Spoilers of upcoming chapter is out on Instagram - manni_sharma7

Are you ready? Brace yourself, because once you start reading, there's no turning back.

Drop your thoughts, share your excitement, and let's dive in! 🚀📖

Meera's Pov:

The walls of the safehouse felt too small.

I paced near the window, my hands clenched into fists, my breath uneven. Every shadow outside looked like a threat. Every sound made my pulse spike.

I wasn't stupid.

I knew my father.

If he wanted me back, he would find a way.

And when he did... I wasn't sure if I would survive it.

Arjun stood by the table, flipping through the ledger, his face unreadable. But I noticed the way his grip on the pages tightened, how his jaw tensed.

"This is enough to take him down," he muttered.

I exhaled sharply. "Then why do you sound like it won't matter?"

His eyes flickered to mine. "Because men like your father don't go down without a fight."

I already knew that.

But hearing it out loud made the fear real.

The phone buzzed.

I grabbed it, my stomach twisting when I saw the message.

Unknown Number: You should've stayed home, beta.

My breath caught. The air around me suddenly felt suffocating.

Arjun was already moving. He snatched the phone from my hands, scanning the screen. His expression shifted-darkening into something cold. Dangerous.

"He found us."

There was no time to think.

Arjun grabbed the ledger, stuffing it into a backpack. I barely had time to grab my jacket before he was pulling me toward the door.

I had spent years living under my father's rule.

But now?

I was running from him.

And he was right behind me.

The moment we stepped outside, Arjun's grip on my wrist tightened.

"Stay close," he ordered.

I barely managed a nod before I saw them.

Two black SUVs parked across the street.

Men in suits. Dark sunglasses.

Watching. Waiting.

My pulse spiked. My stomach turned.

Arjun swore under his breath. "We need to move. Now."

He didn't wait.

He pulled me into the crowd, and I followed without question.

The streets of Mumbai were loud-honking cars, shouting vendors, the scent of spices and rain-soaked pavement filling the air.

But all I could hear was the blood rushing in my ears.

They were following us.

I didn't dare turn around, but I felt it. The weight of their presence pressing against my spine, closing in.

"Meera, don't stop," Arjun muttered.

I didn't.

Even as my legs burned.

Even as my lungs screamed.

And then-fingers clamped around my arm.

I gasped, twisting, panic surging through me.

But before I could react-Arjun was there.

A punch.

A grunt.

A body hitting the ground.

And then-his hand gripping mine, pulling me forward.

"Keep moving," he growled.

I didn't argue.

Because I knew-

The next time they caught me...

I might not get away.

The streets blurred as I ran.

My heart pounded, lungs burning, every step fueled by fear and adrenaline.

Arjun’s grip on my wrist was tight—not enough to hurt, but enough to keep me close. To keep me safe.

I could hear them behind us.

My father’s men.

They were getting closer.

And if they caught me—I knew how this would end.

We turned a corner.

And ran straight into a dead end.

My stomach dropped.

No. No, no, no.

I spun around, panic clawing at my throat. Footsteps thundered behind us. We were out of time.

Arjun muttered a curse, his eyes darting around.

We needed a way out.

The alley was narrow, dark, a single fire escape leading up the side of an old building.

Arjun’s grip tightened on my hand. Then he shoved me toward the ladder.

"Climb."

I hesitated. "What about you?"

He pulled out his gun.

"I'll be right behind you. Go. Now."

I didn’t argue.

Hands shaking, I grabbed the ladder, climbing as fast as I could.

Below me, I heard a scuffle. A grunt. A sharp crack of bone.

And then—gunfire.

I froze. "Arjun?"

A second later, his hand gripped the edge of the ladder. "Keep moving!"

I climbed faster, my pulse pounding in my ears.

By the time I reached the rooftop, my arms ached, my breath ragged.

Arjun pulled himself up behind me.

"Are you okay?" I gasped.

His face was tense, his jaw clenched.

"Keep running."

And then—we jumped.

The rooftops were uneven, broken, the gaps between buildings too wide, too dangerous.

But there was no other choice.

I leaped.

My landing was rough—hands scraping against the concrete, my knee hitting hard.

Arjun grabbed my waist, pulling me up before I could slip.

For a split second—everything else disappeared.

His hands. His warmth. His eyes locked on mine.

The world around us faded, danger momentarily forgotten.

And then—more gunshots.

Arjun pulled away first, scanning the surroundings. "We need to get off the rooftops."

I nodded, chest heaving. "How?"

He looked down at the narrow alley below.

"We jump."

My stomach twisted. "That's—"

"Trust me."

His voice was steady. Certain.

And I did.

So, I jumped.

We landed hard.

Pain shot up my leg as my ankle twisted. I gasped, stumbling—but Arjun was there.

His arms wrapped around me, steadying me.

"I've got you."

I gripped his shirt, grounding myself.

"That was insane."

His lips twitched. "You made it, didn’t you?"

I looked up at him, my chest rising and falling.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

His hands were still on my waist. Holding me. Keeping me steady.

And suddenly—the world felt too quiet.

The only thing I could hear was my heartbeat.

And his.

I swallowed. "Arjun—"

"Don’t." His voice was lower than before.

"Don't what?"

His fingers brushed against my skin.

"Don’t look at me like that."

("Yeh scene spoilers se hai... but obviously, aapko pata hi nahi hoga. Aap kaun sa spoilers dekhte ho, right?" 😉)

My breath hitched.

Because I was looking at him like that.

Like he was the only thing keeping me from falling apart completely.

Because he was.

But before I could say anything—his phone buzzed.

He cursed, stepping back.

The moment shattered.

I exhaled shakily, trying to ignore the ache in my chest.

Arjun glanced at the screen. His expression hardened.

"Vikram found something," he said. "Something big."

I wiped a hand over my face. "Bigger than us being hunted?"

His jaw tightened.

"Your father’s making his next move."

My stomach dropped.

"What move?"

Arjun met my gaze.

And what he said next changed everything.

To be continued
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Sach bolo toh ummed nhi thi, thodi hurt zaroor hoon. 💔"

Views kam ho rahe hain, votes bhi, aur comments toh jaise gayab ho gaye hain... Kya aapko sach mein Tangled Hearts pasand aa rahi hai?

Phir bhi, aaj ek naya chapter la rahi hoon-sirf un readers ke liye jo dil se is kahani ko support kar rahe hain. Par ek request hai-vote aur comment zaroor karna!

Thank you

Your Author

Manni