A/N: Living the dream has crossed 6k reads! I can't believe that so many of you out there are actually reading this story! Thank you so much for all the support! I'm forever grateful! Happy reading ❤️

|VEER|

Meera narrated the entire incident after which I left the room to call Karan and inform him about everything that I had found out. This Adam wasn't an ordinary man either. If you think Jeffrey was the worst then Adam is next level. He can be even crueler and spout a lot of hate.

He has been dead for quite a few years now. "Karan! Can you check if Adam is still on the radar or are any of his men active? Anything at all that points out to the fact that he may be alive?"

Karan was surprised, well that was expected because I was surprised the moment Meera told me that one of the men who kidnapped her had a scorpion tattoo. "What!? Why are you even asking me to do this right now? As far as we are concerned or any other agencies in the world Adam is dead and none of his men have been found alive. So, why you ask me to do that?"

"Karan, that might not be true. Meera was kidnapped by men who had a scorpion tattoo on their necks! Does that ring a bell?" Karan gasped and I sighed. "What the hell? Are you serious?"

"Yes! I am serious! I know that what Meera would have seen can never be false. She has a really good memory! I can vouch for that." Karan hummed, I knew he was stopping himself from saying something more but this wasn't the time for teasing.

"Veer, give me a few minutes I'll go to the headquarters and check it out. Why don't you come there? That way we search for any signs of that bastard together!" I think that was a good idea but I still needed to drop Meera off at her house. I didn't like how tired and worn out she looked.

"I'll come in a while. Meera is getting discharged. Once I take care of everything here and drop her home I'll come straight to the headquarters." Karan once again hummed into the phone. "How is she now?" I scrubbed my hand over my face and let out a tired sight.

I haven't been able to sleep because of Meera's condition. I was there with her the entire time she was unconscious. "She's awake and the doctor said that she can go home. So, I'll take her home and come straight to the headquarters."

Karan snickered and it must be because I have been repeating myself a lot. "Dude, why do you keep saying that? It's not like you have to explain anything to me!" I cursed under my breath. He can be spot on with his observations.

"Whatever Karan! That's not what it is! I have another thing that you should know!" Karan laughed at the way I brushed away Meera's topic but turned serious the moment I told him that I had something important to share.

"Remember there was an ambush that had happened on one of the airbases that are located in Punjab?" I had known about this but what I didn't know was that Meera was deployed there and was present there when this took place. When she told me about this I was shocked that she was there.

"Meera was posted in that very base when that took place." Karan let out a "wow" and I hummed. "Have you ever wondered why they never released any information about what had exactly happened there? Have you ever wondered why they never described the men who had ambushed their base?"

Karan was quiet for some time. "Where are you going with this? What happened? What Meera tell you?" I took a deep breath and clenched my fists as realization hit me. "Karan those men had a scorpion tattoo on their necks and you know what that means?"

"No! It can't be! Are you saying that he's alive and sending men to attack our country?" That was exactly what I was trying to convey. "Yes! That and also the fact that someone from our side is working with him! No wonder they never released much information about that. It was suppressed. That can only be done with the help of someone's influence!"

"So are you suggesting that someone from our side is betraying the country? Fuck! It has to be that! Else how could they cover up such information?" I found myself nodding at whatever he said. That has to be the only thing. But, this isn't the work of a single person and I for one am sure about that.

"Yes! It has to be that and I doubt that someone's betraying us as well. We need to find out soon and inform Officer Karthik as soon as possible." I checked the watch on my wrist only to realize that it has almost been half an hour since I left Meera all alone in that room. I was standing near a secluded spot that was a few meters away from her room.

"I had the same feeling as well. Anyway, I think you should go take care of Meera first! I'll go to the headquarters and start digging up information about Adam. I'll see you in a few." I muttered an okay and with one last bye, I cut the call.

