"3RD PERSON POV"
"SOME DAYS LATER"
The sky was clear, and the morning sun bathed the city in warm golden light. Hyderabad buzzed with its usual rhythm—cars and bikes zipping through the streets, the smell of fresh street food lingering in the air, and people moving about with purpose.
On a quieter street, away from the chaos, Aravind strolled toward a nearby park. He wore a simple outfit—hoodie over a plain T-shirt, track pants, and sneakers. Headphones covered his ears as he casually nodded to the music playing, lost in his own world. In one hand, he carried a paper bag with a couple of burgers and a water bottle. The weather was too perfect to stay indoors, so he'd decided to enjoy some peace under the trees.
As he walked down the shaded path leading into the park, his steps unhurried, something shifted. A sudden presence—a flicker in the corner of his vision. Without stopping the music or changing his relaxed expression, Aravind smoothly leaned to the side just as a kick sliced through the air where he'd been standing.
The attack missed completely. He stepped back lightly, now fully aware, and looked at the person in front of him.
It was a young woman—beautiful and sharp-eyed. She stood confidently, catching her breath, her hands slightly raised like she was ready to move again. She wore a white, sleeveless tank top and light blue, high-waisted denim jeans. A pair of clean white sneakers completed her look, and her dark hair was tied in a neat ponytail that bounced slightly with her movements.
Seeing Aravind dodge her attack with ease, the girl shouted in frustration,
"You think just because you dodged one hit, you're safe? I'm a black belt, you fucker!"
Without warning, she stepped back and swung her leg toward his waist in a sharp, clean kick. Aravind simply took a step back, avoiding it without breaking his calm expression. She didn't stop—her fists came next, throwing punch after punch in quick succession, aiming for his face, chest, and sides.
Aravind let out a long, heavy sigh as he moved effortlessly around her attacks.
All he wanted was a quiet walk, some fresh air, maybe eat his burger under a tree in peace. But instead, here he was—dodging kicks and punches from a stranger, and a foul-mouthed one at that.
As he stepped aside again, dodging a particularly wild punch, a soft chime echoed in his mind. A translucent blue screen appeared before his eyes.
[Ding! Host just met and interacted with a Heroine]
Hearing the sudden notification, Aravind was stunned for a second. His body paused instinctively, but his reflexes kicked in, and he continued to dodge her relentless punches without much effort. Meanwhile, the system screen continued to display more information in front of his eyes:
[Name: Chandni
Basic Information: She is one of the two female leads from the movie iSmart Shankar. She is a confident and outspoken woman who isn't afraid to speak her mind. She stalk by the protagonist Shankar, a contract killer, and because of him, she died during a police encounter that was meant for Shankar. Because of the useless protagonist, she lost her life.
Mission: She is a good girl. Save her life (and if required, kill the protagonist).
Reward: Based on result
Penalty: None (A good girl's death, and Host's alignment will shift from Neutral to Evil) ]
Seeing the text appear in front of him, a vein popped on Aravind's forehead. He narrowed his eyes and thought, 'What the fuck, SYS? What is this nonsense? Why would I turn evil just because I didn't save some girl? And why should I kill a brain-dead protagonist whose life is already headed toward doom? Where's the logic in all this?'
The system instantly responded in its usual flat tone:
[Host, she has already made a place in your heart. If you don't save her, you'll be consumed by guilt. And please, don't bring up logic—things like that don't apply in Indian movies.]
Aravind rolled his eyes and gritted his teeth. 'Oh, fuck off. Just admit you want me to save her. And what do you mean she's already in my heart? I just met her five seconds ago! This is my reality, not a damn movie!'
The system, completely unfazed, replied:
[Host, that's not possible. I don't have a physical body.]
Hearing that, Aravind muttered in his mind, 'Shut up, SYS.'
As soon as he did, the floating screen vanished.
Meanwhile, Chandni, still furious from being ignored, shouted, "Get hit already, you fucker! Stalker! You—"
But before she could finish, Aravind smoothly caught her wrist mid-punch. With a swift motion, he pulled her forward and twisted her arm behind her back, locking it gently but firmly. His other arm moved instinctively around her, holding her steady.
Their faces were now close, breaths brushing against each other. Chandni froze, her eyes wide in surprise. Her flaring anger dimmed for a moment as their eyes met. She stopped struggling. A light flush appeared on her cheeks, her brows twitching between confusion and something else.
Still holding her, Aravind calmly took off his headphones with one hand and said in a soft, steady voice, "Calm down. I think there's some misunderstanding here."
