diff --git a/nirvana-ios.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/nirvana-ios.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index aa05f5e..68223ed 100644
--- a/nirvana-ios.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/nirvana-ios.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -711,6 +711,7 @@
 				GENERATE_INFOPLIST_FILE = YES;
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = "nirvana-ios/Info.plist";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSContactsUsageDescription = "Please provide access to build your inner circle 🌱";
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSMicrophoneUsageDescription = "Please provide access to send messages 🌱";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_UIApplicationSceneManifest_Generation = YES;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_UIApplicationSupportsIndirectInputEvents = YES;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_UILaunchScreen_Generation = YES;
@@ -745,6 +746,7 @@
 				GENERATE_INFOPLIST_FILE = YES;
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = "nirvana-ios/Info.plist";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSContactsUsageDescription = "Please provide access to build your inner circle 🌱";
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSMicrophoneUsageDescription = "Please provide access to send messages 🌱";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_UIApplicationSceneManifest_Generation = YES;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_UIApplicationSupportsIndirectInputEvents = YES;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_UILaunchScreen_Generation = YES;
diff --git a/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/CircleGridView.swift b/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/CircleGridView.swift
index 557f795..ce9d2ae 100644
--- a/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/CircleGridView.swift
+++ b/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/CircleGridView.swift
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import NavigationStack
 import AVKit
 
 struct CircleGridView: View {
+    @EnvironmentObject var innerCircleVM: InnerCircleViewModel
     @EnvironmentObject var authSessionStore: AuthSessionStore
     @EnvironmentObject var navigationStack: NavigationStack
     
@@ -184,6 +185,7 @@ struct CircleGridView: View {
 struct CircleGridView_Previews: PreviewProvider {
     static var previews: some View {
         CircleGridView(selectedFriendIndex: Binding.constant(nil)).environmentObject(AuthSessionStore())
+            .environmentObject(InnerCircleViewModel())
     }
 }
 
@@ -360,14 +362,18 @@ extension CircleGridView {
         impactHeavy.impactOccurred()
     }
     
+    private func record() {
+        // call parent view model/environment object vm functions
+        
+        self.innerCircleVM.startRecording()
+    }
+    
     private func recordingGestureDeactived() {
         // stop recording
         print("stopped recording")
         
         self.selectedFriendIndex = nil
-    }
-    
-    private func record() {
-        // call parent view model/environment object vm functions
+        
+        self.innerCircleVM.stopRecording()
     }
 }
diff --git a/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleView.swift b/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleView.swift
index 75e24b0..05b25bd 100644
--- a/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleView.swift
+++ b/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleView.swift
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ enum SheetView : Identifiable {
 }
 
 struct InnerCircleView: View {
+    @StateObject var innerCircleVM: InnerCircleViewModel = InnerCircleViewModel()
     @EnvironmentObject var authSessionStore: AuthSessionStore
     @EnvironmentObject var navigationStack: NavigationStack
     
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ struct InnerCircleView: View {
             
             // content
             CircleGridView(selectedFriendIndex: self.$selectedFriendIndex)
+                .environmentObject(innerCircleVM)
             
             // header
             VStack(alignment: .leading) {
diff --git a/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleViewModel.swift b/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleViewModel.swift
index a634326..a6101c4 100644
--- a/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleViewModel.swift
+++ b/nirvana-ios/Views/InnerCircle/InnerCircleViewModel.swift
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ class InnerCircleViewModel: ObservableObject {
     
     @Published var isRecording : Bool = false
     
+    private var audioLocalUrl: URL?
+    
     func startRecording() {
         let recordingSession = AVAudioSession.sharedInstance()
         do {
@@ -23,8 +25,9 @@ class InnerCircleViewModel: ObservableObject {
             print("Can not setup the Recording")
         }
         
-        let path = FileManager.default.urls(for: .documentDirectory, in: .userDomainMask)[0]
-        let fileName = path.appendingPathComponent("\(UUID().uuidString).m4a")
+        let filePath = getTemporaryDirectory().appendingPathComponent("\(UUID().uuidString).m4a")
+        
+        print("file name of recording will be : \(filePath)")
         
         let settings = [
             AVFormatIDKey: Int(kAudioFormatMPEG4AAC),
@@ -33,13 +36,14 @@ class InnerCircleViewModel: ObservableObject {
             AVEncoderAudioQualityKey: AVAudioQuality.high.rawValue
         ]
         
-        
         do {
-            audioRecorder = try AVAudioRecorder(url: fileName, settings: settings)
+            audioRecorder = try AVAudioRecorder(url: filePath, settings: settings)
             audioRecorder.prepareToRecord()
             audioRecorder.record()
             isRecording = true
             
+            self.audioLocalUrl = filePath // setting this for later use when recording is stopped
+            
         } catch {
             print("Failed to Setup the Recording")
         }
@@ -49,14 +53,20 @@ class InnerCircleViewModel: ObservableObject {
         audioRecorder.stop()
         isRecording = false
         
-        // upload to the cloud storage
-        
-        // store in firestore for receiving user to automatically get notified
+        if self.audioLocalUrl != nil {
+            // upload to the cloud storage
+            
+            // store in firestore for receiving user to automatically get notified
+            
+            // delete local audio file from user's phone so that it doesn't get crazy
+            print("stopped recording: file about to get deleted from \(getTemporaryDirectory()) with filename: \(self.audioLocalUrl)")
+                        
+            try? FileManager.default.removeItem(at: self.audioLocalUrl!)
+        }
     }
     
-    func getDocumentsDirectory() -> URL {
-        let paths = FileManager.default.urls(for: .documentDirectory, in: .userDomainMask)
-        return paths[0]
+    func getTemporaryDirectory() -> URL {
+        return FileManager.default.temporaryDirectory
     }
 
 }