Happy reading....

Meera couldn't help but glance at Abhimanyu from time to time as he took the stage to deliver his speech.

His words were filled with nothing but goodness, generosity, and humility. Each sentence he spoke painted a picture of a man who was not only a famous celebrity but also a person of substance. Meera found herself surprised by his personality.

Until tonight, she had known him only by his public persona, the glamorous star on magazine covers and movie posters. She had been rude to him during their first encounter, blinded by the tension and turmoil in her life, particularly her unfortunate engagement to Bhushan Deshpande.

Now, seeing Abhimanyu in this light, she felt a pang of regret. The man she had hastily judged was far more complex than she had imagined. His calm demeanor, even in the face of her earlier coldness, only added to her guilt.

As the event continued and the formalities gave way to more casual mingling, Meera found herself unable to shake the urge to apologize to Abhimanyu personally. The weight of her earlier behavior pressed on her, and she knew she had to make amends. With this resolve, she began to make her way toward him.

But before she could reach Abhimanyu, Bhushan appeared by her side, his grip tightening on her arm as he steered her away from the crowd. The noise of the party faded as they moved into the silent corridors of the grand venue, far from prying eyes and ears.

"Let go of me," Meera protested, trying to pull away from his hold. But he only tightened his grip, his face contorting with anger.

"Don't make a scene," he hissed, yanking her further down the hallway. When they were out of sight, he suddenly turned on her, his eyes blazing with fury. "You think you can just flirt with that actor in front of everyone? Don't you dare embarrass me like that again."

Meera's eyes widened in shock. "What are you talking about? I wasn't-"

"Shut up!" Bhushan yelled, raising his hand as if to strike her.

Meera flinched, the threat of violence freezing her in place.

"You old hag," she spat, her voice trembling with fear and defiance. "Leave me alone, or I'll scream and make sure the media hears every word. You won't be able to cover this up."

But instead of backing down, Bhushan's grip on her chin tightened painfully, his face inches from hers. "You're mine, Meera," he snarled. "Your father sold you to me, and you're my property now. Do you understand? You'll do whatever I say."

Meera felt the blood drain from her face, the ground beneath her feet seeming to slip away. The reality of her situation hit her like a ton of bricks. All the power, all the control she thought she had, evaporated in an instant. She was trapped, bound by the very people who were supposed to protect her.

For a moment, she could only stare at him, her heart pounding in her chest as her mind raced to comprehend the horror of his words. Bhushan was no longer just the unpleasant man she was engaged to; he was a monster who saw her as nothing more than a possession.

But as the initial shock wore off, a fire ignited in her chest-a deep, burning anger. She might be trapped, but she wasn't going to let Bhushan or anyone else dictate her life.

"You're wrong," she whispered, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins. "I'm not yours. And if you think you can control me, you're in for a surprise."

Bhushan sneered, but before he could respond, a voice echoed down the corridor, cutting through the tension like a knife.

"Is everything alright here?"

Both Meera and Bhushan turned to see Raina standing at the end of the hallway, his expression neutral, though his eyes were sharp and observant. He had seen enough to know something was terribly wrong.

Bhushan quickly released Meera, his face shifting into a mask of forced politeness. "Of course, just a small disagreement," he said, his voice dripping with insincerity.

Meera stepped back, her heart still racing, but she kept her face composed. She wasn't going to let Bhushan see her fear, not anymore.

Raina's timely intervention had saved her from whatever Bhushan had planned, but she knew this was far from over.

As Bhushan made his excuses and walked away, Raina approached Meera, concern etched in his features. "Are you okay?"

Meera nodded, though her voice was barely above a whisper. "Thank you."

Raina glanced in the direction Bhushan had gone, his expression darkening. "If you need any help, please feel free to contact me or Abhimanyu. We will definitely help you."

Meera managed a small, grateful smile. The battle lines were drawn, and she wasn't sure how she would navigate this treacherous path, but one thing was clear-she would fight, and she would not let Bhushan or anyone else break her.

-----

The grand ballroom was alive with music, laughter, and the murmur of conversations, but Meera felt none of it.

The earlier incident with Bhushan had drained her, leaving her on edge and desperate to escape the suffocating atmosphere.

She hurriedly made her way to the exit, her heart pounding, but her father's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Meera!" Mr. Khanna's voice rang out with authority, cutting through the noise.

She froze, every muscle in her body tensing as she turned to face him. Despite her obvious exhaustion and off mood, he didn't show any concern. Instead, he gripped her arm firmly and began dragging her back toward the center of the room.

They stopped abruptly in front of Abhimanyu, who had been observing the scene from a distance.

His sharp eyes immediately noticed the tension in Meera's posture and the way her expression softened slightly upon seeing him. But beneath that softness, he could sense something was wrong. Her eyes were distant, almost glassy, as if she was lost in her thoughts, struggling with something far beyond the present moment.

Meera's mind was a storm of emotions. The earlier encounter with Bhushan kept replaying in her head, his cruel words echoing in her ears. Now, even her father's touch felt wrong, repulsive.

How could he sacrifice her for the sake of business and money?

Was his reputation more important than his daughter's well-being?

The thought twisted her stomach into knots. She hated this life, hated being nothing more than a pawn in her father's games.

Her father's grip on her arm tightened, pulling her out of her thoughts. She winced, trying to subtly free herself from his hold, but it only made him grip harder.

Abhimanyu, standing just a few feet away, noticed the silent struggle and the tension in her body.

"Everyone is dancing," Mr. Khanna said sternly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You need to entertain our guests. It wouldn't look good for our reputation if you didn't." His eyes bore into hers, a silent command to comply without causing a scene.

