Chapter 2: The Trap
1432 Words
The city didn’t sleep.
It watched.
Meher felt it in the way the streetlights flickered against her window, in the distant hum of traffic that never truly faded. Delhi moved like a living thing—restless, breathing, waiting.
And tonight…
It felt like it was watching her.
She shut the curtains with more force than necessary, her pulse still uneven from what had happened in the parking lot.
Aarav Malhotra.
Even thinking his name felt like stepping into something dangerous.
“Get a grip, Meher,” she muttered, dropping her bag onto the chair.
She had faced powerful people before. Arrogant men with money and influence weren’t new to her.
So why—
Why did this feel different?
Her eyes drifted to the file still clutched in her hand.
The reason.
The mistake.
The beginning of something she didn’t understand yet.
Slowly, she placed it on the table.
For a moment, she just stared at it.
Then, with a steadying breath, she opened it.
Names.
Transactions.
Hidden accounts.
Her brows furrowed as she flipped through the pages faster now, her legal instincts kicking in.
This wasn’t just corruption.
This was… structured. Organized. Clean in a way that made it even more dangerous.
Like whoever built this—
Had planned every move years in advance.
Her stomach tightened.
And then—
She saw it.
A name.
Her breath caught.
“No way…”
Her fingers trembled slightly as she traced the letters, as if touching them would somehow change what she was seeing.
But it didn’t.
Because it was still there.
Clear. Sharp. Impossible.
Aarav Malhotra.
Her mind raced.
Of course he was involved.
But not like this.
Not at the center.
Not as the one pulling every string.
“s**t…”
She ran a hand through her hair, pacing now.
This wasn’t just something she could ignore.
This was the kind of information people disappeared for.
The kind that ruined lives.
Ended them.
And somehow—
She had it.
A sharp knock broke through her thoughts.
Her body froze.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Measured.
Deliberate.
Her heart started pounding again.
No one visited her this late.
No one even knew she was here—
Her breath hitched.
Except…
“No,” she whispered to herself. “It can’t be him.”
Another knock.
This time louder.
Her instincts screamed at her not to move.
But something else—
Something stubborn, reckless—
Pushed her forward.
Step by step, she approached the door.
Her hand hovered over the handle.
For a second, she considered ignoring it.
Pretending she wasn’t home.
Pretending none of this was happening.
But deep down—
She knew.
That wouldn’t stop him.
Slowly, she opened the door.
And there he was.
Of course.
Aarav Malhotra didn’t look like someone who waited.
He looked like someone who arrived.
Black coat. Dark eyes. Presence filling the narrow hallway like it belonged to him.
His gaze dropped briefly to the file visible behind her.
Then back to her face.
Unbothered.
Unhurried.
Certain.
“You’re predictable,” he said calmly.
Meher leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms. “And you’re trespassing.”
A faint smirk touched his lips.
“Your lock didn’t stop me from finding you. Do you really think a door will?”
Her jaw tightened.
“Say what you came to say.”
He didn’t move.
Didn’t step in.
Didn’t push.
Which somehow made it worse.
“I’m giving you a choice.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That’s funny. You don’t seem like the type.”
“I’m not,” he agreed easily. “But tonight… I’m feeling generous.”
Arrogant.
Infuriating.
Dangerous.
“What choice?” she asked.
Aarav finally stepped forward.
Not into her space—
But close enough that she could feel the shift in the air.
“The file,” he said, nodding slightly behind her. “Give it to me… and walk away.”
Meher let out a short laugh.
“You think I’m stupid?”
His gaze sharpened just a fraction.
“I think you’re in over your head.”
“Try me.”
A pause.
Something unspoken passed between them.
A silent challenge.
And Aarav…
Accepted it.
“Alright,” he said quietly. “Let’s drop the simple version.”
Her pulse quickened.
Because his tone had changed.
Less controlled.
More… real.
“You don’t give it to me,” he continued, “this becomes a problem.”
Meher tilted her head. “For who?”
“For you.”
She stepped closer now, closing the gap herself.
“If I expose this,” she said, holding his gaze, “you’re the one who should be worried.”
Aarav didn’t react.
Didn’t flinch.
Didn’t even blink.
Instead, he reached into his coat.
Meher tensed—
But he simply pulled out a folder.
Thicker.
Heavier.
And dropped it onto the table behind her.
“Open it.”
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then curiosity won.
Turning, she walked inside, flipping it open.
Her breath stopped.
Legal documents.
Official.
Stamped.
Signed.
Her name stared back at her from the top page.
“What is this…?” she whispered.
“Your problem,” Aarav replied from behind her.
Her eyes scanned the page faster now.
Fraud.
Forgery.
Financial misconduct.
Her heart started racing.
“This is fake.”
“It doesn’t have to be real,” he said calmly. “It just has to be convincing.”
She spun around, anger flaring.
“You’re blackmailing me?”
“I’m protecting my interests.”
“By ruining my life?”
Aarav stepped closer.
Now there was no distance left.
“No,” he said softly. “By giving you a way to keep it.”
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
“This is insane.”
“Is it?”
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping.
“You’re smart, Meher. You know how this works. Evidence can be created… destroyed… rewritten.”
A beat.
“And right now, your future is… flexible.”
Her hands curled into fists.
“You won’t get away with this.”
Aarav studied her face.
Every flicker of emotion.
Every ounce of resistance.
And then—
He spoke the words that changed everything.
“Sign a contract.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
“What?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“You work for me,” he said. “Stay close. Follow my rules.”
Her heart slammed.
“And in return?”
“I make all of this disappear.”
Her mind raced.
This wasn’t a deal.
This was a cage.
“No.”
The word came out instantly.
Sharp.
Defiant.
Aarav didn’t look surprised.
“If you refuse,” he continued, almost casually, “this file goes to the authorities by morning.”
Her breath caught.
“You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
Silence stretched again.
Thicker this time.
He wasn’t bluffing.
She could see it in his eyes.
Feel it in the way he stood—completely unbothered by her refusal.
Because to him—
This was already decided.
Meher swallowed hard, her thoughts spiraling.
This couldn’t be happening.
Not like this.
Not so fast.
She looked at the file again.
Then at him.
Then back again.
Trapped.
Cornered.
Outplayed.
Her voice came out quieter this time.
“…What kind of contract?”
Aarav’s gaze darkened slightly.
Victory.
Not loud.
Not obvious.
But there.
“The kind,” he said, stepping closer one last time, “where you don’t get to walk away.”
Her heart skipped.
And for the first time—
She realized something terrifying.
This wasn’t just about the file.
This wasn’t just about control.
This was something else.
Something deeper.
Something personal.
And she had just stepped right into it.
Aarav held out a pen.
“Sign it.”
Meher stared at it.
At him.
At the invisible line she was about to cross.
Once she did—
There was no going back.
Her fingers moved.
Slowly.
Hesitantly.
Hovering over the paper.
And just as the pen touched the page—
Her phone rang.
Sharp. Sudden. Breaking everything.
She flinched, glancing at the screen.
Unknown number.
For a second, she considered ignoring it.
But something—
Something told her not to.
She answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then—
A voice.
Faint.
Shaky.
Familiar.
“Meher… help me…”
Her blood ran cold.
Because she knew that voice.
Impossible.
Unreal.
Dead.
“…Aanya?”
Aarav’s expression changed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Enough for Meher to see it.
And understand—
This wasn’t a coincidence.
This was just the beginning.
- Writer
