Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy.

Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy.
With one last firm tug, Arjun’s mother tied the bandage over the wound in his arm.

Blood had already seeped through the first layer of cloth, staining the golden fabric of his sherwani, but Arjun didn’t even flinch.

His mind wasn’t on the pain, it was on Meera, and the storm rising inside him. Every possible way to rip Shaurya apart played like a dark reel in his head, his jaw grinding tighter with each thought.

“This… this is exactly why I didn’t want Meera to marry into your family, Arjun!”

Mr. Ahuja’s voice boomed through the hall, sharp and trembling at the edges.

His eyes were bloodshot, his chest heaving. Beside him, Mrs. Ahuja clutched her dupatta to her mouth, tears spilling freely.

Arjun’s gaze lifted, calm on the surface but with a dangerous stillness in his eyes.

“Now look at this!” Mr. Ahuja’s voice cracked. “My daughter is gone, kidnapped again! And this time on her wedding day! Do you hear me? On the day she was supposed to be safe!”

The words stabbed into Arjun like knives, but he stood his ground, the muscle in his cheek twitching.

“You need to calm down, Mr. Ahuja.” Mrs Madhav said, her voice sad. “We’ll get Meera back. Arjun will..”

“Calm down?” Mr. Ahuja barked a bitter laugh. “Would you calm down if it was your daughter?” His voice cracked on the last word, the pain bleeding through the anger.

“Meera is my daughter too.” The statement didn’t come from Mrs Madhav, it came from Mr. Madhav, stepping forward.

His voice carried weight. “And I give you my word, we will find her.”

Mrs. Ahuja finally spoke, her voice trembling like glass. “I don’t want to lose my daughter… please…” She turned to Arjun, her tear-filled eyes searching his face as if begging him to promise what even she wasn’t sure was possible.

The words twisted in Arjun’s chest like a blade. He clenched his fists, the blood pounding in his ears.

Across the room, Ami’s voice snapped like a whip, breaking the moment.

“Who the hell would even kidnap Meera?!”
Ishita and Jiya flanked her, their faces pale but their eyes blazing.

The heavy tension shattered completely when the side doors burst open.

Karan and Siddhartha rushed in, their faces set in urgency.

“No sight of Shaurya inside the venue..” Siddhartha began, his words quick. “But outside, the cameras picked up a van. They were loading Meera in. She looked unconscious. There was a woman, and two men with her.”

“And the men we neutralized..” Karan added, “some of them were Shaurya’s.”

“Shaurya..” Arjun growled, the name tasting of venom. His hand flexed at his side, aching to hold a weapon.

“I’ve already called in more of our men..” Karan continued. “If this was his plan, they’re heading to his estate.”

“Then what the hell are you waiting for?!” Mr. Madhav’s voice thundered, his authority snapping the room to silence. “Go. Bring my daughter-in-law back.”

Before anyone could move, a slow, deep voice echoed from the back.

“Do you need my help, Danesh?”

Heads turned. Mr. Sengar walked in with a calculated calm, his presence enough to make a few relatives instinctively step back.

Hands clasped behind his back, his expression dark.

Just behind him, Vihaan followed.

The atmosphere shifted. Even the murmurs stopped.

Mr. Madhav straightened, his tone respectful but cautious. “This isn’t your fight, Sengar.”

“I don’t pick fights, Madhav.” Mr. Sengar replied coldly. “I end them. And from the sound of it… you’re running out of time.” His eyes briefly flicked to Arjun, lingering on the bandage. “Shaurya’s not the type to keep his trophies for long.”

A ripple of unease went through the room.

Arjun took a step forward, his voice low. “Then we don’t waste another second.”

♤♤♤

Arjun, Siddhartha, and Karan stormed out of the venue, a handful of their men falling in behind them.

The air outside was thick with the smell of gunpowder, the chaos from inside still ringing in their ears.

They were halfway to their cars when the world behind them roared.

A deafening BOOM tore through the air. The ground shook under their feet, the blast wave forcing them to stumble back.

“What the fuck!” Karan yelled, throwing up an arm to shield his face as a wall of heat washed over them.

Flames lit up the night. Their row of cars was now a towering inferno, metal twisted, glass shattering from the heat.

Siddhartha’s jaw clenched. “Looks like Shaurya planned this down to the last detail.”

Arjun said nothing. His eyes were locked on the blaze, the reflection of the fire dancing in them. He stood still, shoulders squared, his silence heavier than any words.

Siddhartha didn’t need to guess, he’d seen this look before.

Arjun was past anger now. He was in the zone where rage became lethal focus.

“I’ll get us another vehicle.” Karan said, already pulling out his phone. He stepped aside, muttering into the line. “Vikram, I need you here now. Bring something fast.”

Before the call even ended, the low growl of an engine approached. Headlights cut through the smoke, and a car rolled to a stop in front of them.

All three men frowned, exchanging quick glances. This wasn’t one of theirs.

The passanger door swung open, and a woman stepped out, her presence striking against the chaos around them.

Veda.

Her Anarkali shimmered under the firelight, her eyes instantly widening as she took in the burning wreckage.

She walked toward them, the shock in her face mingling with confusion. “W–what happened?”

“Veda?” Karan’s brows knitted. She glanced at him, clearly not recognizing him, and simply gave a quick nod before her gaze fixed on Arjun.

Her expression shifted, worry now cutting through her confusion.

“What’s going on?” Then her eyes dropped to his sleeve. The blood.

Her breath hitched. “Arjun… why is there blood on you? And why are those cars...” she gestured sharply at the blaze “...on fire? Is this some… some big-men wedding ritual I don’t know about?” Her attempt at humor fell flat. None of them answered.

The driver’s door opened, and Karan’s eyes narrowed the instant he saw who stepped out. Tall. Striking. But with an unmistakable edge of danger about him.

Varun.

He closed the door and strode around the car, his movements calm and deliberate. Reaching Veda, his hand slid to her waist, pulling her closer.

She gave a tight, uncomfortable smile but didn’t step away.

Finally, Veda spoke again, her tone sharper. “Where is Meera?” Her eyes flicked from one man to the next.

Arjun’s jaw tensed. “Veda, Meera’s been kidnapped. We’re going to find her. You should go meet your parents inside.”

The color drained from her face. She instinctively stepped toward Arjun, but Varun’s arm tightened, holding her in place, keeping her beside him.

Arjun finally looked at Varun. His stare was just cold, assessing recognition.

Varun’s stare was cool, his eyes held steady, territorial, as if to remind Arjun and others where Veda stood.

“What? Kidnapped? Why? How?” Veda’s voice was sharp with panic now.

Karan opened his mouth to explain, but another voice cut through the air.

“Varun?”