Finally, I stepped off the plane, my feet touching the familiar ground of Delhi once again. The city I swore I would never return to-the city that holds memories I can never escape. My heart beats a little faster as I pull my suitcase behind me, the weight of the past pressing down with each step.
But I push it away. I'm here for Megha, for aunty and uncle. Nothing else matters. I can't let the shadows of the past ruin this visit. Not when their kindness has meant so much to me.
I make my way to Megha's house, and the moment I step through the door, I'm greeted with warmth. Aunty and uncle are already standing in the hallway, smiling at me as if I've just come home after a long, tiring journey.
"Niranya beta!" Aunty exclaims, her arms wide open.
I can't help the smile that spreads across my face as I walk toward her. She pulls me into a tight embrace, and I inhale the scent of her perfume-a scent that always reminded me of safety.
"It's so good to see you, Aunty," I whisper, the lump in my throat almost choking me.
Uncle steps forward, his hand gently resting on my shoulder. "We've missed you, Niranya. It's been too long."
I nod, my heart swelling with gratitude. As an orphan, I never had this. I never had someone to turn to, someone who cared without wanting anything in return. But Megha's parents... they've treated me like family from the start.
Megha joins us with her usual bright smile, and before I can say anything, she pulls me into a hug. "Finally! You're here, Niru!" she exclaims, her voice bubbling with excitement.
I laugh softly, hugging her back. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
"You've been busy, I know," she says, pulling away to look at me. "But I'm so happy you came. Aunty and uncle have been waiting for you."
"I'm happy to be here," I reply honestly, though a part of me still feels a little unsettled. I can't shake the feeling that something is about to change, that coming back to Delhi is somehow going to unravel the fragile peace I've built.
But for now, I push those thoughts away. Megha's family is happy to see me, and that's all that matters in this moment.
I stepped off the private jet, my eyes scanning the crowd as I made my way to the car waiting for me. Delhi. The city that still held my breath, the city that now housed my obsession-my Angel.
I had tracked her movements the moment I saw her leave for Delhi, and the moment I landed, I followed her, unseen, unheard, like a shadow.
She's at Megha's house. I had suspected she might come here. Megha was always close to her, and her family had treated Niranya like one of their own. Of course, she would find comfort here, away from the painful memories that haunt her.
But don't worry, Jaan. I'm here. I'm always here for you. I am your savior, and no one will harm you-not when I can help it.
I couldn't resist. I made my way back to my mansion after three months. The place still reeks of memories of her. The smell of her perfume, the warmth of her touch, the softness of her lips when we kissed. It all floods back, and my heart clenches with a hunger I can never quite sate.
The walls here still echo with our laughter, our whispered secrets, our promises that we never had the chance to fulfill. The times we spent together, hidden from the world. I can almost feel her presence in every corner of this place.
But she's gone now, and all I have are memories. And yet, I find myself falling deeper into this obsession. Each and every second spent without her only fuels the fire. It's intoxicating. Her absence leaves a void, a hunger I can never satisfy.
I close my eyes for a moment, savoring the ache. I should hate it. I should try to stop it. But I don't. I love it. The more I obsess over her, the more I crave the feeling of her next to me. And I won't stop. I can't stop.
I pull out my phone, dialing Vedant's number. He picks up on the first ring, his voice steady as always.
"Ash, you're here?" he asks, as if sensing the change in my mood.
"Yes," I reply, my voice low, almost a growl. "I need you to do something for me. Go to Megha's house. Her family knows you. You're close to them. You'll be able to fit in."
"Of course. What do you need?" Vedant asks, always willing to do whatever I ask, no questions.
"I need you to fit cameras inside the house. Everywhere. I can't go there. Not in front of her. But I need to know what's happening. I need to watch her every moment. Every second. I need to know she's safe."
"Understood," Vedant replies, and I can hear the faintest hesitation in his voice. He's concerned. But he knows better than to question me when it comes to her.
I hang up, already feeling a sense of satisfaction knowing that Vedant will take care of it. He's always been loyal, always willing to do the dirty work I can't bring myself to do directly. He'll make sure everything is perfect.
For now, I wait. And I watch. Because my Angel may think she can escape, but I will always follow. I will always be there, lurking in the shadows, watching over her.
She's mine. No one else's.
I freshened up quickly, the warm water helping to clear my mind and ease the tension from my shoulders. The last few days had been a whirlwind, and I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was off. Maybe it was the return to Delhi, or the memories that crept up whenever I least expected them. Either way, I needed a moment to myself to breathe.
As I stepped out of the bathroom, I found Megha waiting for me by the door, her usual bright smile replaced with something more thoughtful.
"Hey, Niranya," she said gently, her eyes searching mine. "Is everything okay? You seem a little distant."
I forced a smile, though the knot in my stomach tightened at the thought of him. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just... adjusting, you know?"
She nodded, clearly not fully convinced but not pushing further. Instead, her face brightened again. "I wanted to talk to you about something," she said, almost eagerly.
I raised an eyebrow, curious. "What's up?"
She hesitated, biting her lip, before letting out a small laugh. "You won't believe it, but... Vedant actually proposed to me 5 days ago."
My heart skipped a beat, surprised and overjoyed at the same time. "Wait, what? Really?" I exclaimed, my voice coming out more excited than I had planned.
"Yes! He did," Megha grinned, her face lighting up with happiness. "I never expected it, but it feels so right. We're officially in a relationship now."
I felt a rush of happiness for her. Megha and Vedant had always been close, but to hear that they had taken that step... it made my heart swell. Vedant was a good guy, even if he was Ashtram's best friend. He had always treated me with kindness and respect, something that was rare in this world. And now, hearing that he and Megha were together... it made everything feel a little brighter.
