Baani gazed upwards, her face illuminated by the glow. 

“It feels so amazing to look at these. And knowing that every light carries a wish.”

She murmured softly. Jai’s breath caught. The words triggered the memory instantly.

The diya plate floated in the water, illuminating the entire river. Jai and Baani stand side by side, their shoulders almost touching. The air is filled with chants and distant music.

Baani leaned closer, her voice almost a whisper carried by the wind.

“Har ek roshni mai ek prarthna hai.”

(Every light carries a prayer.)

Jai blinked. He turned to Baani and squeezed her hand gently. He smiled softly and said.

“You’ve said something like this before…in my dream. Similar words, similar lights, similar moment.”

Baani looked at him, her smile was tender but her eyes shimmered with emotion.

“Maybe it wasn’t just a dream, Jai. Maybe it was a memory…waiting for us to relive it.”

Jai leaned closer, his voice low, almost a vow.

“Then let’s make sure that this time…the wish comes true.”

Baani rested her head lightly against his arm, watching the lanterns drift higher. She then whispered.

“It already has. Tum ho…aur mai hoon. Bas yahi kaafi hai.”

(You are here…and I am here. It’s enough.)

Jai smiled and kissed her forehead. Then quickly, before anyone could notice, he placed the briefest peck on her lips, catching her off guard.

She looked at him wide eyed. She looked around and then hit his chest lightly, while blushing hard. He had been like that since their first kiss almost three weeks back.

Jai’s college was over and he had got placement into one of the top tier firms based in Gurgaon. Baani was in her last year.

The two were just back from their date. Baani turned to leave quickly because her father would be reaching home anytime, but Jai held her wrist, stopping her from running.

“You’re forgetting something.”

He said. She bit her lip and looked around.

“Jai! Papa aane wale hai. Aur mere ghar ke saamne hai hum. Please.”

(Papa is about to come back. We are in front of my home.)

She tried explaining but he was adamant. Baani sighed in resignation and quickly leaned in to place a quick kiss to his cheek. But Jai turned at the last moment and captured her lips in a soft kiss.

She hit his chest and pulled back, giggling at his mischief. He grinned, proud of his act. She leaned in and this time, he let her kiss his cheek.

Baani got out of the car to run inside her home but froze in shock.

“P-papa?”

There, in front of Jai’s car, stood her father. How had she not noticed him? How much did he see? She was sure he had seen enough to figure out about her and Jai. His expressions told her so.

Jai noticed Baani and the man and got out of his car. He understood that the man in front of him was his Baani’s father. He joined his hands in respect.

Baani looked nervously between her father, who was seated on an armchair, and Jai, who sat on another armchair, opposite her father’s.

“Papa mai-”

(Papa I-)

Baani started only to be stopped by her father’s show of his palm. Baani looked at him with bated breath. He hadn’t averted his eyes from Jai even for a second.

“Kaise jaante ho Baani ko?”

(How do you know Baani?)

His voice thundered, making Jai almost jump at his spot. But he composed himself and answered honestly.

“Kitne saal ke ho?”

(How old are you?)

“Jee abhi 23 ka hua hu.”

(I turned 23.)

“Krte kya ho?”

(What do you do?)

Jai answered all his questions patiently.

“Ab main mudde pr aate hai. Kyunki mai ye ignore nhi kr skta jo maine dekha. Kya intention hai tumhare Baani ko lekar?”

(let’s come to the main topic. Because I cannot ignore what I saw. What are your intentions towards Baani?)

“Papa-”

“Mai baat kr rha hu na Baani.”

(I am talking to him Baani.)

Her father said and she got quiet again.

“I understand your concern, sir. Mera aur Baani ka rishta sirf iss janam se nhi hai…par ye baat mai na samjha skta aur na hi samjhaunga. Bas itna kahunga ki sir, mai pyaar krta hu Baani se. Aur ek baar hum apne careers mai settle ho jaaye…I want to get married to her.”

(Baani and my relationship is not of this life…but I cannot explain this and neither will I do that. I will just say that I love Baani. And once we settle in our carriers…I want to get married to her.)

Her father was still not convinced.

“Aur agar jab tak tum log settle ho, tumhara mann badal gaya toh?”

(And what if by the time you settle, you change your mind?)

Jai shook his head sternly.

“Aisa nhi hoga sir.”

(It won’t happen sir.)

“Kehna asaan hota hai, Mr. Jai Singh. Krne ke time pr achhe achhe bahane bana dete hai.”

(Saying it is easy, Mr. Jai Singh. Even the good ones make excuses when it is time to fulfil promises.)

Baani knelt down besides her father and spoke.

“Aisa nhi hoga papa. Jai sahi keh raha hai. Hamara rishta koi iss janam ka nhi hai.”

(It won’t happen papa. Jai is fine. Our relationship is not of this life.)

“Ye kya filmy dialogue laga rakhe hai dono ne?”

(What are these filmy dialogues?)

He exclaimed harshly. Even her mother wasn’t able to understand what the two were speaking about. But when they saw Jai and Baani exchange a soft, knowing glance, something settled in their hearts.

“Wo hum aapko nhi samjha paayenge. Agar humne aapko bataya bhi toh aap yakeen nhi kroge. But papa…please trust me…trust us.”

(We will not be able to explain. And even if we do, you will not believe us.)

He looked into his daughter’s eyes and then at the boy in front of him. He could see the love and respect for his daughter. He looked back at his daughter and sighed.

“Thik hai. Lekin yaad rahe. Ek galti…aur mai jaan se marwa dunga.”

