The room felt different.
Heavy.
Silent.
Aarav stood near the window—
phone still in his hand—
eyes distant.
Not the same man from before.
Meher watched him quietly.
She knew this side.
And it scared her.
"Aarav…" she called softly.
No response.
"Aarav," she said again.
This time—
he turned.
"Haan?"
"Yeh sab mat karo…"
(Don't do all this…)
A pause.
His expression didn't change.
"Kya?"
"Jo aap plan kar rahe ho."
(What you're planning…)
Silence.
He looked at her—
long.
Then—
"Tumhe kisne bola main kuch plan kar raha hoon?"
(Who told you I'm planning something?)
She stood up slowly—
ignoring her weakness.
"Aapki aankhon ne."
(Your eyes did.)
That made him pause.
Just for a second.
She stepped closer—
carefully.
"Aarav… mujhe pata hai aap gusse mein ho…"
(I know you're angry…)
"Main gusse mein nahi hoon," he interrupted.
His voice—
low.
Controlled.
"Main clear hoon."
(I'm clear.)
That scared her more.
She shook her head.
"Yeh clarity nahi hoti…"
(This isn't clarity…)
"…yeh woh hota hai jab insaan hurt hota hai."
(This is what happens when someone is hurt.)
Silence.
Aarav looked away.
But she didn't stop.
"Aap mujhe protect karna chahte ho na?"
(You want to protect me, right?)
He nodded slightly.
"Then don't go there…"
Her voice—
soft.
"…mat bano woh jo mujhe daraye."
(Don't become someone who scares me.)
That line—
hit him.
Hard.
He turned back—
eyes locking with hers.
"Main tumhe kabhi darane nahi dunga."
(I'll never scare you.)
She shook her head slowly.
"Abhi darr lag raha hai…"
(I'm scared right now…)
Silence.
That—
broke something.
For a moment—
the room felt too small.
Aarav stepped closer—
his expression softening slightly.
"Meher…"
But she moved first.
Closing the distance—
holding his hand.
"Please…"
Her grip—
weak.
But desperate.
"Don't do anything that changes you…"
A pause.
"…mujhe aap waise hi chahiye."
(I want you just the way you are.)
His jaw tightened.
Because he knew—
what she meant.
He wasn't just planning revenge.
He was crossing a line.
A line she didn't want him to cross.
He closed his eyes for a second.
Breathing slowly.
Then—
very gently—
he held her hand back.
"Main tumhare liye hi kar raha hoon…"
(I'm doing this for you…)
She shook her head immediately.
"Mere liye mat karo…"
(Don't do it for me…)
Her voice broke slightly.
"Bas mere saath raho…"
(Just stay with me…)
Silence.
Heavy.
Aarav looked at her—
really looked this time.
Not at the situation.
Not at the danger.
Just her.
Weak.
Scared.
But still trying to stop him.
And slowly—
very slowly—
the anger inside him—
began to fade.
Not completely.
But enough.
He stepped closer—
pulling her gently into his arms.
"Pagal ho tum…" he whispered.
(You're crazy…)
She held onto him tightly.
"Tumhare liye hi toh hoon…" she murmured.
(I'm like this because of you…)
A small pause.
Then—
very softly—
he said—
"Main limit cross nahi karunga."
(I won't cross the line.)
She pulled back slightly—
looking at him.
"Pakka?"
He nodded.
"Pakka."
A fragile peace settled.
But beneath it—
something still remained.
Because even if he stopped—
the danger hadn't.
And sooner or later—
it would come again.For a moment—
everything felt calm again.
Meher was still in his arms—
her grip slowly loosening—
breathing finally steady.
Aarav rested his chin lightly on her head—
eyes closed—
just for a second.
Silence.
The kind—
they both needed.
"Ab theek hai…" she whispered.
(Now it's okay…)
He didn't reply.
But his hold tightened slightly.
As if he didn't trust that calm.
And he was right.
Because the next moment—
BANG!
The sound echoed—
sharp.
Loud.
Meher flinched violently.
"Aarav—!"
Before she could react—
another shot.
BANG!
The windows shook slightly.
Her hands started trembling.
"Aarav… yeh kya—"
"Down!"
He pulled her instantly—
making her crouch—
shielding her with his body.
More sounds outside.
Shouting.
Running footsteps.
Aarav's expression changed completely.
Back to that mode.
Alert.
Dangerous.
"Stay here," he said quickly.
She grabbed his shirt.
"No… don't leave me…"
He looked at her—
just for a second.
"I'm right here."
Another loud sound outside.
Then—
silence.
Too sudden.
Aarav slowly stood—
moving toward the door carefully.
"Lock it from inside," he told her.
Her hands shook—
but she nodded.
He stepped out.
The corridor—
felt colder.
And then—
he saw them.
Two bodyguards—
on the ground—
not moving.
