The room felt colder now.
Too cold.
Aarav was already making calls—
low voice.
Dangerously calm.
"No one leaves the house."
"Check every camera again."
"And don't tell anyone why."
Call ended.
He turned back toward Meher.
She still sat there—
quiet.
Too quiet.
"Meher…"
No response.
He frowned slightly.
"Look at me."
Slowly—
she lifted her head.
And something in her eyes—
made his heartbeat stop.
Fear.
Real fear.
"Aarav…"
Her voice barely came out.
"I remember."
Everything inside him went still.
"What?"
"The face…"
A pause.
"I saw the face."
Aarav moved toward her instantly.
"Who was it?"
She looked terrified now.
As if even saying it felt wrong.
"Aarav…"
"Haan."
"You're going to think I'm lying…"
"I won't."
Immediate.
Firm.
That gave her just enough strength.
Her lips parted slowly.
"It was…"
A sharp flash hit again.
This time stronger.
The same white room.
The silver ring.
A shadow stepping fully into light.
A familiar smile.
A voice saying—
"Good girl."
And then—
the face became clear.
Completely clear.
Meher gasped.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
"No…"
"Meher."
Tears filled her eyes instantly.
"No no no…"
"WHO?"
Her breathing broke completely.
Then finally—
she whispered the name.
"Rudra."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Aarav froze.
Because that name—
was impossible.
Rudra.
His closest man.
The one who stayed beside him for years.
The one who handled security.
The one Aarav trusted with everything.
Including Meher.
"That's not possible," Aarav said immediately.
But his voice—
didn't sound certain.
Meher shook her head desperately.
"I saw him…"
"Aarav I saw his face…"
Her tears fell faster now.
"He was there…"
Another flash.
Rudra leaning near her.
Her dizzy.
Confused.
And his voice—
soft.
"Bas trust karo…"
(Just trust me…)
Meher broke down completely.
"He touched my phone…"
"He sent something…"
"He knew everything…"
Aarav's jaw tightened slowly.
Too slowly.
Because now—
pieces were connecting.
Rudra always arriving first.
Rudra knowing routes.
Rudra handling security changes.
Too many coincidences.
Too many.
"Aarav…"
Her voice shook.
"What if he's still here…?"
That sentence snapped something inside him.
Immediately—
he grabbed his phone again.
"Lock every exit."
His voice turned cold instantly.
"Nobody moves."
"And find Rudra."
A pause.
Then darker—
"NOW."
Meher watched him—
heart racing again.
Because this time—
the danger wasn't hidden anymore.
It had a face.
A trusted one.
And somewhere in the house—
Rudra had probably realized—
she remembered him.The entire house changed in seconds.
Phones ringing.
Footsteps rushing.
Security moving through every hallway.
And in the center of it all—
Aarav stood completely still.
Which was worse.
Much worse.
Because when Aarav became quiet—
people got scared.
"Find him," he said coldly.
"No mistakes."
Around him, everyone moved immediately.
No one questioned him.
No one dared to.
Behind him—
Meher stood frozen.
Still trying to process it.
Rudra.
The same Rudra who used to bring her coffee.
The same Rudra who joked with Aarav.
The same man who once said—
"You're safe here, bhabhi."
Her stomach twisted.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
He turned instantly.
The coldness in his face softened slightly when he looked at her.
"Room mein jao."
(Go to the room.)
She shook her head immediately.
"No."
"Meher."
"No, I'm not staying alone."
A pause.
He understood.
Without another word—
he stepped toward her.
Holding her wrist gently.
"Stay with me then."
And she did.
Because right now—
he was the only thing that felt real.
Suddenly—
one of the guards rushed in.
"Sir—Rudra is not in his room."
Aarav's expression darkened.
"Camera footage?"
The guard hesitated.
"Sir… system disabled for seven minutes."
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
Aarav smiled slightly.
But there was no warmth in it.
"Smart."
Very smart.
Too smart.
Because Rudra knew the system.
He helped build it.
"Garage check kiya?" Aarav asked.
(Did you check the garage?)
The guard's face changed instantly.
"Sir—one SUV is missing."
Meher's heart dropped.
"He's escaping…"
Aarav grabbed his keys immediately.
"No," he said coldly.
"He's trying to."
Within seconds—
the entire driveway exploded into motion.
Car doors slammed.
Engines roared alive.
Men loading weapons.
Orders being shouted.
Meher watched everything with shaky breathing.
