Hope Is a Dangerous Thing
The phone was snatched from Meera’s hand so suddenly that her mind didn’t even register what had happened.
Her fingers remained frozen mid air, still curved as if they were holding something that no longer existed.
Her breath hitched.“Rani..!”
Her voice came out soft, confused, almost frightened.
But Rani didn’t respond.She was staring at the screen.Her jaw locked.
Her eyes burning with something far deeper than anger.
And then..
She cut the call.The sound of disconnection felt louder than it should have.
Meera.Her chest tightened.
Her heartbeat picked up.
“What are you doing?why the hell you would do that!” she snapped, standing up so fast the chair scraped harshly against the floor.
Her hands trembled.Her throat felt dry.“That was Aarav!”
His name didn’t come out strong.And that made it worse.
Rani turned slowly.Her face wasn’t calm.There was no softness in her expression.
“What are you doing?Do you even know what will happen after that” she replied.
Her voice wasn’t loud.But it hit Meera harder than a slap ever could.
Meera froze.Something inside her stumbled.
Rani stepped closer.
“You were going to tell him everything?” Rani asked.
“Everything?” she repeated.
“Do you really think he cares?” she asked Meera.
Meera’s spine stiffened.Her breath caught.
But Rani wasn’t done.
“He called after three years, Meera.And you answered in one ring.”Her voice trembled now.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
“You cried.You begged.”Her eyes narrowed.
Her voice dropped.“You told him your pain. Your problem is like a weak ”
She stepped even closer.
“What did you expect then? That he would come and save you like some hero? ”
Something inside Meera snapped.
Her anger rose like fire fast and uncontrollably.
“So what if I did? I can and i could!” she shouted.
Her voice echoed.Her chest heaved.
“At least he called!After three years… he called me.” meera said .
Her eyes burned now.
Her lips trembled.“ And I was happy with that. At least he called me. ”
The confession came out broken.
Like something she wasn’t proud of.
But she couldn't’t deny it.
Rani stared at her.Long.Hard.
“And your self respect?” she asked quietly.
That question hurt more than anything else.
Meera’s eyes filled instantly.
Because deep down.She knew the answer.
“When you love someone.... there is nothing important then that” she whispered.
Her voice cracked.“From childhood… till now… I only loved him. ”
A tear slipped down.
“Just him. And from my childhood there were only two person with me . One of my mom who already left me in this cruel world alone and now if he left me then for whom i live ?”She shook her head slowly.
“And I didn’t expect him to solve my problems.”Her chin lifted slightly.
As if she was trying to defend what little dignity she still had.
“I’m not a child.iam grown up woman.”Her voice steadied.
“I can solve my own problems!" she said and tried to deny Rani's words.
Rani laughed.
“You can what?You even start crying when someone talks badly to you.”She tilted her head.
The words weren’t loud.But they dug deep.
“You couldn’t even fight back that day .” Rani said.
Her gaze softened slightly now.
“And you’re saying you’ll solve everything? Like a grown up independent woman!”
Meera’s breath trembled.
That hurt.More than she expected.
But this time.
She didn’t cry.Her eyes hardened.
“Even if I don’t fight…That doesn’t mean I’m weak.” she said quietly,
Rani blinked.Meera’s voice grew steadier.
More honest.More raw.
“ You know that I grew up without parents.” Her throat tightened.
“I may have a father…But I don’t have a dad she said trying to prove Rani's words wrong.
A pause.A painful one.Her eyes glistened.
“ My dad already chose his new wife…And his new daughter.”Her lips trembled.
The words tasted bitter. And Meera laughed a little.
“Do you know the funny thing ? If you ask him today…He will refuse that I’m his... Daughter "Her voice dropped.
Then Silence fell.Heavy.
“So don’t say I’m weak.”Her gaze lifted.
“And about Aarav…I love him.”Her voice softened again.
“I don’t care if he doesn’t love me.”Another tear fell.
“ Because now I can’t love anyone else.”
Rani looked away.Irritated.
Angry.But Mostly helpless.
She grabbed Meera’s shoulders and made her sit on bed.
Rani opened her mouth to speak
But the phone rang again.
