Chapter 7
Meera
The sharp smell of antiseptic hits me, followed by a pounding in my skull as I blink through the blur. I force myself upright, only to slump back with a groan.
“Hey, take it easy,” Samarth says tensely, and my eyes shift to him beside me on the bed as he presses the button, raising it to help me sit.
“How… how did I get here?” I whisper, my eyes flickering around the stark white hospital room, taking in the IV line tugging at my arm.
“That’s exactly what I want to ask you,” he replies softly, concern tightening his voice as he drops onto the chair beside my bed and takes my hand in his.
“How did you even end up here, Meera? The hospital called me. Said someone brought you in unconscious. I didn’t understand anything. I just rushed the moment I heard.”
I try to think, to pull the memories together, but everything feels foggy.
“I… I don’t remember,” I murmur, rubbing my temples. “I only remember heading towards the restricted area. Then I felt someone following me. I tried to rush, but my foot slipped… and after that, it’s just… blank.” I swallow. “Maybe the men who saw me fall brought me here.”
“The doctor said you’re okay. No major injury. Just exhaustion and shock. He said you could leave once you woke up.” Samarth lets out a shaky breath. “I was fucking terrified when I got that call, Meera. I don’t even remember how I drove here.”
“I am sorry I scared you.”
“Don’t be. Just promise me you won’t scare me like that again. I—” he swallows hard “I can’t watch something happen to you. I just can’t handle it.”
“I won’t,” I say softly and then ask, “Did you tell Mom and Dad?”
He shakes his head immediately. “No. I knew you wouldn’t want me to. I wasn’t going to make things harder for you.”
I exhale, part relief, part frustration. “I regret I couldn’t find anything. I was so close.”
“Forget all this,” he cuts in gently but firmly. “You’re safe and okay. That’s what matters.”
I try to smile, but before I can, my phone starts buzzing on the side table with Sonia’s name flashing on the screen. The second I answer, I hear her breathing unsteadily.
“Meera, you need to come home. Now.”
“What happened?” My heart stutters as Samarth stands next to me, instantly alert.
“Just come, please,” she whispers, then the line goes dead.
I look up at Samarth, my pulse spiking. “We need to go. Something’s wrong.”
Before he can ask anything, the door swings open and the doctor walks in, clipboard in hand.
“Ah, good, you’re awake,” he offers me a warm, professional smile as he stands next to me. “How are you feeling?”
“I am fine, Doc,” I say, skipping over the part about still feeling a bit dizzy. I just want to get out of here.
He nods and checks the monitor beside me. He places the stethoscope on my chest, waits a moment, then moves to check my pulse.
“Your vitals look stable,” he says, making a few notes. “No signs of worry.”
“That means I can go home?”
“Yes. As long as someone is with you for the next twenty-four hours. Get plenty of rest, and avoid stress.” He gives a small smile and glances between me and Samarth. “You’re good to be discharged.”
We thank him, and within minutes, Samarth has my arm tucked under his as we walk down the corridor. The cool evening air hits my face as we step outside the hospital. He opens the car door for me, and I get into the passenger seat.
“We’ll be there soon,” he says softly.
I nod, fastening my seatbelt as he pulls out of the hospital driveway.
All through the drive, my heart thuds painfully in my chest, and I silently pray it’s nothing serious.
Thirty minutes later, we pull up outside Sonia’s house. The moment I see Dev’s car parked right at the gate, my stomach twists sharply, like I’ve swallowed a block of ice.
What the hell is he doing here? Did he find out I was at his pub again, digging for dirt on him? Is he using Sonia now to threaten me into staying silent?
I turn to Samarth, my voice barely steady. “I just… I just hope he hasn’t hurt Sonia.”
“Let’s go in and see what he’s up to now.”
I nod as we rush out of the car and hurry up the steps. Dread curls around my spine when I see the front door already open.
“Sonia?” I call out, stepping inside cautiously.
But instead of her, my eyes land on Dev, lounging on the couch with his legs crossed, looking entirely too comfortable.
“Where’s Sonia?” I breathe.
“You’re late. Your friend has been waiting for you,” he replies with that infuriating half-smile that lights a spark of pure fury in my chest.
But before I can speak, Samarth steps forward. “What are you doing here?”