Because this wasn't chaos anymore.
This was war.
Aarav opened the passenger door for her.
She blinked.
"I'm coming too?"
His eyes locked onto hers.
"You're not leaving my sight."
No argument possible.
She got inside immediately.
A second later—
Aarav entered the driver's seat.
And the moment the engine started—
his entire aura changed.
Focused.
Sharp.
Terrifyingly calm.
"Location?" he said through the call.
A voice answered instantly.
"Highway route north. He's moving fast."
Aarav's grip tightened on the steering wheel.
"Track him."
The convoy behind them moved instantly—
multiple black cars following.
Meher looked at him quietly.
His jaw clenched.
Eyes fixed ahead.
No emotion visible now.
Only intent.
"Aarav…"
No response.
"Aarav…"
This time he looked at her briefly.
And she saw it.
Not anger.
Betrayal.
That hurt more.
"He fooled all of us…" she whispered.
Aarav looked back at the road.
"No."
A pause.
"He fooled me."
The guilt in that sentence was heavy.
Before Meher could answer—
the voice on the call shouted suddenly—
"Sir! He changed route!"
Aarav's eyes sharpened instantly.
"To where?"
Silence for half a second.
Then—
"…back toward the city."
Meher frowned.
"Why would he come back?"
And then—
another voice broke through the speaker.
Panicked.
"Sir—he's heading toward the old warehouse."
Aarav went completely still.
Because he knew that place.
Too well.
It was the same area—
where Meher was held before.
And suddenly—
something felt horribly wrong again.
Because people running away—
don't go back to old crimes.
Unless—
they left something unfinished.The car sped through the highway.
Fast.
Too fast.
But inside—
the silence was heavier than the speed.
Meher couldn't stop thinking.
Rudra.
His smile.
His voice.
The way he always appeared at the right time.
And suddenly—
small memories started fitting together.
One by one.
Wrong.
Everything felt wrong now.
"Aarav…" she whispered slowly.
"Hm?"
She stared ahead.
Not at him.
At the memories.
"Rudra… used to watch me."
Aarav's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"I thought I was imagining it…"
Her breathing became uneven again.
"Sometimes when I talked… he'd just stare."
A pause.
"Too long."
Silence.
"And whenever you weren't around…"
She swallowed.
"…he became different."
Aarav turned toward her sharply for a second.
"Different how?"
Meher frowned—
trying to remember clearly.
"Too helpful…"
"Too close…"
"And once…"
Her voice slowed.
"He said something weird."
"What?"
Another flash.
The kitchen.
Late evening.
Rudra leaning against the counter.
Looking directly at her.
"Aapko idea bhi nahi hai koi aapse kitna pyaar kar sakta hai…"
(You have no idea how much someone can love you…)
At that time—
she thought it was random.
Harmless.
Now—
her stomach turned.
"He wasn't joking…" she whispered.
Aarav's expression darkened instantly.
"What else?"
She closed her eyes tightly.
More flashes.
Rudra getting angry when Aarav touched her hand once.
Rudra silently staring at her during dinner.
Rudra always volunteering to protect her.
Not Aarav.
Her.
"Oh my God…"
Fear spread across her face.
"Aarav…"
She looked at him now.
Actually scared.
"I think he hated you."
That sentence filled the car with silence.
Because Aarav already knew.
But hearing it from her—
made it real.
Another flash hit.
This one stronger.
The white room again.
Meher dizzy.
Confused.
Rudra crouching in front of her.
His fingers brushing hair away from her face.
Gentle.
Too gentle.
And his voice—
soft.
Possessive.
"Woh tumhe deserve nahi karta…"
(He doesn't deserve you…)
Meher gasped loudly.
"Aarav!"
The car swerved slightly before Aarav controlled it again.
"What happened?!"
Tears filled her eyes instantly.
"He said you didn't deserve me…"
Aarav's jaw clenched so hard it hurt.
"And then…"
Her voice broke.
"He said if you disappeared… I'd eventually understand him."
Silence.
Cold silence.
Because this wasn't betrayal anymore.
This was obsession.
Dangerous obsession.
Meher shook her head desperately.
"I didn't know…"
"You think I wanted this?!"
"I know."
Immediate.
Firm.
But Aarav's eyes—
had become terrifyingly calm now.
Not emotional.
Not angry.
Worse.
Decided.
Because now—
he understood something important.
Rudra never wanted money.
Never wanted power.
He wanted her.
