The night had been long.
Too long.
Aarav barely slept.
Not even for a minute.
Sitting beside her—
watching—
every breath.
Every movement.
The fever had reduced—
but not his worry.
Morning came slowly.
Soft light filled the room.
Meher stirred slightly.
Her eyes opened—
heavy—
but calmer than before.
The first thing she saw—
was him.
Still there.
Still watching.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
He leaned closer instantly.
"Haan… I'm here."
"Neend nahi ki?"
(Didn't sleep?)
He shook his head lightly.
"Zarurat nahi thi."
(No need.)
She frowned slightly.
"Jhoot…"
(Lie…)
He didn't argue.
Because she was right.
She slowly lifted her hand—
placing it on his cheek.
"Thak gaye ho…" she murmured.
(You're tired…)
Aarav closed his eyes for a second—
leaning slightly into her touch.
"Tum theek ho… bas woh kaafi hai."
(You're fine… that's enough.)
A pause.
She shifted slightly—
trying to sit.
"Aaram se…" he said immediately,
supporting her.
This time—
no strict tone.
Just care.
She sat with his help—
leaning against the pillow.
"Aaj bhi rules hain?" she asked softly.
(Are there rules today too?)
Aarav looked at her.
Then—
very calmly—
"Haan."
(Yes.)
She sighed lightly.
"Par…"
He leaned slightly closer.
"Soft version."
She blinked.
"Soft version?"
He nodded.
"Main bolunga… tum maanogi…"
(I'll say… you'll follow…)
A pause.
"…par daant nahi padegi."
(…but I won't scold you.)
She smiled faintly.
"Better."
A small silence settled.
Then—
slowly—
she moved closer.
Resting her head against his arm again.
That habit—
stronger now.
"Clingy ho gayi ho," he murmured.
She didn't deny.
"Tumhari wajah se…"
(Because of you…)
He smiled faintly.
"Blame mujhpe hi aayega."
She looked up at him—
soft eyes.
"Always."
A pause.
Then—
very quietly—
"Aarav…"
"Haan…"
"Kal jab aap gusse mein the…"
(When you were angry yesterday…)
He stiffened slightly.
"…mujhe dar laga."
(I got scared.)
Silence.
That line—
hit deeper than anything.
His hand tightened around hers.
"I know…" he said quietly.
A pause.
"I won't do that again."
She looked at him—
searching.
"Promise?"
He nodded.
"Promise."
Then—
he added softly—
"Par tum bhi rules todogi nahi."
(But you won't break rules either.)
She smiled slightly.
"Try karungi…"
(I'll try…)
He narrowed his eyes.
"Try nahi."
She laughed weakly.
"Okay… pakka."
Satisfied—
he adjusted her blanket again.
Then—
instead of moving away—
he stayed.
Closer.
This time—
not watching like a guard.
But sitting like someone who belongs there.
After a moment—
she whispered softly—
"Aarav…"
"Haan…"
"Yahin rehna…"
(Stay here…)
He didn't even think.
"Always."
And this time—
it wasn't just comfort.
It was something deeper.
Because after fear—
after anger—
after pain—
what remained—
was this.
Quiet love.
And staying.The calm didn't last.
It never did.
The house felt quiet again.
Too quiet.
Meher was resting—
leaning against the pillow—
while Aarav sat beside her.
This time—
he looked calmer.
But something—
felt off.
Aarav's eyes moved toward the window.
A slight sound.
Not loud.
But enough.
"What happened?" Meher asked softly.
He didn't answer immediately.
Just stood up slowly.
"Stay here," he said.
She frowned.
"Aarav—"
"I'll be back."
That tone—
serious again.
Before she could argue—
he stepped out of the room.
The corridor felt different.
Empty.
Aarav walked forward—
his senses alert.
Then—
he noticed it.
The main door—
slightly open.
He froze.
He had locked it.
His jaw tightened.
"Who's there?" he called out.
No response.
Silence.
Too deep.
Back inside—
Meher tried to sit properly.
Her heart—
racing for no reason.
"Aarav…" she called softly.
No reply.
That silence—
felt wrong.
She slowly got up—
ignoring the weakness.
"Aarav?"
Meanwhile—
outside—
A shadow moved.
Fast.
Aarav noticed—
turning instantly.
"Stop."
The figure didn't.
Instead—
it moved away quickly.
Aarav ran forward—
but stopped midway.
Because something hit him.
Meher.
He turned back instantly—
running inside.
"Meher!"
But inside—
she wasn't on the bed.
His heart dropped.
"Meher?!"
Then—
a faint sound.
From the hallway.
