Supriya woke up the next morning with a smile on her face, the memories of her evening with Nishikant still fresh in her mind. She felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from her heart. For the first time in years, she allowed herself to hope for a future filled with love and happiness.

She spent the day at work, her mind occasionally drifting back to thoughts of Nishikant. Her colleagues noticed her upbeat mood, and Rina couldn’t help but tease her about it during their lunch break.

"You’ve got that dreamy look in your eyes," Rina said with a grin. "Something tells me things went well last night."

Supriya blushed, nodding. "They did. Nishikant is... he's wonderful. I feel like I’m finally starting to move on from the past."

Rina squeezed her hand. "I’m so happy for you, Supriya. You deserve this."

But as the day went on, a nagging feeling of unease began to creep into Supriya’s mind. She couldn’t shake the sensation that something was amiss, though she had no reason to believe anything was wrong. Pushing the thought aside, she focused on her work, determined not to let her doubts spoil the happiness she felt.

That evening, as she prepared for her next date with Nishikant, her phone buzzed with a message. Expecting it to be from him, she picked it up eagerly, but her excitement quickly turned to confusion when she saw an unknown number on the screen.

"Stay away from Nishikant. You don’t know who he really is."

Supriya’s heart pounded as she read the message again, her mind racing. Who would send something like this? And why? She tried to dismiss it as a prank or a misunderstanding, but the words lingered, casting a shadow over her thoughts.

Despite the unsettling message, she met Nishikant as planned. They went to a charming little restaurant by the river, the setting perfect for a romantic evening. But Supriya found it hard to focus, the message replaying in her mind like a broken record.

"Supriya, is everything okay?" Nishikant asked, concern etched on his face.

She forced a smile, not wanting to ruin the evening. "Yes, I’m fine. Just a bit tired from work."

He reached across the table, taking her hand in his. "If there’s anything bothering you, you can tell me. I’m here for you."

Supriya hesitated, then decided to confide in him. "I got a strange message today. It said to stay away from you, that I don’t know who you really are."

Nishikant’s expression darkened, his grip on her hand tightening. "Who sent it?"

"I don’t know. It was from an unknown number."

He took a deep breath, his eyes filled with determination. "Supriya, there’s something I need to tell you. I haven’t been completely honest with you about my past."

Her heart sank. "What do you mean?"

Nishikant looked away, his jaw clenched. "Before I moved here, I was involved in a relationship that ended badly. My ex... she wasn’t who I thought she was. Things got complicated, and she became very possessive and manipulative. When I finally left, she threatened to ruin my life. I’ve been trying to move on, to start fresh, but it seems she hasn’t let go."

Supriya’s mind whirled with questions and emotions. She could see the pain in Nishikant’s eyes, the weight of his past bearing down on him. "Why didn’t you tell me?"

"I didn’t want to burden you with my past," he said softly. "I wanted to start anew with you, without the shadows of what happened before."

Supriya felt a mix of relief and sadness. She appreciated his honesty, but the revelation also brought a sense of uncertainty. "I understand. It’s just... it’s a lot to take in."

"I know," he said, his voice breaking slightly. "But I promise you, Supriya, I’m not the person she’s trying to make me out to be. I care about you deeply, and I want us to have a future together."

She squeezed his hand, her resolve strengthening. "We’ll face this together, Nishikant. But you have to promise me that we’ll be honest with each other from now on."

He nodded, a tear slipping down his cheek. "I promise."

As they left the restaurant, the moonlight casting long shadows on the ground, Supriya couldn’t shake the feeling of foreboding that clung to her. The past had a way of resurfacing, and she knew they would have to confront it head-on if they were to have any chance at a future together.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

When she arrived home that night, she found another message waiting for her.

"This is just the beginning. Stay away from Nishikant, or you’ll regret it."

Her heart pounded in her chest, fear mixing with determination. She knew that loving Nishikant would not be easy, but she also knew that she couldn’t walk away. Not now. Not when they had just begun to build something real.

Supriya sat on her bed, staring at the message, a tear slipping down her cheek. She realized that their journey would be fraught with challenges, but for the first time, she felt ready to face them. She would not let fear dictate her life. She would fight for her happiness, for her future with Nishikant.

The shadows of the past loomed large, but Supriya was determined to step into the light, one brave step at a time.

The next morning, Supriya woke up with a sense of dread. She replayed the events of the previous night in her mind, the ominous messages, and Nishikant's confession. As much as she wanted to believe that they could move past it, the threats felt very real, and she couldn't ignore them.

