Meant To Be

CHAPTER - 16

I knocked on Meera's door, but there was no answer. I gently pushed the door open, and my eyes landed on her, sleeping peacefully.

She looked serene, her face soft in the moonlight, and I didn’t want to disturb her.

With a sigh, I left her room and made my way back to mine, exhaustion weighing heavily on me, and fell into a restless sleep.

Meera’s POV

But I wasn’t sleeping. I hadn’t even taken my tablets. It was already 3 a.m., and my stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since dinner. The hunger pangs were unbearable, and I couldn’t ignore them. I slipped out of bed, determined to find something to eat.

As I walked toward the kitchen, I quickly realized there was nothing there to satisfy my cravings.

That’s when the idea hit me: the grocery store just across from Arjun’s building. Usually, Arjun let me go there if I needed something, but I had a feeling he wouldn’t approve of me wandering out so late at night.

So, I decided to take James with me. He wouldn’t scold me, and I could avoid any trouble with Arjun. I stepped out into the hall, making my way toward the lift, but as I reached the 7th floor, I saw James standing near the building gate.

I quickly retreated, deciding to look for him downstairs. I wandered to the ground floor but still couldn’t find him.

“James, are you here?” I called out softly, my frustration growing.

But, before I could finish, something unexpected happened. A cloth was suddenly thrown over my face from behind, and everything went black.

---

I don’t know how long I was unconscious, but when I came to, a sharp pain shot through my head. My hands were bound, and I was slumped against a chair, my body sore and aching.

The pain intensified as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. A tall, muscular figure stood before me, his face obscured by a mask.

"Who the hell are you?" I screamed, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger.

He gripped my hair forcefully, yanking me upright in the chair. "Now, tell me, who are you?"

"Why should I tell an asshole like you anything?" I retorted, struggling to maintain my composure.

Without warning, he slapped me hard across the face, and I screamed out in pain. My vision blurred, and I was certain I could feel blood trickling from my cheek.

More men entered the room, three of them, all wearing masks. Each of them was holding a rod, and they didn’t hesitate to start hitting me. My body screamed in agony as the rods battered my stomach, and I could feel the edge of death approaching.

"Okay! Okay! I’ll tell you anything you want!" I yelled, desperate to stop the pain.

The man in front of me didn’t show any sign of mercy. “What’s your name?”

“Me... Meera,” I stammered.

“No. Who are you really?” He slapped me again, harder this time, the sting sharp and unforgiving.

“I’m Sanya Mehta!” I shouted back, hoping it would confuse them, but my body shook with fear.

“Liar!” He struck me again, his hand sending a wave of pain through my body.

“Yes, yes, I’m Arjun’s girlfriend,” I finally admitted, hoping to avoid further punishment.

“Tell me more about Arjun,” he demanded, his voice cold and calculating.