Hearing Aravind's words, Chandni snapped out of her daze, her cheeks still slightly flushed. Realizing how close they were, she immediately began to struggle again, trying to wriggle out of his grip.
"Let go of me, you pervert! Stalker! I'm going to kill you!" she shouted angrily.
Without warning, she jumped slightly and tried to headbutt him. But instead of hurting him, she ended up smacking her own forehead against his chin with a thud.
"Ow! That hurts! What are you made of—stone?!" she groaned, trying to rub her head, but she couldn't since Aravind still had her hands restrained.
Watching her struggle, Aravind let out a tired sigh. "Can you calm down for a second? It's a misunderstanding," he said, voice still steady and composed.
"Let me go, you stalker!" she shouted again, glaring up at him like she was ready to bite.
Seeing her still trying to attack, Aravind let out a heavy sigh and finally released her hands. As soon as she was free, she raised her arm to strike again—only for her feet to suddenly leave the ground.
Before Chandni could react, Aravind had picked her up like she weighed nothing, carrying her in his arms as he started walking toward the park.
"HELP! HELP! THIS PERSON IS KIDNAPPING ME!" she screamed, flailing her legs and pounding her fists weakly against his chest.
A few people glanced their way, but an elderly couple who had been watching their entire interaction from the start just exchanged looks.
The old man sighed, sipping his tea from a roadside stall, while the old woman smiled and said, "Young couples these days… always fighting over silly things. But don't you think they look cute together, dear?"
The old man grumbled, "Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say."
Meanwhile, realizing that no one was taking her seriously, Chandni started hitting Aravind's back harder. "Let me go! Where are you taking me, you kidnapper?!"
Without looking at her, Aravind replied calmly, "Stop hitting. You'll hurt yourself. And I'm not a kidnapper. You just ruined my peaceful morning, and now you're going to pay for it."
"Pay for it?!"
"Yes," Aravind said, walking with steady steps. "You're going to sit with me in the park and keep me company. That's your punishment."
Chandni continued to struggle in his arms, but his grip was firm and his expression unbothered, like he was just taking a mildly annoying dog for a walk.
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"3RD PERSON POV"
"SOMETIMES LATER IN PARK"
The park was quiet and peaceful, with only a few people around since it was a weekday. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, their shadows dancing softly on the grass. Under one of those trees, Aravind sat comfortably, leaning back with a relaxed posture. A calm, cool wind brushed past, making his hair sway slightly. He held a burger in one hand, taking slow bites and savoring the peaceful moment.
Just as he was getting into the calm vibe, a voice broke the silence.
"You didn't add something in it, did you?"
Still chewing, Aravind turned his head to the side. Chandni was sitting a short distance from him, finally a bit calmer than before. They hadn't exchanged names yet, and he still had no idea why she had attacked him out of nowhere. She was holding a burger in her hands, eyeing him suspiciously like he might've laced it with something.
Aravind rolled his eyes, swallowed his bite, and said, "Should I take another bite in front of you to prove it?"
Chandni kept staring at him, expression deadpan, not even reacting to his dry humor.
He sighed and added, "As you can see, I'm eating the same burger. The one you're holding, you picked it yourself. Why would I even bother doing something like that?"
Hearing that, Chandni said sharply, "Because you're stalking me! Sending me inappropriate messages and asking me out like some creep!"
Aravind blinked in confusion. "What? What nonsense is that? I don't even know you!"
Chandni frowned. "What do you mean you don't know me? You're Aravind, right?"
Aravind looked at her, puzzled. "Wait... you know me?"
"Of course I do! Because you're the one who's been texting me!" she snapped.
"I told you—I don't even know who you are!" Aravind replied, his voice firm.
"You—!" she began angrily, then stopped and pulled out her phone. With a few quick taps, she opened WhatsApp and shoved the screen toward him.
Aravind leaned forward, looked at the phone, then back at her with a calm expression. "That's not me."
Chandni blinked and glanced down at her phone. The display showed a profile with a photo of Aravind, making coffee. Her gaze shifted between the screen and his face.
"What do you mean it's not you?" she said, narrowing her eyes. "Don't tell me it's your twin brother or some other bullshit."
Hearing that, Aravind said, "Okay, calm down. First of all, that's not my number. And second, why would I need to stalk you? Are you some kind of goddess or something?"
Chandni's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying I'm not good-looking?"
Aravind smiled, raising his hands slightly. "Hey, chill. I was just kidding. But seriously, that's not my number."
