diff --git a/nirvana-ios.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/nirvana-ios.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index 4938b44..2d416d4 100644
--- a/nirvana-ios.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/nirvana-ios.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 /* Begin PBXBuildFile section */
 		8904DEC8277055E90071E6CA /* OnboardingOneView.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 8904DEC7277055E90071E6CA /* OnboardingOneView.swift */; };
+		89091993277D958D0025F4BB /* ConvoViewModel.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 89091992277D958D0025F4BB /* ConvoViewModel.swift */; };
 		890C245D277BF628009B4A30 /* AgoraRtcKit in Frameworks */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; productRef = 890C245C277BF628009B4A30 /* AgoraRtcKit */; };
 		890C2460277BF896009B4A30 /* AgoraViewController.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 890C245F277BF896009B4A30 /* AgoraViewController.swift */; };
 		890C2462277BF935009B4A30 /* CallView.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 890C2461277BF935009B4A30 /* CallView.swift */; };
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@
 
 /* Begin PBXFileReference section */
 		8904DEC7277055E90071E6CA /* OnboardingOneView.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; fileEncoding = 4; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = OnboardingOneView.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
+		89091992277D958D0025F4BB /* ConvoViewModel.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = ConvoViewModel.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		890C245F277BF896009B4A30 /* AgoraViewController.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = AgoraViewController.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		890C2461277BF935009B4A30 /* CallView.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = CallView.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		890C2463277BFA97009B4A30 /* AgroRep.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = AgroRep.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
@@ -373,6 +375,7 @@
 			isa = PBXGroup;
 			children = (
 				89814682277D83F300DA46CD /* ConvosView.swift */,
+				89091992277D958D0025F4BB /* ConvoViewModel.swift */,
 			);
 			path = Convos;
 			sourceTree = "<group>";
@@ -640,6 +643,7 @@
 				89BCABE5276B3D58009E9B10 /* InnerCircleView.swift in Sources */,
 				894E80C1276EFD0500624B72 /* AudioPlayerView.swift in Sources */,
 				89F18AF5276ECF2A00115B1E /* AddBasicInfoView.swift in Sources */,
+				89091993277D958D0025F4BB /* ConvoViewModel.swift in Sources */,
 				89BCABF0276D53C4009E9B10 /* PhoneVerificationViewModel.swift in Sources */,
 				89BDCDE72769616600577829 /* UIImage+Extension.swift in Sources */,
 				890C2464277BFA97009B4A30 /* AgroRep.swift in Sources */,
diff --git a/nirvana-ios/Views/Convos/ConvoViewModel.swift b/nirvana-ios/Views/Convos/ConvoViewModel.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3cf191
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nirvana-ios/Views/Convos/ConvoViewModel.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+//
+//  ConvoViewModel.swift
+//  nirvana-ios
+//
+//  Created by Arjun Patel on 12/29/21.
+//
+
+import Foundation
+import AgoraRtcKit
+
+
+class ConvoViewModel: ObservableObject {
+    let firestoreService = FirestoreService()
+    
+    var agoraKit: AgoraRtcEngineKit?
+    var agoraDelegate: AgoraRtcEngineDelegate?
+    
+    init() {
+        // initiate convo listener to get all relevant convos
+        //  any convo that is active
+        //  and any of my active friends are in that convo
+        //  if am being "called" catch that and join the convo/channel
+        
+        // only show convos in which I know a majority of the people inside
+        
+        // initiate agora engine
+        self.initializeAgoraEngine()
+    }
+    
+    deinit {
+        // deinit the firestore listener
+        // deinit the agora engine
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     @param: friendId: the second person in the convo...the receiver
+     **/
+    func startConvo(friendId: String) {
+        if let userId = AuthSessionStore.getCurrentUserId() {
+            
+        }
+        
+        // need to make sure the other user is online
+        
+        // get a new agora token from cloud function
+        
+        // create a convo/channel in db to notify the other user with proper attributes
+        
+        // join the convo myself
+    }
+    
+    /**
+    Allow user to join an active convo
+     */
+    func joinConvo(convoId: String, convoAgoraToken: String) {
+        // ensure the convo is active and includes 2 people in it currently...shouldn't be shown if not anyway
+        
+        // ensure that this user leaves all other channels
+        self.leaveConvo()
+        
+        // finally join channel
+        agoraKit?.joinChannel(byToken: convoAgoraToken, channelId: "testChannel", info: nil, uid: 0, joinSuccess: {(channel, uid, elapsed) in
+            
+        })
+    }
+    
+    // anyone can leave at any time
+    private func leaveConvo() {
+        agoraKit?.leaveChannel(nil)
+    }
+    
+    // if you are the second to last person in the convo and you leave, you end the convo
+    private func endConvo() {
+        AgoraRtcEngineKit.destroy()
+    }
+}
+
+extension ConvoViewModel {
+    func initializeAgoraEngine() {
+        // TODO: put app id in environment variables
+        agoraKit = AgoraRtcEngineKit.sharedEngine(withAppId: "c8dfd65deb5c4741bd564085627139d0", delegate: agoraDelegate)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/nirvana-ios/Views/Convos/ConvosView.swift b/nirvana-ios/Views/Convos/ConvosView.swift
index 0c4e182..1ad4b94 100644
--- a/nirvana-ios/Views/Convos/ConvosView.swift
+++ b/nirvana-ios/Views/Convos/ConvosView.swift
@@ -9,20 +9,21 @@ import SwiftUI
 
