Priya lay on her deathbed...

Her entire body was soaked in blood.

Every breath hurt.

Every second felt heavier than the last.

And the person standing before her with blood on her hands was none other than Kayal - the sister of her best friend Kritika... the girl Priya trusted like her own sister.

With trembling lips and tear-filled eyes, Priya looked at her.

Priya:

"Why...?"

Kayal laughed bitterly.

Not the happy kind.

The scary "main villain finally revealing everything" kind.

Kayal:

"You're asking me why?

Because you stole my love...

Ram... Ram Kumar... the man I loved even before I understood what love truly was."

Priya's eyes widened in shock.

Kayal:

"I was the one who should've married him that day. Not you.

Both of us made mistakes... but you took my place."

Priya:

"What...? You planned all this...?"

Kayal smirked proudly like she won an award for "Best Psycho of the Year."

Kayal:

"Ram Kumar... the village nattamai... a gentleman every girl dreamed of marrying.

That day, he and I were supposed to be locked in that room together. Everyone would've forced our marriage."

She crossed her arms dramatically.

Kayal:

"But unfortunately, I met with a small accident.

And you... you went searching for your little goat like some village detective."

Priya blinked.

Even while dying, she wanted to slap her past self.

"Why was I emotionally attached to a goat...?"

Kayal:

"Ram came there because of an emergency call... and my friend locked the door."

Priya remembered that cursed night.

One locked room.

One misunderstanding.

One accidental marriage.

And unlimited trauma.

Kayal:

"That's why I poisoned your mind against Ram after marriage.

And you believed every word.

You hated him... divorced him...

Such a fool."

Before Priya could process everything, her eyes fell on another figure standing behind Kayal.

Her stepmother.

Maharani.

The woman she called "Mom" for years.

Tears rolled down Priya's cheeks.

Priya:

"Mom... please help me..."

But Maharani's face remained cold.

Cold enough to freeze Priya's remaining hope.

Maharani:

"Who is your mother?

I'm Kayal's mother.

My real daughter."

Priya froze completely.

Her heart shattered more painfully than the knife wound.

Maharani:

"After my first husband died, I left Kayal with my sister's family.

Everything happening now is for my daughter's happiness.

How dare you stand in her way?"

At that moment, Kritika came running toward them.

Terrified.

Crying.

Kritika:

"Kayal! Stop this!"

But before she could even reach them-

Kayal stabbed her mercilessly.

Priya screamed in horror.

Priya:

"No...! She has a child... please let her go..."

But Kayal showed no mercy.

That day...

She killed her own sister.

And then...

She turned toward Priya.

As death slowly embraced her, Priya's thoughts drifted toward only one person.

Ram.

His eyes.

His silent care.

The way he loved her even when she pushed him away.

Guilt crushed her heart.

Because somewhere along the way...

She had fallen in love with him too.

But she was too stubborn to admit it.

Too hurt.

Too blinded by misunderstandings.

And now...

It was too late.

Everything slowly turned dark.

Then suddenly-

FLASH.

A bright light hit Priya's eyes.

"NOT AGAIN-!"

She screamed and rolled dramatically off the bed.

THUD.

Two seconds later...

Priya:

"...Ow."

She slowly opened one eye.

Birds chirped peacefully outside.

Her ceiling fan rotated lazily like it had no responsibilities in life.

And beside her...

A packed travel bag.

Priya sat up slowly.

The bag sat there innocently.

Priya pointed at it like it committed crimes.

"You."

The bag stayed silent.

But Priya knew.

That bag was dangerous.

Last time she touched it, her life turned into:

friend's wedding → forced marriage → misunderstanding → divorce → murder → premium emotional damage.

Priya held her head dramatically.

"I died and got reincarnated... and my first mission is still PACKING?!"

Her phone suddenly rang.

Lakshmi ❤️

The moment she saw the name, her expression softened instantly.

Her real mother.

The woman who walked away from betrayal with nothing but dignity.

The woman everyone mocked.

"A woman alone can do nothing."

But Lakshmi proved everyone wrong.