Dev’s eyes slide to him. “That’s exactly what I want to know. What are you doing here? Sonia didn’t invite you.”
“Stop your crap,” I snap, stepping between them. “And tell me, how dare you come here?”
A familiar voice cuts sharply through the tension.
“Meera, is this the way you talk to a guest?”
I turn around instantly and see Sonia’s mother, Pooja Aunty, entering the living room.
She’s dressed in a soft, peach-coloured saree, her hair neatly tied back in a bun.
There’s always something so gentle, so inherently motherly about her.
I’ve always respected this woman. She’s scolded me, hugged me, fed me…
loved me like her own. But right now, even the slightest rebuke from her hits me hard.
Before I can explain, Sonia walks in, carrying a tray of teacups. Her face looks pale, her eyes flicking nervously between all of us.
“Sonia, why—” I start, but she’s already placing the tray in front of Dev.
Dev takes one look at it and raises an eyebrow. “No savouries?”
“Sorry, I’ll get—” Sonia says apologetically and turns, but I grab her hand to stop her.
“Sonia, you don’t have to get anything for him.”
She swallows hard, her fingers trembling beneath mine.
Dev’s smirk widens as he leans back. “Exactly, Sonia. You don’t have to trouble yourself. Meera will bring it for me.”
The nerve of this man.
Before I can explode, Samarth steps in. “Meera is doing no such thing. Now tell us, what are you doing here?”
Just then, Sonia’s mother places a plate of laddoos on the table. I hadn’t even noticed her go to the kitchen, as my entire attention was locked on the asshole in front of me.
Dev gives her a polite nod. “Thank you for your hospitality, Aunty.” Then his tone sharpens pointedly. “But tell me one thing… does Sonia hang out with this guy as much as Meera does?”
Aunty blinks, startled. “No, no, beta… actually, they’re all good friends and colleagues. So—” But before she can explain, I cut in sharply.
“You don’t need to explain anything to him, Aunty. He doesn’t deserve one.”
Aunty’s eyes widen at my tone. She immediately steps closer, lowering her voice but not her frustration, and grips my arms as she whisper-yells. “What is wrong with you, Meera? Why are you behaving so rudely? He is here with a marriage proposal for Sonia!”
My blood runs cold, and my eyes snap to Sonia. Her head is bowed and her hands tremble as she avoids my gaze.
A marriage proposal.
First, his brother destroyed Sonia’s life, and now he shows up with a marriage proposal? The bloody nerve of him!
No way in hell am I letting him drag Sonia into whatever dark game he’s playing.
But before I can speak, Aunty adds, “And you’ll ruin everything with this attitude. What if he changes his mind because of your—”
“Relax, Aunty,” Dev cuts through her whispered panic. “Once I make up my mind, I don’t change it. Just fix the wedding date. I’ll take care of the venue.”
My stomach lurches. Sonia flinches. Samarth stiffens beside me. And Dev… he just keeps smiling.
“Are you out of your mind?” I snap, stepping forward. “My friend will not marry you.”
“Why? Jealous?” he smirks.
“Jealous? For you? Don’t insult my standards,” I grit out.
“Meera, please…” Aunty whispers, but I turn to her, my frustration boiling over.
“Aunty, you don’t know him or his family. They’re disgusting, criminal, and violent. Honestly, there aren’t enough words to describe—”
“Meera—” Aunty tries again, but Dev cuts in smoothly, like he’s enjoying every second of this.
“Relax, Aunty. Like I said before, the marriage proposal is not going to be taken back.”
I glare at him. “Didn’t you hear me? My friend will never—”
“My daughter will not back out of the marriage either,” Aunty interrupts.
At the same moment, Sonia whispers, her voice barely audible, “I won’t.”
The floor seems to drop away beneath me, and I whip around to face Sonia. “Sonia… you don’t have to say yes. You don’t have to marry him. You can—”
“It’s not me,” Dev cuts in again, straightening his shirt as his eyes lock with mine. “You always do this, Meera. Jump to conclusions without thinking,” he tsks. “Well, for your information, the proposal is from Mr. Mehta’s elder son, the one who owns the textile business.”
