My Soulmate

My Soulmate – Chapter 3: The Hunt Begins of Love, Life, and Her. She ran once. I won’t let her run again.

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My Soulmate – Blurb: What happens when your dream love collides with reality?
My Soulmate – Chapter 1: The Man in My Dreams. He was never supposed to have a face. Now, I can’t forget it.
My Soulmate – Chapter 2: When Your Dream Guy Chases You Back and Love Finds a Face
My Soulmate – Chapter 3: The Hunt Begins of Love, Life, and Her
My Soulmate – Chapter 4: Trapped in His World. Was it Ever Love or just a Never-ending Nightmare?

My Soulmate – Chapter 3: The Hunt Begins of Love, Life, and Her

Before you start reading this, I hope you have read CHAPTER 2.

My Soulmate – Chapter 2: When Your Dream Guy Chases You Back and Love Finds a Face

Vihaan

“Oh damn,” I growled, dragging my fingers through my hair, nails scraping against my scalp as frustration burned hot and wild beneath my skin. The chaos inside me churned, raw and restless, like it might break free if I didn’t do something—anything.

She was real. She fucking existed. In flesh, in blood, right in front of me, my dream girl existed.

It wasn’t a dream. Not some cruel trick of my imagination, no hallucination. A living, breathing woman. And before I could reach her—before I could say a single word—she ran. Like she was terrified of me. Like I was something to escape from.

I had been pissed when my assistant told me about the party. I had no interest to entertain the crowd or press but she begged as people were already here and I had to show my face for five minutes.

Those five minutes changed everything.

The old woman wasn’t lying. She wasn’t crazy like a part of my brain thought. The girl existed—and I’d seen her with my own damn eyes. That face… God, that face. I’d memorized every detail in the quiet hours of the night—those wide, startled eyes, lips that looked too soft to be real, and hair that begged to be tangled in my fingers.

She was beautiful in the kind of way that could wreck a man. And when she looked at me, it felt like she already had. I was gone the moment our eyes met. It was a feeling that overwhelmed me and I froze for a second. Just a second.

And she ran.

A muscle ticked in my jaw as I forced my fists to relax. People around me were talking animatedly, hoping to get something from me. My assistant hovered but I ignored them all.

I couldn’t lose control—not now. But how the hell was this possible? After all these years, after chasing ghosts and half-formed dreams, how could she suddenly be standing there in front of me?

But then again—impossible wasn’t exactly new for me. Not anymore.

I took a breath, slow and deep, but it did nothing to calm the roaring need inside me. Because no matter how insane it sounded—no matter how much it defied logic—she was mine. Fuck, I was the guy who ran away from relationships yet she was all I wanted. She was the one I wanted to cuddle with, she was the one I wanted to eat ice cream with.

I felt it deep in my bones, a truth so absolute it left no room for doubt. She belonged to me. Always had. And now that I’d found her, there wasn’t a force in the universe strong enough to keep me away.

But she ran.

Why?

Why the hell did she run from me?

What if she didn’t want me? What if… she was already with someone else? What would I do then? Fuck! I ran my hands in my hair, frustration gnawing on me.

Every muscle in my body ached to chase her. To grab her hand and pull her back where she belonged—pressed against me. But the damn crowd… they swallowed me whole. Hands grabbing, voices demanding, the weight of too many bodies pressing in from every direction.

My assistant’s wide, panicked eyes flashed in front of me, anchoring me for one breath too long. But the woman… she was gone.

Not for long.

I would find her.

“Anu, this wasn’t what was planned.” I growled at her.

“I know, I know. Sorry. Keep calm. I didn’t know so many people would show up to meet you.”

Only if she knew keeping calm right now was… the hardest thing to do.

I wasn’t the kind of man who let things go—especially not her. It was only a matter of time. How hard could it be to track down one woman? Especially when her face was burned into my memory like a brand—like she was carved into me.

But it wasn’t just her face. It was the way she looked at me. There was something behind those eyes. Recognition. Fear. She knew me—somehow. Not by name, maybe. But something inside her knew exactly who I was.

And that raised a whole new question—what did she know?

Damn, I wanted to shout so the entire world would know I had found her. It took me years, but finally, I reached the right place and got my answers without being called crazy. My teeth ground together as the old woman’s words echoed through my head. “Go to your ancestor’s place. Go where you came from, where you belong. She’s waiting for you there.”

At first, I thought she was spewing the same cryptic nonsense as everyone else who claimed to have answers. But the words stuck—burrowed beneath my skin—until they finally made sense. India. The place my father had left behind years ago. The place I had no intention of returning to until… now.

