Chapter - 7

Author's pov

The night after the strange restaurant encounter, Sadhvi lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The lights were off, the room quiet, but her mind wouldn’t rest.

She kept thinking about that man.

Aryan.

She didn’t know why, but something about him stayed with her. It wasn’t just his voice or his eyes—it was a feeling. Like she had seen him before, not in this life, but somewhere else.

She turned in bed and sighed. Adhya, sleeping beside her, mumbled something about economics and flipped to the other side.

Sadhvi whispered to herself, “Why do I feel like I know him?”

On the other side of Delhi, Aryan was having a similar night. He sat near his window, holding a glass of water, the moonlight falling over his face. Rakshit had already gone to sleep after binge-watching a crime series, but Aryan couldn’t stop thinking.

Sadhvi.

She had said her name like it was a poem. Soft. Simple. But her eyes… there was something behind them. A storm? A memory?

He didn’t know.

But he knew he wanted to see her again.

Next Morning - Sadhvi’s Apartment

Sadhvi was brushing her hair when her phone rang. It was a video call from her mom, Revati.

She picked it up.

“Good morning, Maa,” she said.

Revati, in her usual bright yellow saree, smiled from Udaipur. “Good morning, madam professor. I hope you’re eating properly.”

Adhya appeared behind Sadhvi, still half asleep. “Why is mom so loud in the morning?”

Revati raised an eyebrow. “Because I’m calling from Udaipur, not from your kitchen. And by the way, we have a pooja this weekend. Both of you are coming home. No excuses.”

Adhya yawned. “But Maa, my assignment…”

Revati cut her off. “You can bring your books. Or just pretend like you will, as usual. Also, your father is on leave, and he’s turning the living room into a drill ground.”

Saransh appeared behind Revati on the screen in his army vest. “Girls! Reporting to home base! We have laddoos. Repeat. We have laddoos!”

Sadhvi and Adhya burst into laughter.

“Okay, okay. We’ll come,” Sadhvi said, still giggling.

Revati added, “Bring warm clothes. Don’t act like Delhi is the North Pole.”

Meanwhile, at Aryan’s Apartment

Aryan was sipping coffee when his phone rang. It was his mom, Siya.

“Beta,” she said cheerfully, “There’s a wedding coming up. Your cousin Neha is getting married. You, Reva, and Yuvraj are coming to Udaipur. Full family reunion.”

Reva peeked from behind her laptop. “What? Another wedding? That means... lehenga shopping.”

Aryan sighed. “We just attended one last month.”

Siya rolled her eyes. “This one is in Udaipur. Our hometown. It’ll be nice. Also, I will make gajar ka halwa. Your favourite.”

Yuvraj’s voice came from the background. “Tell him I’m bringing my dance moves. And he better bring better shoes this time.”

Aryan chuckled. “Fine, we’ll come.”

Siya clapped her hands. “Perfect! And Reva, don’t forget your brother’s shaving kit. Last time, he looked like a mountain man.”

Reva laughed. “Will do, Mom.”

Train to Udaipur

The sisters, Sadhvi and Adhya, had a window seat. Adhya was munching chips while watching a K-drama on her phone. Sadhvi was sketching something in her diary.

“What are you drawing?” Adhya asked.

Sadhvi hesitated. “I don’t know. It’s just... his face. That guy from the restaurant.”

Adhya raised an eyebrow. “You mean the tall one with the serious face? You’re still thinking about him?”

Sadhvi shrugged. “I just feel like... we’ve met before.”

Adhya smirked. “Maybe in a past life.”

Flight  to Udaipur – Rajawat Family

Reva was scrolling through reels, Yuvraj was arguing with the His Assistant over phone,about a project, and Aryan was quietly staring out the window.

“Why are you so quiet?” Reva asked.

“Nothing,” Aryan replied. “Just thinking.”

Yuvraj smirked. “Is he in love? Is this a filmy moment?”

Aryan rolled his eyes. “Stop being dramatic.”

Yuvraj leaned back. “I’m telling you, you’re acting like a man who bumped into destiny.”

Aryan said nothing, but a faint smile touched his lips.

Back in Udaipur

The city was alive with celebration. Lights everywhere. Drums, laughter, the smell of marigold and sweets.

The Rajawat family home was bustling. Relatives filled every corner. Siya was busy arranging thalis. Yuvraj was already teaching kids dance steps.

Across town, the Rajput house was also glowing. Saransh greeted his daughters with a dramatic salute.

“Captain Papa reporting!” he said.

Adhya rolled her eyes. “Dad, stop embarrassing us!”

Revati pulled them into a hug. “You girls are too thin. Eat first, talk later.”

They settled into the warmth of home, but somewhere inside, both Sadhvi and Aryan were thinking of each other. Unknowingly walking toward a path that had already been written—long ago.

Udaipur mornings always had their own magic. The chill in the air, the ringing of temple bells, and the smell of fresh poha from the kitchen. Sadhvi was sitting in the courtyard, sipping tea, when Adhya came bouncing out in a mismatched suit.

"You look like Holi came early," Sadhvi said, raising an eyebrow.

"Excuse me! This is my funky ethnic style," Adhya replied, twirling with a dramatic flair.

Their mom, Revati, peeked out from the kitchen. "Funky or not, if you don’t help me with the flowers, I’ll turn both of you into pooja decorations."

Saransh walked in just then, holding his phone. "Girls, I just saw a reel about soldiers marching in icy mountains. And here I am, stuck with flower duties. What has life come to?"

"Papa, don’t be so dramatic," Sadhvi said, giggling. "You're on leave. Act like it."

"Exactly," Adhya added. "Relax and enjoy the chaos."

At the Rajawat house, similar chaos reigned. Yuvraj was walking around shirtless, holding a coffee cup and arguing with Reva over who gets the larger room.

"I’m the eldest! It’s tradition!" he declared.

"You’re also the loudest. That doesn’t count," Reva snapped back.

Aryan walked in just in time to see Reva throw a pillow at Yuvraj.

"What’s happening here?" he asked, chuckling.

"This man-child wants my room!" Reva pointed.

Yuvraj puffed up his chest. "I’m here for a wedding. I need space. Also, my skincare kit needs a separate shelf."

Aryan raised a brow. "That kit has more items than my travel bag."

Reva added, "And takes more time than a bride to apply."

Everyone laughed.

Later, at breakfast, Siya kept placing laddoos on all their plates, ignoring the protests. "You’ve all come home after so long. Eat properly or the gods will be offended."

Aryan looked at his plate. "I think the gods are already full."

Reva muttered, "I’m rolling out of here."

Meanwhile, Sadhvi and Adhya were dressing up for the temple visit. Adhya walked into the room wearing Sadhvi’s dupatta.

"Isn’t that mine?" Sadhvi asked.

"Finders keepers," Adhya replied, sticking out her tongue.

Revati called from downstairs, "If you both don’t hurry, the Pooja will turn into dinner."

Udaipur had brought back memories, laughter, and the old sibling bonds that only got funnier with age.

Neither family knew that the temple they were all headed to held more than rituals and tradition.

It held stories waiting to come alive again.

And their paths were about to cross—again.

Only this time, not by chance. But by fate.