She built a small business from scratch and turned it into a successful empire.

Meanwhile Priya...

Built trust issues.

As a child, Priya hated her mother for leaving.

Because children don't understand betrayal.

They only understand absence.

So Priya stayed with her father.

Stayed with Maharani.

Stayed in a house where she always felt like an unwanted guest.

But as she grew older...

She slowly understood everything.

The hidden calls.

The fights.

The tears her mother hid.

The truth.

That was the day Priya stopped defending her father blindly.

After that, their conversations became short.

Cold.

Necessary.

Nothing more.

Because some betrayals permanently change how love feels.

Her phone kept ringing.

Lakshmi:

"Priya? Dear, are you there?"

Priya quickly wiped her tears.

Priya:

"Yes, Mom..."

Her voice became softer than ever before.

After dying once...

Everything felt precious now.

Lakshmi:

"Go safely, okay?

And don't fight with others there.

You somehow create problems wherever you go."

Priya remembered:

- fighting with Ram,

- fighting with Kayal,

- fighting with destiny itself.

Honestly, destiny started it first.

She laughed softly.

Priya:

"Okay, okay, Mom. Don't worry."

Then she whispered unconsciously-

"This time... it won't be the same."

Lakshmi:

"What?"

Priya froze.

Oops.

Almost leaked time-travel spoilers.

Priya:

"Nothing, Mom! I just meant... I'll behave properly this time."

Lakshmi laughed softly.

Lakshmi:

"That itself is a miracle."

Priya gasped dramatically.

"Wow. Even my own mother has trust issues because of me."

But hearing her mother laugh...

It healed something inside her.

A warmth she ignored for years.

Her eyes slowly became emotional again.

Priya:

"And Mom..."

Lakshmi:

"Hm?"

Priya smiled softly through her tears.

A real smile.

The kind that comes after surviving pain.

Priya:

"I love you a lot."

Silence.

Beautiful silence.

The kind where love speaks louder than words.

Lakshmi's voice trembled slightly.

Lakshmi:

"Love you too, dear...

Call me when you reach there, okay?"

Priya closed her eyes slowly.

In her previous life...

She never got the chance to say these words properly.

But this time...

She would protect the people she loved.

Her mother.

Kritika.

And maybe...

Even Ram.

No matter what.

Priya:

"Okay, Mom."

After the call ended, Priya looked at the travel bag again.

The bag looked peaceful.

Too peaceful.

Priya narrowed her eyes.

"I survived death once..."

Then she sighed dramatically.

"...but this wedding still feels more dangerous."

Just as Priya placed her phone down, it rang again.

The screen flashed:

Drama Queen Kritika 👑

Priya froze.

Her heart tightened painfully.

Kritika.

Her best friend.

The same girl who died trying to save her in the previous life.

For a second, Priya simply stared at the screen.

Then quickly picked up the call.

Before she could even say hello-

Kritika:

"Did you pack your things? When is your train? When will you come? What dress are you wearing? Did you buy my gift? And listen-"

Priya pulled the phone away from her ear dramatically.

"Same battery level. Same non-stop talking."

Some things truly never change.

A small smile appeared on her face.

In her previous life, she lost this voice forever.

But now...

She could hear it again.

Alive.

Happy.

Annoyingly loud.

Priya:

"Wait... wait... breathe first. Oxygen is free."

Kritika gasped loudly.

Kritika:

"Wow. I missed you and this is how you treat me?"

Priya laughed softly.

God...

She really missed this idiot.

Priya:

"I'll come tomorrow morning. My train is tonight."

Then her expression slowly changed.

Her eyes darkened slightly.

Because this journey...

Was not just about attending a wedding anymore.

It was about changing fate itself.

A slow smirk appeared on her lips.

Priya:

"I'll come..."

She paused dramatically.

"...and this time, I'll take back what belongs to me."

Kritika became silent for two seconds.

Kritika:

"...What belongs to you?"

Priya blinked.

Oops.

Again with accidental villain dialogues.