Meera was shocked by his coldness.

Was this really her father?

Couldn't he see how unwell she was? She could barely hold herself together, and yet he was forcing her to play along, to dance and smile like nothing was wrong. The realization hit her like a blow-she wasn't a daughter to him anymore, just a tool to uphold his pride and status.

The despair that washed over her was almost overwhelming, but before she could react, Abhimanyu stepped forward.

"Mr. Khanna," Abhimanyu said smoothly, his voice calm yet firm. He gently removed Mr. Khanna's hand from Meera's arm, his touch careful and respectful. "It's okay. I'm about to leave, and I wouldn't want to overburden your daughter any further. She's been working hard, attending to all the guests today...just like you. She deserves a moment to rest."

Mr. Khanna looked at Abhimanyu, his expression softening slightly at the praise. Abhimanyu's words were carefully chosen, subtly flattering Mr. Khanna while also making it clear that Meera needed a break. The older man's pride was stroked just enough to let go of the issue.

"Yes, of course," Mr. Khanna finally said, his tone shifting to one of reluctant approval. "Meera has always been a hard worker."

Abhimanyu smiled, knowing he had successfully defused the situation. "Indeed, she is. You must be very proud."

Mr. Khanna's chest puffed out slightly, a satisfied look on his face as he nodded. Abhimanyu's charm had worked. He had managed to protect Meera from further discomfort while keeping her father's ego intact.

Meera glanced at Abhimanyu with a look of profound gratitude. In that brief exchange, he had understood her plight and respected her need for space-something her own father had failed to do.

Abhimanyu caught her gaze and gave her a reassuring smile, his eyes conveying a silent promise that he was there for her, even if they were practically strangers.

She was astonished.

How could a man she barely knew understand her so well?

How could he see what her own father, who had known her all her life, couldn't? It was a strange, disorienting feeling-one that made her feel both vulnerable and oddly safe at the same time.

As her father finally walked away, satisfied that the situation had been handled, Meera felt the tension in her shoulders begin to ease. She could breathe again, thanks to Abhimanyu. He had stepped in when she needed it most, offering her a kindness she hadn't expected.

Abhimanyu turned to her, his voice gentle as he spoke. "Take care of yourself, Meera. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

Meera nodded, still too overwhelmed to speak, but her eyes conveyed the depth of her appreciation.

For the first time in what felt like ages, she felt seen-truly seen-and it was by a man who had no reason to care for her well-being, yet had chosen to do so anyway.

As she watched him leave, Meera couldn't shake the feeling that Abhimanyu was more than just a famous actor. He was someone who understood the weight of unspoken burdens, and in that understanding, he had given her a glimmer of hope in a world that felt increasingly dark and suffocating.

------

Raina had been watching the entire interaction from a distance, his sharp eyes missing nothing. As he approached Abhimanyu, he couldn't help but smile at the expression on his friend's face.

"You did a good job," Raina said, his voice low and approving.

Abhimanyu's gaze was still fixed on where Mr. Khanna had disappeared with Meera. "It's not like I pretended, Raina. I saw how she was holding back her tears, trying with everything in her to not break down in front of everyone. But her fucking father..."

He clenched his fists, his voice laced with anger. "He's a weirdo for playing with her emotions, treating her like a puppet rather than a human being. I fucking hate parents like that, who see their children as tools to entertain their pride, nothing more."

Raina's eyebrows shot up in amusement. "After a long time, I've heard you cuss."

Abhimanyu blinked, realizing how uncharacteristic it was for him to lose his composure like that. "It just came out naturally," he admitted, still simmering with anger. "But he deserves it."

Raina placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "He deserves more than just words, and not just him-Bhushan too. You were right; Meera was hurt."

Abhimanyu turned to him, confusion clouding his features. "What do you mean?"

Raina's expression darkened. "Before her father dragged her over here, she had an encounter with Bhushan in a corridor. I was passing by and saw it all. He was forcing her, cursing her... He acted like nothing happened when he saw me, then slinked away like a coward. Meera was on the verge of tears, but she controlled herself in front of me. She didn't say anything, but I could see it in her eyes-she's suffering. Her father abuses her emotionally, and Bhushan is no better. But she's strong, man. Mad respect."

Abhimanyu's blood boiled as he absorbed Raina's words. His eyes scanned the room, finally locking onto Bhushan, who was now shamelessly chatting with a woman much younger than him, his hands wandering under the guise of dancing. The sight made Abhimanyu's jaw tighten, rage flaring in his chest.

"I want to go over there and tear him apart," Abhimanyu growled, his eyes blazing with a dangerous intensity.

Raina stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "We'll show him his place, Abhi. But we have to be smart about this."

Abhimanyu's voice was ice-cold as he responded, "His place is in jail."

Raina nodded. "And that's exactly where we'll put him. But we need to plan this carefully. If we act now, it'll only cause a scene, and that's what he wants. We need to gather enough evidence to bring him down legally, not just physically."

Abhimanyu took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside him. "You're right. We'll take him down the right way."

Raina's expression softened. "Meera's been through enough. She doesn't need more chaos in her life. Let's do this for her, for Shourya, and for every person Bhushan has wronged."

Abhimanyu nodded, his resolve hardening. "We'll make sure he pays for everything he's done."

As they stood together, the weight of the task ahead settled between them, but so did a shared determination.

Bhushan Deshpande might have the power of a corrupt system behind him, but Abhimanyu and Raina had something stronger-the will to protect those they cared about, and the courage to see justice served.

******

Poor Meera 😭

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