Chapter Ninety Four.

Chapter Ninety Four.
Alright, for those of you who still don’t know what Veda looks like, which is wild because I’ve dropped hints at the beginning of few chapters. Here’s your quick crash course.

Veda isn’t as fair as her sister Meera; she’s a warm honey bronze skin beauty with striking green eyes and wavy hair that falls to her back. She stands at 5'6", carries herself with that mix of feistiness and quiet sweetness, and has the brains to match, straight-A student, stubborn as ever, but impossible not to like. Oh, and she’s 20.

♤♤♤

Varun stood under the freezing stream, the water crashing over his skin like needles. He’d been there a long time, long enough for the steam to fade, long enough for his jaw to ache from clenching.

I don’t like you. Not even a little.

Her voice was clear in his head, too clear, slicing deeper than the cold could reach.

I just want a peaceful life, Varun.

His teeth ground together. More of her words bled into him.

You are not my type. We are not the same.

He tipped his head back, eyes shut tight as the water poured over his face. His fists curled until the knuckles blanched.

We are different… Please leave me alone.

His eyes snapped open.

Minutes later, he stepped out of the shower, water dripping from his hair onto the white towel knotted around his hips. The air in his bedroom felt too warm, suffocating. He tossed the towel aside and slipped into a pair of grey sweatpants, then strode toward the door without bothering to dry his hair.

The room he entered was next to his own, and as soon as he shut the door behind him, darkness swallowed him, except for the soft glow from a wall of monitors.

He crossed the room without hesitation and lowered himself into the chair. The screens lit up his face, revealing the feed: Veda’s apartment. Every angle. Every room. Her small living room. Her kitchen. Her bedroom. Perfect, uninterrupted views.

Varun leaned forward, elbows braced on the desk, watching her as she sat on her couch, head bent over her laptop.

“I can’t leave you, Veda.” he whispered, his voice almost tender. “You own my life.”

His eyes never blinked as his hand found the small recorder lying on the desk. He pressed play, and her voice filled the room, chopped together from countless clips, stitched into something that had never been real.

“I… loVe… YoU… VaRuN…”

The corners of his lips twitched upward.

“I love you too, Veda.” he murmured back, gaze fixed on her every movement on the screen.

He pressed the button again, letting her voice repeat in a loop.

Over and over.

The sound of her, false but convincing, filled the dark room while he leaned back in his chair, staring at her.

♤♤♤

The next day…

The elevator chimed softly before its doors slid open, and Veda stepped out, she made her way toward her desk.

With a small smile at most of the interns she passed by, nodding when they greeted her.

But the moment she reached her seat, she let that smile drop and collapsed lightly into her chair with a quiet sigh.

Last night had been torture. She barely slept a wink.

Her mind kept replaying Varun’s presence in her apartment.

But what haunted her the most wasn’t just that, it was the cold realization that she still had no idea how he got into her apartment in the first place.

That alone made her skin crawl.

She’d left a task unfinished on her laptop the night before, skipped dinner entirely, and woken up feeling like her body was running on fumes.

“Good morning, Veda.”

The voice startled her for half a second before she realized it was just Kabir.

She exhaled quietly and turned to her right, finding him smiling at her from his desk, warm and friendly as yesterday.

“Good morning, Kabir.” she replied softly, and quickly turned back to her desk.

Kabir’s smile widened, though his sharp eyes caught the exhaustion in hers.

“Are you okay?” he asked, genuine concern in his tone.

Veda felt her irritation prick at the edges. She wasn’t in the mood for talk, not today, not when her head already felt heavy.

“I’m fine, Kabir.” she said, a little too curt.

He tilted his head, unconvinced.

“Are you sure? You look like you didn’t sleep well.” he pressed.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she turned her head toward him, trying to keep her voice calm.

“Kabir..” she began, her tone softer to avoid sounding rude, “please… my head hurts. Can you just… not talk to me for now?”

Kabir blinked, then swallowed and nodded quickly.

“Sorry,” he murmured, turning back to his desk, though his eyes couldn’t help but flicker back toward her every so often.

Veda exhaled, finally able to breathe without the weight of small talk.

She pulled her laptop from her bag, flipping it open, determined to focus.

Meanwhile…

Far above the floor Veda was, a young woman pushed open the door and stepped inside, her heels sinking slightly into the plush carpet, Varun followed behind her.

The space was immaculate, every surface gleamed, the scent of expensive wood polish and faint cologne lingering in the air.

“Your assistant will be here soon, Mr. Sengar.” the woman informed.

Varun towards the view and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window. His dark gaze shifted briefly to her before he spoke.

“Get me all the names of the interns who joined yesterday. Every single one..” he said.

She nodded quickly and slipped out, shutting the door behind her.

Varun turned back toward the glass, his reflection staring back at him, jaw set, eyes deep with thought.

•••

Moments later, the woman returned, holding a neat file. She approached his desk and handed it over.

He sat down, flipping it open with precise fingers, scanning each name until one made him pause. Veda Ahuja.

His gaze slid down to the section listing her assigned supervisor. A man. A software engineer.

His jaw tightened, eyes darkening.

“Anita..” Varun called without looking up.
“Yes, sir?”

“Call me Veda Ahuja.” he said evenly.

There was a flicker of curiosity in her expression, but she only nodded and turned to leave, closing the door behind her.

Varun leaned back in his chair, eyes at the door.

He was waiting.