CHAPTER 55

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The day of the much-awaited exhibition finally arrived. Laxmi Vilas Palace, a place of grandeur, stood tall in its majestic splendor, ready to host the grand collaboration. The three major names—Mahi's The Den, VR's, and ARFUME—had come together to put on a show like no other. The air was electric with excitement, and everyone knew this event was going to be historic.

Meera and Vedansh, both dressed in their finest attire, had been overseeing every detail. The exhibition promised a fusion of Indo-western designs, creating a perfect blend of Indian heritage with modern elegance, an idea inspired by the recent Paris Fashion Week but adapted to suit the Indian palate. It wasn't just any fashion show—it was a statement, a symbol of bridging cultures.

As the guests started pouring in, Meera looked around and smiled, feeling an odd sense of peace among the chaos. She had spent years working toward this moment, and now it was all coming together. She glanced at Vidhyuth, who was standing by her side, looking just as poised as always.

"Everything looks perfect, Wifie"

Vidhyuth said, his voice low but full of admiration. Meera glanced at him, her smile softening.

"Thank you,"

She replied, her eyes grateful.

Suddenly, the sound of a car pulling up drew their attention. George, the dynamic and charming man, stepped out of the vehicle, his presence unmistakable. Meera's eyes sparkled with anticipation, knowing this was the moment they had been waiting for.

"Let me introduce you to someone very important to me,"

Meera said, her tone warm as she turned to Vidhyuth and Vedansh. George walked over to them with a confident stride. His sharp suit and well-groomed appearance immediately caught the eye. Meera stood up to greet him with a smile, her expression almost proud as she motioned towards her companions.

"Vidhyuth, Vedansh, this is George. He's the COO of Mahi's The Den and someone I trust deeply,"

She said, her voice filled with respect. George offered a firm handshake to both men, Vedansh said, shaking his hand with a smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet you again George. Mis Mahi has spoken a lot about you."

George smiled back, nodding politely, Vidhyuth went to attend the call.

"The pleasure is mine. You have been a fantastic collaborator on this project, Right Miri?"

There was a moment of curious realization between Vedansh and George. The two exchanged glances as the name

"Miri?"

Popped up in their discussion. A puzzled expression crossed Vedansh's face, but it quickly turned into something more knowing.

"isnt she Mahi Roman?"

Vedansh began, trailing off in surprise, Meera, already sensing where the conversation was headed, nodded slowly, her smile tinged with nostalgia.

"Yes, Meera Rathore is actually my real name. Mahi was a persona I created in the fashion world, but Meera Rathore is who I truly am,"

She confessed, her voice calm. Vedansh, processing the revelation, smiled knowingly.

"I see. You've always had this dual identity, but it makes sense now"

The group fell into a brief silence, the weight of Meera's truth hanging in the air. Then, after a few moments, George, who had been watching the interaction with quiet understanding, stepped in to lighten the mood.

"Well, no matter what name you go by, Meera, you're a force to be reckoned with. And that's something we all admire,"

George said with a grin.

Meera chuckled, her earlier tension dissipating.

"Thanks, George. I couldn't have done any of this without you by my side."

Just then, a soft voice interrupted their conversation.

"The guests are starting to gather,"

Rohan called out from across the room, a wide grin on his face as he came over to the group.

"Looks like it's showtime!"

With that, the energy shifted, and the team started to make their way to the grand hall, where the exhibition was about to begin. The guests filled the room, admiring the stunning Indo-Western designs, while the hosts remained at the center of attention. Meera, Vedansh, and George stood proudly at the front, ready to welcome the world to a new era of fashion.

As Meera introduced George to Vidhyuth, the tension in the air was palpable. George felt it instantly—the cold, almost detached energy that Vidhyuth exuded. He could see how Vidhyuth's gaze lingered on him for just a moment, assessing, almost sizing him up, before shifting back to Meera. The way Vidhyuth's presence seemed to dominate the room created an invisible barrier between him and George, and the latter could feel the weight of the situation like an anchor pulling at his chest.