And people obsessed like that—
don't stop easily.
Suddenly—
the phone rang through the car speakers.
One of Aarav's men.
"Sir—we found the warehouse."
Aarav's voice dropped instantly.
"Is he inside?"
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
Another pause.
"…and sir…"
Aarav's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
The man hesitated.
"He keeps saying only one thing."
Silence.
Then the answer came.
"He said… if Meher comes, he'll surrender."
Everything stopped.
Because now—
Rudra wasn't running anymore.
He was waiting.
For her.The warehouse stood in complete darkness.
Old.
Silent.
Deadly.
Black cars surrounded the entire area.
Headlights cutting through the night.
Weapons loaded.
Men waiting for Aarav's command.
And in the middle of it—
Aarav stepped out of the car.
Cold.
Dangerously calm.
Meher followed slowly behind him.
Her heartbeat was uncontrollable now.
Because this place—
brought everything back.
The fear.
The pain.
The memories.
Aarav immediately noticed her trembling.
Without looking away from the warehouse—
his hand moved back slightly.
Waiting.
She held it instantly.
Tightly.
That one touch—
was enough.
"Stay behind me," he said quietly.
She nodded.
Then—
the warehouse doors opened.
Slowly.
With a loud metallic sound.
And Rudra walked out.
Calm.
Almost smiling.
The moment his eyes landed on Meher—
everything about him changed.
Completely.
Relief.
Obsession.
Something disturbingly emotional.
"Meher…"
The way he said her name—
made Aarav's entire body tense.
Rudra stepped forward immediately.
Ignoring everyone else.
Ignoring the guns pointed at him.
Ignoring Aarav.
His eyes stayed only on her.
"You remembered me…"
Meher instinctively stepped closer to Aarav.
Fear visible on her face.
That small movement—
broke something inside Rudra instantly.
His expression darkened.
"See?" he said softly to her. "He turned you against me."
Aarav smiled slightly.
A terrifying smile.
"Against you?"
A pause.
"You were never even near her."
Rudra ignored him completely.
Still staring at Meher.
"You know I cared for you…"
"Stop," Meher whispered immediately.
But Rudra kept walking toward her.
Slowly.
Emotionally.
"You were never safe with him…"
"Aur tumhare saath thi?" Aarav asked coldly. (And she was safe with you?)
Rudra finally looked at Aarav.
And smiled.
"At least I loved her."
Silence.
Dead silence.
Then—
Rudra did the stupidest thing possible.
He stepped toward Meher quickly—
arms slightly opening—
like he was about to hold her.
About to touch her.
And that—
ended everything.
Aarav moved before anyone even realized.
One second.
That's all it took.
His fist slammed directly into Rudra's face with brutal force.
CRACK.
Rudra crashed hard against the metal railing.
Blood instantly spilling from his mouth.
Meher gasped.
The guards froze.
Because the sound of that punch—
was horrifying.
Aarav walked toward him slowly.
No emotion left on his face.
Only rage.
Pure rage.
Rudra tried to stand—
but Aarav grabbed his collar violently—
dragging him up.
"You touched her."
Another punch.
Harder.
Rudra stumbled again.
"Aarav—" one guard whispered nervously.
But no one dared stop him.
Because Aarav looked murderous now.
Actually murderous.
He grabbed Rudra by the throat this time.
His voice dangerously quiet.
"Now you're not able to walk."
Then—
he kicked directly into Rudra's leg.
A sickening scream echoed through the warehouse.
Meher flinched instantly.
Rudra collapsed completely this time—
unable to stand properly.
Breathing heavily.
Still laughing weakly through blood.
"You think she'll stay with you forever?" Rudra whispered.
Wrong thing to say.
Very wrong.
Aarav crouched slowly in front of him.
Eyes dark red with fury.
"She stayed after seeing monsters."
A pause.
"And you think she'll choose a snake?"
Rudra smiled weakly.
Obsessed even now.
"You don't understand her like I do…"
Before he could finish—
Aarav punched him again.
This time so hard—
Rudra completely blacked out for a second.
"AARAV!" Meher shouted.
Not because she cared for Rudra.
But because Aarav himself looked terrifying now.
Out of control.
Breathing unevenly.
Hands covered in blood.
Meher rushed toward him immediately.
Holding his arm tightly.
"Aarav… enough…"
He didn't move.
Still staring at Rudra.
Like he wanted to destroy him completely.
Then—
Meher held his face gently.