And here she was. Just like the old woman promised.

But if she was waiting for me—why did she run?

Why didn’t she ever try to find me?

The more I thought about it, the more that question burned. I’d spent years searching for her, chasing the pieces of a puzzle no one else could see. But she’d been here the whole time. Why didn’t she come looking for me?

My hands curled into fists again as I replayed the moment in my head. Her face—pale and wide-eyed. The way her breath hitched when our eyes met. She was scared of me. And I had no idea why. Did I do something to her that scared her? Not in real, because I was far away, but maybe in dreams. Maybe I did something to her that was scaring her of me now.

What the hell was she hiding?

And what didn’t I know?

I saw Anu call the security. They surrounded me and the crowd finally began to thin, but the echo of her still clung to the air. It was like she left a mark—something I couldn’t touch but could still feel. I wanted to reach for it. To pull her back into my world and never let her go.

And the worst part? She didn’t even give me a chance.

After everything—after years of questions and sleepless nights wondering if I was losing my mind—this was how it happened? A glimpse. A touch. And then she was gone.

I laughed under my breath—low and bitter—because, of course, it happened this way. Nothing about her was easy. Not in my dreams. And clearly, not in reality either.

But here’s the thing—she should’ve known better than to run.

Because now that I’d found her?

There was no way in hell I was letting her go.

She should’ve known better than to run. I wasn’t the kind of man you escaped from. And when I found her again—and I would find her—there would be no more running. No more questions hanging between us. I’d make sure of that.

But one thing burned hotter than everything else—the memory of her expression. She wasn’t just shocked. She was scared. And I needed to know why.

I’d spent years trying to unravel this mystery. Following dead-end leads. Chasing whispers and riddles no sane person would believe. But sometimes, reality didn’t fit neatly into logic. Sometimes, you had to trust what you felt—no matter how impossible it seemed. She was that for me. The one thing my brain refused to believe, no matter how real she felt in those dreams.

And now she was here. Real. Flesh and blood. And still, I couldn’t hold on to her.

A breath hissed through my teeth as I rubbed a hand down my face, but it didn’t help. Her wide, startled eyes were burned into my mind, gripping me like invisible chains. What had made her look at me like that? What was she so afraid of?

I wouldn’t hurt her. Ever. Didn’t she know that?

A movement caught my attention, and I dropped my hand to find my assistant, Anu, standing in front of me. Now that the crowd had backed away, she stood, waiting, scared, awaiting my next orders. She trembled like a leaf caught in a storm, her face pale beneath layers of expertly applied makeup. Behind her, the security team had finally pushed the crowd back, their voices blending into a distant hum.

This was supposed to be my grand public appearance—my official introduction to this new world. And instead, I was chasing ghosts and scaring the hell out of my assistant. She had no idea what was going on with me but if I didn’t handle the situation, my entry would fail her and I couldn’t let that happen.

I rolled my eyes but let her anxiety slide. I didn’t have time to soothe her nerves. Not when she was still out there.

“I want everything on that girl,” I said, my voice rougher than intended.

Anu blinked at me, wide-eyed and confused. “Um… yes, sir. Who is she? If you give me a name, I can—”

“I don’t know her name,” I cut in, my patience fraying. “I just met her today. But she ran—and I want to know why. Understood?”

She nodded quickly, but her hand clutched her chest like I’d given her a heart attack. My gaze sharpened on the notepad she held in a death grip. I snatched it from her fingers with a huff. This wasn’t her area of expertise. If I left it to her, I’d still be waiting for answers a year from now.

“Do you have a list of everyone who entered the hall?” I asked, flipping through the blank pages like they could magically give me what I wanted.

“Yes, but—”

“But what?” My head snapped up, and she flinched.

“Why do you want to find her?” Her voice trembled, but there was something else behind it—a trace of curiosity. Or worse, suspicion.

I stared at her for a long, tense second. Was she really questioning me right now?

“I don’t pay you to ask questions. I pay you to do your job,” I said, my tone cold enough to make her shrink back. “And your job is to find that girl. Do you need anything else?”

She shook her head so fast it was a blur. “No, sir. I’ll… I’ll ask around.”

Ask around? Pathetic. That wouldn’t be enough—not for something this important. I needed more. I needed answers. And I needed them yesterday.

I sighed, dragging a hand down my face again. God, I missed Rose. Back in London, she didn’t need constant direction. I gave her an order once, and it was done. No hesitation. No questions. She got things handled—efficiently and quietly. Unlike Anu, who was currently fidgeting like she wanted to crawl out of her skin.