His jaw clenched.
Eyes darkened instantly.
"Damn it…"
Footsteps echoed again—
someone had fled.
Too late to catch.
Aarav turned back—
fast—
heading toward Meher.
Inside—
she sat frozen.
Eyes wide.
Heart racing.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
He entered—
closing the door immediately.
"It's okay," he said quickly.
But she shook her head.
"Nahi… yeh okay nahi hai…"
(This is not okay…)
Her voice trembled.
"Aarav… bahar…"
He didn't want her to see.
But she already knew.
"Unhe kya hua…?"
(What happened to them…?)
Silence.
That was enough.
Her eyes filled instantly.
Shock.
Fear.
"This is because of me…" she whispered.
Aarav moved toward her immediately.
"No."
Firm.
"This is not because of you."
But she wasn't listening.
"Sab kuch meri wajah se ho raha hai…"
(Everything is happening because of me…)
Her breathing got uneven again.
Aarav held her face gently.
"Look at me."
She did.
"T umhari wajah se nahi."
(Not because of you.)
A pause.
"Meri wajah se."
(Because of me.)
That shocked her.
"Aarav—"
"I should've ended this earlier," he said.
His voice—
low.
Controlled anger.
She held his arm tightly.
"Nahi…"
"Ab khatam hoga."
(Now it will end.)
That tone again.
And this time—
even she couldn't stop it.
Because now—
it wasn't just about protection.
It was personal.
Very personal.
Aarav stood up slowly—
eyes dark.
Focused.
And this time—
he wasn't hesitating.
Not even for her.The calm was gone.
Completely gone.
Aarav didn't sit.
Didn't pause.
His phone was already in his hand—
call after call.
"Security double karo."
(Double the security.)
A pause.
"No… triple."
Another pause—
his jaw tightening.
"Actually… full lockdown. Every entry point."
His voice—
cold.
Controlled.
"Jo bhi chahiye—arrange it."
(Get whatever is needed—arrange it.)
He paced the room—
restless.
Eyes sharp.
"Tracking start karo."
(Start tracking.)
"And listen…"
A pause.
"This time… no mistakes."
He cut the call—
but immediately dialed another.
The room felt different now.
Not safe.
Prepared.
Danger ready.
But in all of this—
something slipped.
Or rather—
someone.
Meher.
She hadn't moved.
Still sitting—
quiet.
Too quiet.
Aarav noticed.
Slowly.
His steps paused.
He turned.
Something wasn't right.
"Meher…?"
No response.
Just a faint blink.
He walked toward her—
faster now.
"Meher…"
This time—
closer.
And then he saw it.
Her lips—
dry.
Pale.
Her face—
losing color.
His expression changed instantly.
"Damn…"
He knelt in front of her.
"Meher, look at me."
Her eyes lifted slightly.
"I'm okay…" she whispered.
He shook his head immediately.
"No, you're not."
His hand touched her face—
warm.
Too warm.
"Since when are you like this?"
She tried to smile faintly.
"Bas thoda…"
(Just a little…)
He didn't listen.
Didn't want to.
His phone was back in his hand.
"Juice lao. Immediately."
A pause.
"Fresh. Abhi."
He cut the call—
not waiting.
Then turned back to her.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
She shook her head weakly.
"You were busy…"
That hit him.
Hard.
His hand moved to hold hers.
"T um important ho."
(You are important.)
Her fingers were cold.
"Aarav… main theek hoon…"
(I'm fine…)
"No."
Firm.
"Don't say that."
She tried to sit straighter—
but swayed slightly.
Instantly—
he supported her.
"Easy…"
His voice softened again.
Controlled chaos.
The door opened—
someone rushed in with juice.
Aarav took it immediately.
"Go."
No second look.
He sat beside her—
holding the glass.
"Drink."
She looked at him.
"Aarav—"
"Drink."
No argument allowed.
She took a small sip.
"More."
She obeyed this time.
Slowly—
carefully.
His eyes didn't leave her.
Watching every movement.
"Good…"
A pause.
Then softer—
"Thoda aur…"
(a little more…)
She finished a bit more—
then leaned back.
Breathing slightly better.
Aarav exhaled.
Finally.
His hand moved—
brushing her hair back.
"Stupid…" he murmured.
But there was no anger.
Only concern.
"You don't even tell me…"
She looked at him softly.
"Aap already itna tension le rahe the…"
(You were already so stressed…)
He shook his head.
"Tumhare bina koi tension matter nahi karta."
(Without you, nothing else matters.)
Silence.
Then—
very gently—
he pulled her closer.
Not tightly.
Just enough.
"From now on… sabse pehle tum."
(From now on… you come first.)
Outside—
danger was still there.
Plans were still being made.
But inside—
in that moment—
he chose her.
Again.
.
.
.
.
.
Hope you will like this chapter 🤍