Beyond The Palace Walls| ONGOING

Chapter - 23

Meera, still reeling from the events of the day, had retreated to her room, seeking solace in solitude. She had instructed the servants to take the rest of the evening off, hoping to find some peace and quiet. Just as she was about to collapse onto her bed, a soft knock at the door broke the silence.

Meera hesitated for a moment, wondering who could be visiting at this late hour. She cautiously approached the door and opened it, expecting to see one of the servants with a forgotten message or perhaps her mother with some words of comfort.

But to her utter surprise, she found none other than Agastya standing in the doorway, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. Meera's mind raced as she struggled to process this unexpected turn of events. What was Agastya doing here? And at this hour? The questions swirled in her head like a vortex, leaving her breathless and bewildered.

Meera's eyes widened in shock as she stuttered, "Agastya?" She rubbed her eyes, wondering if the exhaustion had finally gotten to her. Was she dreaming? But when she opened them again, Agastya was still standing there, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

She tried to shut the door, but Agastya was too quick. He stepped forward, his hand reaching out to stop the door from closing. With a fluid motion, he slipped inside and locked the door behind him.

Meera's heart raced as Agastya turned to face her, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Socho Bhai, The Agastya Singh aaya hai inse milne," he said, his voice dripping with drama, "aur ye hai ki, darwaza band kar rahi hai."
(The agastya Singh is here to meet her and she is closing the door on me)

Meera's face flushed with embarrassment and confusion. "What are you doing here, Agastya?" she demanded, trying to hide the tremble in her voice.

Agastya chuckled, his eyes never leaving hers. "Don't tell me you didn't want me to come"

Meera's mind reeled as Agastya took a step closer, his presence filling the room. She felt like she was drowning in his gaze, unable to look away. What did he mean? And why was he here, in her room, at this hour? The questions swirled in her head, but she couldn't find her voice to ask them.

Meera's heart skipped a beat as Agastya's lips brushed against her forehead, sending shivers down her spine. The warmth of his embrace enveloped her, making her feel safe and cherished. She couldn't help but smile as she heard his whispered words, "I missed you so much."

But reality quickly set in, and she pulled away, her eyes scanning the room nervously. "Agastya, you can't be here," she whispered urgently. "If Baba finds out, he'll...he'll never forgive me. And you'll be in trouble too."

Agastya's expression turned serious, his eyes locking onto hers. "Mein jhokhim jaanta hu, Meera. Lekin mein door nahi reh sakta. Mujhe aapko dekhna tha ye Jaan ne ke liye ki aap surakshit hai."
("I know the risks, Meera. But I can't stay away. I needed to see you to make sure you were safe.")

Meera's heart fluttered at his words, but she knew she had to be practical. "You have to leave, Agastya. Now, before it's too late."

Agastya nodded reluctantly, his gaze lingering on hers. "I'll go, I'll go... calm down."

Meera took a deep breath and asked, "Why did you come here, Agastya?"

Agastya winked, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "To save you from Veer, of course."

Meera's eyes widened in shock. "After all that I told you..."

Agastya nodded, his expression turning serious. "After all that we've been through, Meera...I hope we're friends at least. And a friend in need is a friend indeed."