Priya:

"Uh... your friendship. Obviously."

Kritika:

"Hmmm... suspicious."

Priya quickly changed the topic.

Priya:

"So tell me... is your village still full of gossip aunties and random goats?"

Kritika gasped dramatically.

Kritika:

"First of all, don't insult the goats. They are more loyal than people."

Priya suddenly went silent.

Because honestly...

The goat really caused half her problems last time.

Maybe Kritika had a point.

After talking for a few more minutes filled with useless gossip, random teasing, and Kritika's wedding panic attacks, the call finally ended.

Priya slowly placed her phone on the bed.

The room became quiet again.

Too quiet.

For a moment, she simply sat there staring at nothing.

Last time...

At this exact point in her life...

She was just an ordinary girl going to attend her best friend's wedding.

Carefree.

Clueless.

Dramatic for no reason.

But now?

Now she was a woman who had:

- died once,

- time travelled once,

- and unlocked trust issues with half the population.

Priya took a deep breath and stood up.

"Okay, Priya," she muttered to herself.

"This time:

- no following goats,

- no getting locked in rooms,

- no accidental marriage,

- and definitely no dying."

She nodded proudly.

Then immediately paused.

"...Actually the accidental marriage part wasn't completely terrible."

Ram's face suddenly flashed in her mind.

His calm eyes.

His silent care.

The way he looked hurt when she pushed him away.

Priya quickly slapped her cheeks lightly.

"No. Focus."

She walked toward her cupboard to get ready.

Opening it dramatically like a serial heroine discovering family secrets.

After staring at her clothes for five whole minutes, she sighed deeply.

"Wow."

"I literally survived murder... and I still have nothing to wear."

Truly.

Life was unfair.

The train journey was surprisingly peaceful.

Which honestly scared Priya more.

Because in her life, peace usually meant:

“Congratulations, bigger problems are loading…”

At night, some small kids entered her compartment and started staring at her snacks like hungry detectives.

One tiny boy climbed near her seat and asked seriously—

Boy:

“Akka… are those biscuits for sharing or for showing off?”

Priya blinked.

“These children are sharper than income tax officers.”

Five minutes later, she somehow became the unofficial train babysitter.

One child stole her chips.

Another stole her pillow.

One little girl forced Priya to play “teacher-teacher.”

And somehow…

Priya failed in her own imaginary class.

At one point, the kids even wrapped her with a shawl and said—

Kids:

“You are train grandma now.”

Priya almost cried.

“I’m too young for this disrespect.”

Still…

She laughed.

Laughed so much that for one night she forgot everything.

Forgot betrayal.

Forgot Kayal.

Forgot death.

Forgot Ram’s heartbreak.

For the first time after returning…

She felt alive again.

The next morning, the train finally reached the village station.

Priya stepped down confidently with her bag.

Then…

Silence.

The entire station looked at her.

Priya looked at them.

Then slowly looked at herself.

Pink striped overshirt.

White crop top.

Wide-leg jeans.

White sneakers.

Cute city-girl vibes.

Meanwhile the village people around her looked straight out of:

“Traditional Family Festival — Season 4.”

Women wore beautiful sarees with jasmine flowers.

Men walked around in white veshti like background music should automatically play for them.

And Priya?

She looked like someone accidentally dropped a Pinterest influencer into a Tamil village serial.

One old aunty adjusted her glasses and stared at Priya’s jeans like it personally insulted her ancestors.

Another aunty whispered loudly—

Aunty:

“Aiyo… cloth shortage ah?”

Priya looked down at her full-length jeans.

“Where exactly is the shortage, aunty?”

One small kid pointed at her shoes excitedly.

Kid:

“Amma! Foreign akka!”

Priya gasped dramatically.

“FOREIGN?! I came from Chennai, not Canada!”

Then came the final attack.

A random village uncle looked at her suitcase and asked—

Uncle:

“Are you staying here for marriage… or opening a branch office?”

Priya slowly closed her eyes.

Wonderful.

Last life she died here.

This life she would first die from embarrassment.