I was about to go back into the room when I realized that Meera was wearing a flimsy hospital dress that barely covered her. I wanted to pluck the eyeballs of that Dr. Lokesh! That asshole was ogling at her. I need to get her some decent clothes.

I drove towards the nearest mall that was near the hospital. Thank God it was almost noon so the various shops in the mall were open. I quickly pulled a pair of khaki pants and a simple full sleeve T-shirt. I billed it at the counter and drove straight to the hospital.

I was pissed off with the entire situation. How is it that these bastards who cause so much havoc and use so much violence never cease to exist? While the ones like us who give our lives for our country keep dying? How is that ever a fair deal? I swear if that Adam is alive then I'm going to find him and shred him into pieces.

By the time I reached the hospital, I was even angrier. One of the nurses informed me that her discharge papers were ready and she was free to leave. I thanked her and entered the room. She wanted to ask me something but bit her lips when she realized I was pissed off. I knew what she wanted to know but I wasn't really in the mood to answer any of her questions.

I threw the bag of clothes next to her bed, I had even bought her a toothbrush. I asked her to get changed. I informed her that her discharge papers were ready and it was time to leave. She got down from the bed and almost slipped but I caught her at the right moment.

My hands brushed against her waist and my breath fanned over the side of her face. She sucked in a breath when she realized the proximity between us. I held one of her hands tightly. "Uhh, you can let go now." Meera said meekly after taking a few deep breaths.

I wasn't ready to let her go yet. Her smell was intoxicating and it felt amazing to have her in my arms. She fit in my arms like a lost puzzle piece. It was perfect. "Are you sure?" I whispered. She nodded her head and her eyes had a faraway look.

"Okay! The washroom is right there. Call me if you need anything. I'll be right outside!" I pointed towards the washroom and then let go of her hand from my grip. Then I removed my hand slowly that was around her waist. This time she didn't wobble. Once I was sure she wouldn't fall I walked out of the room and sat on one of the waiting chairs.

That's when I realized that I had forgotten to hand her phone back to her. I had asked Karan to get it for me when I was waiting in the hospital. I peeped into the room to confirm if she was in the washroom. When I didn't see her in the room I walked inside and placed the phone on the hospital bed.

She had a lot of missed calls and texts from Arjun Uncle and Annie Aunty. I had handled that situation with a little help from Sheena. Since then they hadn't called much. I exited the room and sat on the chair. My phone pinged when I got another text.

My blood boiled as I read the message. It was another threat message. It was a picture of Meera tied to the chair and gagged. The picture was taken just yesterday. That explains a lot. At least now I have an idea as to who is threatening me.

What pissed me off, even more, was the message under the photo. "Such a shame that I couldn't meet her. She seems to be a feisty one. Veer Gupta! Don't poke around in my business else you'll face death! Ah, not your death bit but the death of this pretty woman! Stay away if you don't want to watch her die. What happened was just a trailer! Don't make me do things that you won't be able to endure! On a much more personal note, it would be a shame to kill such a pretty woman! 😏"

My entire body fumed with hatred for this man! Who the fuck was this? This person had been sending me these threat notes even before we started the mission! Fuck! Now I was even more convinced that someone from TIIS is informing him. That has to be the only way. We as a task force have huge security and never leak any information. Who was that bastard who was betraying his own country?

I need to find out and I have a feeling that the sender of these threat notes could be Adam. I wanted to scream and punch something. Meera could have died and it would have been all my fault. I cannot afford to lose her. She needs to stay away from this and me.

Someone called my name and cleared their throat to get my attention. I snapped my head up to glare at them but my eyes softened the moment I realized it was Meera. I'm relieved that she is alive and safe. I don't know what I would have done if I lost her but I didn't have to think about that for now. I changed my expression and stood up.

"Come on let's go!" I commanded her. She sighed and followed me towards the parking lot. I slammed my door as I sat in the driver's seat. Everything about this situation was pissing me off. If Adam is alive and what I'm thinking is correct then we're in helluva trouble.

