Whispers Of The Heart

08

A week had passed since that memorable dinner, with the enticing tastes still lingering in every corner of my taste buds. My thoughts were snapped back to reality by the unexpected ring of the phone. Siddharth's name illuminated on the screen.

"Yo Aria" his enthusiastic voice sliced through the silence.

"Hey Sid! What's up?" I responded, my lips curving into a smile.

"I have some news that will make your day," he responded, his voice laden with suspense.

"Really? What is it?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Do you remember the literary agent we managed to get on board for Anya's book?" Sid asked, letting the question hang in the air for a moment.

" I do. Why what happened?" My heart started to race.

"They've found a publisher!" he blurted out, unable to contain his excitement.

I gasped, my grip on the phone tightening, "Really? That's...That's incredible, Sid! I can't believe it."

"I know! It's surreal. But we're not done yet." he continued, "We still have to find a editor."

A wave of elation and anticipation washed over me. This was just the beginning of our journey. The road ahead was long and winding, but the first step had been taken.

"I think we should reach out to Ruhaan for help," he suggested, breaking the silence.

I was taken aback. "Ruhaan? But why him?" I questioned.

"Ruhaan designs book covers" Sid explained. "He might have some connections with editors. He could be helpful in getting Anya's book published."

I hesitated. The more people we involved, the higher the risk of Anya finding out about our secret project. We had promised ourselves that we would keep this from her until everything was ready. "Sid, I'm not sure if we should get more people involved. The more people know, the higher the chances of Anya finding out," I voiced my apprehension.

"I know you're worried," he responded calmly. "But we need an editor, and Ruhaan might be able to help us get one easily. "

His words did make sense, but I was still unsure. I took a moment to weigh the pros and cons, realizing that we did need all the help we could get. "Alright, Sid. Let's tell Ruhaan," I finally agreed. "but I swear if he slips up in front of Anya I'm going to  murder him."

Laughing, he spoke again, "Fine you have the permission to send him to heaven if he slips up but I was thinking that maybe you should be the one to talk to him. He might be more receptive if the request comes from you. Considering your relationship with anya you might be able to explain to him why this is so important."

"okay I'll talk to him" I said and after discussing some more about the next steps in the publishing process I ended the call with Sid.

With a knot of anxiety in her stomach, I picked up my phone and dialed Ruhaan's number. "Hey, Ruhaan," I began, "I was wondering if we could meet up? There's something important I need to discuss with you." I blurted out not giving him the change to reply to my greeting

Ruhaan agreed chuckling, "Sure. Let's meet up. When and where?"

"Today, at the riverfront café? Around 6?" I suggested.

"That works for me. See you then," he confirmed.

That evening, I found myself sitting across from Ruhaan at a quiet café. The dim lighting and soft music created a comfortable yet intimate atmosphere. My heart pounded in my chest, and I found myself stealing glances at Ruhaan, who returned my gaze with a calm and steady look.

Taking a deep breath, I began, "Ruhaan, I need to tell you something. I found this story that Anya wrote a long time ago. It's beautifully written, filled with raw emotions and real-life experiences."

His eyebrows rose in surprise, but he didn't interrupt, so I continued, "I tried to convince her to publish it, but she was adamant. She was afraid of what people would think. I saw her fear, but I also saw the potential in her words. This story needs to be put out to the world, and me and sid have decided to do it ourselves."

His eyes widened, "You're publishing Anya's book without her knowing?" He asked, his voice filled with surprise.

I nodded, "Yes, we are. We managed to find a publisher for her book, but we still need an editor. That's why I'm telling you all of this."

"Because we need your help," I confessed, looking directly into his eyes. "Your a designer, and we were hoping you might know some editors that would be willing to help us out"

The look on his face softened as I spoke. There was a moment of silence, and then our gazes locked. The intensity of the moment was broken when Ruhaan gave a small chuckle, "You've always been the brave one," he commented, a hint of admiration in his voice.

"But there's one condition," I added, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Anya can't know about this. She can't know until everything is ready. As a matter of fact NO ONE can know about this. Can you promise that, Ruhaan?"

He was silent for a moment, his eyes thoughtful. Then, he nodded firmly. "I promise, Aria," he said, his voice steady and sincere. "I won't let anyone know."

That night, as I left the café, I felt a sense of relief wash over me we were making progress with this project. As I looked over at him, our eyes locked for a moment, and I felt a strange flutter in my stomach.

As Ruhaan offered to drop me home, I accepted without a moment's hesitation. The ride back was quiet, save for the soft hum of the car's engine. The unspoken words hung heavily in the air, but it felt comfortable. The city lights danced in the distance, casting a warm glow inside the car.

We had stopped at a red light when Ruhaan broke the silence. "You really care about Anya, don't you?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded, "She's my best friend. I just want her to be happy," I replied, my voice tinged with emotion.

He turned to look at me, his eyes reflecting the city lights. "And you're willing to go to such lengths for her happiness," he stated more than asked.

Our eyes locked and held. His eyes held understanding, comforting me beyond words. It also made me wonder if there was more to him than what met the eye.

"Have you thought about what will happen when Anya finds out?" he asked, his voice coated with a layer of worry.

I sighed, looking out the window at the city lights, "I think about it all the time. I know she'll be angry, maybe she won't talk to me for a while. But this book...it's an opportunity for her. It's a step in her healing process, a chance for her to let go of her past."

He was silent for a moment. Then, he nodded, "You're right. She might be mad, but she'll understand eventually. You're doing this for her."

As we reached my house, Ruhaan pulled over. "Aria," he began, his voice soft, "I want you to know that I'm with you in this. We will get Anya's book published."

His words filled me with warmth. I smiled at him, whispering a soft "Thank you, Ruhaan." As I stepped out of the car, our hands brushed against each other, sending a jolt of electricity through me. I looked up to find Ruhaan watching me, an unreadable expression on his face.

As I closed the car door behind me and walked towards my house, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of anticipation.

AUTHORS POV

Something had shifted tonight, and it wasn't just about Anya's book. There was something different between Ruhaan and Aria, something subtle yet undeniable. As Aria drifted off to sleep that night, her mind kept replaying the moments of their ride home, leaving her with a strange sense of longing and excitement for what lay ahead.

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what do you guys think about aria and ruhaan's blossoming bond?