As Priya stood there getting judged by the entire village population for simply existing in jeans, an old grandmother suddenly walked toward the crowd.

The grandmother looked at Priya from head to toe and smiled warmly.

Grandmother:

“Aiyo, why are you all staring at the girl like she came from another planet?

She looks very pretty only.”

Priya immediately felt emotional.

Finally.

One supportive citizen.

The grandmother lightly hit one aunty’s shoulder.

Grandmother:

“Instead of gossiping, help her with the bags. Poor thing is struggling.”

Priya looked at her giant suitcase.

Honestly, the suitcase itself deserved its own train ticket.

She tried lifting it again dramatically.

Big mistake.

The bag moved.

Priya didn’t.

Then suddenly—

Her foot slipped.

Priya:

“Aiyoooo—!”

Before she could fall face-first and create a new humiliation memory, strong hands caught her instantly.

Everything froze for a second.

Priya slowly looked up.

And her soul almost left her body again.

Ram.

Ram Kumar.

Standing right in front of her.

Looking exactly the same.

Calm eyes.

Sharp features.

White shirt.

Dangerously handsome for no reason at 8 in the morning.

Priya forgot breathing existed.

Meanwhile Ram calmly held her by the waist and made her stand properly.

Like this wasn’t the second biggest shock of her life.

The first one being:

“Congratulations, you’re dead.”

Priya stared at him blankly.

Ram slightly frowned.

Ram:

“Careful.”

His deep voice snapped her back to reality.

Priya immediately jumped away from him like touching him was illegal.

Or dangerous.

Which honestly… emotionally, yes.

She tried maintaining distance with full dignity.

But destiny looked at her and laughed.

Because her long hair got stuck in his shirt button.

Silence.

Pure suffering silence.

Priya closed her eyes slowly.

“Wonderful.”

“Even my hair wants this man.”

She carefully tried pulling it away.

Big mistake again.

Priya:

“Ow ow ow—!”

Ram sighed softly, trying not to smile.

Ram:

“Stop moving.”

Priya froze dramatically like a criminal caught red-handed.

Ram gently untangled her hair from his button carefully, making sure not to hurt her.

And Priya?

Priya’s heartbeat was doing full kuthu dance inside her chest.

Because in her previous life…

This man loved her silently through all her hatred.

And she only realized it after losing everything.

The moment Ram finally freed her hair, Priya immediately stepped back.

Too fast.

Almost falling again.

Ram held her arm instantly.

Again.

At this point, gravity itself was shipping them.

Before Priya could embarrass herself further, she suddenly heard a familiar scream.

Kritika:

“PRIYAAAAAA!”

Priya turned instantly.

Kritika came running toward her dramatically like they were reuniting after war.

Technically…

They were.

Priya quickly went toward her best friend.

Kritika:

“You came! Finally! And why are you standing with Ram anna like a movie scene?”

Priya almost choked.

Priya:

“Nothing! I almost died.”

Then she paused.

“…Again.”

Kritika:

“What?”

Priya:

“NOTHING.”

Kritika grabbed Priya’s hand and started dragging her away from the station while continuously talking non-stop.

Priya slowly turned back one last time.

Ram was still standing there.

Looking at her quietly.

Not angry.

Not cold.

Just… watching her.

The same way he always used to.

Their eyes met for a brief second.

Priya quickly turned away and started walking faster.

But that tiny panicked reaction made Ram smile softly.

By the time Priya and Kritika reached the house, Priya's social battery had already died twice.

The house was filled with relatives, noise, random aunties carrying flowers, and at least three children running around for absolutely no reason.

Classic wedding house.

The moment Priya entered, Kritika's mother welcomed her warmly.

Kritika's Mom: "Priya ma! You became even prettier!"

Priya smiled politely.

"Thank you, aunty."

Inside her head:

"If one more person compliments me before giving me water, I will evaporate."

Then her eyes slowly moved toward the hall.

And her smile paused.

Kayal.

Standing there like a perfectly decorated lie.

Sweet smile.

Soft eyes.

Innocent posture.

