Hello 🤩

1700 words

Happy reading ❣️

Kindly please share your comments so that I can proceed further with future chapters.

Please don't forget to hit vote.

No proof read. Kinda typed everything in a hurry. Kindly adjust please...

----------

Meera’s hands trembled as she clutched the edge of the dusty table in the bookstore’s dimly lit backroom.

The sound of muffled voices and the crunch of gravel outside tightened her chest. She could barely breathe as her mind raced. Aarav, the mysterious bookstore owner who seemed too calm, too calculating, involved in my father's murder had just vanished into the night, leaving her alone.

“Who is he?” she muttered under her breath, her instincts screaming that there was more to him than met the eye. The cold way he’d studied her, the measured way he’d spoken—it was all too precise, too deliberate.

Her heart skipped a beat as she thought about the two men who had approached the shop. Enemies, Aarav had said. But what kind of bookstore owner had enemies? What kind of man had a hidden gun tucked away behind his counter?

Suddenly, a loud thud from the front of the store sent her into a panic. Meera instinctively crouched behind a shelf, her breathing shallow. She strained her ears, catching snippets of conversation.

---

Man 1 (Outside): “Are you sure this is the place?”

Man 2: “Positive. She’s here. We just need to flush her out.”

---

Her pulse quickened. "Flush me out"? They weren’t here for him; they were here for Meera. But why?

The back door creaked open slightly, and Meera froze. Aarav slipped back in, his dark figure blending with the shadows. His sharp gaze scanned the room until it landed on her.

“You’re still here,” he said flatly, his voice low.

“What’s going on?” Meera demanded in a harsh whisper. “Who are those men?”

Aarav didn’t answer immediately. He crouched by the door, peeking through the crack. His expression was tense, his jaw clenched. For the first time, the calm exterior seemed to crack, revealing a sliver of the storm beneath.

“You need to leave,” he said, his voice clipped. “Now.”

Meera frowned, her anger flaring. “Leave? You dragged me back here, told me to stay quiet, and now you expect me to run off without answers? I don’t think so.”

Aarav’s eyes darkened as he turned to face her fully. “This isn’t a debate. If you stay here, you’ll get yourself killed.”

“And if I leave?” she shot back. “They’ll just follow me, won’t they? They think I’m with you. Do you think I don’t see what’s going on here? You’re hiding something—something big—and now I’m in the middle of it!”

Aarav’s gaze locked with hers, a silent battle of wills. For a moment, neither spoke. Then, with a frustrated sigh, Aarav ran a hand through his hair.

“Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “But if you stay, you follow my lead. No questions, no arguments.”

---

Before Meera could respond, the sound of glass shattering echoed from the front of the store. Aarav tensed, his hand instinctively going to the hidden weapon tucked in his waistband.

“They’re inside,” he muttered.

---

Man 1 (Inside): “Vincent, we know you’re here. No use hiding.”
Man 2: “Come out, and maybe we’ll make this quick.”

---

Meera’s eyes widened as she realized the danger was much closer than she’d thought. Aarav glanced at her, his expression a mix of irritation and determination. Meera watched him as her threatening factor.

“Stay behind me,” he ordered, pulling out the gun.

“You have a gun?” Meera hissed, her shock evident. “What kind of bookstore owner—”

“Not now,” Aarav interrupted sharply. “Stay close and keep quiet.”

---

The two crept through the maze of bookshelves, Aarav leading the way. His movements were smooth, deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey. Meera followed, her mind racing. Who was this man? He wasn’t just a bookstore owner—that much was clear. But if he wasn’t, then what was he?

As they reached the edge of the shelves, Aarav held up a hand, signaling Meera to stop. He peeked around the corner, his sharp eyes assessing the situation. The two men were in the center of the store, their backs turned.

---

Man 1: “He’s always a step ahead. You think he’s already gone?”

Man 2: “No. She’s here and Vincent doesn’t run—he waits. He’s probably watching us right now.”

---

Aarav smirked faintly, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He turned to Meera and whispered, “Stay here. Don’t move unless I say so.”

“Are you seriously going to take them on by yourself?” Meera whispered back, incredulous.

Aarav didn’t answer. Instead, he slipped out from behind the shelf, his steps silent as a shadow. Meera held her breath, her heart hammering in her chest as she watched him move.

---

Man 1 (Noticing Movement): “There!”

---

The sudden shout sent Meera into a panic. Aarav moved quickly, dodging behind another shelf as the men raised their weapons. A loud crack echoed through the store as one of them fired, the bullet splintering a wooden shelf.