"Megha, that's amazing!" I pulled her into a tight hug, feeling her laughter and happiness vibrate against me. "I'm so happy for you. You deserve this."
She hugged me back just as tightly. "Thank you, Niranya. You've always been there for me, and now I'm just so glad everything is falling into place."
I pulled back from the hug and wiped away a stray tear that had somehow escaped my eye. "I'm really happy for both of you," I said, my voice soft but full of sincerity. "You two are great together."
There was a pause, and I felt a little hesitant to ask, but I couldn't help it. "Megha, what about Ashtram? Is he... I mean, I haven't heard anything about him."
Megha's face immediately softened, and she looked down for a moment before answering. "Well, Vedant mentioned that Ashtram sir went on a business trip. No one knows when he'll be back. I think he's been gone for a while now."
I swallowed, trying to steady the emotions rising in me. "I see... maybe it's better that he's not here in Delhi."
Megha looked at me, her eyes searching mine, but she didn't press the issue. She just nodded. "Yeah, maybe."
The conversation turned back to happier topics, but my mind couldn't completely shake the image of Ashtram-his presence, his touch, his obsession. And yet, in this moment, with Megha by my side and knowing she was happy, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. For the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to focus on the people who cared about me. I hugged Megha once more, holding her close, and for a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to forget everything else.
As Megha and Niranya made their way downstairs, the mood was light, though Niranya couldn't shake the unease in her chest. Megha, always the optimist, seemed to be in high spirits, but Niranya wore a smile that felt more like a mask.
Vedant had arrived at the house, and his presence seemed to fill the room in an oddly comforting way, though Niranya couldn't ignore the tension in her heart. Vedant greeted Megha's parents warmly, and then his gaze shifted to Niranya. His voice was smooth and polite, but there was something about the way he asked, "How are you, Niranya?" that made her feel like he could see through her forced smile.
With a stiff nod, Niranya managed to answer, "I'm fine, Vedant. Thanks for asking." Her voice, though calm, betrayed a faint hesitation, as though her mind was elsewhere. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate Vedant; on the contrary, he was a good friend, someone she trusted. But right now, everything felt complicated-too complicated.
After some casual conversation, Vedant excused himself. "I need to use the washroom," he said, his tone casual, but Niranya couldn't help but notice the underlying urgency in his words. It was almost as though he had something else on his mind, something he wasn't saying out loud.
As soon as Vedant slipped away upstairs, Megha's parents exchanged brief, uncertain glances, but they continued to talk to Niranya, trying to maintain an air of normalcy. After what felt like an eternity, Vedant returned downstairs, his expression slightly more serious.
"I'm sorry, but something has come up. I really need to leave now," he said, his voice apologetic, though there was an unmistakable firmness to it. It was clear that whatever he had been up to, it was important.
Megha's parents nodded understandingly, though there was an undercurrent of hesitation in their voices. "Of course, Vedant," Megha's father said, his tone still warm but slightly tight. "We understand. Don't worry about it."
As Vedant left, the atmosphere shifted. Megha's parents exchanged another quick, uncertain glance, and Niranya noticed the way their voices became gentler, softer.
"Niranya," Megha's mother began, her tone hesitant yet filled with kindness. "We wanted to talk to you about something important."
Niranya blinked, a little startled, but nodded politely. "What is it, aunty?"
There was a slight pause before Megha's mother continued, her voice quiet as though unsure of how to bring it up. "Well, there's someone from our side of the family, my nephew's son. He works abroad and is interested in meeting you. He's a good person... We've been thinking about this for a while now, and after seeing your picture, we think you might be a good match for him."
Niranya felt the air grow thicker with the weight of the conversation. Her heart beat a little faster, though she tried to keep her expression neutral.
Megha's father spoke next, his voice soft but tinged with a sense of concern. "Of course, this is just something to consider, Niranya. We don't want to pressure you. If this is something you're not ready for, we will understand. You can take all the time you need."
Niranya was silent for a moment, trying to process the unexpected turn in the conversation. Her mind raced-she hadn't expected this, not at all. Was this what they wanted for her? She glanced at Megha, who was watching the exchange with a quiet intensity. The room felt smaller, the conversation too big for the space.
Her eyes turned back to Megha's mother, whose eyes were filled with a mix of warmth and a bit of uncertainty. "It's just... if you're open to it, we think he's someone who might be a good fit for you," Megha's mother continued, her voice almost pleading for Niranya to understand.
The words hung in the air like a heavy fog, and Niranya finally found her voice. "I... I'll think about it," she said, her tone careful, measured. She didn't want to upset anyone, but this wasn't something she had ever considered, not in the way they seemed to expect.
Megha's mother smiled at her, her voice softening as she stepped forward and kissed Niranya's forehead. "Whatever you decide, dear, we will support you. Just know that."
Megha's father also nodded in agreement, his tone a little firmer, though still warm. "Take your time, Niranya. We'll be here for you, no matter what."
As they finished speaking, Niranya noticed that Vedant had indeed taken his leave, but a lingering feeling remained. What was he up to? She had noticed him acting strangely, especially with his excuse to leave so abruptly.
As the conversation wound down, Niranya remained deep in thought, still processing everything. She hadn't realized that all the while, Vedant had done more than just leave. He had taken the opportunity, when he excused himself to the washroom, to secretly install cameras around Megha's house. It was his way of ensuring that Ashtram could keep an eye on her-even when he wasn't around.
Niranya was unaware of this, but the unspoken surveillance in the background gave an eerie feeling to what seemed like an ordinary visit.
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