The Unknown Streets

The city was alive with chaos. Neon lights flickered, rain-slicked streets reflected a thousand colors, and the smell of wet asphalt mixed with street food and exhaust. For Aanya, it was both alien and terrifying. Every shadow could hide danger; every stranger could be a threat.

She moved cautiously, clutching her small bag like a lifeline. Hunger clawed at her stomach, but she forced herself forward. She had survived foster homes as a child—cold beds, silent rooms, strangers who didn’t care—and she would survive this too.

Flashbacks hit like lightning. She remembered nights spent crying alone, clutching her mother’s shawl, wishing her father would return. Then came Rivan: his charm, his subtle threats, the way he controlled her, claiming her life as his own. Fear had become her companion. Ever since her father dissapeared this loneliness never left her.

"Mujhe jeena hai… bas jeena hai." [I want to live… I just want to live.] she whispered, pressing herself against a wet brick wall as thunder rumbled above.

After hours of wandering, she found a tiny, dimly lit room in an old building. The landlady barely asked questions, and for the first time in weeks, Aanya felt a small measure of security. She unpacked her bag and looked at her hands, scarred from past struggles, and whispered:

"Yeh meri zindagi hai… aur ab main ise jeeungi apni sharton par." [This is my life… and now I will live it on my own terms.]

But peace was fleeting. Sleep brought nightmares—Rivan’s smirk, his whispered obsessions, and the feeling of being trapped. Every sound in the room made her flinch. The trauma of her past was never far behind, no matter how far she ran.

During the day, she scouted the streets carefully, learning the subway routes, the shortcuts, the places where she could hide. She survived by being invisible, blending into the crowd, becoming a shadow herself.

One rainy evening, exhausted and soaked, she stumbled into a small café. Steam rose from cups of chai, the scent of fried snacks was comforting, and the hum of conversation created a barrier against the storm outside.

And that’s when she saw him—Aariv. Tall, composed, with eyes that seemed to pierce straight through her fear. He handed her a dry towel without a word.

“Tum thik toh hona hai?” [are you okay?] he asked gently.

Aanya looked up, startled. “I… bas thoda… safe jagah chahiye thi.” [I… just needed… a safe place.]

His presence was calm, grounding. For the first time since Rivan, she felt she might actually be seen, understood. She didn't know why but she felt safe around him.

Yet the city was merciless. Somewhere, beyond the rain and the glowing lights, danger lingered. Rivan’s obsession had not faded. He would not stop. And somewhere, Aanya knew that safety was only temporary.

 Aanya finds a brief sanctuary with Aariv, but her past and Rivan’s relentless obsession loom close. How long can she remain hidden before danger finds her again?

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***