(Fine. But remember. One mistake…and I will kill you.)

Jai nodded with a smile. Baani hugged her father, thanking him. He smiled and patted her head.

The temple premises glowed faintly in the light of oil lamps. Incense smoke curled upward, heavy and suffocating, as though carrying centuries of prayers. The air was filled with chants, each strike echoing like a farewell.

Jai stood alone, his footsteps hesitant on the cold stone floor. His chest tightened as he sensed a presence.

From the shadows, Baani emerged, dressed in wedding attire, her veil trembling with the weight of her sorrow. Her eyes glistened, not with hope but with resignation.

“Hamari kahani yakin khatam ho gyi. Saamaj ke bandhan, parivaar ki zid…haar gye hum iske saamne. Hum chah kr bhi ek nhi ho paaye.”

(Our story ended. Society’s restriction, family’s stubbornness…we lost in front of this. We could not be together.)

She whispered as tears fell down from her eyes. Her voice quivered, each word heavy with pain.

Jai’s vision blurred with flashes, her wedding, him pleading and crying for everyone to stop, her resignation and tears.

He woke up with a start. Everything makes sense suddenly.

Baani noticed that Jai had been tense since she had reached. She cupped his face and made him look into her eyes.

“Kya baat hai?”

(What happened?)

“Baani…mujhe samajh nhi aa raha tha. Har sapna, har pal…wo saare flashbacks. Lekin ab mai samajh raha hu.”

(Baani…I could not understand then. Every dream, every moment….all those flashbacks. But I am understanding it now.)

Baani looked confused and curious.

“Kya, Jai?”

(What, Jai?)

Jai’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. The dream, no, their reality had shook him. He couldn’t even imagine losing her again.

“Hum pehle bhi mile the, Baani. Hum pyaar krte the…par uss wawt duniya ne hume alag kr dia tha. Tumhare aansoon, mera dard…sab dekha hai maine. Aur ab…mujhe pata hai hum dobara kyu paida huye hai…sirf apni kahani poori krne ke liye. Wo adhure waade pure krne ke liye.”

(We met before, Baani. We loved each other...but at that time the world separated us. Your tears, my pain…I have seen it all. And now…I know we have reborn…only to fulfil our story. To fulfil those incomplete promises.)

Baani’s eyes widened as he narrated her the dream, her eyes welled up with tears. She reached for his hand, and held it to her heart.

“Isliye mujhe tumse milte hi wo ajnabi pan nhi laga. Jaise tum hamesha se mere ho. Jai…hamare shareer bhale hi uss janam se haar gye ho…par hamari rooh ne kabhi haar nhi maani thi.”

(That’s why I never felt that you were a stranger. As if you were always mine. Jai…our bodies may have lost in that life…but our souls never gave up.)

A silence fell between them, not empty but sacred. Jai clasped her hand tightly, his voice was steadier now, filled with quiet determination.

“Iss baar…koi hume alag nhi karega. Hamari kahani adhuri nhi rahegi, Baani.”

(This time…no one can separate us. Our story will not be incomplete, Baani.)

Baani nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks, but her smile was radiant. Jai leaned in and took her lips in a soft kiss. Promising forever. Their souls finally found union.

A few years later

“Baani!”

“Jee papa?”

(Yes papa?)

Baani came out of her room, hearing her name being called.

“Beta bhooklagi hai isse shayad. Lo!”

(Beta I think he is hungry. Take him!)

Baani nodded and took her 4 months’ old baby from her father-in-law’s arms and cradled him to her chest.

“Awlee! Kya hua? Bhuki lagi mere bache ko? Aaja mera baby.”

(What happened? My baby is hungry? Come my baby.)

She cooed and patted him as he cried hysterically. Baani took her son to her room and fed him.

He immediately quietened as soon as he latched on. Baani smiled as she wiped the tears off his little face.

“Itni si der mai itna saara ro dia. Papa jaise dramebaaz hai.”

(Cried so much in such a short time. Dramaking like papa.)

She chuckled as her son stared at her with wide innocent eyes. 

“Kya dekh raha hai mera bacha? Mumma ko dekh raha hai? Sundar hai na mumma.”

(What is my baby looking at? Looking at mumma? Mumma is pretty right.)

She self-praised and giggled when her son smiled at her words.

“Papa aayenge na toh papa ko tang krna, ok?”

(Trouble papa when he comes, ok?)

“Achaa? Toh mere peeche se ye propaganda chala rhi ho tum.”

(Really? This is the propaganda you are running in my absence.)

Baani looked up startled at his sudden voice. Jai entered the room with a smirk. Their son left her nipple and turned to look at him. He squealed and flailed his arms seeing his dadda.

Jai grinned and picked him up, patting his back to burp him.

“Galat cheezein mat sikhao tum mere masoom se bete ko. Shaitaan biwi!”

(Don’t teach my son wrong things. Naughty wife!)

Baani showed him her tongue and covered herself when she saw her son well fed.

“Papa ke paas khel raha tha.”

(He was playing with papa.)

Baani told him. Jai nodded and left him with her father. He came back and pulled Baani back when she started to leave the room.

“Wh-”

Her complaint was cut short by his lips. He squeezed her waist and deepened the kiss. He pulled back, making her look at him in daze. He knew her hormones had been haywire since her pregnancy and delivery.

“I love you.”

He whispered and she melted against him. He held her securely and kissed her head.

Looking at his son’s smile and Baani by his side, he finally understood that every dream, every memory of the past was leading him here, to the life he was always meant to live.