Mat jao…"
Her voice—
barely a whisper.
Aarav had already turned—
ready to leave—
when her words stopped him.
He looked back.
Meher was staring at him—
eyes filled with something deeper than fear.
It wasn't just worry.
It was what if.
"Aarav…"
"Haan…"
A pause.
Her fingers tightened around the bedsheet.
Then slowly—
she said it.
"Agar… aap gaye…"
(If you go…)
His expression stilled.
"…aur wapas aaye…"
(…and come back…)
Her voice trembled.
"…aur mujhe…"
She couldn't finish.
But he understood.
Still—
she forced it out.
"…aise dekho…"
(…and see me like… not alive…)
"Meher."
His voice—
sharp.
Immediate.
"Stop."
Silence.
Her eyes filled instantly.
"I'm just saying—"
"Don't."
This time—
softer.
But firmer.
He walked back to her—
fast.
Sat in front of her—
holding her face gently.
"Yeh baat dobara mat kehna."
(Don't say that again.)
Her lips trembled.
"Par darr lag raha hai…"
(But I'm scared…)
"I know."
His thumbs wiped the tear rolling down her cheek.
"I know," he repeated quietly.
A pause.
Then—
he leaned closer—
forehead touching hers.
"Par aisa kuch nahi hoga."
(But nothing like that will happen.)
She shook her head slightly.
"Aap sure kaise ho…"
(How are you so sure…)
Aarav's grip tightened just a little.
"Because I won't let it."
That tone—
not loud—
but unshakable.
She looked at him—
searching.
"Aur agar…"
He didn't let her finish.
"Maine kaha na—nahi hoga."
(I said it won't happen.)
Silence.
Then—
very softly—
he pulled her into his arms.
This time—
tighter.
As if holding her—
meant holding that fear away.
"Tumhe kuch nahi hoga," he whispered.
(Nothing will happen to you.)
Her fingers clutched his shirt.
"Promise…"
He closed his eyes briefly.
Then nodded against her hair.
"Promise."
A long pause.
Then—
she pulled back slightly.
Looking at him again.
"Aap wapas aaoge?"
(You'll come back?)
Aarav didn't hesitate.
"Har baar."
(Every time.)
Her lips curved faintly—
still shaky.
"Late mat hona…"
(Don't be late…)
He almost smiled.
"Try karunga."
(I'll try.)
She hit his arm lightly.
"Try nahi… pakka."
He nodded.
"Pakka."
This time—
he stood up again.
But before leaving—
he looked at her once more.
Not just checking.
Memorizing.
Because her fear—
had reached him.
And now—
this wasn't just revenge.
It was a promise.
To come back.
No matter what.The door closed.
Softly.
But the sound—
echoed.
Too loudly.
Meher stayed still.
Eyes fixed on that door.
As if—
he might walk back in.
Any second.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
But there was no reply.
Just silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Her fingers tightened around the blanket.
The same words—
kept replaying in her mind.
"Main wapas aunga…"
(I'll come back…)
She wanted to believe it.
She really did.
But something inside her—
wasn't calm.
A strange uneasiness.
Like the air itself—
was warning her.
She tried to lie down—
to rest.
But the moment she closed her eyes—
the sounds came back.
That gunshot.
That chaos.
Her breath hitched.
"No…" she murmured,
sitting up again.
Her heart—
racing.
"I'm okay… I'm okay…" she whispered to herself.
But her hands—
still trembled.
She looked around.
The room—
felt bigger now.
Too empty.
Too quiet.
"Aarav jaldi aao…" she whispered.
(Come back soon…)
A sudden sound.
A faint creak.
She froze.
Her eyes moved toward the door.
Silence again.
Maybe nothing.
Maybe her imagination.
She tried to calm herself.
"Nothing's there…" she whispered.
But then—
another sound.
Closer.
Her heartbeat spiked.
"Aarav…"
Her voice came out softer now.
Almost scared.
She slowly stood up—
ignoring her weakness.
Step by step—
toward the door.
Her fingers—
shaking slightly.
She reached the handle.
Paused.
Took a breath.
And opened it—
just a little.
The corridor—
empty.
But something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
She stepped out—
carefully.
"Aarav…?"
No answer.
Only silence.
And then—
far away—
a shadow moved.
Her breath caught.
"Kaun hai…?"
(Who's there?)
No reply.
But the feeling—
was clear.
She wasn't alone.
Back outside—
far from there—
Aarav's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A video.
He opened it.
And froze.
Because on the screen—
was Meher.
Standing alone.
Scared.
Unaware—
that she was being watched.
Aarav's grip tightened on the phone.
"Damn it…" he muttered.
The message came right after.
"You left her alone."
His eyes darkened instantly.
Because now—
this wasn't just a threat.
It was happening.
Right now.The moment he saw the video—
everything stopped.
Then—
everything exploded.
"Turn the car!" Aarav snapped.
The driver didn't react fast enough.
"TURN IT!"
The car swerved sharply—
tires screeching—
changing direction instantly.
"Aarav—what happened?" someone asked.
He didn't answer.
Couldn't.
His eyes were locked on the screen.
Meher.
Alone.
Scared.
And someone—
watching her.
His breathing turned uneven.
"Faster," he said.
"No—faster."
The speed increased.
Too fast.
But he didn't care.
Nothing mattered—
except reaching her.
His phone rang again.
Unknown number.
He answered immediately.
"Agar usse kuch hua—"
(If anything happens to her—)
A chuckle came from the other side.
"You should've stayed."
Aarav's jaw tightened.
"Where are you?"
"Close enough."
Call cut.
"DAMN IT!"
His fist hit the seat—
frustration breaking through.
"Kitni door hai?"
(How far?)
"10 minutes," the driver replied.
"5 mein pahunchna hai."
(We reach in 5.)
Silence.
Because that speed—
was dangerous.
But no one argued.
Not now.
The car sped through the roads—
cutting traffic—
taking sharp turns.
Inside—
Aarav's mind raced faster.
Every second—
felt too long.
"Meher…" he whispered.
His grip tightened.
"Hold on…"
Back at the house—
Meher stood frozen.
The corridor felt darker now.
That shadow—
was gone.
Or maybe—
just hiding.
"Aarav…" she whispered again.
Her voice trembling.
She stepped back slowly—
heart racing.
"I'm okay… I'm okay…" she tried to calm herself.
But she wasn't.
A faint sound behind her.
She turned instantly.
Nothing.
But the fear—
was real now.
Very real.
Outside—
Aarav's car finally reached.
Before it fully stopped—
he opened the door.
Jumped out.
Running.
Fast.
"Aarav—wait!" someone called.
But he didn't.
Didn't slow.
Didn't think.
He reached the door—
pushed it open hard.
"MEHER!"
His voice echoed through the house.
Loud.
Desperate.
Inside—
Meher froze.
That voice.
"Aarav…"
Relief hit—
but fear didn't leave.
Because something still felt wrong.
Aarav ran inside—
eyes scanning everywhere.
"Meher!"
Then—
he saw her.
Standing there—
shaken.
Alive.
That was enough.
He reached her in seconds—
pulling her into his arms.
Tight.
Too tight.
"Are you okay?"
His voice—
not calm.
Almost breaking.
She nodded—
clutching him back.
"I was scared…" she whispered.
"I know…"
His hand moved to her head—
holding her close.
"I'm here now."
A pause.
Then—
his expression changed.
Because he felt it too.
That presence.
Still there.
Watching.
Aarav slowly turned—
eyes dark again.
Because this wasn't over.
Not yet.
.
.
.
Hope you will like this chapter 🤍