Karan stood frozen, the breath caught in his chest, as his eyes locked onto Meera. She was standing by the drinks table, looking effortlessly composed, even though the chaos of the party swirled around her. She was dressed in a deep red dress that hugged her figure in a way that made Karan’s heart skip a beat. It was the kind of outfit she would never wear to the simple coffee shop dates they’d had.
But it wasn’t just her dress that left him reeling—it was the way she stood there, casually chatting with Jai. Jai. The new guy. The guy who’d clearly made his intentions toward her known, and she seemed so… unaffected. Her smile was soft, but there was something about the way she was looking at him that made Karan feel a sharp, painful twist in his stomach.
His feet were moving before he even realized it, weaving through the crowd, pushing past bodies without a second thought. His mind raced, full of confusion and a sense of betrayal that he couldn’t shake. Why is she here with him? Karan didn’t stop to think.
He reached them quickly, and without so much as a glance at Jai, Karan grabbed Meera’s arm and yanked her away, pulling her through the throngs of people.
“Hey, what the hell, man?” Jai called out, but Karan didn’t acknowledge him. He didn’t care.
Meera, looking mildly startled, didn’t try to resist as Karan dragged her toward the back of the house, away from the music and the loud chatter. It was quieter back here, but not completely isolated. Karan didn’t stop until they were far enough from the party’s center, a little alleyway with just a few people walking by, but nowhere near as crowded.
“Why the hell are you here with him?” Karan demanded, his voice low, full of frustration. His hands gripped her shoulders with an intensity that made him realize just how angry he was. “You never come to these things. You don’t hang out with people like him. So why now?”
Meera raised an eyebrow, clearly unbothered by his harsh grip. She gave a small, disinterested shrug. “It’s really not a big deal, Karan.”
Karan’s eyes narrowed. “It’s a huge deal. You came to the party because Jai guilt-tripped you? You never go to parties, and now you’re here, letting him flirt with you like it’s nothing.”
Meera’s expression remained unreadable, though the faintest smile touched her lips. “He’s harmless, Karan. He just said he didn’t know anyone and I felt bad for him. It’s not like I’m doing anything wrong.”
Karan’s chest tightened at her nonchalant tone. “It’s not about whether he’s harmless. You let him flirt with you, Meera. You didn’t stop him. You’re letting him get too close.”
Meera seemed to grow a bit more amused, raising both her eyebrows now. “You’re making a big deal out of nothing. I’m just talking to him.”
Karan was fuming now. “You never talk to people like this, Meera. You’ve been shutting everyone out for months. And now you’re here with him like it’s normal? Like I don’t even exist?”
Meera crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. “What’s your problem, Karan? Why do you even care so much? You barely know me. You have no right to get mad over something so small.”
Karan’s blood boiled at her words. Clueless. She has no idea. “Is that what you think? That I’m overreacting?” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Are you really so clueless, Meera?” His voice was shaking with frustration. “Do you not realize why I’m acting this way? Why do you think I care so much?”
Meera’s brow furrowed in confusion. “I don’t know. I just thought you were upset because you’re overthinking it. It’s nothing.”
His breath hitched in his chest. She really didn’t get it. She couldn’t possibly understand how much this hurt him. The thought of her with Jai, laughing, looking at him the way she never looked at Karan—it was unbearable.
YOU ARE READING
Silent Vows
عاطفيةKaran Kapoor has always lived life on his own terms-charming, confident, and a notorious playboy who never took anything too seriously. Relationships were just a game to him, and emotions were something he could easily brush aside. That is, until a...
