The Strangers - Across the Silent Heartbeat-Chapter 2: Unveiling Hearts

The message from Ayesha seemed more of an excuse, and days passed out smoothly except for that half hearted conversation which disturbed the whole rhythm of his life. Days would start easily with the first rays of the morning light, and shadows would gently fall across his room as he reached his phone, her messages so much a part of the light in his life.

It was as though the first streaks of morning light had been some sort of signal, softening the push and reminding him of his phone. So what had started out as messages with simple pleasantries slowly became his lifeline, a thin thread connecting him to the world so far away once. Ayesha, too, had found a rhythm in her speaking.

It was every evening, at the very time when the ball of fire would dip into the horizon and splash Dhaka with the last rays of gold, that she would be busy waiting to talk to him. Such moments of talking would soften her busy days, so full with the energies of city life. The earlier trivial talks now seemed to contain deeper meanings. It was a sanctuary now; here she could open up, and so he had. She had become a part of his life.

Arjun was now, in short, her routine. And every day drew them closer to each other.

The picture exchange procedure became the most loving process. The worlds in Arjun's pictures, the projects through which his obsession with coding shone, rooms that showed the cozy corners of the cafe he loved most, and the peace in local parks, every image told volumes, every narration a story of some part of his life, helping bridge the chasm of disparity in their worlds. And in these pictures, right here, see all the interests, environment, and own sanctuary. Floods of her coloured life in Dhaka came through.

She sent him pictures of herself playing the violin in which agile, graceful, and flowing fingers expressed the profundity of emotions.

It was city streets, city markets, and pictures of festivals colouring the atmosphere around.

All of these snapshots were much more than photographs; they were views into the soul, clicking the spirit of experiences and vibrant energy in her life. They filled their conversations with these stories, in a way sometimes, always just being a way in which they might learn just a little more about each other's worlds. They shared moments, they wove a tapestry of life, words and pictures wound together. Each photograph, each message, was a thread in this tapestry, adding depth and richness to their growing connection.

Their talks developed into something deep, where they shared all their dreams, fears, and aspirations. Arjun had gone on to tell me more about his battle with social anxiety and how coding had turned to be his therapy. He shared dreams of impactful work and how, through personal growth, he would navigate life's challenges. His words opened a part from Arjun that he barely had with many people.

Ayesha said it would be her music that would take her through life's tumultuous times. She further explained how the violin provided help, was her strength, and how it passed from one struggle to another. Sweet tales painted pictures of life so full to the brim of passion and resilience using this instrument. The violin was more than just a musical instrument.

It seemed to be like a lifeline, one that expressed and voiced all those emotions that had no other way of being expressed by words. The closer they grew, the sunnier it got. There was almost something that carried an expectation in each of these messages a feral feeling, tangible, of connecting across miles.

These messages didn't hold conversations; they held lifelines- it tied all of them together in a way that was quite foreign. One day, Ayesha just had a feeling that she should surprise him with something. She took out the violin, recorded a violin piece, and sent it to him, saying this was for him. The music was hauntingly beautiful, reminding him of a surge of feelings he would not be able to express in words, if needed.

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Arjun, upon getting the video, was moved into tears. It was personal, proof of what place Ayesha had carved in his heart. It was, in fact, material worth for a concrete expression of the bonding they created, of emotional value. In admiration, he smiled and said, "This really made my day. It brings both you and me closer now." This was just an action touching a place in the heart, cementing what realistically either meant, how deep their bond was or how much the relationship mattered.

What this however means to him is a lot more than mere performance; this browned an emotional gap between them, bringing hearts closer.

With days rolling, closeness did brew in between, and Arjun had started to sense inconsistency or two with Ayesha's behaviour.

She would often disappear for hours from the chat, only to come back with ill-defined excuses or frivolous witticisms.

His inquisitiveness was getting the better of him, but he did not probe further.

He had rather waited for her to confide in him about her life and hoped that with time, she would tell him about her situation. Most of these talks were very personal. While Arjun talked about living with a social anxiety disorder and how coding was nearly therapeutic, he wished to make a difference by his work. She spoke about music and how it comforted her in moments of pressure, its role in her life.

The soon talks became the cornerstone for mutual understanding and supportive talks, a continual depth impression with each new exchange of views.

By the end of the episode, it was obvious that theirs had become more than just a working relationship. The words cease to be informative and become a pointer to something more companionable. Every message, every discussion, brought them one step closer to something more serious.

Distance physically between them was no problem, for the base of trust and understanding had been built up quite strongly.

The night was 'just' one of those nights in life where everyone seemed to have an anticipatory gear, with texts from Arjun and Ayesha in the most positive vibes. Their hearts seemed filled with excitement. Though it was impossible, prepped in its anger, the hearts dispelled the notion. They were standing at the door of yet another beginning for a journey that promised to bring both of them closer to each other still.

It was to be a life in darkness, yet their hearts lay wide open to life and how it would take them. Ayesha's last message had created an arc of a smile on his lips and he lay back on his back, splayed on the bed. The warming of their bonding he could feel; thoughts of her lulled him into a deep sleep. Indeed, on the other side of the world, Ayesha clasped her phone to her chest and slept off with a contented smile.

Neither could have predicted what lay ahead for them; after all, they were both high-spirited and cheerfully looking forward to this just-initiated journey.