Aanya was free. But freedom came with its own burdens.
In the weeks following Rohan's arrest, she tried to settle back into her life, but something had shifted within her. The routine tasks that once brought her comfort—morning coffee at her favorite café, weekend strolls through the park—now felt heavy with the memories of her ordeal.
Every knock at the door made her flinch. Every unknown number on her phone sent her pulse racing. Rohan might be behind bars, but the fear he'd sown had taken root deep within her.
Her friends, especially Sana, were supportive, but Aanya couldn't help feeling isolated. There were things she couldn't explain to them, emotions too complicated to share. They all wanted her to "move on," to "let go of the past." But how could she, when her past had changed the very fabric of her being?
One evening, as Aanya prepared for bed, she found herself staring at her reflection in the mirror. The woman looking back at her was different from the one she had known a year ago—stronger, perhaps, but also more fragile in ways she hadn't anticipated.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling her from her thoughts.
It was a message from an unknown number.
Her heart skipped a beat as she hesitantly picked it up, her mind racing. Had Rohan somehow found a way to contact her again?
She unlocked the phone and read the message:
Unknown: Are you safe, Aanya?
Her blood ran cold. It wasn't Rohan's style of communication—his messages were always direct, possessive. But this felt different. She quickly blocked the number, telling herself it was just a prank. But deep down, the unease stirred.
YOU ARE READING
The Ideal Stranger
RomanceIn a bustling city where anonymity reigns, Aanya seeks solace from a past filled with heartache. When she encounters Rohan, a mysterious stranger who seems to know her better than anyone, her world is turned upside down. As they unravel the secrets...