I expected Meera to sit in the front seat but she had sat down in the back seat which pissed me off. I'm not her bloody driver. I asked her to sit in the front else I won't be driving and we could sit here like this in the parking lot for as long as possible.

Meera glared at me and mumbled under her breath. I felt a sense of satisfaction course through me she got down from the car to come to sit in the front seat, right beside me. She slammed her door harder than required which kind of amused me.

"Can we go now? I'm exhausted?" Meera whined and I nodded my head igniting the car. I noticed Meera leaning against the window through my peripheral vision. None of us spoke until we reached her house.

I pulled Meera back when she was about to get down the car. I breathed over her face. She looked so pretty and her lavender scent was intoxicating. "W-what are you doing?" Meera stuttered and tried to pull away from me. But, I had a firm grip on her hands.

Meera's breath fanned over my face. I gazed at the tips of my fingers over her bandage, I moved it down her cheek. Meera sucked in a breath. Her face was so close to mine. I could see her beautiful brown eyes. Her lavender smell overpowered my senses. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to hold her close and never let go.

Unfortunately, this is a cruel world and not all wishes are always fulfilled. I wish I could stay with her forever to protect her from everything but I'm the one she needs protection from. This wouldn't have happened if she wasn't associated with me. This is the very reason why I kept her away from TIIS.

I was still touching her cheek. When I suddenly remembered something. If she had stayed away nothing like this would have happened. Sure, I'm at fault too but she should have listened to me and stayed away.

"This is the very reason I told you to stay away from what I'm doing! You cannot get hurt! I will not tolerate that! So, I'm warning you Meera don't go and investigate all of this. Leave it as it is. My team and I shall take care of it! Am I clear?" Meera's eyes blazed with anger. Fuck! Why did I have to say that out loud? Why couldn't I have at least made my point with a better tone?

She was really angry now. She pushed me away with so much force that I loosened my grip. She pointed her finger in front of my eyes. "Listen here Veer Gupta and listen carefully! I'm not going to repeat this! I don't care what you think but I'm not some weak girl or damsel in distress. I can take care of myself. I missed this time because those bastards drugged me but my track record is not something to be messed with. I don't need you to protect me from anything or anyone Furthermore, since when do you care about me? Don't start something that you haven't done all these years."

I was about to interrupt when she held her hand up, indicating that she wasn't finished making her point. "I'm not going to interfere in your mission! You can do whatever the hell you want but remember one thing you and I are trained for the same thing: to protect our country! So, don't even for a second think that I won't step up if it means my country and my people are in danger!"

I sighed maintaining a stoic expression on my face. She was right, we were trained for the same thing, I loved the dedication that she had towards our country but I hated the way she spoke. Then again this was better than us being close to one another. I clenched my jaw. "One more thing! Don't ever touch or come near me ever again! You don't get to touch me and spout bullshit at the same time! It'll be better for both of us if we stay away from each other. Thanks for taking me to the hospital and for getting me home."

After stating her point more like screaming out her point she got down from the car and slammed the door hard. I'm not surprised by her anger. After all, I'm the one who's sending her mixed signals. I had a tight grip on the steering wheel. Once I was sure she entered the house safely I drove towards the headquarters.

I wanted to shout, scream and punch something. I am hurting her but she isn't the only one who is hurt. I'm bad luck! I don't want her anywhere near me. I pull down everyone and everything that has been associated with me. I am not capable of being loved. Things are better this way. It's better if she hates me.

Every time I think of coming close to her the only thing that flashes in my head is what happened on my eighteen birthday. Everything changed that day. Meera is better off without me. No matter what Sister Brenda says. I need to keep my distance. I don't want her to get hurt again. Even if it means she starts hating me.

***

I reached the headquarters exactly after an hour. I needed to blow off some steam. I hurt Meera but I'm doing this for the better. She'll thank me later and I'm sure of it. Karan had texted me that he had found some shocking information.