I forced myself to stay calm. Snapping at her wouldn’t get me what I wanted any faster. My fingers curled into a fist, nails biting into my palm as I ground the chaos simmering beneath the surface into something colder. Something controlled.

“Are there CCTV cameras here?” I asked, keeping my voice even, though every nerve in my body screamed to tear through the crowd and track her down myself.

“Yes,” Anu answered quickly, relief flashing in her eyes—probably grateful I wasn’t biting her head off again.

“Good. Get the footage. And call the private investigator—now.”

“Okay… okay, will do,” she mumbled.

I would find her. And when I did? There would be no more running.

I nodded slightly, satisfied with her obedience. Finally, she was coming to terms with how I operated. Good for her—it meant she might last in this job longer than the others. But I wasn’t about to waste more time babysitting her.

“I’m leaving,” I said, already turning toward the exit.

“But… sir,” she stammered, scrambling to keep up with me. “Everyone is waiting for you to address them, and there’s a press conference scheduled.”

I barely suppressed a growl. As if I gave a damn about pleasing a room full of strangers. “I’m not interested in buttering up anyone. That was never my plan. I already have enough projects to build a solid base in India. Let Aayush handle the rest of the evening.” My voice was clipped, final. “All calls are on hold except for anything related to that girl. I want every detail. As soon as possible.”

Anu swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes, sir. Your dinner meeting?”

“Postpone it.”

“Okay.”

I didn’t wait for her to say anything else. I watched her disappear into the crowd, shaking my head slightly. Maybe she’d get the job done. Maybe not. Either way, it didn’t matter—I wasn’t leaving this to chance. This wasn’t something I could let slip through my fingers. Not again.

Because the moment I laid eyes on her, something inside me shifted—snapped into place like I’d been waiting for this all along. She was the missing piece. And if she thought she could vanish into thin air—if she thought she could outrun me—she was wrong.

I had taken only two steps when someone tapped my shoulder. The touch was light, hesitant—but it didn’t matter. My control was razor-thin, and I was ready to snap. I turned sharply, ready to tear into whoever thought it was a good idea to stop me, murder practically vibrating off me.

The anger flickered out—just for a second—when I saw her face. A girl. Sharp eyes. Chin raised like she wasn’t the least bit intimidated by the way I was towering over her. The only problem? She was glaring at me like I’d personally ruined her entire week.

“Yes?” I gritted out, barely keeping the edge out of my voice. I didn’t have time for this.

“I’m a journalist—” she started.

I cut her off before she could spew whatever nonsense she’d rehearsed. “Sorry. Step away. Get in touch with my assistant.”

I hated journalists. They twisted facts like it was a sport—dragging my family’s name through the mud for the crime of leaving India to chase something better. If not for the girl, I wouldn’t have even stepped foot here. They could all rot for all I cared.

But this one? She didn’t seem the type to let things slide.

“Hey, man, calm down and cut the attitude. I don’t want your interview,” she snapped, crossing her arms. “I want to know why my friend ran away after looking at you. What the hell did you do to her? One glance, and she bolted like she saw a ghost. If you hurt her, I swear I’ll ruin you. I don’t care if you’re Vihaan Kapoor—no one messes with my best friend.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Hope curled low in my stomach, sharp and sudden. Her friend. She knew her.

I took a step closer, letting my height do the talking, but she didn’t back down. Interesting. Most people folded under the weight of my presence—but not her. That was fine. I could play this game, too.

“Your friend,” I repeated, tasting the word. She lifted a brow like she wasn’t impressed. “What’s her name?”

“Mihika,” she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “The one you scared the hell out of.”

Mihika.

The name slid through my mind like a key turning a lock, and something inside me quieted. The tension buzzing beneath my skin? Gone. Just like that. The sound of her name was enough to calm the storm I’d been drowning in for years.

And I wanted more.

Who the hell was she to make me feel like this? And what could she do to me if she ever stayed in my presence? I needed to know. I needed to see her again—to feel that impossible calm settle over me.

“I’m waiting,” the journalist said, dragging me back to the present with an exaggerated sigh. “What did you do to her?”

“I did nothing,” I said truthfully, though my voice came out lower, rougher. “But I need to find her.”

The girl tilted her head, studying me like she was trying to decide if I was dangerous or just insane. “Yeah, well, good luck with that. She’s not exactly in the mood to be found.”

“I want her address,” I said, cutting to the point. I didn’t care about being polite. Not when she was already slipping through my fingers.

