chapter 3

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.

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