Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy Eight.

Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy Eight.
“Sorry, ma’am, you can’t go with him. Please wait here.” one of the nurses said as they wheeled Arjun away on the gurney.

His bloodied hand slipped out of Meera’s grip and her chest seized, like her heart was being ripped apart.

“No..wait, please...” she tried to follow, her voice cracking, but Karan’s strong grip held her back.

“Meera..” he said gently, “We need to wait here. Okay?”

Her eyes lifted to his face. Her lips trembled as she nodded faintly, though her body still leaned toward the direction Arjun had been taken.

The gurney disappeared behind swinging double doors, and Meera felt her knees weaken.

Karan guided her carefully to a row of chairs in the waiting room.

She sat down numbly, her body trembling, her hands still sticky with Arjun’s blood.

Moments later, a nurse appeared, holding a clipboard. “Ma’am, we’ll need you to fill out some forms.”

Meera blinked rapidly, cleaning her wet cheeks as she tried to compose herself. “Y-yes…” her voice cracked. She turned quickly to Karan. “Karan?”

“I’m here.” he said, crouching slightly to meet her eyes.

“Please… let the others know we’re here. Tell them Arjun is–” her voice wavered as if even saying it was too heavy, “–he’s in the hospital.”

Karan nodded immediately, already reaching for his phone. “I’ll call them.”

Meera swallowed hard, then stood shakily and followed the nurse toward the front desk.

Her heavy lehenga dragged against the floor, its hem stained with dried blood, but she didn’t even notice or just don't care at that moment.

At the desk, the nurse handed her the forms, “His name, date of birth, next of kin…”

Meera’s hand shook violently as she picked up the pen.

She pressed the tip against the paper, she tried to steady herself. But the words blurred as fresh tears filled her eyes.

Her trembling handwriting scratched across the page...Arjun Madhav.

♤♤♤

Meanwhile, back at the wedding venue

The mandap still stood, but it no longer carried joy, it carried fear.

Meera’s mother clutched Veda tightly, her tears soaking into her daughter’s shoulder.

Veda’s heart was pounding with fear as she tried to comfort her mother.

Meera’s father paced back and forth across the hall, his hands pressed together in prayer and anxiety, every so often glancing toward the entrance.

Arjun’s parents sat quietly, their faces drawn and tense.

Mr. Madhav kept his jaw clenched tight, unwilling to show the fear gnawing inside him.

Siddhartha stood apart, his phone gripped in his hand, trying to remain composed but his restless shifting betrayed his worry.

Vihaan’s arms were folded across his chest, his usual calm demeanor visibly strained.

Mr. Sengar sat, though the faint glimmer in his sharp eyes hinted at satisfaction rather than concern.

On the women’s side, Ishita and Jiya sat close together with the cousins, Ami too, whispering nervously.

“I hope all is going well…” Mrs. Madhav whispered, breaking the silence.

Before anyone could respond, the sound of screeching tires outside made everyone freeze. A car door slammed. All eyes turned toward the entrance.

“Meera?” Mrs. Ahuja whispered, hope flooding as she pulled herself away from Veda’s embrace, straightening up quickly.

But the figure who walked in was not Meera.

It was Varun.

His looks scared them.

Vihaan exhaled deeply, Mr. Sengar, however, leaned back slightly, a proud but cold satisfaction touching his face.

“Who… who is he?” Mr. Ahuja asked.

Veda froze. Her breath hitched as her eyes locked with Varun’s.

That look.. always dark and consuming, they fell on her, she gulped.

Even in the midst of blood and chaos. the familiar fear mixed with something else she refused to name.

“V… Varun?” Mr. Madhav called. “How did it go? Where is Arjun?”

“And my daughter… Meera?” Mrs. Ahuja’s voice trembled, her hands clasped together begging for her child’s life.

Before Varun could answer, Siddhartha’s phone rang, He answered immediately.

“Hello?”

Everyone’s eyes watched his face as his expression shifted, shock, then alarm.

He flinched slightly, turning away for a second as if to steady himself.

“We are coming.” he said shortly, his tone clipped, before hanging up.

“What happened?” Mr. Madhav demanded, his voice harsh, his chest heaving as he stepped closer.

Siddhartha’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Karan just called. Arjun is badly injured. He’s at the hospital.”

Gasps rippled through the hall. Mrs. Madhav let out a small cry, clutching at her husband’s arm.

Mrs. Ahuja’s hand went to her mouth as her knees buckled, and Veda quickly held her up.

“What of Meera?” Mr. Madhav asked.

“Meera is fine. But we need to go now.” He was already moving out.

Mr. Ahuja turned to the families. “You all should stay here. We will be back soon.”

The elders nodded reluctantly, their hearts pounding, while Mr. Ahuja and Mr. Madhav quickly followed Siddhartha out.

The hall fell into silence again.

Varun still stood near the entrance, his gaze never once leaving Veda.

“Varun, we need to leave,” Vihaan said, stepping closer.

Varun’s dark eyes flicked toward his brother. “I will leave when I’m ready.”

Vihaan exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple.

Their father, rose to his feet. For a heartbeat, father and son locked in a cold, silent stare, two forces cut from the same stone.

Then Mr. Sengar turned and walked out, Vihaan trailing after him.

Varun took another step forward, his blood stained boots against the floor, pulling every gaze toward him.

“Damn…” Ami whispered, unable to tear her eyes away from the tall man with the appearance that he just got out of a war.

“Who is he?”

Varun’s gaze slid to her, enough to send a shiver crawling down her spine.

Ami’s throat went dry.

“He’s… good looking, but that aura…” she muttered, almost to herself. “Deadly.”

Her eyes roamed over the dust, the blood smeared against his arm, the way he carried it all as if none of it touched him. “H-hey, you should… maybe change your clothes.” she stammered nervously. “You’re smeared with dust and blood…”

He didn’t even acknowledge her.

He strode past Ami, until he stood before Veda.

“Show me to the washroom.” Varun said softly.

Veda’s throat tightened. She swallowed hard and nodded, rising carefully.

But before she could take a step, her mother’s hand clutched her arm.

“Veda?” Mrs. Ahuja’s voice trembled with unease. “Do you… do you know him?”

Veda glanced at her mother, then at the man standing so close behind her, the heat of his presence pressing against her back. Slowly, she nodded.

“Don’t worry, Ma” she whispered. “I’ll be right back.”

Her mother’s frown deepened, unease twisting her features as she reluctantly let go.

Veda walked forward, and Varun followed. so close his shadow consumed hers.

His gaze never wavered, not even when they disappeared down the hallway together.

“He is so hot… who is that?” Ami finally blurted, eyes wide as she stared at the empty hallway.

Ishita’s lips pressed into a thin line. She shook her head slowly.

“That’s Varun Sengar.” she whispered, her tone grave. “And trust me, Ami… he’s not someone you should even think of having a crush on.”

A chill crept over Ami at her words, silencing her.