 // test convos
 let testConvos: [Convo] = [
-    Convo(leaderUserId: "VWVPKCrNmMeZlkEeZxuJ0Wsgq0C3", receiverUserId: "zd6PpD3TmnQUDoy6noS9aZpuPWr1", agoraToken: "006c8dfd65deb5c4741bd564085627139d0IAAIlYcWj21zCp4jq/WS2BMaiMYlKSax7ohIjzBx1BtpWAx+f9gAAAAAEADQ943gX6LOYQEAAQBfos5h", state: .connected)
+    Convo(id: "testChannel", leaderUserId: "VWVPKCrNmMeZlkEeZxuJ0Wsgq0C3", receiverUserId: "zd6PpD3TmnQUDoy6noS9aZpuPWr1", agoraToken: "006c8dfd65deb5c4741bd564085627139d0IAAqbHMFow9oQ8BN0WCkFrkGBTqFTjlbr6tJmFH5judwbnZXrgMAAAAAEADQ943gC8nOYQEAAQALyc5h", state: .connected)
 ]
 
 struct ConvosView: View {
+    @ObservedObject var vm = ConvoViewModel()
+    @State var animate = false
+    
     var body: some View {
         ScrollView([.horizontal]) {
             HStack {
                 ForEach(0..<testConvos.count, id: \.self) {index in
-                    
-                    
                     ZStack(alignment: .topTrailing) {
                         Circle()
                             .foregroundColor(NirvanaColor.dimTeal.opacity(0.4))
-                            
+                                                        
                         ZStack {
                             Color.clear
                             ProfilePictureOverlap()
@@ -35,11 +36,28 @@ struct ConvosView: View {
                             .foregroundColor(Color.white)
                             .background(NirvanaColor.dimTeal)
                             .cornerRadius(100)
+                        
+//                        ZStack(alignment: .bottom) {
+//                            Color.clear
+//
+//                            Text("kev, sarth...")
+//                                .foregroundColor(NirvanaColor.teal)
+//                                .font(.caption)
+//                        }
                     }
                     .frame(width: 100, height: 100)
+                    .scaleEffect(self.animate ? 1 : 0.85)
+                    .animation(animate ? Animation.easeInOut(duration: 4).repeatForever(autoreverses: true) : .default)
+                    .onTapGesture {
+                        self.vm.joinConvo(convoId: testConvos[index].id!, convoAgoraToken: testConvos[index].agoraToken)
+                    }
                 }
             }
+            .onAppear {
+                self.animate = true
+            }
         }
+        .padding()
     }
 }
 
@@ -67,7 +85,6 @@ struct ProfilePictureOverlap: View {
                 }
             }
             
-                
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/CircleGridView.swift b/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/CircleGridView.swift
index db31333..6430b79 100644
--- a/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/CircleGridView.swift
+++ b/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/CircleGridView.swift
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ struct CircleGridView: View {
     @State var queuePlayer = AVQueuePlayer()
     @State var timeObserverToken: Any?
     
-    @State private var showCall: Bool = false
-    
     @GestureState var dragState = DragState.inactive
     
     let universalSize = UIScreen.main.bounds
@@ -268,9 +266,6 @@ struct CircleGridView: View {
                 }                
             }
         } // scrollview reader
-        .fullScreenCover(isPresented: $showCall, content: {
-          CallView()
-        })
     }
     
     
@@ -382,17 +377,12 @@ extension CircleGridView {
 extension CircleGridView {
     // listening to messages
     private func handleTap(gridItemIndex: Int, friendId: String) {
-        // TODO: if there is a message, then listen to it
-        // then after that, check if friend is online, and if so, then connect with him/her if they are free/not in another call
-        // TESTING CALL
-        let testingCall = false
-        if testingCall {
-            self.showCall.toggle()
-            return
-        }
-        
         print("tap gesture activated")
         
+        // if friend is online, start call immediately
+        
+        
+        
         // clearing the player to make room for this friend's convo or to deselect this user
         self.queuePlayer.removeAllItems()
          
diff --git a/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleView.swift b/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleView.swift
index fb3d98d..88dfd86 100644
--- a/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleView.swift
+++ b/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleView.swift
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ struct InnerCircleView: View {
             // background
             WavesGlassBackgroundView(isRecording: self.innerCircleVM.isRecording)
             
-            // stale states
+            // stale state: create profile
             if self.authSessionStore.user?.nickname == nil || self.authSessionStore.user?.avatar == nil {
                 VStack(alignment: .center) {
                     Image("undraw_fall_is_coming_yl-0-x")
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ struct InnerCircleView: View {
                         
                 }
                 .padding()
-            }
+            } // add friend: stale state
             else if self.authSessionStore.friendsArr.count == 0 && self.authSessionStore.inboxUsersArr.count == 0 {
                 VStack(alignment: .center) {
                     Image("undraw_fall_is_coming_yl-0-x")
@@ -84,10 +84,18 @@ struct InnerCircleView: View {
                         
                 }
                 .padding()
-            } else {                 
-                // content
-                CircleGridView(selectedFriendIndex: self.$selectedFriendIndex)
-                    .environmentObject(innerCircleVM)
+            } else {
+                VStack(alignment: .leading) {
+                    // convos
+                    ConvosView()
+                        .padding(.top, 50)
+                    
+                    // inner circle grid
+                    CircleGridView(selectedFriendIndex: self.$selectedFriendIndex)
+                        .environmentObject(innerCircleVM)
+                    
+                    Spacer()
+                }
             }
             
             // header
diff --git a/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleViewModel.swift b/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleViewModel.swift
index cc8f18a..2e5aba1 100644
--- a/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleViewModel.swift
+++ b/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleViewModel.swift
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ extension InnerCircleViewModel {
     }
 }
 
+// everything related to calls and such
 extension InnerCircleViewModel {
     func getAgoraToken() {
         if let uid = AuthSessionStore.getCurrentUserId() {
@@ -149,5 +150,5 @@ extension InnerCircleViewModel {
         else {
             print("no user authenticated to get an agora token")
         }
-    }
+    }    
 }