तेरा हूं मैं, तुझे क्यों ना यकीन है
चाहत में मेरी आख़िर क्या कमी है

The small storage room in the hospital felt like a suffocating cage, the air thick with tension and uncertainty. Meera's breath came in shallow, terrified gasps as her back was pressed against the cold, concrete wall.

Her pulse thundered in her ears, not because of Vikrant standing before her, but because of the very real fear of what Shaurya would do if he found her here, in this situation.

"Vi-Vikrant aap?"

Vikrant's eyes were full of guilt as he stood inches away from her, his gaze soft and remorseful.

"I'm sorry, Meera," he said in a voice that was barely a whisper, as if the words alone could not carry the weight of his regret.

"I didn't mean for you to be in this position. I just need to know... are you ok?"

Meera swallowed hard, the knot in her throat making it nearly impossible to speak. Her hands trembled at her sides. How could she possibly explain? How could she tell Vikrant that the mere sight of him now was enough to send her into a panic over what would happen if Shaurya saw them together?

The thought of Shaurya's wrath was enough to make her stomach churn. She was already suffocating under his control, and the thought of him finding her in a moment of weakness, in a room with Vikrant of all people... it was more than she could bear.

Without a second thought, she pushed against Vikrant's chest, her hands shaking as she attempted to put distance between them. "Please... I have to go," she whispered, her voice breaking.

But before she could make it past him, Vikrant's hand shot out, gripping her wrist with an unyielding force that sent a sharp jolt of pain through her body. She gasped, her breath caught in her throat, her heart racing. She was on the verge of screaming, her body frozen in terror.

In an instant, Vikrant released her, his hand falling away as he stepped back, his face hardening in pain. He hadn't meant to hurt her, he knew that. He hadn't gripped her that hard. Yet, the fear in her eyes said it all—he had hurt her, even if unintentionally.

"Are you hurt?" Vikrant asked, his voice a mix of concern and regret. His hand hovered near her arm but he didn't dare touch her again, not wanting to push her further away.

Meera's body tensed, her mind racing. She felt the heat of his gaze on her, but there was something different now—a softness, a concern she hadn't seen in so long. Yet, her fear of Shaurya was suffocating. What if Shaurya finds out? What will happen to me? What will happen to him?

Before Meera could answer, Vikrant reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was tender, almost as if he were afraid that even the smallest move would shatter the fragile barrier between them. Meera didn't blink, couldn't blink. She couldn't breathe.

"Did Shaurya hurt you, Meera?" His voice was raw, a mixture of anguish and rage as he traced the bandaid on her forehead.

Meera's throat tightened. She couldn't lie to him, not completely, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him the truth, either. The truth about Shaurya, about the pain, the fear that had become her constant companion. She couldn't say it out loud.

She shook her head, the lie coming easier than the truth. "No... I... I fell off the stairs," she lied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vikrant held her chin gently, his thumb brushing across her skin as he lifted her face to meet his gaze. "Don't lie to me, Meera." His eyes were soft but insistent. "Tell me the truth. There's no need to be scared of him. Not anymore."

Meera's chest tightened at his words. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to run into his arms, to feel safe. But the thought of Shaurya finding them like this, together in this room... it was a reality she couldn't afford to face.

"Please, Vikrant, let me go," she said, her voice shaky with panic. "If Shaurya sees you with me, he will... He will..." She couldn't finish the sentence, but she didn't need to. Vikrant understood.

Shaurya had done it before—raised his hands on her in a blind rage, a beastly anger that she could never escape. Vikrant didn't need her to finish the sentence. He already knew what she was trying to say.

The man who didn't held himself back from raising his hand in public he couldn't imagine what he might have done to her behind the close doors even though Vardhan told him Shaurya didn't do anything to Meera but deep down he couldn't believe him.

"You don't have to stay with him, Meera," Vikrant said, his voice soft but filled with conviction. He reached up to gently wipe away the tear that had escaped her eye, his thumb caressing her cheek. His eyes, full of pain, never left hers. "You don't have to live like this."

Meera looked at him, her heart breaking. She could feel the weight of his words. He wanted to save her. But how could she ask him to do that when she had nothing left to give? When her entire life was built on lies and fear?

"Where could I possibly go, Vikrant?" she whispered, her voice a fragile thread. "If I leave... how would I survive? I have nothing left.I wont be able to survive alone. Even if I somehow survive, my father and uncle would hunt me down. They would kill me."

Vikrant's face twisted in agony as he heard her words. His heart ached for her, for the woman he loved who was trapped in a life she could never escape. The helplessness he felt gnawed at him, a deep, unbearable pain. He wanted to take her away from all this. He wanted to run away with her, to give her the life she deserved. But it wasn't that simple.

He gently pulled her into a hug, feeling her small body tremble against his chest. Meera broke down in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably as the pain, the fear, the loneliness poured out of her. For the first time in so long, she allowed herself to grieve. She allowed herself to feel the comfort of someone who truly cared.

Minutes passed, and when Meera finally calmed down, she gently pulled away from him, her face flushed and tear-streaked. Her mind was clouded with panic, the reality of what she was doing sinking in.

"No... This is not right," she whispered, shaking her head. "I'm married. You're married. We... we shouldn't be doing this. This is a sin."

Vikrant cupped her face in his hands, his touch gentle but firm. "We can leave this country. We can start over, Meera. Together."

Meera pulled away from him, her heart heavy with guilt. "Stop, Vikrant," she whispered, her voice cracking. "You'd be compromising everything. Shaurya would ruin both our families for Ishani di. He's already done enough."

Vikrant stared at her in disbelief, his heart sinking. "How can you still care about them, Meera? The same people who have done nothing but hurt you?"

Meera wiped away the tears that threatened to spill. "Because there are other people too, Vikrant. People who don't deserve this... who don't deserve the consequences of our choices. The kids, for example... what have they done to deserve this?" Her voice faltered as she spoke. "I... I can't live with blood on my hands. I'm not strong enough."

She wiped her eyes again, but the tears kept coming. "I'm sorry, but I can't do this. I can't run away. I have to accept my fate. I have no other choice."

Vikrant's heart broke at her words. He wanted to fight for her. He wanted to tear the world apart to save her. But he couldn't save her until and unless she herself agrees to him. Only when she would take a stand for herself, saving her would be possible.

It hurt how Shaurya was taking advantage of her naiveness and fear. It tore him, And so, as much as it shattered him.

Meera turned to leave, but before she did, she stopped at the door. She glanced over her shoulder at him, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"I think... I think you should move on with Ishani di," she said quietly. "She's your wife. She didn't ask for any of this either. She shouldn't have to suffer because of me."

Vikrant looked at her, his chest tightening with emotion. "And what about us, what about you? Will you be able to see me with someone? How much do you want to endure, Meera" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Meera looked into his eyes, her own filled with an indescribable sadness. "It doesn't matter if I will be able to endure or not. The truth is, nothing can be changed now. The only way forward is to accept my fate."

Her voice broke as she spoke, the weight of her words unbearable. "Thank you... for still caring. But it's time we accept that our paths are different, and our destinations too."

Vikrant stood still, his heart in his throat. "Meera..."

She stopped but didn't turn back. Vikrant walked towards her and gave her a piece of paper.

"Keep this. It has my number on it. " Meera looked at him trying to oppose but he keeps on in her palm and closes it.

"I will always be just a call away." Meera didn't protest, she couldn't.

She didn't say anything more. She simply walked out of the room, leaving him standing there, broken and helpless.

My heart also breaks for Vikrant 🤧

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