In the living room, Bani, Gauri, and Meera are sitting opposite Rekha and Ritu. The girls are on a mission to convince their mothers to let them explore Mahabaleshwar.

Gauri (pouting dramatically): "Maa, it's just a small trip to the market. Hum koi Everest toh chadne nahi ja rahe!"

Rekha (sternly): "Gauri, market jaana bhi safe nahi hai aajkal. Aur itne saare log hote hai waha."

Meera (puppy eyes, holding Ritu's hand): "Please maa, we haven't gone anywhere in forever. Kitne time se we’ve just been stuck at home. Please?"

Bani (calm but persistent): "Maa, it's been two years. Humne last time kab vacation kiya tha yaad hai? And we can handle everything. I'm with them, aur hum sirf Mahabaleshwar mein hi hain. We'll stay together."

Rekha (still hesitant): "But, tumhe pata hai waha ki sadke, bheed hoti hai, and what if something happens?"

Gauri (cutely, widening her eyes): "Arey Maa, kuch nahi hoga! I promise! And humko strawberries khani hain... Market ke strawberries are famous, Maa!"

Meera (nodding quickly): "Haan maa, tasty strawberries, and local dishes! We’ll only be gone for a few hours."

Bani (adding in a logical tone): "Look, we are not kids anymore. We’ll stick to safe places, we’ve handled much worse in life. Aur jab main hoon, you don’t have to worry."

Ritu (smiling slightly, looking at Bani): "Theek hai. You girls can go, but... apni car aur driver leke jaana. Koi risks nahi lena. Understood?"

Gauri (jumping excitedly): "Yay! Maa, you’re the best! I promise we’ll be careful."

Rekha (sighing but smiling at their enthusiasm): "Alright, but kisi ko pareshaan mat karna, samjhi?"

Meera (hugging Ritu): "Love you Maa!"

Bani (nodding responsibly): "Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on everything."

****************

The girls arrive at the beautiful, bustling streets of Mahabaleshwar. The market is lively, full of colors, and the scent of strawberries fills the air. Gauri, Meera, and Bani are looking at different stalls, enjoying the atmosphere.

Gauri (pointing excitedly at a stall): "Look, yeh earrings kitne cute hain! Mujhe lena hai."

Meera (laughing): "Tumhe sab kuch lena hai!"

Bani (smiling slightly): "Don’t spend all your money in one place, Gauri. We’ve just started."

Just then, Arjun, walking with Ponky, accidentally bumps into Gauri, knocking over a bag of strawberries.

Gauri (angrily): "Watch it! Tum dekh ke nahi chal sakte kya?"

Arjun (matching her tone): "Tume dekh ke chalna chahiye tha. Tumhara problem kya hai?!"

Gauri (crossing her arms): "Mera problem? Tumne hi bump kiya tha!"

Arjun (raising an eyebrow): "Oh really? Tum hi dhyan nahi de rahi thi!"

Bani, noticing the rising tension, steps between them to intervene.

Bani (calm but firm): "Okay, relax. It's just a mistake. Gauri, leave it."

Before Gauri can retort, Veer appears, drawn by the commotion. As he arrives, his eyes immediately land on Bani, and for a moment, the world around them seems to disappear.

Veer (internally, lost in thought): "Itni khubsurat... Is she really here?"

Bani, equally stunned, locks eyes with Veer. Her heart skips a beat, and for a second, she forgets everything else. The intensity in Veer's gaze is undeniable, and both stand in silence, caught in the moment.

Bani (internally, surprised): "Why does he keep looking at me like this?"

The heated argument between Gauri and Arjun breaks their trance.

Arjun (rolling his eyes at Gauri): "Yeh tumhara market nahi hai, sabka hai. Tumhare liye special road nahi bana hai."

Gauri (sarcastically): "Aur tumhare liye bhi koi VIP pass nahi hai!"

Bani shakes her head, stepping in again.

Bani (sighing): "Enough. Both of you. It's not worth fighting over."

Veer finally speaks, snapping out of his daze.

Veer (glancing between Arjun and Gauri, then smiling slightly at Bani): "Sorry about him. He tends to get... carried away."

Bani (coldly, avoiding his eyes now): "It’s fine. We’ll be on our way."

The girls begin to turn around, but just as they do, both Veer and Bani feel a strange pull. Almost instinctively, they glance back at each other. When their eyes meet again, there’s an unspoken connection that neither can deny. They exchange shy smiles, their hearts racing.

Bani quickly turns back, leading her sisters away. Veer, too, walks off with his group, but the image of Bani in the sunlight stays in his mind.

Ponky (teasing Veer): "Bro, kya ho raha tha waha?"

Veer (absentmindedly): "Kuch nahi... bas..."