He rushed—
and found her—
standing—
holding the wall—
trying to reach him.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
Relief hit him hard.
"What are you doing here?!" he snapped.
She flinched slightly.
"You didn't come back…"
Before she could finish—
another sound.
A loud thud.
Both froze.
This time—
it came from inside the house.
Aarav's expression changed instantly.
He pulled Meher behind him—
protectively.
"Stay behind me."
Her fingers clutched his shirt tightly.
Fear—
clear in her eyes.
"Aarav…"
"I'm here," he said firmly.
Another noise.
Closer.
Footsteps.
Someone was inside.
Aarav's jaw tightened.
His hand moved slightly—
ready.
But he didn't move forward.
Because Meher—
was behind him.
And that—
changed everything.
"Kaun hai?" he said loudly.
(Who's there?)
Silence.
Then—
a faint voice.
"You thought it was over?"
Meher's grip tightened.
That voice—
felt familiar.
Dangerously familiar.
Aarav's eyes darkened.
Because he knew.
This wasn't random.
This was planned.
And it wasn't finished yet.The air turned heavy.
Too heavy.
Aarav didn't wait.
He didn't need to.
The moment that voice echoed—
he knew.
They weren't safe.
"Meher…" he said quietly,
not turning back.
"Haan…" her voice trembled.
"Jo bolun, wahi karna."
(Do exactly what I say.)
She nodded instantly.
His hand reached back—
finding hers—
holding tight.
"Don't leave me," she whispered.
He tightened his grip.
"Never."
Another sound.
Closer.
Aarav moved.
Fast.
Pulling her along—
toward the back corridor.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"Exit."
Short.
Clear.
Her steps were slow—
weak.
But he didn't let go.
When she stumbled—
he didn't stop.
He lifted her.
Effortlessly.
"Aarav—"
"No time."
His heartbeat—
loud.
His eyes—
focused.
Behind them—
a door slammed.
They both flinched.
"Faster…" she whispered.
"I've got you," he said.
They reached the back door—
locked.
"Damn it…" he muttered.
His hand moved quickly—
unlocking it.
But before he could open—
footsteps again.
Closer now.
Very close.
Aarav's expression hardened.
He pulled Meher closer—
shielding her completely.
"Stay behind me," he said again.
She clutched his shirt tightly.
The door creaked open—
and he stepped out.
Fresh air hit them.
But it didn't feel safe.
Not yet.
"Car," he said.
Parked ahead.
He moved quickly—
still holding her—
not letting her walk.
"Aarav… I can—"
"No."
No argument.
They reached the car—
he opened the door—
placing her inside carefully.
"Lock it," he said.
Her hands shook slightly—
but she did it.
Aarav turned back—
just for a second.
A shadow appeared near the house.
His eyes darkened.
"Not today…" he muttered.
Then—
he got in—
started the car—
engine roaring to life.
The car sped forward.
Fast.
Too fast.
Meher held onto the seat—
breathing uneven.
"Aarav…"
He didn't look at her.
Just drove.
Focused.
"We're safe," he said.
But his tone—
said otherwise.
She looked at him—
fear still there.
"Kaun tha woh?"
(Who was that?)
A pause.
His grip on the steering tightened.
"Someone who shouldn't be back."
Her heart sank.
"Matlab… yeh khatam nahi hua?"
(So this isn't over?)
Aarav finally glanced at her.
"No."
That one word—
felt heavier than everything.
She moved closer slightly—
her hand finding his arm.
"I'm scared…" she whispered.
He didn't slow down.
But his voice softened.
"Main hoon."
(I'm here.)
A pause.
"Jab tak main hoon… tumhe kuch nahi hoga."
(As long as I'm here… nothing will happen to you.)
She held onto him tighter.
Because right now—
that was all she had.
And he—
wasn't going to let go.
Not again.The road stretched ahead—
empty.
Too empty.
The car sped forward.
Faster.
Faster.
Meher's grip tightened on the seat—
her breath uneven.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
He didn't answer.
His eyes—
fixed on the road.
Sharp.
Focused.
Then—
in the rearview mirror—
he saw it.
A black car.
Following.
His jaw clenched.
"Damn…"
"What happened?" Meher asked quickly.
A pause.
Then—
"Seatbelt tight karo."
(Tighten your seatbelt.)
Her heart dropped.
"Aarav—"
"Do it."
No room for argument.
She tightened it immediately.
The car behind them—
got closer.
Too close.
"They're following us…" she whispered.
Aarav didn't deny.
"Haan."
Fear crept in.
"Ab kya karenge?"
(What will we do?)
His grip on the steering tightened.
"Lose them."
And then—
he accelerated.
