Arin knew he couldn’t just appear in Astha’s life as a stranger. He needed a role, a position of influence that would allow him to observe her closely, to understand the mind behind the words that had shaken him so deeply.
With a calculated shift in the temporal fabric, he altered events subtly—small nudges here, minor delays there—until history aligned in his favor. When the English Daily found itself in need of a new resident editor, the name Arin Verma appeared at just the right time, with credentials carefully forged by weaving into the past unnoticed.
By the time he stepped into the newsroom, no one questioned his presence. He was their new editor, the authoritative yet enigmatic figure who now held influence over Astha’s work.
Astha walked into the newsroom that morning, coffee in hand, her mind already occupied with her latest article. She barely noticed the whispers among her colleagues until she saw them gathered around a desk, stealing glances toward the editor’s office.
“Who is he?” she overheard someone say.
“Arin Verma,” another replied. “Apparently, he’s our new resident editor.”
She had expected someone different—perhaps another seasoned journalist with years of experience. But as she stepped closer, her gaze landed on the man behind the glass walls of the office. Arin Verma.
There was something about him—an air of quiet authority, an energy that seemed both unfamiliar and unsettlingly intense. He caught her looking and, for a brief moment, their eyes met. A small, knowing smile touched his lips.
Astha turned away quickly, irritation prickling at her. Something about him felt… off. But she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Arin, however, felt something entirely different—anticipation.
The game had begun.
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