Determined to find out who was behind the messages, Supriya decided to investigate. She spent the morning making a few discreet calls to friends in the tech industry, hoping to trace the number. Her friend Arjun, a cybersecurity expert, agreed to help.

"Give me a few hours," Arjun said over the phone. "I'll see what I can dig up."

Feeling slightly better, Supriya focused on her work. But the uneasy feeling lingered, and she kept glancing at her phone, waiting for Arjun's call. By the time the sun set, she was a bundle of nerves.

Her phone buzzed, making her jump. It was Arjun.

"I found something," he said, his tone serious. "The number is registered under a fake name, but I managed to trace the location of the last few messages. They were sent from an area near Nishikant's old address."

Supriya's heart raced. "What does that mean?"

"It means whoever is sending these messages is likely someone from his past. Maybe his ex, like he mentioned."

"Thanks, Arjun. I owe you one."

"Just be careful, Supriya. This person seems serious."

As she hung up, Supriya's mind raced. She needed to talk to Nishikant again, but she also needed to be cautious. Whoever was behind this was not going to back down easily.

That evening, she met Nishikant at a quiet café, choosing a table in the corner where they could talk privately. He looked concerned as she explained what Arjun had found.

"So, it’s her," Nishikant said, his voice heavy with resignation. "I should have known she wouldn’t let go."

"We need to figure out what she wants," Supriya said. "And we need to stay safe."

Nishikant nodded. "I agree. I think it’s time I confronted her. Maybe if I talk to her, she’ll stop this madness."

Supriya’s stomach churned at the thought, but she knew he was right. "I’ll go with you."

"No, it’s too dangerous," Nishikant insisted. "I don’t want you to get hurt."

"We’re in this together, remember?" Supriya said firmly. "I’m not letting you face this alone."

The plan was set. They would visit Nishikant’s old neighbourhood the next day and try to find his ex, hoping to resolve things peacefully. But Supriya couldn’t shake the feeling that they were stepping into a trap.

The next day, they arrived at Nishikant’s old apartment complex. The building was run-down, with peeling paint and broken windows. It had an eerie, abandoned feel to it, as if it held secrets no one wanted to uncover.

They approached the door of his ex’s apartment, Nishikant’s hand tightening around Supriya’s for reassurance. He knocked, and they waited, the silence of the hallway pressing in on them.

The door creaked open, revealing a woman with disheveled hair and wild eyes. "Nishikant," she said, a twisted smile spreading across her face. "I’ve been expecting you."

"Anita," Nishikant said, his voice calm but firm. "We need to talk."

"Talk?" Anita laughed, a high-pitched, unsettling sound. "Is that what you think will solve this? After everything you did to me?"

"I didn’t do anything to you," Nishikant replied. "We had our issues, but I never hurt you. I just want to move on."

"Move on?" Her eyes flashed with anger. "You think you can just walk away and start a new life with her?" She pointed a trembling finger at Supriya. "I won’t let you."

"Anita, please," Supriya interjected. "We’re not here to fight. We just want to understand what you want."

Anita’s eyes narrowed, and she took a step back, her hand reaching for something behind the door. Supriya’s heart skipped a beat as she saw the glint of metal. Before she could react, Anita lunged at them with a knife.

Nishikant moved quickly, pushing Supriya out of the way and grabbing Anita’s wrist. They struggled; the knife dangerously close to Nishikant’s throat. Supriya scrambled to her feet, looking for something to use as a weapon.

Just as Anita was about to overpower Nishikant, Supriya grabbed a heavy vase from a nearby table and struck Anita on the head. Anita crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

Breathing heavily, Nishikant and Supriya stood over her, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "We need to call the police," Supriya said, her voice shaking.

Nishikant nodded, pulling out his phone. "Are you okay?" he asked, his concern evident.

Supriya nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I’m just glad you’re safe."

As they waited for the police to arrive, Supriya couldn’t help but feel a mix of relief and fear. They had faced the immediate threat, but the shadows of Nishikant’s past were still lurking. They would need to be strong and vigilant to protect their newfound happiness.

The police arrived and took Anita into custody. Nishikant and Supriya gave their statements, explaining everything that had happened. The officers assured them that Anita would be dealt with, but Supriya knew that their journey was far from over.

As they walked out of the apartment building, Nishikant took Supriya’s hand, his grip reassuring. "Thank you for standing by me," he said softly.

"We’ll get through this," Supriya replied, her determination unwavering. "Together."

With the shadows of the past slowly receding, they stepped into the light of a new day, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. And for the first time, Supriya felt a glimmer of hope that their love would be strong enough to conquer any darkness.