Books scattered across the stone path. Jai stumbled back, startled. Opposite him, a young girl, almost his age, bent down immediately to help gather the fallen books.

Jai’s eyes widen when he catches a glimpse of her face. Its her. The girl from the dream. In a yellow kurti. Still in his daze and staring at her, he bends down to help her.

Their hands brush as they both reach for the same book. The touch is fleeting but electric…the same jolt from the dream. His breaths catch and his eyes widen.

‘Yeh…yeh toh sapne jaisa hai.’

(This…this is like the dream.)

He thinks to himself. The girl looks up, puzzled by his pause, but smiles politely.

“You should be careful. Bookshop ke bahar students ka traffic bhi hota hai.”

(There is a traffic of students outside bookshop.)

She spoke. Jai forces a laugh, trying to mask his shock.

“Coincidence. Bas ek coincidence hai.”

(Just a coincidence.)

He muttered to himself. He quickly gathered the books, but his eyes lingered on her.

“Coincidence? Tumhe roz logon se takrane ki aadat hai kya?”

(You have a habit of bumping into people?)

The girl teased and Jai smiled nervously, not wanting the conversation to end.

“Nhi…bas kabhi kabhi. Shayad tumhari wajah se.”

(No…just sometimes. Maybe because of you.)

The girl raised an eyebrow amused at his failed attempt of flirting.

“Oh! Toh ab blame mujh pr daal rhe ho?”

(So now you are blaming me?)

She teased. Jai grinned, his voice soft, almost searching. As if seeking answers for his questions.

“Nhi…blame nhi. Bas…lagta hai tumse pehle bhi kahi mila hu.”

(No…not blaming. I just…feel like I’ve met you before.)

The girl tilts her head, curious and confused as she tries to recall.

“Really? Mujhe toh yaad nhi. Shayad tu kisi aur ko confuse kr rhe ho mujhse. Ya phir…flirt krne ki koshish kr rhe ho?”

(I don’t remember. Maybe you’re confusing me with someone else. Or maybe…you’re trying to flirt?)

She teased again, leaning towards him mischievously and Jai flushed with embarrassment.

“Nhi nhi! Aisa kuch nhi hai. Please don’t get me wrong.”

(No no! Nothing like that.)

The girl laughed and looked down, before looking at him again.

“Just kidding. Maybe you’re confusing me with someone else.”

Jai hesitated, his mind flashed back to the dream. The courtyard. Her eyes. The touch. He swallowed hard, deciding not to reveal too much lest she thinks of him as a creep.

He speaks quickly, covering up.

“Haan…shayad. Anyway, thanks for helping.”

(Yes…maybe.)

Baani waved her hand in dismissal, handing him the last book she picked up.

“Next time, thoda dhyan se chalna.”

(Next time, be careful.)

“Umm…tumhara naam….jaan skta hu?”

(Ummm…may I know…your name?)

He asked nervously. She bit her lip, contemplating whether to tease him more but decided against it. She forwarded her hand for a handshake.

“Baani Malhotra!”

Jai took her hand with his free one, feeling the jolt again, but holding firm.

“Jai Singh!”

“Phir milenge, Jai.”

(We’ll meet soon, Jai.)

She whispered and turned to leave. Jai watched her go, his heart pounding.

“What just happened?”

Jai’s face was a mix of confusion, awe and a recognition he couldn’t explain. 

Jai didn’t meet Baani again. For a complete month, he kept reliving the memory. Of the dream. And of the actual meeting with her. The way she laughed. The way her eyes sparkled as she spoke with mischief.

Jai chuckled when he realised he had been smiling while thinking about her. He shook his head and covered himself with the duvet, switching off the lights.

Jai finds himself beneath a sprawling banyan tree, its roots thick and ancient, curling into the Earth like veins of time. The branches stretch endlessly, sheltering him in a cocoon of shadows and moonlight. 

Across from him sat Baani, her presence calm yet magnetic. She wore a simple salwar suit, her dupatta draped loosely, her fingers stained with ink. Between them lay a small wooden box filled with letters.

Jai picked up one, his handwriting uneven, hurried, as though he had written it in desperation. He handed it to her.

She reads it softly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She looked at him and felt immense love for the man in front of him along with the pain of not being able to live with him.

“Har shadb mai tumhari rooh ki khushboo hai, Jai. Jaise mujhe tumhari taraf kheench rahi ho.”

(Everyone word has your soul’s fragrance, Jai. Like it is pulling me towards you.)

She placed the letter against her chest, as if to keep it safe. Then she leaned closer and placed her head over his chest, where his heart lay. Her voice dropped to a whisper as she spoke.

“Hum phir se milne ki liye bane hai…har janam mai…har waqt mai. Koi bhi rukawat humein alag nhi kr skti. Iss janam mai tumhari nhi ho skti. Lekin Jai…jaise hum iss janam mai mile hai…aane wale har janam mai milenge.”

(We are meant to meet again…in every life…in every time. Nothing can separate us. I may not be yours in this life. But Jai…like we’ve met in this life…we will meet in every life.)

Jai’s heart pounded. He reached for her hand, desperate to hold onto her warmth. Their fingers hovered inches apart, trembling with anticipation.

The winds picked up suddenly, rustling the banyan leaves. The letters scattered from the box, swirling around them like fragile memories breaking free. The fireflies vanished, the moonlight dimmed.

Just as Jai’s fingertips were about to touch hers, the dreams collapsed.

Jai reached the cafe, where he was supposed to meet his friends. He knew they would not be here yet but he wanted some time to himself.

The dream he saw this morning had shaken him up yet again. Just as he felt the effects of the previous dream was fading, this another vivid dream and more shocking dream had to come.

The cafe hummed with chatter, clinking cups and the hiss of steaming milk. Sunlight filtered through glass windows, painting golden patches across wooden tables. Jai entered, distracted.

He froze. At a corner table, Baani sat alone, sketching something in her notebook. Her brow furrowed in concentration, lips pursed slightly as her pencil moved across the page.

Jai hesitated at first, but then approached. He leans closer, and his breath catches.

“No way…”

On the page is a sketch of a banyan tree, sprawling roots, wide branches, identical to the one from his dream this morning.

“Why that tree?”

He blurted out. Baani looked up, startled but not offended. She tilted her head, considering the sketch. She shrugged, her face thoughtful.

“I don’t know. It just feels…familiar. Jaise kahin dekha ho, ya…jaise koi bhut badi memory judi ho.”

(As if I have seen it somewhere, or…it’s a memory.)

Jai sat down opposite her, unable to resist. His voice trembled but he tried his best to sound casual.