The Mafia heart ( book 1 )

chapter 17 A New Beginning

Vikram guided Mehek into the grand entrance of the newly designed college wing. The place looked just as she remembered, yet it felt different, almost too polished and perfect. It was quiet, with no hint of the crowd of students she was used to seeing here.

He walked beside her, keeping his hands in his pockets, trying to look casual, though his eyes constantly drifted over to gauge her reaction.

"Here we are, Mehek," he said, his voice gentle. "You can study as much as you want. I'm not going to stop you. This place is yours."

Mehek's face remained neutral, her eyes scanning the familiar hallways. She didn't say anything, simply looked around, trying to piece together her emotions.

Vikram cleared his throat, continuing, "I know it might feel... different. But you're safe here. I've made sure of it. There will be security nearby if you ever need anything, but they'll be invisible to you. You won't even know they're there."

She glanced at him, her expression unreadable. For a moment, Vikram felt a pang of uncertainty. Had he done too much? Not enough? He couldn't tell.

Finally, Mehek spoke, her voice soft, "I just... I just want to study, Vikram. Nothing else."

Vikram nodded quickly, trying to reassure her. "Of course, of course. That's all I want for you too. You deserve this chance to focus on what you love, Mehek."

She gave him a small nod, her eyes drifting away from him and settling on the rows of empty classrooms. Her silence weighed heavily between them, and Vikram shifted awkwardly, not sure what else to say.

After a moment, he added, "I'll be in my office if you need anything. Really, anything at all. You just focus on your studies."

Mehek simply nodded again, turning to enter the hallway without another word. Vikram watched her go, his chest tight with a mixture of hope and doubt. He wanted so badly for her to find peace here, to be happy in her own way.

Back in his office, Vikram sat at his desk, tapping his pen against the stack of papers in front of him, though he wasn't actually reading them. His thoughts drifted to Mehek, imagining her settling into her classes, seeing familiar faces again, maybe even enjoying herself. He smiled at the thought, feeling a faint sense of relief.

Just then, Arman strolled into the room with his usual grin, leaning against the doorframe. "Well, if it isn't Mr. Romantic himself. Thinking about Mehek, are we?"

Vikram shot him a look, trying to keep his expression serious, but the hint of a smile crept onto his face. "What if I am?"

Arman laughed, coming over to sit on the edge of Vikram's desk. "I knew it! Look at you, all daydreamy and distracted. You really have it bad, don't you?"

Vikram sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I just... I want her to be happy, Arman. I'm not sure if what I'm doing is enough or if I'm doing it right."

Arman raised an eyebrow. "Buying her a whole college wing? Providing all the resources she could ever need? I'd say you're doing quite a lot, Vikram. More than most would even think of."

Vikram looked away, a hint of frustration in his voice. "But what if she doesn't want any of this? What if she'd be happier just... I don't know, far away from all this?"

Arman gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Look, you're giving her a choice, aren't you? She doesn't have to study here if she doesn't want to. But the fact that you've done this shows her you care. That's what matters."

Just then, Kartikeye entered the room, his eyes moving from Vikram to Arman with a slight frown. "Are we working today, or is this office turning into a therapy session?"

Arman chuckled, nudging Kartikeye. "Relax, Kartik. Vikram here is just lost in his feelings. Thought I'd help him figure things out."

Kartikeye shook his head, taking a seat across from Vikram. "Well, as long as it doesn't get in the way of work."

Vikram managed a small smile. "I promise, I'm still focused. Just... taking a moment."

Arman smirked, crossing his arms. "Oh, he's focused, alright. Just not on the paperwork."

Vikram rolled his eyes, finally letting out a laugh as the light-hearted teasing eased his worries for a moment. Even though his mind was still on Mehek, he felt grateful for his friends' support.

The day was long, and Mehek buried herself in her studies, determined to block out everything else. Sitting in the college library, she glanced at her friends Sofia and Anamika, who had joined her, eager to catch up after so much time apart.

Sofia leaned over, her voice curious. "So, Mehek... are you really okay? I mean, this whole situation, it must be hard."

Mehek paused, looking at her friends thoughtfully before nodding. "It's... it's complicated, Sofia. But I'm managing. I just want to focus on my studies, you know?"

Anamika gave her a soft smile. "Well, we're here for you. If you ever need to talk, you can count on us."

Mehek smiled gratefully. "Thank you. It's just... everything changed so fast. And Vikram, he... he's trying, in his own way, I guess."

Sofia raised an eyebrow, her expression a bit skeptical. "And you're okay with him doing all this? Buying a college wing, arranging security... it sounds overwhelming."

Mehek looked down, her hands resting on her books. "I know it sounds strange. But... he's trying to help. I don't understand him sometimes, but I don't think he means any harm."

Anamika nodded, giving Mehek a reassuring pat on the back. "As long as you're okay, that's all that matters. Just remember, you're strong enough to handle this, Mehek."

Mehek nodded, her gaze firm. "I know. I'm not going to let anything stop me from achieving my goals."

They studied together for the rest of the day, talking, laughing, and sharing stories. For a while, Mehek felt a sense of normalcy, a brief escape from the weight of her complicated life.

Later that evening, Mehek returned home, her mind still buzzing from the day's lessons and conversations. But as she walked through the mansion, she noticed the light in the bar was on, laughter and conversation filtering out.

Curious, she made her way inside and found Vikram, Arman, and Kartikeye lounging around with drinks in their hands. Vikram's eyes lit up as he saw her.

"Mehek! How was your day?" he asked, sitting up a bit straighter, his gaze fixed on her.

She hesitated, glancing at the three of them, then shrugged. "It was... good. I studied with Sofia and Anamika. It felt nice to be back."

Vikram's face relaxed, and he nodded, a pleased look in his eyes. "I'm glad to hear that. You deserve to enjoy your studies without any worries."

Arman grinned, leaning forward. "Did anyone give you trouble today, Mehek? Because if they did, just say the word, and Vikram here will take care of them in an instant."

Mehek gave him a small smile. "No, nothing like that. Everyone was... nice."

Vikram reached out, resting his hand on her arm gently. "Good. But remember, if anything ever happens, you come straight to me, alright? I'll handle it."

Arman laughed, nudging Kartikeye. "See? He's got it all planned out. If anyone dares to mess with her, they'll be dealing with a whole lot of trouble."

Mehek shook her head, a bit amused despite herself. "I think I can handle it. But... thank you."

After a bit more conversation, Mehek stood, a bit tired from the day. Vikram noticed and rose with her, guiding her toward her room.

Once inside, he turned to her, his expression softer than usual. "I'm glad you had a good day, Mehek. Really."

She looked at him, her voice quiet. "Thank you for everything, Vikram. I... I appreciate it."

He nodded, his gaze lingering on her before he gently reached out, taking her hand. "Goodnight, Mehek."

Without letting go, he settled beside her, pulling her into a comforting embrace as they drifted into a peaceful sleep, feeling, for the first time, a sense of understanding between them.