I drove straight to the building, parked my car, and made my way towards the top floor. Most of my teammates had an off today. So, it was only the people who worked here, they were on the other floors. It was only Karan and me. This gave us more time and space to research.

Karan was standing inside the office that we share and frowning at some paperwork. "What's up?" I asked him and peered over his shoulders to look at the paperwork. "Veer! You won't believe what I found in our database! Look at that!" He showed me a picture of Adam in a suit disguised as some businessman.

"Karan! This can't be him! He's a businessman who lives in Dubai! Have you ever seen the real Adam?" Karan scoffed and pulled his laptop he clicked on the picture of that asshole. The picture was a few years old maybe five to six years. He didn't have any beard in it and he looked kind of young. It was a group picture of him holding a gun and smirking at the camera. Fucking prick! I have to admit this Businessman Colt looks exactly like Adam but that could be a mere coincidence.

"Karan this is not possible! Adam has been dead for almost six years! The soldiers who were sent for this mission blew up his base in Pakistan! This can't be true! Something is very wrong! They had even confirmed that he was dead! Then how is this possible?"

Karan shrugged his shoulders and opened up an app to do a face match between both the pictures. He removed the beard from the latest picture and matched it up with the old one. The results were a hundred percent match. How the fuck? The entire world believed that he was dead.

"This is not good! Listen I have another theory! This may sound crazy but given the circumstances and all that's been going on I think it might be true!" Karan nodded his head and asked me to tell him what I was thinking.

"I think um I think that Adam and Jeffrey are working together." Karan shook his head vigorously and his eyes widened. "No, that can't be possible! Dude, they hate each other! I agree that both of them run powerful organizations and spread terror but are you forgetting that they have been at war with each other for almost ten fucking years. This can't be true I don't agree."

I pinched my nose and took a few steps back. I agree that they were mortal enemies or whatever but I have a hunch that they're working together and usually, my hunches are always right. "Hear me out! Like I mentioned before Meera saw a scorpion tattoo on their necks and it was Jeffery who threatened us. Does none of this ring a bell?" I threw my hands up in the air frustrated with everything.

"No, what has the tattoo got to do with anything? Oh, right the tattoo means they are a part of Adam's organization! Fuck, yes and they're working for Jeffrey! Oh god! Veer you're right! I never thought about it that way."

I nodded my head and ran my fingers through my hair. The tattoos were something that Jeffrey and Adam were immensely proud of. The men who worked for Jeffery had a snake tattoo on their necks while the men who worked for Adam had a scorpion tattoo on their necks. That is how they used to find out who supported whom.

But, their egos made a huge blunder. They never thought about how easy they made it for us officers to catch them. It had been years since anyone spotted a man with the scorpion tattoo. Meera had seen it a few years ago and now again.

"It's a piece of clear-cut evidence, Karan. They are no more mortal enemies trying to prove who's the best. They have joined hands together! After all the prime aim of both organizations is the same! That is to spread terrorism and destroy everything. I think we should explain all of this to Officer Karthik. He would know what to do."

Karan gave me a grim look and nodded his head. He typed away on his laptop searching for more information on Colt who may or may not be Adam himself. "Veer, we don't have many proofs man! Come here read this!" He pointed at one of the articles and began explaining.

"This guy Colt Malik is a huge businessman. He runs an oil company and makes millions. Many who have accused him of being Adam have either been suppressed or laughed at. He's powerful. Maybe Jeffery does the dirty work while he's the mastermind behind it. We have to find another way to catch him. As of now, there's no information as to where Jeffery might be. He could be anywhere. With Adam by his side, we can't do anything."

I nodded my head but we had to do something instead of sitting here and waiting for his next move. "Karan, can you trace from which place this text was sent?" Karan frowned and his face turned angry.

