Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty Nine.

Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty Nine.
Meera brows knitted in confusion.

That was odd.

Why would someone knock? It was supposed to be her mom, or maybe Ami or Jiya barging in with last-minute teasing and squeals.

Nobody knocked.

Still smiling, she walked over and opened the door, only for her smile to vanish instantly.

A young woman stood there, unfamiliar and out of place, wearing casual western clothes that sharply contrasted with the traditional elegance of everyone else at the venue.

Meera blinked, her confusion deepening.
“Umm... who are y–”

She didn’t get to finish.

The woman lunged.

Before Meera could even process what was happening, a cloth was pressed hard over her mouth and nose.

Her eyes widened in horror.

A strong, sickly-sweet scent invaded her senses. She tried to struggle, but her limbs went heavy, her body weakening by the second.

No... no... no.

Her thoughts screamed in panic.

Arjun.

Tears welled in her eyes as she desperately tried to hold on, to fight it, but her vision blurred... and then went black.

Her body went limp in the woman’s arms.

“She’s out..” the woman said sharply, touching the tiny earpiece in her ear. “Move in.”

Seconds later, two men appeared behind her, one of them pausing to stare.

“Damn, she’s—”

A death glare from the woman shut him up immediately.

“We don’t have time. Move!” she barked.

Together, they hoisted Meera up. Her heavy bridal veil slipped off her head and floated down silently to the floor, the gold embroidery catching the light one last time.

The door shut behind them without a sound.

And just like that, the bride vanished.
The drums kept beating downstairs.
And no one knew...

That Meera was gone.

♤♤♤

Arjun sat at the mandap, the sacred fire crackling softly as the priest began chanting. But something felt… off.

A tightness curled in his chest.

The priest turned to the families and gently requested the bride be brought down.

A few of Meera’s cousins including, Jiya, and Ishita, stood to fetch her with cheerful excitement.

But they never made it to her room.

The first gunshot rang out like thunder.

Screams erupted.

Arjun shot to his feet in an instant, heart thundering in his chest.

Karan was already barking orders into his earpiece, rushing to secure the perimeter.

Siddhartha, quick on his feet, was ushering panicked guests out of harm’s way.

“WHO DARES TO DO THIS?!” Arjun’s father roared, rising with fire in his eyes.

Then he turned sharply toward Arjun, his face hard, deadly calm. “My daughter-in-law better be safe.”

Arjun didn’t wait another second.

Gunfire cracked through the air, but he moved fast, dodging flying debris, his sherwani trailing behind him as he stormed up the grand staircase. A sharp pain sliced through his upper arm, he’d been grazed, but he didn’t stop, didn’t even flinch.

He reached the room.

He barged in.

Empty.

The air was thick with silence, but the sight on the floor made his blood run cold, her bridal veil.

His jaw clenched so tight it ached. He grabbed the veil with a trembling hand and fisted it, his knuckles turning white.

No.

Just then, his mother rushed into the room, her expression frantic. Her eyes searched his face and then darted around the empty space.

“A-Arjun… where is Meera?” her voice cracked.

Arjun didn’t look at her.

“They took her..” he growled, his voice laced with venom.

A gasp tore from his mother’s throat. “Arjun, y-you’ve been shot!”

Only then did he glance at the blood spreading across his sleeve, staining the ivory fabric of his sherwani.

But he didn’t care.

He didn’t even feel it.

He was going to bring her back.

And whoever touched her… would not live to regret it.

His mother kept calling after him, worried about the blood oozing down his arm, but he didn’t stop.

He walked out of the room with the heavy veil still in his hand.

Downstairs, chaos had broken loose. Guests screamed, some ducked behind the decorated pillars, others rushed out through the main gate. Gunshots echoed again as Karan fired back, shielding a few children who were trapped behind a pillar.

“Secure the perimeter!” Karan barked at their men.

“Already on it!” Siddhartha shouted, running to him. “But they’re fast, they planned this well!”

Arjun appeared at the top of the stairs, towering like a dark storm. Blood stained the side of his sherwani His jaw ticked, his knuckles were white from gripping Meera’s veil.

Everyone turned to look at him.

Karan was the first to run up.

“Arjun—”

“She’s gone.” Arjun said, voice low and dangerous. His eyes locked on Karan’s. “Shaurya did this.”

Siddhartha frowned. “What? How do you know?”

Arjun clenched the veil tighter and threw it toward Siddhartha, who caught it.

“That bastard took her..”

Arjun began walking away, ignoring his bleeding arm.

“Arjun! You need medical—” his mother shouted behind him.

But he didn’t stop. His mind was only on Meera.

Now, she's gone.

He pulled his phone from his pocket with blood-stained fingers and dialed a number.

“Track every goddamn car that left this street in the last fifteen minutes. I want license plates. I want CCTV. I want satellites if you have to. I want her back!!.”

This time... Arjun wasn’t going to show mercy.

Not even to himself.

♤♤♤

The van rolled to a slow halt in front of Shaurya’s private mansion, headlights slicing through the quiet night.

The doors opened, and out stepped Shaurya, his eyes gleaming with something amusing.

He walked slowly toward the vehicle, lips curling into a smug smile as the rear door opened for him.

And there she was.

Meera.

Fast asleep.

Still in her wedding lehenga, her bangles clinking softly as she lay unconscious in the back seat. Her veil was gone, exposing her delicate face. She looked like a bride from a dream.

Except she wasn’t Arjun’s anymore.

She was his now.

Shaurya’s gaze darkened as he leaned closer, staring at her like she was something sacred. Or stolen. His.

“Beautiful..” he whispered. “Even dressed for another man.”

Then he straightened and turned to his men. “Get the jet ready.”

“Yes, sir..” one of them said, but before they could leave, Shaurya raised a hand, stopping them cold.

“Did you do exactly what I told you?”

The man gave a nod. “Yes, the car will explode on your timer..”

A slow, cruel smirk spread across Shaurya’s face. “Perfect.”

Satisfied, he waved them off, then turned back to the van.

He reached in, lifted Meera into his arms like she weighed nothing. Her head fell gently against his chest, unconscious, unaware.

His heart raced.

“Finally.” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple. “You’ll be mine.”

And as he walked into the mansion with her in his arms.