Morning came too quickly.
For Meher, it felt like she had barely slept. The strange uneasiness from last night still lingered, sitting heavy in her chest like a warning she couldn't understand.
She stared at the ceiling for a moment before finally sitting up.
"Get a grip, Meher," she muttered to herself. "You're overthinking again."
But even as she said it…
something didn't feel right.
The house was unusually quiet.
Too quiet.
Normally, her mother would already be in the kitchen, humming softly while making breakfast. The familiar sounds of utensils, the smell of tea—everything that made home feel safe.
Today…
nothing.
"Mom?" she called out, stepping out of her room.
No response.
Her heartbeat picked up slightly.
"Mom?" she tried again, louder this time.
Still nothing.
A strange fear crept into her chest as she walked toward the living room.
And then—
She stopped.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Two men stood inside her house.
Strangers.
Dressed in black.
Silent.
Watching.
"Who are you?" her voice came out sharper than she felt.
One of them stepped forward slightly. "Please come with us, ma'am."
Her eyes widened. "What? Are you insane? Get out of my house!"
She turned quickly, about to run toward the door—
But another man blocked her way.
Her heart started pounding now.
"What is this? Where are my parents?" she demanded, fear mixing with anger.
"They're safe," the man replied calmly. "But you need to come with us."
"I'm not going anywhere!" she snapped, stepping back.
Her mind raced.
This wasn't normal. This wasn't a misunderstanding.
This was planned.
Outside—
A black car waited.
Engine running.
Silent.
Inside, Meher tried to move past them again, but this time, the grip on her wrist was firm.
"Let go of me!" she struggled, panic rising. "You can't do this!"
"We don't want to hurt you," the man said, his tone still controlled. "Please cooperate."
"Or what?" she shot back, her voice shaking despite her courage. "You'll force me?"
Silence.
That silence was her answer.
Within minutes—
She was outside.
Pulled toward the car she had unknowingly been watched from just a day before.
"No—leave me!" she tried again, but it was useless.
The door opened.
And before she could react—
She was pushed inside.
The moment she looked up—
She froze.
Him.
Aarav Malhotra sat in front of her.
Calm.
Unbothered.
As if this chaos wasn't chaos at all.
As if this was… normal.
Her fear turned into anger instantly.
"You?" she snapped, eyes blazing. "Who do you think you are?!"
He didn't answer immediately.
He simply looked at her.
The same way he had yesterday.
Like she was the only thing in the room.
"Stop the car," she demanded, trying to open the door.
It didn't budge.
"Open this right now!"
Still no response.
Her breathing grew uneven.
"Are you deaf?! I said STOP THE CAR!"
"Sit."
One word.
Low.
Cold.
Commanding.
She went still for a second.
Not because she wanted to—
But because something in his voice made her.
Her fists clenched tightly.
"You can't just take me like this!" she said, her voice trembling now. "This is illegal! I'll go to the police!"
A small pause.
Then finally—
He spoke.
"You won't."
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"And why do you think that?" she challenged.
His gaze didn't waver.
"Because by the time you try…"
He leaned slightly closer.
"…it won't matter."
A chill ran down her spine.
"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice quieter now—but no less strong.
This wasn't random.
There was a reason.
There had to be.
He studied her for a moment.
As if deciding how much to say.
Then—
"You."
Silence filled the car.
Heavy.
Unsettling.
Her lips parted slightly. "What?"
"I want you," he repeated, his tone calm… like he was stating a fact.
Not asking.
Not requesting.
Declaring.
"That's insane," she whispered, shaking her head. "You don't even know me."
"I know enough."
"That's not how this works!" her voice rose again. "You don't just take someone because you 'want' them!"
His jaw tightened slightly.
For the first time—
A flicker of something crossed his face.
Not anger.
Something deeper.
"I don't take what I want," he said slowly.
A pause.
Then, his eyes locked onto hers.
"I keep it."
Her heart skipped.
Not in a romantic way.
In a terrifying one.
"You're crazy," she breathed out. "Completely insane."
"Maybe," he said quietly.
"But that doesn't change anything."
The car slowed down.
And as she looked outside—
Her breath stopped.
A massive mansion stood in front of her.
Cold.
Dark.
Nothing like her home.
"No…" she whispered, shaking her head. "No, I'm not going in there."
The car door opened.
"Get out."
"I said I'm not—"
"Meher."
She froze.
Her name.
He knew her name.
Slowly…
very slowly…
she looked back at him.
"How do you know me?" her voice dropped to almost a whisper.
He held her gaze.
And for the first time—
his answer didn't feel like a threat.
It felt like a warning.
"I know everything."
Her heart pounded loudly in her chest.
This wasn't just dangerous anymore.
This was something else.
Something bigger.
As she stepped out of the car, her legs felt weak—but her mind was racing.
What was happening?
Why her?
What did he really want?
She turned back once more.
"You can't force me to stay here," she said, gathering whatever strength she had left.
"You can't force me into your life."
For a second—
something in his expression changed.
Barely noticeable.
But real.
"I already have."
Her breath caught.
"And soon…"
He stepped closer.
Close enough for his voice to drop into something darker.
Something final.
"…you'll have no way out."As she was led inside—
The huge doors closed behind her with a loud sound.
Thud.
Like a cage locking.
And somewhere in that mansion—
Preparations had already begun.
For something she never agreed to.
Something she couldn't escape.
A marriage.
.
.
.
.
I hope you like it next ch will give you Goosebumps 👀