He doesn’t finish the sentence, but the small smile on his face speaks volumes.

Arjun (grumbling): "Woh ladki toh badi irritating thi!"

Veer (grinning at Arjun): "Maybe because tum dono bilkul ek jaise ho."

******************

Later in the day, after their market trip, Bani, Gauri, and Meera decide to visit one of Mahabaleshwar’s scenic hilltops to watch the sunset. The cool breeze carries the scent of pine trees, and the sky is painted with hues of pink and orange as the sun begins to lower.

Meera (excitedly): “This place is so beautiful! Mujhe yeh view dekh kar hamesha sukoon milta hai.”

Gauri (giggling): “Behen tu toh yahi rehti hai Lucky girl.And the fresh air is so refreshing! Plus, humne strawberries bhi le liye. Best trip ever!”

Bani (looking at the view, feeling strangely calm): “Haan, it's peaceful here.”

But even as she says it, she feels an odd restlessness inside her, like a faint tug pulling at her heart. Something she can’t quite place.

They make their way to a quieter spot near the edge of the hill, sitting on a low stone wall. Bani stands up, lost in the view, letting the wind play with her hair. As she takes a deep breath, she feels the familiar pull again, stronger this time.

Just as she’s about to turn around, a familiar voice reaches her ears.

Veer (from behind, with a soft laugh): “Lagta hai hum dobara mil gaye, Miss...?”

Bani freezes for a second. That voice... there was something about it that made her heart race. She slowly turns, and there he is—Veer, standing a few feet away. His eyes are fixed on her, but unlike before, they aren’t just curious; they’re intense, almost like he’s trying to remember something lost in time.

Veer (stepping forward, his smile softening): “Aapko dekh kar aisa lag raha hai jaise pehle kabhi mile ho.”

Bani feels a sudden rush of emotion like a wave of memories that aren’t hers, yet they feel painfully familiar. She opens her mouth to reply, but words fail her. There’s something in Veer’s eyes that pulls her in.

Bani (whispering to herself): “Why does this feel... so strange?”

Veer, on the other hand, is battling with his own surge of emotions. Ever since he first saw her in the market, there’s been this connectiothat tells him he’s known her far longer than just these brief encounters.

Ponky (interrupting, teasing): “Oh ho, Veer bhai, kya baat hai? You’re acting like you’ve seen a ghost!”

Veer (ignoring Ponky’s comment, his gaze locked on Bani): “Tum... theek ho?”

Bani blinks, trying to shake off the odd sensation.

Bani (forcing a smile, but her voice comes out quieter than usual): “Haan, I’m fine. I just... yeh sab kuch ajeeb lag raha hai.”

Gauri and Meera, sensing something strange between Bani and Veer, exchange glances but remain silent. The tension was visible.

Veer (stepping even closer, almost whispering): “Pehle kabhi mile hain hum?”

Bani feels her breath hitch at his question. She’s never seen this man before—at least, not in this life. But something inside her screams that their souls have met before.

Bani (softly, almost to herself): “Mujhe nahi pata... par aisa lag raha hai jaise... jaise...”

She stops, unable to finish the thought, because how can she explain this strange connection to someone she barely knows?

Veer:"Mil chuke hai pehle bhi right..?"

Bani (stepping back slightly, trying to regain her composure)"Hume jaana chahiye.”

Meera (noticing Bani’s discomfort): “Haan, it’s getting late. Hum chalte hain, Bani.”

Veer watches her turn away, his chest tightening. He doesn’t want to let her go—he feels like if he lets her walk away now, he’ll lose her all over again.

Veer (calling after her, his voice soft but desperate): “Phir kab milenge?”

Bani pauses for just a second, but she doesn’t turn around.

Bani (her voice barely audible, her heart racing): “Mujhe nahi pata.”

With that, she walks away, leaving Veer standing there, feeling as if he’s just lost something incredibly important. Ponky and Arjun, sensing the heaviness in the air, don’t say a word as they follow him.

As Bani and her sisters walk away, she fights the urge to look back.

*********************

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over Mahabaleshwar. Bani lay in her bed, the cool night air seeping through the window. Despite the fatigue from the day’s excitement, her mind was anything but restful.

She turned onto her side, staring at the wall, but all she could see was the handsome stranger from the market. His gray eyes, intense yet warm, seemed to penetrate her thoughts.

Bani (whispering to herself): "Who was he? That smile… It felt so familiar, yet so strange.I never felt like this about any person before."

Memories of their meet  flooded her mind—the way he laughed with his friends, the way he’d looked at her when she accidentally bumped into him. A strange flutter danced in her stomach.

*************

Meanwhile, in his room, Veer tossed and turned, unable to shake the image of Bani from his thoughts.