Chandni crossed her arms. "Then whose number is it? And why is he using your photo?"
Aravind leaned back, still smiling. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out. But first, eat your burger. You've already burned too much energy today."
Chandni scoffed. "That's because of you, idiot." Still grumbling, she unwrapped the burger.
Aravind chuckled softly. "By the way, what's your name?"
She glanced at him and said, "Don't you already know?"
Aravind sighed. "You really are a strange girl. Didn't I just say that guy isn't me?"
"Whatever," she muttered. "It's Chandni."
Hearing that, Aravind said, "Well, it's a nice name."
Chandni lifted her chin proudly. "I know."
Aravind smirked. "But it doesn't suit you at all."
Chandni shot him a glare. "You—"
"I'm just joking," Aravind cut in with a smile. "It actually suits you perfectly. Bright and beautiful... like moonlight."
A faint blush crept onto Chandni's cheeks. She looked away and muttered, "Don't think you can trick me with sweet words... but thanks."
Aravind chuckled quietly, watching her.
Chandni looked down at the burger in her hands and took a bite. Her eyes lit up instantly, and she turned to him with a surprised expression. "This is sooo good! Where did you buy it?"
"I made it myself," Aravind replied with a proud smile. "I'm a professional."
Chandni raised an eyebrow. "You're a stalker, but also a good cook, huh?"
"I'm not a stalker," Aravind muttered under his breath.
Chandni ignored him and continued eating, her focus now entirely on the burger. They both sat in a calm silence for a while, the gentle rustle of leaves and sway of the trees filling the air around them.
After finishing the last bite, Chandni casually reached over to Aravind, took the water bottle from his hand, and drank from it without asking. Aravind sighed, watching her in disbelief. Once she was done, she handed the bottle back to him, catching him staring.
"What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Aravind tilted his head slightly. "Aren't you getting a little too comfortable with someone you were just calling a stalker, kidnapper, and who knows what else?"
Chandni blinked, then shrugged. "After thinking for a moment... I guess you're not that bad."
Aravind rolled his eyes at her sudden shift.
Chandni giggled. "Alright then, Mr. Not-That-Bad, how are we going to find out who's pretending to be you?"
Aravind looked at Chandni and said, "Give me your phone."
Chandni frowned. "What?"
He didn't say anything—just looked at her, calm and expectant. After a moment of hesitation, she sighed and handed it over. "Okay, fine."
Aravind took the phone, tapped around for a bit, and after a short pause, handed it back. "It's not a guy," he said, his voice steady.
Chandni blinked. "What do you mean?"
"It's a woman's number. Name's Priya."
Chandni froze. Her eyes widened slightly as she stared at her screen, then slowly looked up at Aravind. "Th–that's my friend's name…"
They looked at each other, the realization settling in.
A second later, Aravind burst out laughing, falling back on the grass. "Hahaha! Oh wow—now I get it! I get what's going on! Hahaha!"
Chandni's face turned red with embarrassment and anger. She punched his arm lightly. "Don't laugh!"
Aravind held back the rest of his laughter and sat up again, a big grin still on his face. "Okay, okay… so what now?"
Chandni's eyes narrowed. "Now? She's going to pay for messing with me like this. Let's go. You're coming with me."
Aravind nodded, still grinning. "This is going to be fun."
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"3RD PERSON POV"
Inside a twelve-story apartment building, Aravind and Chandni stood in front of a door on one of the upper floors. The corridor was quiet, almost eerily so, with no one else in sight.
Chandni glanced at Aravind and whispered, "Move a little to the side. Once she opens the door, wait a second, then come behind me. I'll introduce you as my boyfriend—stick to the plan, okay?"
Aravind rolled his eyes but nodded and casually stepped aside, leaning slightly against the wall. Chandni took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
After a short pause, the door creaked open. Priya stood on the other side, clearly caught off guard. Her smile was tight, her voice shaky. "Ch–Chandni? What a surprise… Why the sudden visit?"
Chandni gave her a sweet, knowing smile. "It's been a while, so I thought I'd drop by. Wanted to see how you're doing. But you don't seem too happy to see me."
Priya laughed nervously, trying to hide her discomfort. "N-No, it's not like that. I'm doing good… just surprised, that's all."
Chandni and Priya stared at each other for a moment, the silence between them heavy with unspoken thoughts. Then, with a polite smile, Chandni said, "Priya, aren't you going to invite me in?"
Priya quickly stepped aside, forcing a smile. "Y-Yes, of course. Please come in."