Aarav.
Meera’s eyes lit up instantly.
Hope.Reflex.
She reached to take the phone.But Rani took it first.
And cut the call again.This time.
Meera exploded.
“What the hell are you doing?!” she shouted.Her voice shook violently.
“Give me my phone!” she said.
She tried to grab it.But Rani pushed her back.
And blocked the number.Meera stared.Horrified.
“You can’t do that!Why did you do that? You know how much i wait for him!!”Her voice broke.
She reached againAnd Rani slapped her.
Enough to stop her.Enough to freeze her.
“Sit.” Rani said.
Meera sat.Shock replacing anger.
“Answer me one thing,” Rani said slowly.
“You love Aarav?”Rani asked.
“Yes.” Meera said without no hesitation.
Rani nodded.
“Then think.Why did he call today?””
Meera frowned.
“Because I called him almost 100 times when Omkar built me for the first time…”Her voice weakened.
“He thought something was wrong. And call me ” Meera said.
Rani shook her head.
“You call him every day , right?Some days… more than 50 or 60 times.”
Silence. Meera’s lips parted. Meera tried to understand but then why today?
Her thoughts spun.
“Because…Today Omkar…”Her breath shook.
She stopped.
Meera’s tears returned.
“ He… kissed me....And… protected me after.””The words came out shattered.
Rani froze.
And slowly. Meera told her everything.Everything came out.
When she finished...
Rani pulled her into a tight hug.
“Listen. You need to be strong.”” she murmured.
“For yourself. Not for Aarav.
Not for anyone.”she said.
“And stay away from Omkar . " she said.
Meera let out a weak laugh.
“ That Boy always finds me. No matter where i was .”
Rani cupped her face.
“Then first you need to find yourself. And then you can fight back . Because if you don't stay yourself first then no one can fight for you.” she tried to make her understand her.
Silence followed.
“And Aarav…Be careful with him. I know you love him. But loving some doesn't mean you lose yourself and only take the pain.” Rani sighed.
“ Meera if you don't mind i want to say something. You should ignore him…” she said holding her hand.
“Or ask him the truth. Why does he only call now ? The day Omkar kissed you and also why he mentioned the when omkar first time bullied You or said touched you?” Rani said.
Meera nodded slowly.“I will ask.”
Rani smirked slightly.
“If you can…Give him the same pain.”Her tone softened.
Meera’s heart twisted.Ignore him?
Make him wait for me?Let him want me like he did this to me?
Could she do it?
Before she could answer. Rani said " Don't need to me hurry. Think for sometime. And listen your brain sometimes not always heart."
And then..Rani left.
Moments later...
She returned with warm milk. And pulled it on the table.
“Drink it before it becomes cold” she said softly.
Then Rani hugged her again.
And left.
Meera sat alone.The milk untouched.
The phone is silent.
Her hands tremble.
And a question echoing inside her
What hurts more?
Love…
Or letting go?
At The Cafe:???
_____________________
Aarav kept calling.
Once.Twice.Five times.Each time the same thing happened.The ringing stopped.
Silence answered.His jaw slowly tightened.
“Pick up…” he whispered.
He called again.
This time…Blocked.
His eyes froze on the screen. For a moment he didn't breathe.
Blocked?Meera blocked him?
A strange heat spread inside his chest.
Not guilt.Not hurt.Anger.
“How dare she ignore me… She dares to block me? The Aarav Oberoi” he muttered.
The words came out sharp, ego bruised.Even after everything he had done to her…
Even after years of silenceSomewhere deep inside ..
He still believed she wouldn’t ignore him.Because in his mind…
She always stayed.
“I always loved her… but she..” he said to himself.
But the sentence sounded more like a justification than truth.
Suddenly
He slammed his palm on the café table.
“What the hell! How Dare you meera !!” he shouted.
The anger burst out uncontrolled.
The cup rattled.People stared.
But Aarav didn’t notice.His fingers tightened around the phone.
He was about to throw it.
When it rang.He looked down.
Meera.
Everything inside him is still.He picked it up immediately.
“Mee.."he got cut.
