Chapter One: Echoes and Intrusions
The morning light spilled through the stained-glass windows of the old church, painting the pews in hues of crimson and gold. A quiet reverence hung in the air, broken only by the soft murmur of Messi and his closest friend, Cliffy, seated side by side on a worn wooden bench. no
Messi’s phone buzzed against the wood, its vibration sharp in the stillness. He glanced at
the screen, sighed, and silenced the call.
Cliffy tilted his head. “Who’s been calling you so persistently?”
Messi shrugged, his voice low. “Some girl. Deepa. She’s been calling for three months now.”
Cliffy’s eyebrows shot up. “Three months? That sounds like another love story! And you didn’t even tell me?”
“You were out of town,” Messi replied, brushing off the suggestion. “Besides, it’s not love. She says she loves me, but what’s strange is... she knows everything about my past.”
Cliffy leaned in, mock-serious. “Sounds like she’s spying on you. Should I alert the authorities?”
Messi chuckled, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Please, no drama.”
Their laughter echoed softly through the sanctuary, mingling with the distant hum of a choir rehearsal. The church, timeless and serene, seemed to wrap their conversation in a gentle embrace.
Later, as they walked home beneath a canopy of rustling leaves, Messi’s phone rang again. Cliffy groaned. “Just answer it already. Let’s hear what she wants.”
Messi hesitated, then tapped the screen. “Hello?”
A playful voice greeted him. “Busy, or just avoiding me?” Messi’s tone sharpened. “What do you want, Deepa?”
Her cheerfulness didn’t waver. “Meet me tomorrow at 10 a.m., okay?”
He exhaled, exasperated. “Fine. But this will be the last time. Stop bothering me after that.”
Deepa laughed, teasing. “We’ll see about that. I’ll send the location on WhatsApp.” Messi ended the call, his jaw tight. Cliffy watched him, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “Looks like tomorrow’s going to be interesting,” he said.
Messi didn’t reply. The road stretched ahead, quiet and uncertain. Somewhere beyond the
horizon, Deepa waited—and with her, the answers Messi wasn’t sure he wanted.
