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An Encounter on the Metro - Epilogue 2

– + Confrontation Massaging the back of her neck with her hand, with a look of frustration evident on face, Ari pushed open the kitchen door. The aftereffects of a busy workday lingered in her hunched posture. The Purple Chime Café had grown popular lately, drawing in new customers almost every day. With her shift finally over, she removed her apron and slung her bag across her shoulder. Scanning the counter, she expected to see Rams — but instead, Maya sat alone, stirring an untouched cup of hot chocolate. “Hey, Maya!” Ari called, walking over. Maya looked up with a faint smile, her eyes tired but calm. “Hey, Ari.” Something in her tone made Ari pause. “I heard from Rams that you’d be stuck with OT for the next two weeks. The project’s done already?” Maya exhaled, her gaze dropping to the steaming cup. “I guess it’s done. No more OT.” A short pause. “I resigned.” “What?!” Ari blinked, startled. Her hand twitched toward Maya’s, but she stopped sho...
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An Encounter on the Metro - Epilogue 1

– + This or That? As if turning pages , months passed by. Putti Sings had soared beyond their wildest expectations — now just a few hundred subscribers away from the YouTube Silver Button. Their marketing strategy of mutual growth — tagging local bands, collaborating with independent artists, and allowing remixes of their songs for reels and shorts — had struck a chord. What began as a small passion project — a shared dream — now earned real bucks through the YouTube Partnership Program, affiliate marketing, and even a few brand promotions. After much contemplation, Ari finally made a decision — she quit her morning data-entry job. Between her role as a chef at The Purple Chime Café — where Rams had recently given her a raise — and the growing income from her music, she was doing well. __________________ A week later came the surprise of a lifetime: an invitation to collaborate on a song for a web series. The offer felt unreal. Recognition for some...
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An Encounter on the Metro - Chapter 12

– + Second Chances “Sarangeul haetda uriga manna~” (Call Ringtone - Love Scenario – iKON) Ari’s phone rang just as she boarded the metro on her way to the café. “Puttiii! WE MADE IT! I knew my best friend’s talent was too good to be hidden!” Maya’s voice was practically shouting through the speaker. Startled, Ari gripped her phone tightly, shifting her sling bag. “Calm down… what happened, Maya?” she asked. “What do you mean calm down?! We got 1.2k views on the music video! Don’t even get me started on the promotional Shorts!” “ Wait—really? You’re not pulling my leg?” Ari asked, her pitch unusually high as her heart began to race. Maya rolled her eyes, her smile audible through the phone. “Really!! I’m posting the stats on the Instagram page I created for our songs. Check for yourself! Anyway, gotta run—manager’s back. I’ll call you later!” Tut tut. The call cut off. For a moment, Ari stood frozen, the faint hum of the metro and low chatter...
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An Encounter on the Metro - Chapter 11

– + Alive Tuesday morning arrived with the familiar hum of the city outside Ari’s window. She had been up early, mentally preparing for the day. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, a strange nervousness fluttered in her chest, though her upturned lips betrayed her excitement. For the past two days, they had fine-tuned the music, making all the necessary corrections. Surprisingly, Ravi’s earlier admiration of Rams’s guitar skills had been understated — the boss was truly talented. And Maya, despite her modesty, was far from mediocre, Ari realized. The way the two of them synced effortlessly, testing harmonies and adjusting tempos, was surprisingly satisfying. Ravi, ever the storyteller, began recounting their college love story once more, but Maya waved him off, reminding him there was no time for distractions. Thanks to this little team of “experts,” the music was finally fine-tuned, recorded, and transferred to a USB drive. The quality exceeded Ar...
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An Encounter on the Metro - Chapter 10

– + Vibrant Hues “You can count on me like one, two, three, I'll be there  And I know when I need it I can count on you like four, three, two and you'll be there  'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh, yeah” (credits - Count on me by Bruno Mars) Humming along to Bruno Mars’s voice leaking through her earplugs, Ari leaned back against the metro seat, on her way to the KR Puram flower market. Three days had flown by, and it was Sunday again — the day she had agreed to meet Mira at the market the previous weekend. Ari found herself scanning the compartment, half-hoping to spot Amy among the commuters — the familiar, bubbly girl in pink who had, quite unintentionally, shaken her quiet little world. Unfortunately, the metro announcement rang through the speakers first. Ari sighed, a hint of disappointment in her furrowed brows, and got off at the station. Soon enough, there she was — the ever-enthusiastic Mira, waving her hand with ...
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An Encounter on the Metro - Chapter 9

– + The Collaboration “Sure thing! Thanks, guys!” Ari said, her voice filled with gratitude. She was genuinely moved by their support. “Anyways…” Ravi leaned in, grinning wide. “Is your first song done yet? I’m already dying of curiosity.” “Yo, dude! Ever learnt the word ' space' ?” Tina cut in dryly as she joined the group after hitching an Uber. Ravi straightened immediately, grumbling under his breath. He never quite got along with Tina — she was too quiet, too detached. You’d only ever find her cooking or scrolling through her phone. To everyone’s surprise, Tina turned to Ari and said, “Congrats, Ari!... I heard the convo and subscribed.” She held up her phone. “This is your channel, right?” The screen read: ‘Putti Songs – 42 subscribers.’ (most of the subscribers are friends of Mira , forced into subscription by her) Ari’s eyes widened, then softened. “Yes… that’s the one. Thank you, Tina.” Tina shrugged. “Don’t mention it. It’s the least...
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An Encounter On The Metro - Chapter 8

– + The Reveal “Gossiping behind your employer’s back?” Maya teased. Ravi smiled nervously, his face paling to a shade lighter than his usual complexion. Ari and Tina suppressed their smiles, their heads bowed. They knew it wasn’t serious enough to cost anyone their job. Rams was a great boss—stern, yes—but he usually overlooked the chatter among his employees as long as it didn’t go too far. His version of PDA was to turn a blind eye whenever the gossip was about how his amazing wife had him wrapped around her finger. Catching uneasy glimpses of Rams and trying to gauge his mood, Ravi replied in a higher pitch, “No, no! It’s not gossip, but propagandising your love to the world. I was just narrating your college love story to Ari—how the boss joined the Music Club for you, confessed at the campfire while playing your favourite song… how you two were voted Best Campus Couple… and—” Their love story was well known to Ravi, who had been their junior in colleg...
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