But Meera didn’t let him speak.
“Listen to me Aarav… I know you want to know his name…but can you tell why you need to know his name who has kissed me?”Her voice came fast controlled but trembling underneath.
The words struck him.Hard.
“You said there is nothing between us anymore.So I think you also shouldn’t care about it.”Her tone held quiet accusations.
Aarav’s jaw clenched.
“And I’m also sorry I cried in front of you… like I was someone for you…”
Her breath hitched humiliation surfacing.
" No , Meera . You don't have to be sor.." he again got cut by Meera.
“ No listen to me first, Aarav . Now I realise I don’t mean anything to you.” she said trying to be stronger in front of him.
Aarav felt an irritation spike.
Why was she suddenly talking like this?
He spoke, trying to control his tone .“Meera listens… I know what I said… but that doesn’t mean I won’t care for you.”
The words came defensive as if protecting something unnamed.
“I know we may have nothing between us… but still I want you to be safe . " he said.
A soft laugh came from her side. Broken.Tired.
“Listen Mr. Aarav Oberoi… I am now a grown woman.I don’t need someone to keep me safe.”Her voice steadied forcing strength.
Meera knew Aarav hated it when meera called him by his full name.
“Especially not you.”The last words carried hurt disguised .
Frustration rose inside him.
“Meera… I know you can protect yourself but still that boy ki..”He stopped mid sentence.
Because the thought itself burned.
He can't name it .He inhaled sharply.
“Forget what I said.”His voice hardened.
“And now listen to what that boy did… he needs to be punished.”The anger returned.
“I can help you." he said.
Meera laughed again.This time is softer.
“Listen… I don’t need your help. No the one who always hurts me . You hurt me enough. Now I am tired.””Her voice cracked.
Aarav leaned forward.
“Meera… Just tell his name.Then I won’t ask for anything.”His tone turned demanding.
“No.I will never tell you anything now.” she said tried to fight back.
Her breathing trembled.“Do whatever you want.”
Tears followed the words.“Go kill him or destroy him… I don’t care. Now i don't care about you anymore . ”
She was trying to sound detached.But failing.
“Please Meera… tell me his name.You know I still care for you…”His voice softened unconsciously.
“NO! YOU DON'T. And now i also don’t!” she cried.
“Go find yourself!And don’t call again… I won’t tell you my problems again… or beg for your time.Even not for you.”Her voice shook.
“Stop it, Meera…You know I am always there for you when you want”He tried to steady her.
She laughed through tears.
“You are there for me when I need it?”
Her tone turned sharp.
“Then where were you when that boy kissed me?Where were you when that boy was touching me?”
The question pierced.
Aarav’s hand clenched.
“When he insulted me… bullied me?”
He got angry hearing those and also guilty But he was forced to calm.
“Please…Just tell me his name.” he said.
“Never.Never.”Steady now.Resolute.
A pause.Then softly.
“Listen to me Aarav… you may forget your love… but I will not. Never.” she said.
His breath is still.
“I will always love you…”Tears fell harder.
“And don’t call me again.Bye…Mr Oberoi.”
Call disconnected.Silence.
For three seconds.He didn’t move.
Then
CRASH.The phone shattered on the floor. And that time Aditi also came.
“Aarav?What happened?”
Aditi stood there.
He didn’t look at her.“Go to your house.”
“I need some alone time.”He said to her in a cold tone.
She froze shocked at the distance.
But he had already turned away.
Later…
At Aarav's home: ?????????
__________________________
He took his work phone and He dialed.
His dad's Assistant answered.
“Sir?”
“And tell Thakur Industries that we are ready to accept their project.”His tone carried hidden intent.
“ And also say We want a meeting tomorrow.And tell them we need to meet his son.”
Silence.
“Omkar Thakur.”
The assistant hesitated.
“But sir… you said you didn’t like ...” his assistant said but cut by him.
“JUST DO WHAT I SAID.”Anger burst out.
The call ended.
Aarav stood still.Eyes dark.
Jaw locked.
"You made a big mistake by not telling his name. Omkar , right? Let's see , where it will go." He said.
This was no longer business.This was personal.