Like she hadn't mentally booked murder tickets in Priya's previous timeline.

The moment Kayal saw her, she rushed forward.

Kayal: "Priya sister! You finally came!"

Priya looked at her.

Too calm.

Dangerously calm.

Inside her mind:

"Oh. You're happy to see me?"

"Interesting."

"Let's see how happy you are when karma starts working overtime."

Priya smiled back.

Not warm.

Not cold.

Calculated.

Priya: "Kayal... you look very happy."

Kayal blinked.

Kayal: "Of course! It's my sister's wedding!"

Priya nodded slowly.

"Yes..."

And smiled again.

That smile said everything.

"I remember everything."

"I remember you."

"I remember what you did."

"And I came prepared this time."

Kritika, completely oblivious, jumped in between them like a happy hurricane.

Kritika: "Come come! I'll show you your room!"

She grabbed Priya's hand and pulled her away.

Priya walked slowly.

But before leaving, she turned her head just slightly.

One last glance at Kayal.

Both smiling.

Both pretending.

Both acting.

Priya's lips curved faintly.

Not joy.

Not peace.

Something sharper.

Something patient.

Kritika kept talking nonstop while dragging her upstairs.

Kritika: "You'll love everything! The food, the decorations, the chaos-"

Priya interrupted softly.

"Hmm."

Kritika: "...You're quiet."

Priya smiled lightly.

"I'm just listening."

Kritika: "That's suspicious."

Priya: "I know."

A pause.

Then Priya added casually:

"This time I'm going to enjoy the wedding properly."

Kritika smiled.

"Finally!"

Priya smiled too.

But inside her mind-

"This time... I won't react first."

"I'll observe."

"And when the story repeats itself..."

"I'll already be ten steps ahead."

Downstairs, the laughter continued.

The music played.

The wedding chaos lived on.

But somewhere inside that house...

A second version of the story had already started writing itself.

Quietly.

Carefully.

And dangerously aware.

_______

As she was resting in her room, Priya noticed the big house outside the window... Ram's house.

The lights were soft, the night calm, and everything looked unusually still.

Then a jeep stopped outside.

Ram stepped out.

Priya immediately froze.

"Why am I looking like a spy in a serial right now..."

She quietly watched him.

His calm face. The way he got down from the jeep like the world didn't have chaos waiting for him.

That irritatingly handsome presence that made her brain forget basic logic.

Priya: "...Why does he always look like a hero even when he's just walking?"

Then Ram suddenly turned his head toward the window side of the neighbouring house.

Directly in her direction.

Priya panicked instantly.

Priya: "OH NO-"

She ducked down fast, hiding behind the curtain like her life depended on it.

Heart racing.

Priya (whispering): "He didn't see me. He didn't see me. It's night. It's dark. I am invisible. Like ninja. Like ghost. Like-"

She slowly peeked again.

The window was still facing his house.

Silence outside.

Ram had already gone inside.

Priya slowly sat back, trying to act normal.

Priya: "...Yes. Confirmed. He didn't see me."

She nodded to herself confidently.

Priya: "I am very smart. Very safe. Very invisible."

Then she paused.

Priya: "...Why does this feel like I just lied to myself?"

______

Priya sat by the window for a long time after that.

Her mind replayed everything.

Ram stepping out of the jeep.

Ram looking toward the window.

Her panic. Her hiding like a criminal on mission.

Then suddenly she leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing with dramatic seriousness.

Priya (whispering to herself):

"My husband... I will make you fall in love with me in this life."

A small determined smile formed on her lips.

Priya:

"Just wait and see... my dear Ram Kumar."

Outside, the night stayed quiet like it had no idea a war had just been declared from a bedroom window.

Inside Ram's house...

Ganga walked in with a plate of food.

Ganga: "Ram, eat something. You came late."

Ram was sitting casually, still in a slightly relaxed mood.

Ganga noticed his faint smile.

Ganga: "What happened, dear? Why are you smiling like this?"

Ram paused for a second.

