Varun stared out of the window, watching the city lights flicker in the distance. It had been months since Anjali left him, taking their son along. He thought they were building a life together, but her sudden departure shattered his heart, leaving him in a world that felt empty and directionless. Every corner of the apartment reminded him of their memories—the laughter, the arguments, the late-night talks, and most painfully, the love they once shared. He felt trapped in an endless cycle of loneliness.
Days passed, and Varun, though trying to return to some semblance of normalcy, found himself sinking deeper into depression. His job performance suffered, friendships drifted, and the hobbies he once enjoyed no longer brought him joy. In this overwhelming solitude, he turned to social media, looking for distractions.
One evening, after aimlessly scrolling through countless profiles and pages, a notification caught his attention. It was a friend request from someone named Eliza, who claimed to be from Goa. She had a simple profile picture—a serene sunset by the beach, but something about the request intrigued him. He clicked “Accept” without much thought, unaware of how much this online connection would change his life.
A New Beginning.
At first, their conversations were casual. Eliza seemed kind, warm, and always knew the right thing to say. They exchanged pleasantries about their lives—Varun shared his heartbreak with Anjali’s departure, while Eliza spoke of her quiet life in Goa, where she was working as a freelancer. Slowly, Varun found himself looking forward to their chats. What started as brief exchanges grew into long, deep conversations about life, dreams, and struggles. Varun began to feel something he hadn’t felt in months—hope.
Eliza had a unique way of looking at life. She always encouraged Varun to see the brighter side of things, to find happiness in small moments, and to never give up on his goals. "Life is full of detours," she would often say. "But the journey is what makes us stronger." Her words slowly chipped away at the wall of grief and bitterness Varun had built around himself.
For the first time in a long while, Varun smiled, laughed, and even started taking better care of himself. He began going to the gym again, reconnecting with old friends, and putting more effort into his work. His colleagues noticed the change and so did his family, though they didn’t know the source of his renewed energy.
But as their friendship deepened, Varun realized he was developing feelings for Eliza. Her constant encouragement, her inspiring words, and her presence, even from afar, filled a void he thought would never be filled. He longed to meet her in person, to see if what they had online could blossom into something more.
The First Meeting.
One evening, after a long conversation about life and love, Varun felt an overwhelming urge to meet Eliza. He typed out his message nervously: _"I feel like I’ve known you forever. I really want to meet you in person. What do you think?"_
Eliza responded after a pause, "I’ve been thinking about that too. Let’s meet in New Delhi next weekend. I’ll be traveling through there for work, and it would be the perfect opportunity."
Varun’s heart raced with excitement. He immediately agreed, and they made plans to meet at a café in Connaught Place, one of New Delhi’s busiest spots. The days leading up to their meeting were filled with nervous anticipation. He thought about how their first encounter would go, what she would look like, how her voice would sound in person.
Finally, the day arrived. Varun dressed in his best clothes and made his way to the café. As he sat at a table by the window, he couldn’t help but feel anxious. He glanced at his phone every few minutes, waiting for Eliza’s message to confirm she was on her way.
Then, his phone buzzed. Eliza had sent him a message: _"I’m so sorry, Varun. I had an accident on the way. I’m in the hospital near Pune right now. I’ll send you the details."_ Along with the message, she sent a photo of a private hospital with her location pinned nearby.
Varun’s heart sank. His hopes of meeting her were dashed. He didn’t know how to respond at first. Disappointment filled him, but he was more concerned about her well-being. He sent her a message wishing her a speedy recovery and promised they’d meet another time. He left the café, his heart heavy, and returned home.
Growing Closer.
Despite the setback, Varun and Eliza continued to chat online. Their bond only grew stronger, and Varun’s admiration for her deepened. She seemed to have an unbreakable spirit, despite the accident, and continued to inspire him with her words.
Weeks passed, and Varun couldn’t shake the feeling that they were meant to be together. He had never felt this connected to anyone, not even Anjali. One night, as they were talking about life and future plans, Varun mustered the courage to propose. _"Eliza, I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I know we haven’t met in person yet, but I feel like you’re the one. Will you marry me?"_
There was a pause before Eliza replied. _"Varun, I’ve been thinking about us too. I want to say yes, but let’s meet in person first. How about Mussoorie next weekend? It’s a beautiful place, and I’d love to see you there."_
Varun agreed without hesitation. He was overjoyed and couldn’t wait to finally see her in person.
The Mussoorie Meeting.
The following weekend, Varun traveled to Mussoorie, a picturesque hill station nestled in the Himalayas. He had booked a cozy resort and shared the accommodation details with Eliza. He arrived early and spent the day wandering through the town, thinking about what their meeting would be like. This time, he was certain nothing could go wrong.
But as the evening approached and Varun waited for her message, his phone buzzed with an unexpected notification. Eliza had sent him a heartbreaking message: _"Varun, I’m so sorry. My mother passed away suddenly. I have to return home for the cremation. I can’t make it to Mussoorie."_
Varun’s heart sank again. He was devastated but understood her situation. He sent his condolences and wished her strength during the difficult time. He returned home, feeling as if fate was conspiring to keep them apart.
A Year of Silence.
After that, there was a long silence between them. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, but Varun didn’t hear from Eliza. He tried messaging her, but there was no response. It was as if she had disappeared from his life completely.
During this time, Varun reflected on his journey. Though he hadn’t met Eliza in person, her presence in his life had changed him in ways he couldn’t have imagined. He had grown stronger, more confident, and more successful in his career. He had rebuilt his life, thanks to her inspiring words. But still, a part of him longed for her, for the connection they once shared.
The Unexpected Revelation.
One year later, on an ordinary afternoon, Varun received a notification that made his heart skip a beat. It was a message from Eliza’s account. After months of silence, she had finally reached out. Eagerly, Varun opened the message, but what he saw was not what he expected.
The message contained a link to a dark web .onion website. Hesitant at first, Varun clicked the link, wondering what it could be. The link led him to a simple page, where a letter was displayed. As he read the words, his heart pounded in disbelief.
_“Dear Varun,
I know you must be confused. I owe you the truth. My name isn’t Eliza. I’m not the person you thought I was. I am a hacker who came across your profile while monitoring social media activities. At first, it was just curiosity, but as I followed your story, I saw a man in pain who needed help. I created Eliza to give you the emotional support you needed, to inspire you when no one else could. My intention was never to deceive you, but to help you rebuild your life. I watched as you transformed, and I’m proud of the man you’ve become. But now, it’s time for me to say goodbye. I wish you all the happiness and success in the world.
Forever yours,
Francis Palmer.”_
Varun was stunned. He couldn’t believe what he was reading. The woman who had inspired him, who had brought him back from the depths of despair, was never real. Yet, despite the deception, Varun didn’t feel anger. Instead, he felt a strange sense of gratitude. Whoever Francis Palmer was, he had helped Varun in ways no one else could have.
As Varun closed the page, the link disappeared, never to be accessed again. He sat back in his chair, reflecting on the strange turn of events. Though Eliza had never existed, her influence on his life was real. And for that, he would always be grateful.
Varun smiled to himself. Life, as Eliza had once said, was full of unexpected detours. But it was the journey that made him stronger.
Explore the Realms of Creativity and Knowledge!
0 Comments