Chapter 262: Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty Two.

Ami walked in - and froze mid-step, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"Oh. My. God." she gasped, placing a hand dramatically over her heart. "Is that Meera? Are you kidding me?! You look like a queen straight out of some ancient royal court. The type men would start wars over."

Jiya leaned back with a sly grin. "Too bad. If any man even thinks about it... Arjun will kill them all."

Ami turned sharply. "Arjun? That's the groom?"

Ishita and Jiya exchanged mischievous looks, then nodded slowly.

"Yup," Ishita said with a glint in her eye. "The Arjun Madhav. Mafia man. Broody. Rich, very Rich. Deadly. Possessive like hell."

"Oh, that deadly needs to be highlighted," Jiya chimed in.

Ami's eyes bulged. "Wait-he's mafia?! Like...actual mafia?"

Meera hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "He is."

Ami's face fell into a concerned frown. "Wait. Is this... is this a forced marriage or something? Did he force you? Are you in danger?"

Both Jiya and Ishita's faces turned serious for a beat.

"No," Meera said quickly, brows furrowing. "Nothing like that. Why would you think that?"

Ami folded her arms. "Because this just... doesn't feel like you, Meera. You've always hated violence. You used to swear you'd never marry a man involved in crime or blood money. And now this? It doesn't match."

Meera was silent for a moment, her smile soft but wistful. "You're right. I did believe that. I still don't like what he does. But... Arjun changed the way I see him. He's more than what people assume. More than what I thought."

Ami watched her for a second longer - then smiled and stepped forward, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Okay. If you're happy, I'm happy. But still-" she pulled back and straightened her imaginary sleeves, "-I'm going to meet this Arjun, and if he ever hurts you-ever-I'm throwing hands."

Jiya gasped dramatically. "Hey! I was going to say that."

They all laughed again, the tension melting into lighthearted chaos.

But then Ishita stepped forward, gently taking Meera's hands into hers.

"Today is your day," she said softly. "And I know you're nervous. But nothing will go wrong. Not today."

Meera smiled and nodded slowly, but her fingers tightened slightly.

Because as Ishita's words faded, her mind slipped elsewhere.

To him.

To Shaurya.

Her throat tightened. Her heart skipped a beat.

His voice echoed in her mind like a curse..

She didn't know if it was an empty threat or something darker.

But she prayed - deeply - that today wouldn't be the day he made good on his promise.

Because she had everything to lose now.

♤♤♤

Inside the Car - On the Way to the Venue

Arjun sat in the back seat, looking every inch the powerful man he was - though for once, there was a soft smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he gazed out the tinted window.

He wasn't thinking about the business. Not the guests. Not even Shaurya.

Just Meera.

Somewhere upstairs, she was probably sitting in front of a mirror, getting ready, her soft eyes blinking under long lashes, lips curved in that gentle smile of hers.

Just the thought of her dressed up for him-his bride-to-be-sent a calm warmth through his chest.

Next to him, Siddhartha was quietly scrolling through his phone, one hand casually resting on the seat divider.

The car moved steadily through the streets, and neither of them spoke for a while.

Then Siddhartha's phone pinged.

He frowned at the screen, opened the message... and suddenly sat upright. "Wow!" he blurted out, eyes wide.

Arjun turned instantly, his gaze sharp. "What?"

Siddhartha didn't respond right away, still staring, a little too long, at his screen.

"What is it?" Arjun asked, tone darkening.

Siddhartha slowly turned the phone toward his chest, hiding the screen like it held state secrets.

"Let's just say... you definitely won't be able to take your eyes off Meera tonight."

Arjun's brows furrowed, his expression shifting. "What are you talking about?"

Siddhartha bit back a grin. "Ishita sent me a picture."

"What picture?"

Siddhartha gave him a look. "Of Meera, of course. Just now. While she was getting ready."

Arjun stiffened in his seat, his body going still. "Show me."

Siddhartha raised a brow. "Nope."

"Siddhartha."

"Relax," he said, smirking. "A little anticipation is healthy. Builds excitement. You'll see her soon."

"I said show me." Arjun's voice was calm, but the glare in his eyes was unmistakable.

Siddhartha sighed in defeat. "Fine, fine. You're worse than a groom on caffeine."

He handed over the phone, and the second the image flashed before Arjun's eyes, his breath caught.

Meera.

She looked like a vision, no, like temptation woven in silk and diamonds. For a few long seconds, Arjun didn't move. He just stared.

Then, slowly, one of his hands lifted and his fingers brushed lightly against the screen, tracing the curve of her cheek.

"She's mine," he murmured, almost to himself. "And tonight, she'll finally be mine completely."

Siddhartha rolled his eyes and gently pulled his phone back. "Okay, lover boy. Settle down."

But Arjun didn't look amused.

"Why did Ishita send it to you and not me?" he snapped.

Siddhartha gave a lazy shrug. "Because she knows you're already obsessed. This was just a... teaser. To torture you a little."

Arjun didn't look the slightest bit amused. "Send it to me."

Siddhartha hesitated, teasing again. "What if I don't?"

Arjun turned sharply, eyes flashing. "Send. It."

"Alright, alright," Siddhartha muttered, quickly forwarding the picture. "There. Happy now?"

"Delete it from your phone," Arjun added immediately, not looking away from his own device as the image came in.

"You're kidding me," Siddhartha muttered.

Arjun turned slowly, his voice dangerously low. "Now."

Siddhartha rolled his eyes dramatically, unlocked his phone, and deleted the message with an exaggerated sigh. "There. Deleted. Jealous much?"

But Arjun wasn't listening anymore.

His attention was glued to his own screen, to the picture of his Meera - his fiancée, his obsession, his soon-to-be wife.

His thumb moved slowly across the photo, as if even that touch connected him to her somehow.

Mine, he thought.

Tonight, the world would see it too.