They never met...

chapter 22 -NO WOMEN'S LAND

A/N: hello my dear readers, Mahima and jagjeet's story reached 10k reads and I can't thankyou enough for the love and support you all showed but here's the update as a token of thanks 🥰🥰🥰
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AUTHOR'S POV:

The silence in the car was deafening, a stark contrast to the storm raging within Mahima. Her mind buzzed with questions, each one a fresh jab at the raw wound Jagjeet's revelation had opened. Why marry so soon? How old was his son? The insidious thought, the one she'd desperately tried to bury, slithered back into her mind - had he been cheating on her all along?

Jagjeet stole glances at Mahima from the rearview mirror, his heart heavy with a truth he longed to share. He yearned to explain the circumstances that had led him down the path of an arranged marriage, a path he'd never chosen but had to walk for the sake of his childhood friend. But was this the right time? Would his explanation sound like a mere excuse, a justification for his actions?

The car screeched to a halt, jolting them both back to reality. They had arrived at DIG Sir's office. As they stepped out, Jagjeet placed a cautionary hand on Mahima's arm. "Be careful, Ma'am," he murmured, his voice laced with concern.

Mahima offered a tight nod, her gaze distant.

Inside the DIG's office, the air hung heavy with an unspoken tension. Mahima found herself the target of the DIG's unwelcome attention. His gaze lingered on her a beat too long, a predatory glint in his eyes that sent shivers down her spine.

Jagjeet, sensing her discomfort, tried to subtly divert the DIG's attention. "Sir, as discussed, we require your permission to proceed with the undercover operation."

The DIG, clearly displeased by the interruption, finally tore his gaze away from Mahima. A sly smile played on his lips as he leaned back in his chair. "Permission granted," he drawled, his voice dripping with condescension. But before Mahima could respond, he extended a hand towards her, his fingers lingering a fraction too long as he brushed against her knuckles. "Are you sure you can handle the operation Miss Mahima, I mean with your soft feather like hands....." a chuckle of contempt followed the unsolicited comments from the senior

Mahima recoiled instinctively, the touch igniting a spark of panic. The air around her seemed to thin, the telltale signs of a panic attack rising like bile in her throat. She stumbled back, gasping for breath.

Jagjeet, his jaw clenched tight, was by her side in a flash, a wall of protectiveness radiating from him. "Sir," he growled, his voice laced with barely contained fury, "there seems to be a misunderstanding. Superintendent Jha is a highly capable officer, more than qualified to lead this operation."

The DIG's smile faltered, replaced by a sneer. "Women in the force," he scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "Incompetent creatures, incapable of handling even the most basic tasks. All they're good for is..."

He trailed off, his gaze flickering between Mahima and Jagjeet, a lewd suggestion hanging heavy in the air.

Before the DIG could finish his repulsive thought, Jagjeet cut him off, his voice trembling with righteous anger. "Sir," he countered, his voice surprisingly steady, "Superintendent Mahima Jha is one of the most efficient officers I know. You'll witness her capabilities firsthand when we emerge victorious from this operation, all thanks to her exceptional leadership."

Mahima shot Jagjeet a surprised glance, a flicker of gratitude battling with the wave of nausea threatening to engulf her.

The DIG, his face flushed with a mixture of anger and humiliation, slammed his fist on the table. "Get out of my office!" he roared. "And make sure you complete this little mission of yours. Failure won't be tolerated."

Mahima, her breath coming in ragged gasps, felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Ignoring the throbbing pain in her chest, she stumbled towards the door, her vision blurring at the edges. Jagjeet, his concern etched on his face, was right behind her, a silent guardian angel.

They burst out of the office, the sterile air of the hallway a welcome relief. Mahima clung to the wall, her body wracked with tremors. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision.

Jagjeet wasted no time. He cupped her face in his hands, his touch gentle yet firm. "Mahima, look at me," he commanded, his voice a soothing balm amidst the storm raging within her. "It's okay. We're out of there now. Breathe."

Mahima focused on his voice, each word an anchor pulling her back from the precipice. Slowly, she began to take shallow breaths, the air filling her lungs bit by bit.

Jagjeet's worried gaze held hers, his eyes searching for any lingering signs of distress. "We can talk about this later," he said softly. "Right now, you need to rest."

Mahima nodded weakly, leaning into his comforting presence....... She put her head on his chest...whats' this , her eyes were hazy but she was hearing the best music of all times , his heartbeat...and that's unusually fast... because of me
Mahima thought to herself..

Mahima's breaths came slower, a semblance of normalcy returning to her ragged gasps. A few minutes crawled by, each one an eternity as she fought to regain control. When she finally opened her eyes, reality rushed back, and the warmth of Jagjeet's hand on her face sent a jolt through her. She abruptly stepped back, breaking the physical contact.

"I'm fine now," she asserted, her voice shaky but firm. "There's no need to be over friendly, Mr. Singh."

Jagjeet didn't reply immediately. His gaze held a mixture of concern and something deeper, an emotion she couldn't decipher. Mahima misinterpreted it as pity.

"No need to pity me," she snapped, her voice laced with defiance. "I can handle myself."

"I know," Jagjeet said softly, his voice surprisingly gentle. "But your panic attacks... I thought you'd healed from that trauma seven years ago. Then why-"

"That's none of your business, Mr. Singh," Mahima interrupted, her voice sharp. She turned to walk back towards the car, a desperate need to put distance between them and this sudden vulnerability burning within her.

But Jagjeet was quicker. He reached out, his fingers grasping her wrist. "Mahima, please," he said, his voice laced with urgency. "Tell me."

Mahima met his gaze, the storm of emotions churning within her threatening to spill over. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring his concerned expression. "Because my healer left me," she whispered, the raw pain in her voice a stark contrast to her usual stoic demeanor.
As she says this, the sky roars and it starts raining as if the sky is also crying with Mahima

Jagjeet was speechless, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air. Mahima, mistaking his silence for judgment, tried to pull away again.

"Mahima, we need to go to the hospital," Jagjeet said through the rain drops, his voice firm but gentle. "Immediately."

Mahima opened her mouth to protest, but before she could utter a word, Jagjeet's phone rang. The name flashing on the screen - 'Lifeline.'

Mahima noticed the name and a painful understanding flashed across her face. "Please go," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Your family must be waiting for you, Mr. Singh."

Jagjeet looked deep into her eyes, the unspoken questions hanging heavy between them. He knew he couldn't leave her in this state, but the urgent call from Lifeline tugged at him. With a heavy heart, he picked up the phone.

"Coming," he answered, his voice heavy with a mixture of concern for mahima and his responsibilities towards his family...his life line.....

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😭😭
Her healer ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Bye bye lovely readers
Enjoy reading 🥰
Will update soon
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