I lift an eyebrow. “What?”
“We have two exits in our office that no one knows about. That’s how we’ll slip out. We’ll go, file the FIR, and be back before the bodyguard even realises you’re gone. And if he comes looking, we’ll ask our staff to say you’re in the conference room for an interview,” he explains.
“That works. Let’s do it.” I rise to my feet, and they follow suit.
As we slip out of the office through the back door, my head starts spinning with too many thoughts—Veer stooping low enough to attack, Dev trusting his brother over me, the kiss we shared. I’m so lost in my own chaos that I don’t even notice Samarth’s hand yanking me back. I stumble into his chest, blinking in shock just as a car speeds past the spot where I hadjust been standing. If Samarth hadn’t pulled me back in time, I would have been hit.
“What the hell, Meera?” he snaps, even as Sonia rushes forward and gently rubs my back. “You could have been hit by that car.”
“I… I didn’t see it. I wasn’t… I am sorry,” I whisper, my voice trembling.
He exhales, then brushes my hair back from my face, his voice softening. “Just stay with us, okay? Don’t get so lost in your head that you end up hurting yourself.”
I nod shakily as we make our way to his car. He opens the passenger door for me. Soon, Sonia settles into the back seat. He slides into the driver’s seat, and we pull away and head towards the police station.
Looking out at the trees passing by, my chest tightens with every mile closer to our destination. I know this is the right thing to do, yet a part of me wishes I could tell Dev. I have no idea how he’ll react once he finds out I filed an FIR against his brother without discussing it with him, and the thought twists my stomach into knots.
???
My heartbeat pounds as Samarth pulls the car up outside Dev’s house. I clutch my bag, the FIR receipt tucked safely inside.
Samarth glances at me. “Let’s go in.”
I exhale slowly before stepping out of the car.
We make our way towards the house, only to halt at the entrance when an angry voice booms through the air. I look at Samarth. He gives me a reassuring nod, and we move further in.
We step in the living room to find Veer and Dev standing with their backs to us, while Dev’s father paces the floor, red-hot fury etched across his face.
“Your wife will not let us live in peace!” Dev’s dad snarls. Just then, his gaze lands on me. “Speak of her… and she appears.”
Dev jerks his head, and his eyes lock onto mine. In an instant, he’s by my side.
“You filed an FIR against my son,” Dev’s father glares at me.
Veer steps towards me, his rage barely contained. “How dare you fu—”
“Watch it, Veer,” Dev hisses, placing his hands on Veer’s chest and pushing him a step back. “Don’t you dare forget she is your Bhabhi.”
Veer scoffs, his eyes fixed on me. “My Bhabhi is at it again… trying to send me to jail. Am I right, Bhabhi?”
Dev steps in front of me, but I move around him before he can shield me, proving that I can fight my own battles and don’t need anyone to do it for me.
“Yes, I went to the police station. And yes, I filed the FIR,” I say, my voice steady, though my heart pounds like a drum in my chest.
Dev’s head jerks towards me in shock, while Veer and his dad glare at me with murderous rage. But I don’t let them intimidate me, focusing instead on the words I need to say.
“Because you deserve it.” Then I look straight at Dev, my breathing hard.“He did the same to my friend Sonia. You remember Sonia, don’t you? The one whose marriage you planned?” I point my finger at Veer. “Your brother tried to kill her, too, when she told him about her pregnancy.”
“Veer, what is she talking about?” Dev says sharply, his eyes darting to him.
“No… bro… I…” Veer stammers, panic creeping into his voice. “She’s lying. First, she blamed me for the pregnancy, and now this… she’s twisting it… Bro, don’t listen to her—”
“Yes, Dev, just like last time, don’t listen to me and cover for him,” I hiss bitterly, and Dev’s gaze lands on me. “Because that’s what you’re good at. You and your brother never feel ashamed of what you do. All you know is how to intimidate and hurt people.”
“Meera, listen—” Dev begins, but I cut him off sharply.
“No. I’ve listened enough. Even last time, you didn’t believe a word I said. Instead, you went after me, and eventually, you threatened me into marrying you, all because I sent your brother to jail… which he deserved.”