Just then, Aunty jumps in again. “Dev beta, I am so sorry about all this. But Sonia is ready for the marriage.”
Dev nods. “Mr. Mehta and his family will be visiting in a few hours to meet you, Aunty. You can talk to them and get to know them better, and see for yourself that this is a good proposal.”
Aunty nods in return as he continues, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
“Now give the sweets, Aunty. Especially to Meera. She talks so bitterly, maybe something sweet will help.” He then turns to everyone, but his gaze settles on me.
“The engagement is tomorrow, and it will take place at my guest house.”
He takes a step towards the door, then pauses right beside me. “See you tomorrow.”
I am still too shocked to unleash my anger, and he doesn’t wait for me. He just walks past and out the door. The moment it closes behind him, Sonia rushes to her room, tears spilling down her face.
Samarth touches my arm lightly. “I think you need to talk to her. I will wait outside.”
I nod and take a step towards her room, only to be stopped by Aunty’s stern voice.
“I don’t know why you’re behaving like this, Meera,” she says, hurt sharpening her words. “But please… don’t create any problems that will upset me.”
She shakes her head in disappointment and leaves. The moment she disappears down the hallway, I don’t waste another second. I rush straight to Sonia’s room and push the door open.
She’s sitting on the floor with her back against the bed, her face buried in her hands. Her shoulders tremble with quiet sobs.
“Sonia…” I close the door behind me and sit beside her. “Why did you say yes?”
She looks up at me and wipes the tears from her face. “Meera… please… don’t start.”
“I have to,” I insist. “You know how those people are. They’re not… good. None of them.”
“I know,” she whispers.
“Then why would you say yes to a proposal that came from their suggestion?” My voice cracks, louder than I intend to.
Sonia’s chin wobbles before she speaks. “Because of Mom.”
“What do you mean by ‘because of Aunty?’”
“She’s been so worried. About me… about the future… about everything. She wants me settled. She thinks this family is good for me.” Her voice shakes. “And when Dev came with the proposal, she looked so relieved... like her biggest problem had just been solved.”
She closes her eyes. “I don’t want to break Mom’s heart. She’s already been through so much.”
“That’s not a reason to marry someone,” I whisper, pulling her into a tight hug. “Sonia, you can’t just throw away your life to make someone else happy, even if it’s your mom.”
She leans into me but doesn’t speak.
A horrible thought hits me, and I pull back slightly. “Did Dev threaten you into saying yes?”
“No!” she answers quickly. “Nothing like that, Meera. No one forced me. No one threatened me.”
“Sonia, this might be a trap.” My voice trembles.
She stares at me for a long moment before whispering, “Please… don’t fight with Mom. Don’t fight with the Rathores. Don’t create any trouble. Just… let this happen peacefully, okay?” Her eyes search mine, pleading quietly.
I stand up slowly, my throat tightening. Every part of me wants to scream, to fight, to drag her out of this house if I have to, but I don’t. Instead, I take a breath and say, “I am here for you. Always.”
Sonia nods, tears spilling again. I walk out, my mind spinning with a dread I can’t shake.
The moment I step out of the house, I see Samarth leaning against his car with his arms crossed, his head bowed slightly. The moment he senses me, he looks up and pushes off the car as I approach.
“I didn’t want to hover inside,” he explains as I stop in front of him. “I thought you both needed some space.”
I nod, grateful.
“You okay?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know.”
“Listen… while you were talking to her, I checked into the Mehtas,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. “A quick background check—business records, legal issues, people they deal with…”
“And?” I ask, holding my breath.
“They’re clean,” he says quietly. “Spotless. Too respected.”
I blink, wanting to believe him, but I just can’t. I still feel like this is some kind of a trap.
He steps a little closer, his voice softening. “Meera… I know you’re scared for her. And I get why.”
I close my eyes for a moment. “I don’t trust Dev. I don’t trust anything about this proposal.”
“I know,” he murmurs. “But right now, there’s nothing we can do.”
A beat passes before he turns and opens the passenger door for me. “Come on. Let’s go. It’s late. Your parents must be worried.”
I glance back once again at Sonia’s door, then turn to him and nod before sliding into the car. As he shuts the door and walks around to the driver’s side, a single thought echoes through me.
A storm is about to hit and ruin everything.