"Aarav…"
That voice.
Soft.
Shaking.
But his.
Slowly—
his eyes moved toward her.
And the rage paused.
Just slightly.
"You're hurt…" she whispered seeing blood on his knuckles.
Aarav looked at her for a second.
Then at Rudra.
And finally stepped back.
But his final words—
made everyone go silent.
"If he even says her name again…"
A pause.
"I'll make sure he never speaks."
And this time—
nobody doubted him.The warehouse had gone silent again.
Too silent.
Rudra lay on the ground—
barely conscious.
Blood near his lips.
One leg twisted badly.
And still—
his eyes followed Meher.
Obsessively.
That alone made Aarav's jaw tighten again.
"Let's go," Aarav said coldly.
Without even looking at Rudra anymore.
His hand immediately moved to Meher's waist—
pulling her close protectively.
Meher nodded silently.
Still shaken.
Still trying to process everything she had heard.
They turned—
walking toward the exit slowly.
The guards followed behind.
Police standing nearby.
Everything finally felt over.
Almost.
Then suddenly—
Rudra moved.
Fast.
Too fast for someone injured.
Before anyone realized—
his hand grabbed Meher's wrist sharply—
touching the bare skin near her sleeve.
"MEHER—"
She screamed instantly.
"AARAV!"
Pure panic.
She jerked away immediately—
running straight into Aarav's arms—
holding him tightly.
Actually trembling.
That scream—
that fear—
snapped the last thread of control inside Aarav.
Completely.
He slowly looked down at Rudra's hand still stretched toward her.
Then at Meher—
shaking against his chest.
And something terrifying entered his eyes.
Not rage anymore.
Something colder.
Worse.
The guards noticed instantly.
"Sir—"
Too late.
Aarav moved.
He grabbed Rudra violently by the arm—
dragging him up despite his screams.
"You touched her again."
His voice—
quiet.
Deadly quiet.
"Aarav please—" one policeman started nervously.
But Aarav didn't even hear him.
Rudra laughed weakly through pain.
"She came to me herself—"
CRACK.
A horrifying scream echoed through the warehouse.
Meher froze.
Aarav had twisted Rudra's arm brutally.
Far beyond normal.
The sound alone made everyone go pale.
Rudra screamed again—
actual terror in his voice now.
But Aarav didn't stop.
"You still don't understand."
Another brutal hit.
"You don't touch what's mine."
"AARAV!" Meher cried again.
But he looked completely gone now.
Years of trust broken.
Obsession.
Kidnapping.
Her screams.
Her pain.
Everything exploded together.
The guards exchanged nervous looks.
No one dared interfere.
Because Aarav looked capable of anything.
And after a few more horrifying seconds—
Rudra stopped moving properly.
Silence spread slowly.
Heavy.
Wrong.
Meher stared in shock.
Breathing unevenly.
Because Aarav—
was still standing there.
Hands covered in blood.
Chest rising heavily.
The warehouse suddenly felt terrifying.
One policeman stepped back nervously.
"Aarav sir…"
Aarav looked down at his bloody hands calmly.
Too calmly.
Then—
he wiped the blood slowly with a cloth handed by one of his men.
His voice emotionless.
"Iski body ko janvar ko khila dena."
(Feed his body to the animals.)
The entire warehouse went silent.
Even the police looked stunned.
Because the way he said it—
wasn't anger.
It was cold certainty.
Meher stared at him.
Actually shocked.
For the first time—
she saw how dangerous Aarav could truly become.
Not loud.
Not wild.
Just terrifyingly calm.
A pause.
Then suddenly—
Aarav turned toward her.
And the moment he saw fear in her eyes—
everything changed again.
Instantly.
His expression cracked.
The rage disappeared.
"Meher…"
He walked to her immediately.
Fast.
Almost desperate.
And before she could say anything—
he pulled her tightly into his arms.
Holding her like he was afraid she would disappear.
"It's okay…"
His voice was softer now.
Shaking slightly.
"I'm here."
Meher stayed frozen for a second.
Still processing everything.
Then slowly—
her hands held him back tightly too.
Because despite everything—
this monster—
was only dangerous to the people who hurt her.
And somehow—
that realization scared her…
and protected her at the same time.
Aarav buried his face near her hair—
still breathing heavily.
"No one touches you."
A pause.
"Ever again."
And this time—
everyone around them believed him.
.
.
.
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Hope you will like this chapter 🤍 🌙