Veer (muttering): "Why can’t I stop thinking about her? It’s just one meeting, yet… it feels like more."

He recalled the moment their eyes had locked—something electric had passed between them. It was as if the world had faded away and only she remained in that busy market for him.He ran a hand through his hair frustrated.

Veer: "I need to know her name. I need to see her again."

As the night deepened, both Bani and Veer sleep, their dreams intertwined by a thread of fate.

*******

After a delightful day of exploration, Bani, Gauri, and Meera are relaxing in their room when Ritu enters, a warm smile on her face.

Ritu: "Girls, I just got a call from Shanti Devi. She wants us to join them for lunch tomorrow. She is  distant relatives and wants to catch up."

Bani (raising an eyebrow): "Distant relatives? I had no idea."

Meera (excitedly): "This could be fun! She cooks really good food !"

Bani rolls her eyes but feels a flutter of anticipation, unaware that the lunch will bring unexpected surprises.

The next day, Bani and her sisters arrive at Shanti Devi's charming home, adorned with vibrant flowers and a welcoming aura. They are greeted with warm hugs and laughter.

Shanti Devi: "Oh, my dear girls! How lovely to see you all! Come in, come in! It’s been ages since we had such beautiful guests!"

As they sit down for lunch, Bani looks around, taking in the family portraits lining the walls. She notices a picture of a younger Arjun with his grandmother, filled with laughter.

Shanti Devi (turning to Bani and Gauri): "I remember you two as little girls! Gauri was always the mischievous one, getting into trouble!"

Gauri (grinning): "That was me! Still am, actually!"

Bani chuckles, feeling at ease as the warmth of the family envelops them. Just then, the door opens, and Veer enters with Ponky, both looking around curiously.

As soon as Veer spots Bani, his expression shifts to surprise. Bani's eyes widen in equal astonishment.

Veer: " You’re here?"

Bani (taken aback): "You here..?"

Ponky: "Yeah, we  are guests. We meet again small world, huh?"

Shanti Devi:"Ohh you guys have meet."

Veer:"Yess yesterday we met them in the market and sunset point."

Shanti Devi:"Ok.Bani these are Arjun my grandson's friends .He is Veeranshu and besides him is ponky his brother.And Veer she is Bani and her sister Gauri our distant relatives."

Just then, Arjun walks in, shocked to see the girls from the market at his home.

Arjun: "Wait, you’re those girls from the market! "

Shanti Devi:"They are actually our distant relatives.He is Ramesh uncle's brother."said pointing at Raj who nods with smile.

Arjun looks slightly embarrassed.

Arjun: "I’m sorry for being rude before."

Gauri (playfully): "Definitely you should be."

This sparks a light-hearted argument, between Gauri and Arjun.

Arjun: "Oh, come on! I was just having a bad day."

Gauri: "Excuses, excuses!"

Before their banter starts to stretch elders stop them.

Rekha: "Alright, you two, enough! This is a family gathering, not a wrestling match."

Raj: "Let’s keep it civil, shall we?"

Laughter fills the room as the tension breaks. The families mingle, and Bani feels a strange thrill at being noticed by Veer, who can’t take his eyes off her.Even she can't keep him out of her thoughts.

After lunch, Bani and Veer find themselves standing a bit apart from the group.

Veer: "So, did you enjoy the food? Arjun's Grandma really knows how to cook."

Bani (smiling): "Yes, it was amazing! I love trying local dishes."

Veer (leaning closer): "You know, you’re not just a stranger now; you’re kind of a friend now."

Bani raises an eyebrow,

Bani: "Friend? Just like that?"

Veer (grinning): "Of course! Friends stay in touch. Here." He pulls out his phone and hands it to her. "Give me your number, and let’s keep in contact."

Bani hesitates for a moment, feeling the pull in her heart.

Bani: "Okay. But just as friends."

Veer (nodding, a hint of mischief in his eyes): "Sure, just friends… for now."

As she types in her number, their fingers brush slightly, sending a jolt of electricity between them.

Veer: "Great! I’ll text you, then."

Bani (smirking): "Just don’t spam me with random messages."

Veer (laughing): "I can’t promise that!"

*******************

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit room, Jayesh stands by a window, his face shadowed by the setting sun. He looks out, a scowl etched on his face as he speaks to himself.

Jayesh (gritting his teeth): "How can she be back? Is it a coincidence that Raj's daughter looks like her?Did she took rebirth as Raj's daughter?Well none of this is a good sign also the jhumar fell on me and her what does all this signs."

He clenches his fists, pacing the room, filled with frustration.

Jayesh: "This changes everything.If she remembers anything... no, I can't let that happen. "

His eyes darken with resolve.

Jayesh: "I’ll keep my distance for now."

***************