Then replied lightly:

Ram: "Nothing, mom... I saw a scared cat on the way home."

Ganga raised her eyebrows.

Ganga: "Cat?"

Ram nodded once, still slightly amused.

Ram: "Yes. Very dramatic one."

Ganga chuckled softly and placed the food beside him.

Ganga: "Whatever the reason, always be happy like this, okay?"

Ram: "Okay, mom."

They spoke for a little while about normal things-routine, village updates, wedding arrangements-simple life conversations that didn't carry any hidden storms.

After finishing his meal, Ram stood up.

Ram: "I'll go to sleep."

Ganga: "Don't stay up thinking too much."

Ram gave a small nod and walked toward his room.

Inside his room, Ram lay down quietly.

The ceiling fan moved slowly above him.

But his mind wasn't as quiet as the room.

For a moment, he remembered the window.

The slight movement.

The feeling that someone was watching.

Then that "cat" memory came again.

He exhaled softly, almost smiling to himself.

Ram: "...Strange day."

He turned to his side and closed his eyes.

Outside, the night deepened.

Two houses.

Two windows.

Two people unknowingly already caught in the same unfolding story.

_________

The next morning...

Kritika bounced into the room like a human alarm clock.

Kritika: "We can go to the farm now... you always wanted to see it right?"

Priya stretched lazily, then immediately sat up.

Priya: "Yes... let's go now!"

Within minutes, both of them reached the farm.

Wide green fields.

Fresh air.

Water pumps running.

Priya's eyes lit up like a child in a theme park.

Priya: "This is actually so peaceful... suspiciously peaceful..."

Kritika: "Don't start your dialogue like a ghost story please."

Priya laughed and went closer to the pump set, playing with the water like she had no responsibilities in life.

Kritika joined her, both of them laughing, splashing water, completely lost in the moment.

But peace never stays long in Priya's life.

A group of men walked into the field.

One of them smirked.

Man 1: "Can we also come... bath and play with you?"

Another man just stared at Priya silently, head-to-toe, like he had no manners installed in his system.

The air changed instantly.

Priya stopped.

Slowly turned.

Her expression... blank.

Dangerously blank.

Priya: "...Repeat that."

Kritika whispered: "Priya... ignore them-"

Too late.

Priya walked forward.

One step.

Two steps.

Then-

SLAP.

The sound echoed across the field.

Priya: "Rascals."

The men froze.

Priya: "I will bury you so deep, even your family will need GPS to find you."

Kritika stood behind her like: "...Oh no."

Priya pointed sharply.

Priya: "And you-don't stare at me like that again. I will reset your eyesight permanently."

Silence.

Even the birds stopped chirping.

One man tried to move forward aggressively-

CRACK.

His arm was grabbed and twisted back instantly.

Ram.

He stood there like he had appeared from nowhere.

Calm face.

Cold eyes.

Controlled anger.

The man groaned in pain.

Ram: "Enough."

He kicked the second man back with a single clean motion.

The farm workers nearby immediately ran in and pulled the men away as they panicked.

And just like that...

The situation ended.

Kritika exhaled loudly.

Kritika: "Thank you, Ram anna."

Ram nodded once.

Ram: "Go home safely."

Then his eyes shifted.

To Priya.

Priya immediately stepped behind Kritika like Kritika was a human shield.

Kritika noticed.

Kritika: "...Why are you hiding?"

Priya: "I am not hiding. I am strategically repositioning."

Kritika: "Liar."

Ram didn't say anything more.

He just looked at Priya for a second.

Long enough for her heartbeat to forget its job.

Then he turned.

And walked away.

Kritika stared at Priya.

Kritika: "...Why were you scared just now?"

Priya forced a casual face.

Priya: "I wasn't scared."

A pause.

Then softer:

"...I was just avoiding unnecessary emotional damage."

Kritika squinted.

Kritika: "What emotional damage?"

Priya: "...Nothing."

But her eyes followed Ram's back as he left the field.

And for the first time...

Priya didn't know whether her biggest problem was her past life...

Or the man who had just saved her without even asking.