my space," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Meera rolled her eyes, trying to appear braver than she felt.
"Well, I'm sure you'd love it if I invaded your space." she said, her voice heavy with sarcasm.
Arjun chuckled, the sound sending shivers down Meera's spine.
"I might" he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Meera felt her fear spike, her heart racing with anticipation. She knew she needed to get out of there, fast.
Just then, her phone rang, breaking the tense moment. She saw the caller ID and a smile appeared on her face.
She picked up her bag, trying to make a quick escape.
"Excuse me, I've got to go now." she said, trying to sound firm, and passed by him, heading towards the door.
"Meera?" Siddhartha's voice called out, stopping her in her tracks.
"Sid, I have to go now" she replied, trying to hurry away.
"Oh, that's okay, I canâ" Siddhartha started to say, but Arjun's voice burst in, his anger palpable.
"I will drop you!" Arjun said.
Meera and Siddhartha looked at him, surprised by his outburst. Meera forced a smile onto her face, trying to diffuse the situation.
"Um, no thanks. Actually, my papa is here to pick me up. So, no need. Thank you very much." she said, trying to sound polite.
Arjun's face darkened, his eyes narrowing slightly. Meera quickly waved at Siddhartha and made a hasty exit.
"Thanks, Siddhartha. Bye!" she called out, relieved to be escaping the tense atmosphere.
Siddhartha was about to ask Arjun a question, but he hurriedly went after Meera, confused by the sudden turn of events.
"Umm... did I miss something?" he asked himself, wondering what had just happened.
Meera, meanwhile, was happy to be reunited with her father. "Papa!" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly.
"Beta! How are you, dear? Hope nothing happened." her father asked, concern etched on his face.
Meera giggled. "I'm fine, Papa. Just a bit tired. Can we go home now?"
Her father kissed her head and smiled. "Sit down, and let's go, okay?"
As they drove away, Meera asked, "How was work, Papa? Hope no too much stress?"
Her father chuckled. "Silly girl, no need to get worried. I'm strong, and not going to lie, work was stressful."
They continued to chat as they drove home, Meera feeling safe and protected with her father by her side.
Meanwhile, Arjun watched them leave, his eyes narrowing as he thought about the encounter. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"Make sure they get home safe" he instructed the person on the other end, his voice firm and commanding.
As he hung up, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he had just met someone special, someone who had stirred up emotions he thought he had long buried.
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Okay, I know most of you are silent readers. But please do me that favor and hit the star button ð.
Atleast an indicator to tell me you love the Story so far.
And I'm sorry for late update, Cramps is not an easy thing to handle.
Until next time.â¤
And please do not forget to drop a star. Thank youâ¤