Eternal Echoes

Master Plan- Part II

Continuation of Part I....

As I returned home, my mood soured further by Shivansh's rudeness. Upon entering, I noticed Dhruvika and Anisha exchanging glances, their concern evident. “What happened, Arika? Why are you in such a foul mood?” Dhruvika asked, tilting her head slightly.

I sighed heavily, sharing the entire incident with them. As I recounted the details, their eyes widened in disbelief.

“No way! How can he do that? That’s so unlike Shivansh,” Anisha said, shaking her head.

Dhruvika nodded in agreement. “He really is a tough nut to crack.”

“Tell me about it,” I replied, running a hand through my hair.

Dhruvika chimed in, “Agastya warned us it wouldn't be easy, and look at what's happening.”

“But I won't give up,” I asserted, determination rising within me. “I’ll try even harder. I have to win him over, no matter what.”

“That’s like my bitch!” Anisha cheered, laughter breaking the tension, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Dhruvika went to answer it, and a moment later, Agastya stepped inside, his cheerful energy filling the room. The moment Anisha saw him, she rolled her eyes. “Shaitan ka naam liya aur Shaitan haazir,” she muttered, earning a chuckle from me. (Speak of the devil and the devil appears.)

Agastya, catching her comment, arched a suspicious brow. “What did you just say?”

"Nothing that concerns you" Anisha replied, brushing it off. “Forget that—what are you doing here?”

He gave her a dismissive look. “I didn’t come to see you. I came to see Arika.” With that, he stepped forward, wrapping me in a warm, familiar hug. I couldn’t help but smile as I hugged him back, feeling a comforting sense of camaraderie. We all settled back onto the couches.

For a few minutes, we talked casually as Agastya asked how my new job was going, and I filled him in briefly, talking about work and the usual. Finally, he leaned forward, his tone turning more serious.

“So, any new plans you guys come up with?” he asked.

We exchanged glances, and I could see the shared frustration in Anisha and Dhruvika’s expressions. Together, the three of us shook our heads, replying in a collective “no.”

“No worries. I came prepared,” he replied, a hint of excitement lighting up his face. “Ritvik and I were brainstorming, and we thought… how about a weekend picnic? We’ll get Shivansh to come along. It’s been ages since he’s been out, and honestly, he could use some fresh air.” He paused, letting the idea settle. “You three can meet us there ‘by chance.’”

Anisha’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “So we just pretend it’s a random encounter?”

He nodded. “Exactly. When we spot you, we’ll invite you to join us. You can play hard-to-get for a few moments,” he added, looking at me with a playful glint, “but then agreed to join in. And Arika, maybe this will give you the chance to talk to Shivansh… or even make a little progress.”

A sense of hope flickered inside me. “That’s an amazing idea, Agastya,” I said, glancing at my friends. They were already smiling, their expressions full of optimism. “Plus, it’ll give us a chance to relax a bit, too.”

With everyone in agreement, we discussed a few more details before Agastya finally got up to leave, giving us a quick, encouraging smile.

As soon as he left, I felt an anticipation building inside me. Now all I had to do was wait for the weekend.