"Vid, this is George. He's the COO of Mahi's The Den and my bestfriend"

Meera said, her voice warm, but there was a subtle hesitation in her tone, as though she too could feel the tension rising. She was always careful with the words she used around Vidhyuth, knowing how he could be when it came to the people closest to her.

George extended his hand to Vidyuth, trying his best to mask the knot in his stomach. Vidhyuth, with his usual cool demeanor, gave a firm handshake, but his eyes never softened. It was the kind of gaze that spoke volumes—detached, uninterested, yet watchful. Meera noticed the shift, her heart sinking slightly at the unspoken energy between the two men.

"It's a pleasure,"

George said, his voice calm, but the smile on his face was tight, betraying the internal struggle he was experiencing. He had known about Vidhyuth's place in Meera's life, of course, but seeing them together in person, with the undeniable chemistry between them, made his chest ache. Vidhyuth's eyes narrowed slightly, a subtle indication of his skepticism.

"Pleasure's mine,"

He replied, his tone flat. There was no warmth in his words, only the quiet, almost imperceptible edge that spoke volumes about his reservations. The silence that followed felt heavy—each of them standing there, aware of the complexities that bound them together.

George shifted his weight, trying to remain composed, but his mind was swirling. Seeing Meera beside Vidhyuth, hearing the ease with which she spoke to him, knowing how much she meant to both men, made something tighten in George's chest. His feelings for her had never really faded, despite how much he tried to push them aside. Meera had always been his anchor, his source of strength, and the idea that she is with Vidhyuth, of all people—was difficult to digest.

Vidhyuth, on the other hand, was acutely aware of George's unease. The way George's hand had slightly trembled when they shook hands didn't go unnoticed. The tension between them was undeniable. Vidhyuth had always been able to sense when someone was harboring feelings for Meera. And now, seeing George's discomfort, it only confirmed his suspicions.

"Georgiee,"

Meera spoke again, breaking the silence, her voice light but with a hint of concern.

"Everything alright?"

George forced a smile, trying to hide his inner turmoil.

"Of course, Miri, but I warned you but still we will talk later in details"

He said, Meera gulped,, his gaze briefly flickering to the designs displayed around the room before landing back on her, as if to mask the underlying truth.

Meera smiled back, unaware of the battle brewing between the two men. She had always seen George as a friend, a trusted colleague, and the last thing she wanted was for him to feel anything less than comfortable around her. But at this moment, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease herself, knowing that George's was always against the idea of letting Vidhyuth in her life again, And with Vidhyuth standing so close, the two men now locked in a quiet, unspoken war, it wasn't easy to navigate the space between them.

The moment stretched longer than necessary, and the weight of George's unrequited feelings seemed to hang in the air. He had always been able to control his emotions, but seeing Meera in Vidhyuth's presence, in the way she moved and spoke with him—it was all too much. His heart clenched, the realization of how much he had lost stinging harder than before.

Vidyuth, oblivious to George's internal struggle but aware of the tension, cast one last glance at him before turning his attention back to Meera.

"Let's get things moving,"

He said with a firm tone, not waiting for an answer.

"To The exhibition"

George's jaw tightened, but he nodded, forcing the fake smile back on his face.

"Yes, let's,"

He replied, his voice calm but distant.

As they walked away, George couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment—the sense of loss, the sense of rivalry, and the aching truth that he could never truly have Meera the way Vidhyuth did. It was a cruel reality, one that he would have to accept, but that didn't make it any easier.

For now, the exhibition would go on. But George knew that the tension between him and Vidhyuth, between his feelings for Meera and the reality of her life with him, would only continue to grow, like an unspoken shadow lingering over them all.

The Tables Are Turned

The exhibition hall, once vibrant with the buzz of fashion enthusiasts, now felt eerily quiet. The hum of chatter had faded, and only the distant echoes of footsteps remained as the last few guests trickled out. But for Vidhyuth, it was as though the world had been muted, his focus narrowing to a single point of terror: Meera.

His heart thudded in his chest, his breath shallow and quick. Every part of him, every instinct, was screaming that something was wrong. Where is she? he thought, the panic clawing at the edges of his mind. His gaze darted across the room, scanning for the familiar pink lehenga, the warmth of her presence that had so effortlessly filled his life. But it wasn't there. She wasn't there.