The engine roared louder.
The car surged forward—
cutting through the road.
Meher held onto the dashboard—
her heart racing.
"Aarav, slow—"
"Trust me."
That stopped her.
Because she did.
Behind them—
the black car matched speed.
Still there.
"Damn it…" Aarav muttered.
He took a sharp turn.
The car swerved—
fast—
precise.
Meher gasped—
holding tighter.
"Aarav!"
"I've got it."
Another turn.
Another sharp move.
Trying to confuse them.
But the car—
was still there.
Relentless.
"They're not leaving…" she whispered.
Aarav's eyes darkened.
"I know."
A pause.
Then—
he made a decision.
Suddenly—
he slowed down.
"Aarav?!"
"Trust me."
The car behind—
got closer.
Closer.
Too close.
And then—
in one swift move—
Aarav turned sharply into a narrow lane.
The car skidded slightly—
but stabilized.
Meher's breath caught.
"Aarav…"
"Hold on."
The lane was tight—
barely enough space.
Perfect to lose them.
Or crash.
Behind—
the black car tried to follow—
but slowed.
Too narrow.
Aarav didn't stop.
He drove deeper—
faster—
turn after turn.
Finally—
silence.
No engine behind.
No headlights.
Nothing.
He slowed down.
Gradually.
The car came to a stop.
For a moment—
neither of them spoke.
Just heavy breathing.
Then—
Meher turned toward him—
eyes wide.
"That was—"
"Dangerous," he finished.
She nodded slowly.
"But you're safe."
That mattered more.
Her hand moved—
holding his arm tightly.
"I was so scared…" she whispered.
Aarav looked at her—
finally.
His expression softened.
"I know…"
A pause.
Then—
very gently—
he pulled her closer.
"Main hoon na…"
(I'm here…)
Her head rested against his shoulder.
Still shaking slightly.
He held her—
firm.
Protective.
Because this time—
it wasn't just fear.
It was a warning.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.The engine went silent.
But Aarav's mind didn't.
The chase was over—
for now.
But something had changed.
He wasn't thinking about escape anymore.
He was thinking—
about ending it.
Meher still held onto him—
her breath slowly calming.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
"Haan…"
"Ghar chalein?"
(Should we go home?)
A pause.
Aarav looked ahead.
Dark.
Still.
Then—
"No."
She looked at him—
confused.
"No?"
"Not safe."
That one sentence—
settled it.
He started the car again—
this time slower.
Controlled.
"Hum kahaan ja rahe hain?"
(Where are we going?)
"Safe jagah."
(A safe place.)
But his tone—
said something else.
Because safety—
was only temporary.
Inside—
something darker was building.
After some time—
the car stopped in front of a quiet, isolated house.
Aarav stepped out—
quickly opening her door.
"Careful," he said softly,
helping her out.
Inside—
the place was silent.
Prepared.
Not random.
She noticed.
"Aap pehle se plan kar rahe the?"
(Were you already planning this?)
Aarav didn't answer.
He just guided her inside—
making her sit.
"Yahan safe ho," he said.
(You're safe here.)
She nodded slowly.
But something felt off.
Too quiet.
Too controlled.
"Aarav…"
"Haan?"
"Ab kya hoga?"
(What happens now?)
A long pause.
Then—
he looked at her.
His eyes—
different.
Calm.
But cold.
"Ab…" he said slowly,
"…woh hoga jo hona chahiye tha pehle."
(Now… what should've happened earlier will happen.)
She froze.
"Aarav…"
But he had already stepped back.
His phone in his hand.
Dialing.
"Location track karo," he said.
Voice—
firm.
"No mistakes this time."
A pause.
"And listen…"
His jaw tightened.
"Is baar… koi bachna nahi chahiye."
(This time… no one should escape.)
Meher's heart skipped.
That tone—
she hadn't heard in a long time.
Dark.
Dangerous.
He ended the call.
Turned back.
And instantly—
his expression softened.
Like nothing happened.
"Rest karo," he said gently.
As if he wasn't just planning something serious.
She looked at him—
trying to read him.
"Tum… kya karne wale ho?"
(What are you going to do?)
A pause.
He walked closer—
kneeling slightly in front of her.
His hand held hers.
Soft.
"Jo zaroori hai," he replied quietly.
(What's necessary.)
"But you don't worry."
That line—
didn't comfort her.
Because she knew.
When Aarav got this calm—
something big was coming.
Something irreversible.
He stood up again—
turning away.
His face—
no longer soft.
No hesitation now.
No fear.
Only one thing—
Control.
And this time—
he wasn't protecting.
He was hunting.
.
.
.
.
Hope you like it