"Veer since when are you getting these threats?" I shrugged my shoulders and maintained my blank face. "It's been a while! Can you check and tell me fast?" He took a deep breath and did as he was told to do.

I hadn't told him about this because I didn't think it was such a big deal but I always kept security around my family. He typed away on his computer while I waited patiently glancing at the screen. He cursed under his breath and banged his hands on the table.

"No can't do! The text was sent from a highly secure network. It's impossible to hack that system." I kicked the table and ran my fingers through my hair. "I'm not surprised but we need to come with a plan Karan and most importantly find out who's betraying our team and our own country."

Karan nodded his head and sighed with frustration. We were quiet for some time. Fact number one Clot is Adam and Jeffrey was working with him. That might be hard to prove. This was a very lethal combination. If not stopped they might turn our country into nothing but a place of war. Fact number two someone in my team is working for them and we need to find out who that is.

After a few minutes of silence, I had come up with a plan. Since Officer Karthik wasn't here today I decided to update him about the latest details tomorrow. "Karan, I have an idea." Karan raised his brows. "Go on! We have to try everything possible!"

"Plant a bug in everyone's phones! Every single member of our team! Diya, Nakul, Dhwani and Aarav. I know this is an invasion of their privacy but this is the only way we can find out who is betraying us." Karan grimaced but nodded his head. It had to be from our team else how would they know so much?

"Roger that! I'll do it the next time we have a team meeting! Does that sound good ?" Karan asked while I nodded my head. I think that's the best solution. "Okay then, I think we're done for today!" Karan closed his laptop. "Come on let's go have lunch!"

I raised my brows because he sounded so chirpy. "Where are we going?" I followed him while glancing through my phone. I checked to see if Meera was okay. I may or may not have inserted a tracker in her phone. I needed to know that she was safe at all times and this was the only way that I could think of. I don't have any feelings for her. I'm doing this because we were best friends once upon a time. Moreover, her father and my father and my father are best friends. So, she was family.

I sighed in relief when I found the red mark blinking that represented her location right where it's supposed to be, her home. "It's a surprise!" Karan smirked at me and I rolled my eyes. I don't like that at all. Whenever he says it's a surprise it's never good. He drove my car to wherever the hell we were headed to. I have no idea.

We reached a familiar lane and that's when I wanted to punch his stupid face. "Karan, what the hell man? Why are we going to Meera's house? I don't want to go there!" No matter how much I wanted to see her this was a bad idea a very bad idea considering what had happened just a few hours back.

"Turn around! Let's go somewhere else!" Karan of course didn't listen to what I had to say. "Oh come on don't be a spoilt sport! Sheena invited me for dinner! So, I am bringing you as my plus one. Let's not be rude. Besides, nothing can beat home-cooked food! We of all people should know that better than anyone."

He was right, sometimes we lived off eating only Maggie during our deployments. But, I still didn't want to go there. When he stopped the car in front of her house I considered staying back in the car but there was no point. Karan called me a ninny and that was all it took for me to get out of the car.

"What the hell Karan? I swear I'll get you back for this!" I muttered under my breath as we waited for someone to open the door. Karan sniggered, "I think I'll survive!" The moment Kabir opened the door and Meera asked him who it was from behind I knew that this evening wasn't going to be an easy one. Oh, the joys of trusting your best friend. I am going to kill Karan and then this Kabir! What the hell was he doing here?

************************************
A/N: Now you know what Veer thinks! Poor Veer has too many things going on! He doesn't know what to do! He thinks the only way is to stay away from Meera!

More Veera scenes coming up in teh next chapter!

I cannot say this enough! We have to be really thankful for people like Veer, Karan, and Meera who sacrifice their lives for our country!

Hope you liked this chapter! If you did please do vote and comment! I would love to know what you guys think!

P.S. Please be safe and take care of yourselves! This pandemic is horrible! But, we need to stay positive! Don't stress yourself too much people!