Chapter 265: Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty Five.

"So," she said, voice sweet but eyes sharp. "You're the great Arjun Madhav."

Arjun blinked, mildly amused. "I've heard the rumors," he replied smoothly. "Depends on who's telling the story."

"Well," Jiya chimed in with a playful tone, "we just wanted to make sure you know something important."

"Very important," One of the cousin added with exaggerated seriousness.

Ami took another step closer, voice dropping with mock threat. "If you ever-ever-hurt Meera, break her heart, or even make her shed a single tear... I don't care how powerful you are. I will fly chappals into your mansion and tear it down, and maybe throw in a few curses too."

The other girls nodded in agreement, trying to keep straight faces.

There was a brief silence. Arjun tilted his head, completely unfazed. Then he chuckled under his breath, eyes glinting.

"I see Meera's army came prepared.." he said, then his voice dropped slightly, low and sincere. "But you don't have to worry. I'd protect her even in my grave."

A few people nearby had paused to watch the exchange, including Arjun's mother, who chuckled quietly, and Siddhartha who outright grinned, shaking his head. One of the uncles whispered to another, "That girl's got fire."

Ami raised a brow at Arjun, pretending to assess his answer.

"Good." she said with a dramatic hmph, "Keep that promise, Mister. Or you will see Ami’s Power"

She did the 'I've got my eyes on you' thing.

Then she spun around, her friends giggling behind her as they walked away, leaving Arjun standing there - a mix of amusement and admiration playing across his features.

After a few more polite interactions and family conversations, the crowd began to thin. The photographers took a few final portraits of the couple under the floral arch. Lights dimmed slightly as music shifted to a softer note.

Siddhartha eventually came up to Meera and nudged her lightly. "Go say goodbye to your soon-to-be husband, Cinderella. The clock's ticking."

Meera blushed and gave him a playful glare. "You are teasing me alot, i can't wait for the day you will get engaged to Ishita, then you will know what real teasing is."

She moved toward Arjun slowly, who had been watching her every step like always. They stood close, the rest of the crowd caught in their own farewells and chatter.

"Did you survive my cousins?" she asked shyly.

Arjun smiled, a rare soft one. "Barely. That Ami might actually scare me more than my business rivals."

She laughed lightly. "She likes to test people. Especially the ones who matter."

Arjun took a step closer, brushing his fingers gently against the back of her hand.

"You matter." he murmured.

Meera looked away, overwhelmed, her heart hammering quietly. "I should go..."

He nodded slowly, eyes lingering. "I'll wait."

She turned and walked toward her mother, her lehenga swaying as she moved. Arjun watched her until she disappeared.

And slowly, the night drew to a close - a night of celebration, warnings, stolen glances, and silent promises.

The engagement was done.

But the war for her heart had only just begun.

♧♧♧

The morning sun poured softly through the curtains, casting a warm golden hue across the living room where laughter echoed.

Meera sat curled up on the floor beside her cousins, sipping chai while everyone lounged around lazily, still basking in the afterglow of last night's engagement.

Her mother was smiling nonstop, her aunt already scrolling through pictures on her phone, stopping every few minutes to show someone and say, "Look at our Meera... like a princess."

"Exactly," Ami said, flopping onto the couch dramatically. "But the real princess is still blushing like a tomato. Meera, how many times did Arjun stare at you yesterday? I lost count after twenty."

"Ami..." Meera groaned, hiding her face behind a cushion, and everyone burst out laughing.

Meera rolled her eyes, trying to fight off the shy smile tugging at her lips. "You all are impossible."

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" chirped one of the younger cousins, hopping up. She returned a moment later, holding a massive bouquet wrapped in cream-gold mesh with a velvet ribbon tied perfectly around it.

"Who's it for?" Meera asked curiously.

"There's no note, just your name on the tag," the cousin replied, handing it over. "No sender. The guy just dropped it and left."

"Ooooohhh..." the entire room chorused in unison.

Ami narrowed her eyes and smirked. "I knew he wouldn't last the morning without making a move. Wow, Arjun really couldn't wait."

Meera blushed hard, holding the bouquet close as she tried to suppress the smile that took over her face. "You guys are crazy." she muttered, standing up.

"I'm coming with you." Ami announced, springing up before Meera could protest.

They headed upstairs to the room, only to find Jiya still buried under a blanket.

When Meera placed the bouquet on the dresser, the rustle stirred Jiya awake. She blinked sleepily at the flowers and mumbled, "Whoa... who owns that royal garden?"

"Arjun might have sent it," Meera said, unable to hide the grin.

Jiya raised an eyebrow, still yawning. "Damn. Man's really in love."

Then Meera suddenly remembered something and gasped.

She walked over to her drawer and pulled out a small black box-elegant, wrapped with a satin ribbon. The gift she had picked for him days ago.

She stared at it for a second, smiling to herself, before reaching for her phone.

"What is it? What did you get him?" Jiya asked, sitting up.

Meera only smiled and shook her head. "I'll tell you later."

She walked out of the room, dialing Arjun's number. He picked up on the second ring.

"Meera..." his voice was low, already sending a thrill through her chest.

"I got your flowers," she said, cheeks burning.

There was a pause. "What flowers?"

Meera blinked. "The bouquet you sent this morning..."

"I didn't send anything," Arjun replied calmly, but there was a slight edge to his voice now.

Her smile faltered. "Oh. Maybe it's from someone else then."

There was another pause, longer this time.

"Where are you?" he asked, his tone instantly shifting into something softer. "I want to see you."

Meera smiled faintly, brushing aside the sudden unease from the mystery bouquet.

"You know that cafe by the ghat road?"

"I'll be there in ten."

"Good. I'm leaving now."

Meera ended the call and turned, heading down the stairs.

Her father was just walking past and paused. "Where to, Meera?"

"I'm going to see Arjun," she said shyly.

From behind, her aunt and mother overheard and began laughing softly.

"Oh ho... now she doesn't even hesitate," her aunt teased.

"Just like her mother," her mom added, shaking her head fondly.

Meera rolled her eyes with a bashful smile, grabbing her dupatta and sliding on her sandals. As she reached the door, her heart fluttered.

But somewhere, in the back of her mind, the bouquet with no name stayed quietly tucked like a whisper waiting to get loud.