Chandni walked forward, then paused at the door. "Actually, I came with my boyfriend."
Priya blinked in confusion. "Boyfriend?"
"Yes, boyfriend. Let me introduce him to you." Chandni stepped aside, and Aravind casually appeared from behind her, hands in his pockets, wearing a laid-back expression.
"Hello," he said simply, giving a small nod.
The moment Priya saw Aravind, her expression changed completely—shock, then fear. She took a small step back and muttered under her breath, "I... I messed up."
Chandni gave her a sweet but sharp smile. "Of course you did."
Priya's eyes darted between Chandni and Aravind. Panic rising in her voice, she blurted out, "I-I'm sorry!" Then, without warning, she tried to slam the door shut in their faces.
But Aravind was quicker. He calmly placed his hand against the door, stopping it mid-swing, and with one firm push, he opened it again.
Priya froze as she saw Chandni still smiling, that same unsettling calmness in her eyes. To Priya, that smile now felt more dangerous than any anger.
She turned, ready to bolt into the apartment, but Chandni grabbed her wrist tightly.
"And where do you think you're going?" Chandni said, her tone sweet but laced with warning. "You've got a lot of explaining to do."
Priya swallowed hard and quickly nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "O-Okay…"
A while later, inside Priya's cozy living room, Chandni sat on a cushioned chair with her arms crossed, eyes locked on Priya—who was sitting on the floor like a guilty student in detention. Aravind, lounging on the nearby couch, watched the scene unfold like it was a drama series made just for him.
Chandni's voice was sharp with irritation. "So you're telling me this was just some silly prank by you girls?"
Priya nodded nervously, wringing her hands. "Y-Yeah… When we invited you for the girls' outing, you kept making excuses. So, that day at Aravind's café, Sneha suggested the idea."
She glanced at Aravind briefly and continued, "He was filming some promo video with his staff, and he looked really good, so… we thought, why not use his identity? Just a harmless prank to mess with you a little."
She looked down, guilt all over her face. "And I had just gotten a new number, so it was easy to set up. We didn't think it would go this far, I swear."
Aravind leaned back, his tone casual but sharp. "That's why you looked familiar when I first saw you. You know I could actually file a case against you, right?"
Priya's eyes widened. "I've already apologized like ten times! And it wasn't just my fault. Why aren't you blaming the others too?" Her voice cracked, clearly on the verge of tears.
Chandni's expression hardened. "Do you even realize how dangerous that prank was? What you did is a crime. You were sending me photos of myself—while I was working! I thought I was being stalked, Priya. That's not a joke."
She paused, her voice rising slightly. "And don't worry, I'm not letting the others off the hook either. What if I had already filed a case against Aravind because of your stupid game? He could've been dragged into this for no reason."
Before Priya could respond, Aravind cut in, turning his head toward Chandni. "You know, now that I think about it… why did you come to fight with me instead of going to the police? I mean, if things were that dangerous, shouldn't the first step have been to file a complaint? What made you so sure I wasn't actually the stalker?"
Chandni looked at him, caught off guard. "I… I don't know. I just—" she stumbled over her words, then muttered, "But aren't you glad I didn't go to the police?"
Aravind rolled his eyes with a small smirk. "Yeah, yeah. Super grateful."
The conversation between them continued for a while until everything finally settled down. By the time Aravind and Chandni stepped out of the building, the sun was already high in the sky—afternoon had quietly arrived.
As they walked side by side, Chandni glanced at Aravind and said softly, "I'm sorry… for what I did."
Aravind smiled at her, his tone light. "Nah, don't worry. At least we found out it was just a prank gone wrong. But next time, if something like that ever happens again, talk to your friends first—or better, go to the police. Don't do something reckless. Not everyone's as nice as me, you know. Be careful."
Chandni rolled her eyes but smiled. "Yes, yes, Mr. Not-That-Bad. But seriously… thank you."
Aravind chuckled and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small café card and handed it to her with a grin. "This one's my real number."
Chandni took it, her smile growing. "So now I can talk to the real Aravind."
He gave a playful nod. "Now that everything's cleared up, I should probably head back."
Just as he turned slightly to leave, Chandni suddenly said, a little nervously and with a faint blush on her cheeks, "W-Wait."
Aravind turned to look at her, curious.
She hesitated for a second before continuing, "I was thinking… since I kinda ruined your morning, and it's already afternoon… how about I treat you to lunch?"
She looked at him with hopeful eyes.
Aravind's smile returned, softer this time. "Of course."
Chandni's face lit up with a happy, beautiful smile.