Harmonic Echoes

Chapter 3: A message from the unknown

Author's Note:

Hey everyone! 🫶🏻 I'm a bit disappointed as the last chapter only received 2 votes and 2 comments. Your engagement is crucial for keeping the story going and knowing what you think! 😞

I really appreciate your support and would love to hear your thoughts. Please let me know what you think about the story so far and help me reach our goal. Your feedback keeps me inspired! 🫴🏻

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Ananya's Pov

The days after the party passed in a blur of lectures, assignments, and study sessions. But no matter how busy I was, I couldn't stop thinking about Aarav. His quiet confidence, his calm demeanor-there was something about him that lingered in my mind. I found myself replaying our conversation on the balcony, wondering what secrets he might be hiding beneath that serene exterior.

Diya and Aisha had noticed my distracted state, and after a few days of teasing, they finally got the story out of me.

"So, who is this mysterious guy you've been daydreaming about?" Diya asked as we sat in the campus café one afternoon. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, and I could tell she wouldn't let this go until I spilled all the details.

"His name is Aarav," I said, trying to sound casual. "We met at that party last weekend."

Aisha raised an eyebrow. "And? Is he cute? Interesting? Mysterious?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Definitely mysterious. He's not like the guys we usually meet at these parties. He's...different. Calmer. But there's something about him I can't quite figure out."

Diya leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Are you going to see him again?"

"I hope so," I admitted, a small smile playing on my lips. "We exchanged numbers, but I haven't heard from him yet."

Aisha grinned. "Give it time. If he's as interesting as you say, he'll call."

Their encouragement made me feel a little better, but as the days passed with no word from Aarav, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd imagined the connection we shared. Maybe he was just being polite, and I'd read too much into our conversation.

I was on the verge of giving up when, one evening, my phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number. My heart skipped a beat as I opened it.

"Hey, Ananya. It's Aarav. Hope you're doing well. Would you like to grab coffee sometime this week?"

I stared at the message for a moment, a mixture of excitement and nerves bubbling up inside me. He'd actually reached out. After everything, I wasn't sure if he would, but here it was-a chance to see him again.

I quickly typed out a response: "Hey, Aarav! I'm doing great, thanks for asking. Coffee sounds good-how about Thursday afternoon?"

His reply came almost instantly. "Perfect. There's a café near the park that I really like. Let's meet there at 4?"

"Sounds great! See you then."

I set my phone down, feeling a little giddy. Thursday suddenly couldn't come fast enough.

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By the time Thursday afternoon rolled around, I was more nervous than I wanted to admit. What if the connection we had at the party didn't translate to real life? What if our conversation felt awkward or forced? I tried to push those thoughts aside as I made my way to the café.

When I arrived, I spotted Aarav sitting at a corner table by the window. He looked relaxed, his attention focused on something outside. As I approached, he glanced up and smiled, that same calm warmth radiating from him.

"Hey," he said as I slid into the seat across from him. "Glad you could make it."

"Of course," I replied, trying to steady my nerves. "It's good to see you again."

For the first few minutes, our conversation was light-small talk about classes, upcoming exams, and the usual stresses of college life. But as the coffee arrived, the conversation shifted to deeper topics.

"So," Aarav said, stirring his cup absentmindedly, "I've been thinking a lot about what you said at the party. About how it's hard to just be sometimes. How do you do it?"

His question caught me off guard, but in a good way. It wasn't often that people asked about the things that really mattered to me. "I guess," I began, choosing my words carefully, "it's about finding those moments of quiet, like when we were on the balcony. Just letting yourself breathe without any expectations. It's not easy, though."

Aarav nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah. I think that's what I liked about talking to you. You weren't trying to impress anyone or put on a show. You were just... you."

His words hit me in a way I hadn't expected. "Thanks," I said quietly. "That means a lot."

The conversation continued, flowing effortlessly between us. We talked about everything-our dreams, our fears, the pressure of living up to expectations. Aarav opened up a bit more about his life, mentioning his family business in vague terms but still keeping the details hidden. I didn't press him on it, sensing that he wasn't ready to share everything just yet.

By the time we finished our coffee, I felt like I knew him a little better, even though there was still so much left to uncover.

As we walked out of the café together, the sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the park across the street. Aarav glanced at me, a small smile tugging at his lips. "This was nice. We should do it again sometime."

"I'd like that," I replied, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the fading sunlight.

We said our goodbyes, and as I walked back to my dorm, I couldn't help but smile. I had no idea where things would go with Aarav, but for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was on the brink of something new-something exciting. And that was enough for now.

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Later that night, as I sat in my room catching up on some reading, my phone buzzed again. I half expected it to be Aarav, but when I saw the notification, my heart froze.

The message was from an unknown number, and it was short: *Be careful, Ananya.*

I stared at the screen, my mind racing. Was it a prank? Or something more sinister? A chill ran down my spine as I scanned the quiet room around me, suddenly feeling a sense of unease creeping in. I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me-that somehow, I had stumbled into something far bigger than just a chance encounter at a party.

Aarav was a mystery, sure-but now, it seemed that mystery was growing darker by the minute.

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Author's Note:

Hey everyone! 🫶🏻 I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Aarav and Ananya's story is getting more intense, and that mysterious message has left us with so many questions. 😭 What do you think it means? Share your thoughts and theories in the comments!

If you're loving the twists and turns, please give this chapter a vote! 🫴🏻 Your support helps me keep going, and I'd be thrilled to reach 10 votes and 10 comments. Thanks for your support and for being part of this journey! 🪻

Alsoooo do let me know if you guys want aarav's pov in some upcoming chapters!