Meera ducked, covering her ears. “What the hell is going on?” she muttered, her voice shaking.

Aarav returned fire, his movements calculated and precise. He didn’t waste bullets; every shot was deliberate, meant to disarm and disable rather than kill.

---

Man 2 (in Pain): “He got my arm!”
Man 1: “Fall back! We’ll regroup outside!”

---

The two men retreated, their footsteps fading into the night. Aarav lowered his weapon, his breathing steady despite the chaos.

“They’ll be back,” he said quietly, turning to Meera.

“What—what just happened?” Meera stammered, her mind struggling to process what she’d witnessed.

Aarav walked over to her, his expression unreadable. “You need to leave this alone,” he said, his voice firm. “Whatever you think you’re looking for, it’s not worth your life and you have your daughter to take care.”

Meera glared at him, her fear giving way to anger. “How did you know?and You don’t get to decide that. I’m not leaving until I get answers—about you, about my father, about all of this!”

Aarav stared at her for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. Then, with a faint sigh, he turned away.

“Fine, the way you find me, the way I know” he said, his tone colder now. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you. This path you’re on—it doesn’t end well.”

Meera watched him walk away, her mind swirling with questions. Who was Aarav Vincent? And why did she feel like he was tied to her father’s death in ways she couldn’t yet understand?

As the night deepened, Meera knew one thing for certain—she was in far deeper than she’d ever imagined.

---
Aarav returns to the counter, his face shadowed by the dim light. From a hidden drawer, he pulls out an old photograph—a picture of a man who looks strikingly similar to Meera. His jaw tightens as he stares at it, the weight of his secrets pressing down on him.

“Some truths,” he murmured to himself, “are better left buried.”

---

They passed through the alley and emerged onto a quiet street. Aarav glanced around, then led her toward a black bmv bike parked under a dimly lit streetlamp. He didn’t say a word as he mounted it, his movements precise, almost mechanical. Meera stopped for a moment, confused.

“You expect me to get on that?” she asked, incredulous.

Aarav glanced at her, his expression momentarily softening. “It’s the only way. Trust me, Meera. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”

Meera hesitated. She had come this far, and she couldn’t turn back now. She had to find out the truth—no matter the cost. With a quick breath, she climbed onto the bike behind him, her hands gripping the edges of his jacket for stability.

Without another word, Aarav started the engine, and they were off, weaving through the empty streets, the wind rushing past them. Meera’s mind raced as they sped through the city, her heart pounding not just from the adrenaline, but from the weight of everything she had learned in the past few hours.

Her father’s murder. Aarav’s connection to it. And now this—being chased by men who clearly wanted him dead.

Aarav’s hand tightened on the handlebars, and Meera could feel the tension in his every movement. He was in control, but just barely. She had the distinct feeling that he was running out of time.

They turned a corner, and Meera saw something up ahead that made her blood run cold. A black van was parked at the end of the street, its headlights blinding in the night. Three men stood by it, waiting.

“Get down!” Aarav barked, his voice sharp.

Before she could react, Aarav turned the bike sharply, turning into a narrow side street. The van was already moving, its engine revving, and Meera’s heart skipped a beat as the headlights followed them. The chase was on.

The streets blurred past in a dizzying swirl of lights and shadows. Aarav skillfully navigated through the alleys, barely missing parked cars and streetlights. Meera held on, her body pressed against his, trying to stay focused.

Then, without warning, Aarav took another sharp turn, and they skidded to a stop in front of a nondescript building. Aarav quickly dismounted, pulling her off the bike with him.

“We’re here,” he said, his voice urgent. “Stay close.”

They rushed inside, and Aarav slammed the door shut behind them. Meera found herself in a dimly lit room filled with old furniture and boxes. The walls were bare, save for a few framed photos hanging crookedly.

Aarav turned to face her, his eyes burning with intensity. “Listen to me, Meera,” he said, his voice low and serious. “You’ve gotten yourself involved in something much bigger than you realize. There’s no going back now.”

Meera’s breath hitched as she stared at him, trying to process everything. “What is this? What do you mean—bigger than I realize?”

Aarav didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small, silver device. He held it up to her, and for a brief moment, the glint of the object caught her attention.

“This,” Aarav said, his voice low, “is what they’ve been after all along. This is what my enemies will do anything to get their hands on.”

Meera’s eyes widened. “What is it?”

Aarav’s jaw tightened. “A key. The key to everything.”

The door behind them suddenly rattled.

And then it all came crashing down.

How was the chapter?

The men came in search of...

Aarav?

Or

Meera?

What does aarav means some truths are left buried?

Vote: 27