Ethereal: Eternal Echoes

10

Ishan Shah strolled through the marble-floored hallways of his penthouse, the soft glow of the afternoon sun casting long shadows on the walls. His mind, usually consumed by the relentless demands of his business, felt unusually detached today. The morning's encounter at the Iskcon temple had barely registered in his thoughts, and even now, it seemed more like a distant
memory than a recent event.

Ishan in his mind, "Smriti is so changed physically, more attractive features, beautiful brown eyes, long dark brown hair. Huhhh!! Come back Ishan, she is your no one! Your former girlfriend has no rights to come as your thoughts."

He made his way to his expansive desk, cluttered with reports, contracts, and an array of business paraphernalia. His phone buzzed incessantly with notifications. Ishan glanced at it briefly, dismissing most messages with a quick swipe. The business world never slept, but today, he felt a peculiar sense of indifference. The encounter with Smriti, the woman from his past, seemed almost trivial compared to the gravity of his daily responsibilities.
As he settled into his leather chair, his friend Advik's name flashed on the screen. Ishan tapped the notification and read the message: "Don't forget, we're meeting tonight. It's been ages. Let's catch up!"

Ishan smiled faintly, remembering their plans. It was true; life had been so consumed by work that social gatherings had become rare. Advik, Binita, Krishiv, and Adhira were old friends from school, a tight-knit group that had drifted apart as their lives had taken different paths. Tonight's dinner would be a welcome change from his usual routine.
By late afternoon, Ishan was at the restaurant, a stylish yet cozy establishment favored by the city's elite. The restaurant had a warm ambiance, with soft lighting and elegant décor that made it a perfect venue for catching up with old friends.
He arrived early, finding a secluded table where he could enjoy a moment of solitude before the others arrived. His thoughts, though, kept drifting back to the morning. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something significant had transpired, but he quickly brushed it off.
"It was just a chance meeting, nothing more."
As Ishan tapped his fingers on the table, his friends started to trickle in, each one greeted with enthusiastic hugs and hearty laughter. Advik, always the most energetic of the group, was the first to arrive, followed by Binita, and finally Krishiv and Adhira.
The evening unfolded with familiar ease. They reminisced about old times, shared updates on their lives, and joked about their various misadventures. The restaurant buzzed with their laughter, a stark contrast to the often cold and solitary environment of Ishan's work life.Binita, noticed that Ishan seemed more relaxed than usual. "You seem to be in a good mood tonight," she remarked with a playful smile.
Ishan shrugged, a casual grin spreading across his face. "Just enjoying the company. It's been a while since we all got together."
As the night progressed, the conversation shifted to lighter topics-upcoming vacations, new hobbies, and exciting career moves. Ishan kept the conversation engaging, but he chose not to bring up the morning's encounter. It seemed irrelevant in the context of their cheerful reunion.
After a delightful meal filled with laughter and camaraderie, Ishan headed back to his penthouse, feeling recharged by the evening's interactions. The vibrant energy of his friends had provided a welcome distraction from his usual preoccupations.
As he walked into his apartment, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from Samar, his colleague: "Just a reminder about the business party in 16 days. It's your close friend, Manav's engagement and you have to reschedule the tasks of the day!!"

Ishan read the message and nodded to himself. The business party was a significant event. He'd need to be at the event with his family as Manav was also the son of his father's bestfriend Darsh.

Placing his phone on the table, Ishan began to unwind, reflecting on the day. Despite the pleasant evening with friends, a nagging thought lingered in the back of his mind. The encounter with Smriti at the temple had seemed inconsequential earlier, but now it felt like a shadow lurking just beyond his consciousness.
He tried to push the thought away and focus on the tasks ahead. Ishan sat at his desk, reviewing documents and making plans for the upcoming business party. As he worked, he found his mind occasionally drifting to the image of Smriti, her smile from the morning, and the brief but intense flash of emotions he had felt.

He shook his head, trying to dispel the distractions. It was late, and exhaustion began to take its toll. With a sigh, he closed his laptop and stood up, stretching his arms above his head. The room was still, save for the faint sound of traffic outside.
Ishan glanced at a framed photo on his desk-one of his younger self with his family. The image of his mother, Aparjita, who had always been a pillar of support and wisdom, crossed his mind. He remembered her words about balance and fulfillment. Even amidst his successes, he had struggled to find contentment, often feeling like he was missing something crucial.
He decided to call it a night. As he prepared for bed, he couldn't help but wonder if the morning's encounter had somehow planted a seed of reflection. Could it be that the meeting with Smriti was more than just a coincidence? Could it be a sign or a message from the universe about unresolved feelings or paths yet to be crossed?
The night wrapped around him as he lay in bed, the city lights casting faint patterns through the curtains. Sleep came slowly, with fragments of memories and unresolved emotions weaving through his dreams.
In the quiet hours of the night, Ishan's mind wandered through the echoes of his past, the choices he had made, and the person he had become. The morning's encounter with Smriti was a whisper from the past, a reminder of the love he had once known and lost.
As he drifted into sleep, he felt a vague sense of anticipation-a feeling that perhaps the threads of his past and present were more intricately woven than he had realized. The morning's encounter was a fleeting moment, but it had stirred something deep within him. For now, he chose to focus on his work and the imminent business party, but the echoes of the past lingered, promising that the journey was far from over.
***
author: Some old wounds never truly heal, and bleed again at the slightest word !!

Smriti loved Ishan so truly but do you think he ever had the same feeling? Actually no. Ykw I have seen that when a person irrespective of his/her gender loves someone unconditionally, is ready to sacrifice their self respect, their behavior, their everything; always suffers the most. According to my personal perspective, one sided love is beautiful if the opposite person was never ever yours!! But when it is like once they loved you (maybe they didn't) and now they don't give a fuck about you, it hurts. I personally request those people who take their relationships as a timepass or an entertainment or fun, PLEASE don't play with someone's heart. They are not a toy. If you don't love them, also don't give them false hopes and fake promises. Instead reject them the very first time, they will feel temporary pain after your rejection but when you fake date them and leave, they won't be able to be happy like before ever and won't believe in love their whole life .
I know I wrote a long note today but tell honestly, do you think I'm actually wrong here?

Anyways, these were the chapters of pain. But now, for the next very few chapters (specially those of Smriti's perspective) will be of extreme pain. And ya, something exciting is on the way!! You'll enjoy fr if you stay with the story till the end ofc. Thank you so much to come till here. Do vote the story, follow my Wattpad and Instagram account. Till then, take care and I'll be soon back with the next chapter yaa!! b-byeee

Instagram: authorr_mishwaa

[Word count: 1350]