"Meera!"

He called out, his voice a strained whisper at first, and then louder, more desperate. Each passing second felt like an eternity as he frantically searched every corner of the hall, every shadowed nook, but she remained absent.

The silence in the room felt suffocating now, pressing in on him. His pulse raced as he looked toward the security staff, hoping for an answer, but found only confusion in their eyes.

"Where is she?!"

Vidyuth's while searching for her he asked Aroohi but got disappointed with her reply, his voice was a low growl, edged with panic and anger. His eyes locked onto one of the bodyguards, demanding an explanation.

"I told you to keep an eye on her! I want her found now!"

He continued, his voice hardening, his tone cutting through the quiet like a blade. His body was rigid, his fists clenched at his sides as his mind spun in overdrive. What if something happened to her? What if she's hurt?

The bodyguard stumbled back, startled by Vidyuth's intensity, but there was a flicker of guilt in his eyes.

"Sir, we—we didn't see—"

"Get your head straight!"

Vidyuth barked, cutting him off. His chest tightened, the breath caught in his throat as the realization hit him. She's not here. She's not here. The words reverberated in his mind like a cold, heavy weight.

"I don't care about excuses. You're responsible for her safety! You understand me?! Find her now!"

The bodyguard nodded quickly, turning to relay the orders to the rest of the team, but Vidyuth barely noticed. His mind was spinning, the air around him thick with anxiety. He could feel his heart pounding louder, faster, almost painfully in his chest as the images of the past came crashing back.  The memory stung sharply—Meera had slipped away from him once before, and he'd barely been able to get her back. But now, it was different. The fear in him was so much worse this time.

He turned away from the bodyguard, unable to stand still. His hand clenched and unclenched at his side as he tried to make sense of the overwhelming sense of panic crawling under his skin. He needed to find her. Where could she be?

A sudden noise broke through his spiral of thoughts—a hurried footsteps. Vidhyuth whipped around, his eyes locking on the figure rushing into the hall. It was Dominic Knight, looking completely out of breath, his face pale with anxiety. The moment their eyes met, Vidhyuth's gut twisted.

"Vidyuth!"

Dominic's voice was frantic, his words tumbling out in a rush. He reached for Vidhyuth, holding out a crumpled piece of paper.

Without hesitation, Dominic spoke, his voice strained and full of dread.

"It's happening again. Meera's been taken."

The blood drained from Vidhyuth's face as his hands instinctively reached for the note. The words on the paper hit him like a punch to the gut, the harsh reality of them seeping into his consciousness.

"'Let's see how you will save your baby sister,'"

Dominic read aloud, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and disbelief.

"Fucking Grayson's,I failed my sister again"

Vidhyuth felt the room tilt, the world spinning as everything he'd been trying to ignore slammed into him with brutal force. The Graysons. His mind screamed with fury at the name—those manipulative, dangerous people who had always been a dark shadow in his life. But this? This was personal. They hadn't just targeted him. They had taken her—Meera. The one person he had ever truly let into his heart.

For a  moment, Vidhyuth was silent, staring at the note as if the words themselves could somehow make sense of this nightmare. His hands shook, the crumpled paper slipping from his fingers as he gripped his head, trying to hold himself together. The thought of losing her again—of the Graysons hurting her—filled him with a primal, gnawing fear. He hadn't thought it could feel worse than the first time she'd been taken from him, but it was.

This time, the panic was suffocating. This time, it was different.

He could feel his chest tightening, his breath shallow as if the air itself had been stolen from him. His vision blurred at the edges, his mind a frenzy of questions and dread.  He needed her. She's the reason I've fought so hard to stay sane, to hold onto something good in this world. He couldn't lose her. Not again.

His emotions began to unravel, exposing a side of him that rarely surfaced—vulnerable, terrified, and raw. I can't do this without her, the thought hit him like a wave, and for a fleeting moment, he found himself choking on his own desperation.

But someone got to know where abouts of his only family, his sister one he was searching desperately.

and That Is Vedansh

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