She let out a sharp laugh. “Wow. You don’t waste time, do you?” Her smile faded as her eyes hardened. “Why would I give you that?”

I bit back the urge to snap. I didn’t have the patience for her games—but I could play them if it got me what I wanted. I let the silence stretch, measuring her reaction before I struck where it would hurt the most.

“You want an exclusive interview, right?” My voice was smooth, controlled. Everyone had a price. I just needed to figure out hers.

Her expression shifted the moment I said it—a flicker of interest flashing across her face. There it was. She might play the righteous friend now, but I knew better. Everyone wanted something.

She huffed out a laugh, but there was no humor in it. “You think I’ll sell my friend for your stupid, useless interview?” Her voice was sharp, her words dripping with disdain.

I narrowed my eyes, irritation curling hot and fast inside me. No one—no one—spoke to me like that. Not without consequences. If she were anyone else, I would’ve had her badge stripped, her career reduced to ashes with a single phone call. I could have her thrown out—hell, I could make sure she never stepped foot near an event like this again. But I needed her. And I wasn’t the kind of man to let pride get in the way when I wanted something.

So, instead, I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stay calm. For now.

“What’s your price?” I asked, my voice even, but the threat underneath was clear—I wasn’t a man to waste time.

Her gaze sharpened as she met my eyes, holding them with a defiance that almost impressed me. Almost. She tilted her head slightly, as if trying to figure out what kind of man I was. But I wasn’t some fool she could intimidate. I was Vihaan Kapoor—not some kid playing dress-up in a suit.

Without another word, she snatched a drink from a passing waiter. I did the same, keeping my focus on her as we drank in silence. She was stalling, and I let her. Let her think she had the upper hand. Let her feel in control.

The moment her glass clinked against the tray, she gave me a slow nod. “I need to know why.”

I arched a brow. “Why, what?”

“Why do you want her address?” she pressed, her curiosity flaring to life.

How the hell was I supposed to answer that? I couldn’t tell her the truth—that I’d spent days chasing the ghost of a woman I didn’t understand, that the moment I saw her tonight, something inside me shifted, locked into place like she was the only thing I’d been missing. No. That kind of honesty would get me nowhere.

I needed a lie. And a good one.

“We met online,” I said, letting the words fall easily from my lips.

Her face shifted instantly—disbelief turning into open-mouthed shock. She bought it. I filed that reaction away for later.

“You?” she blurted, her voice rising with incredulity. “You’re the guy? Oh, my God. She’s been lying to me all along—but also, not lying. She kept saying things—dropping hints—but I thought she was just being weird. You met online? Seriously?”

I shrugged, playing it cool. “Why else would I come to India?” My voice dipped lower, carrying just enough truth to make the lie convincing. “I don’t need to be here. London suited me just fine.”

Her mouth fell open slightly. “You moved for her?”

I let the silence stretch, knowing when to hold back. People always filled the silence with their own assumptions if you let them.

“I didn’t want it to happen this way,” I finally admitted, softening my tone just enough. “I wanted to take things slow—do this the right way. But Mihika… she’s not easy to reach. You know how she is.”

It was a gamble, but it paid off. Her face softened just enough for me to know I’d hit the mark.

“Yeah,” she muttered, almost to herself. “She’s like that—always finding a way to screw herself over. She’s been talking about her dreams, going mad and making me crazy along with her, and I thought she meant something else. But now… Damn. She was talking about you. She just… maybe she didn’t know how to put it in words.”

The word dreams rang in my ears like an alarm bell. I latched onto it instantly. “Dreams?” I repeated, keeping my tone casual, though my pulse kicked up a notch. This was the closest I’d gotten to a real answer.

Her expression shifted, guarded again. “Why do you care?”

I leaned in just slightly, letting the weight of my words settle. “If you know her like you say you do, then you know she’s not easy to understand. I’m trying. But I need to find her to do that.”

She hesitated, her fingers twitching around her empty glass. There was something she wasn’t saying—something big. I could feel it.

“Are you telling the truth?” she asked, her voice unusually quiet. “Because Mihika… she’s not someone you play with. Life’s already done enough damage. I don’t need you adding to it.”

I wanted to snap, to tell her I wasn’t here to hurt Mihika. If anything, the opposite was true. But I bit down on the words. This wasn’t the time to lose my temper.

“I know that,” I said instead, letting a hint of frustration slip through. “But you think she’s the kind of girl who spills everything on a chat app? I can’t even get her to open up properly, and I’m supposed to do it from miles away?”

