Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty Six.

Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty Six.
Meanwhile, the morning sun filtered through the glass window, casting a pale golden hue across the room.

Shaurya stood there, shirtless, a thick bandage strapped across his left shoulder-the place where Arjun's bullet had torn through his flesh. But pain was the last thing on his mind.

His gaze was fixed outside, unmoving, distant.

The door creaked open behind him, but he didn't glance back.

"Did she get it?" His voice was calm, almost too calm, eyes still trained on the sky.

"Yes sir." the man said behind him.

Shaurya gave a single nod. "Leave."

The footsteps retreated and the door clicked shut. Silence fell again.

Then slowly-almost reverently-Shaurya turned. His eyes landed on the large poster-size frame mounted on his wall.

It was the same frame of Meera. Dressed like a bride.

Her image stared back at him with a soft smile, the kind that made his heart twist in violent longing.

It wasn't real-yet. But in his mind, it was already done.

Shaurya's lips curved into a quiet smile. A dangerous one.

"Just a little more time, Meera. Very, very little..." he whispered, eyes never leaving the image.

His phone rang.

Without looking, he picked it up. "Yes?" he said.

A pause.

"Let them in." He ended the call, slipped the phone into his pocket, and finally tore his gaze away from Meera's portrait.

Still shirtless, he walked out of his room and descended the stairs.

Then he saw them.

Suhana was already waiting below, arms crossed, her sharp eyes tracking his every move.

But it was the sight of Tejas and Onkar standing behind her that made Shaurya's steps pause.

His eyes narrowed.

"So," he said coolly, "you brought them here?"

Suhana smirked. "Yes. I figured you'd be surprised. Considering the last time you begged for their help, they turned you down."

Shaurya didn't respond.

She lifted her chin proudly. "I took matters into my own hands. They're on board now. They'll work with you."

His jaw clenched. "I told you I would handle it."

"And I told you your method is too slow," she snapped, stepping forward. "You want to kill Arjun and take Meera? Then we do it my way."

Shaurya's eyes turned sharp-cutting.

He closed the distance between them, slow and threatening.

"I command this. You don't tell me how to handle my war," he said, voice low, filled with warning.

Suhana tilted her head, not backing down. "How did it feel?" she whispered, eyes glittering. "Watching their engagement from afar, like some broken man hiding in the shadows?"

Shaurya's jaw tightened. His fists curled.

"Don't start."

She laughed. Mocking. Cold.

"Ah... you're weakening. Love does that. Or should I say-obsession."

Shaurya stepped closer again, and this time, Suhana saw something shift in his eyes.

Not just fury. Madness.

"I gave you time," she said, voice sharper now. "But I won't wait forever. You have three days. That's as far as my patience goes. If you still refuse to act... then I'll kill them both myself."

She turned her back to him.

Shaurya didn't stop her.

He just watched, eyes burning as she walked away.

♤♤♤

The car rolled to a gentle stop by the quiet cafe spot they had agreed on.

Meera stepped out, the hem of her light pink kurta fluttering as she closed the car door softly behind her. She glanced around, eyes scanning for Arjun, but the space seemed empty.

Then suddenly-arms wrapped around her from behind, firm and familiar.

She didn't even flinch. A soft smile crept to her lips as she whispered, "Arjun..."

He exhaled against her hair and then slowly let her go. Meera turned to face him, her smile deepening when she saw the longing in his eyes.

"I missed you.." he said, cupping her cheek with rough fingers. "Can the wedding just arrive already? I'm tired of waiting."

She laughed, playfully smacking his chest. "Tomorrow is our haldi, Mr. Impatient. Try to hold it together."

Arjun chuckled, but the warmth in his eyes shifted slightly-something unreadable passing through them.

"About the bouquet," he said, his voice lower now, more serious. "Did you figure out who sent it?"

Meera blinked. "No... I didn't even check. I just assumed it was from you."

His jaw flexed. "You know I'd never send something so important through a delivery guy. I'd bring it myself."

Her smile faded a bit. "Oh... I didn't think of that." She glanced down for a moment, the lightness between them thinning.

Arjun's eyes darkened briefly, but then Meera reached into her purse and handed him a small velvet bag. "Here," she said, trying to brighten the mood. "I got something for you."

He raised a brow, his mood softening again. "What's this?"

Meera pouted. "Would it still be a gift if I told you? Just open it."

But Arjun only smiled that slow, dangerous smile of his-the one that always made her heart jump. "I'll open it when I get home. Something to look forward to."

Meera bit her lip and smiled shyly. But then her expression dimmed again.

"Arjun... did you-?" She hesitated, fingers fidgeting at the hem of her kurta. "You said you'd check on Veda. Did you?"

He met her gaze silently, and for a moment, something cold passed between them.

"I did," he finally said. "She's fine."

Meera studied his face for a second longer, as if trying to read the unspoken truths behind his calm eyes. But then she nodded and looked down.

"Okay," she whispered.

Arjun stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, as if trying to ease something in both of them. "I promise," he murmured near her ear. "She's okay. Trust me."

She smiled weakly into his chest, and then her phone buzzed. It was her mother.

"I have to go," she said, pulling back. "I'll text you, alright?"

"Meera-" he started, but she was already stepping into the car. The door closed with a soft thud, and the driver took off.

Arjun stood still, watching the car disappear.

His expression changed the moment she was out of sight.

A storm simmered in his eyes.

He looked down at the small velvet bag in his hand and his fingers curled around it tightly.

"My Jaan."

♤♤♤

Suhana stepped out of the car, her sandals softly against the pavement as she adjusted the drape of her skirt.

Behind her, Tejas followed silently, his jaw tight, eyes locked on her like a man caught in a storm he still didn’t want to escape.

She halted at the entrance of her house. Then, slowly, she turned to him.

“You can go now.” she said coldly, her voice clipped and emotionless. “I don’t need your help.”

Tejas’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. His fists clenched at his sides, not from anger, but from restraint.

“You’re in pain, Suhana.” he said quietly, his voice almost a whisper. “You might be hiding it, but I still see it… like I always have.”

Suhana didn’t reply. Instead, she moved closer to him, each step deliberate.

When she stopped just inches from him, Tejas forgot how to breathe. Her perfume wrapped around him like a memory he couldn’t shake.