Her frown deepened, uncertainty flickering across her face.

I glanced at her badge. Nicky Chopra. “Look, Nicky. If you won’t give me her address, I’ll find another way. I can track her down through the app, but that could take weeks. And by then, I might lose her completely. I don’t want that. I’m asking you—help me.”

She exhaled a long breath, torn between loyalty and curiosity.

“Whatever you’re saying makes sense, but…” Her voice trailed off as if she were trying to convince herself it was okay.

I stepped back, making my move. “Forget it. I’m done wasting time. If you won’t help, I’ll handle it myself.”

“Wait!” She held up a hand, and I knew I had her. “Okay. Fine. I’ll give you her address. Just… don’t hurt her. She doesn’t deserve more pain.”

I nodded, hiding the rush of victory humming through my veins. “I won’t.”

She reached into her bag for a notepad but suddenly froze, her gaze narrowing. “Wait a minute… You’re lying.”

I stiffened, my mask slipping for a fraction of a second.

“Mihika tells me everything. She may hide details, but she’d never forget someone. And just minutes ago, I mentioned your name—she didn’t even react. She didn’t know you.”

My mind spun fast. She was smarter than I’d given her credit for. But I could still turn this around.

“We used pen names,” I said smoothly. “You’re a journalist—don’t act surprised. Do you think I’d risk my real identity on a chat app? If my name leaked, the media would have a field day.”

Her lips pursed, weighing my words. And then, finally, she nodded.

“Alright,” she sighed. “I’ll give you the address.”

I relaxed slightly. Good choice, Nicky. Because one way or another—I was going to find Mihika. And once I did, she wasn’t escaping again.

Anu flipped open her diary, ready to scribble down the address, but I didn’t need that. I had no patience for her slow, methodical ways. Instead, I pulled out my phone, opened Google Maps, and punched in the address myself. The house number burned into my mind like it had always been waiting there. Without another word—or a thank you—I turned on my heel and left. Gratitude wasn’t my style, not when I was this close.

I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. After all these years of searching, of chasing shadows, it had happened—just like that. What were the odds? This wasn’t coincidence. It couldn’t be. It felt… bigger. Karmic. As if some unseen force had pulled our strings and brought us face-to-face again. I’d spent a fortune hiring private investigators, combing through every possible lead, but in the end, fate had handed her to me on a silver platter. And now, nothing—no one—could keep me from her.

Mihika… here I come.

For five years, she had lived in the back of my mind—always there, always out of reach. A shadow I couldn’t escape. I told myself it was over. That she was just an illusion or something weird. But the truth? She haunted me. In every quiet moment. In every restless night. And now?

Now, I was going to get my answers. No more guessing. No more theories.

I knew things—things that didn’t make sense—but she was the missing piece. Only Mihika could make it all fit. And once I had her in front of me, she wouldn’t be able to hide from the truth. Not anymore.

A strange sense of calm settled over me, heavier than anything I’d felt in years. It was ridiculous—I should’ve been tense, impatient. But all I felt was peace. Like the chaos I’d carried for so long had suddenly quieted.

Even as I slid into the backseat of my car, leaving the buzzing event behind, that feeling didn’t fade. It grew. As if everything in my life—every choice, every wrong turn—had led me to this moment. To her.

And all it took was one look. A single glance at her across that crowded room, and the endless agitation that had clawed at me for years simply… dissolved. Gone.

How the hell did she do that?

She hadn’t even spoken a word to me. She had barely breathed in my direction. But somehow, with just her presence, she had settled something raw and restless inside me. As if my soul had been waiting for hers—and nothing else could quiet the storm.

It didn’t make sense. I didn’t believe in fairytales or fate. But I couldn’t deny what I felt. Not when it was this strong.

She had run once. I wouldn’t let her run again. Not this time.

I leaned back in my seat, my jaw tight as the city lights blurred past the window. Mihika wasn’t going to like what I was about to do. I knew that. But it didn’t matter. I had given her time—five long years—to come to me. She hadn’t. Now, I was taking control. She could hate me for it. She could fight me. But she wasn’t slipping through my fingers again.

Because this wasn’t just about answers anymore. It wasn’t even about the obsession that had consumed me since the day she disappeared. It was about something deeper—something I couldn’t explain but felt in every bone of my body.

Our lives were tangled together, whether either of us wanted to admit it. And if we had any hope of peace—of happiness—we needed to face whatever this was.

Together.

And I would make damn sure she had no choice.

The End of My Soulmate – Chapter 3.
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