Vaidehi’s pov

"Rishikesh....hum aa rahe hai wapas....Kanha hamare sath rehna har ghadi....log toh nahi samajhte par tum toh hamara mann me kya hai jaante ho. Bohot khush hai ham k apne dosto se milenge, woh hame bhul bhi gaye honge par koi baat nahi ham yaad dila denge. Aur vo kutteshwar se bhi milenge, vacation par aata tha aur bss ek hafte me rafu chakkar..hmph! Khair bss sab thik rakhna."

Translation

“Rishikesh….I am coming back.

Kanha, stay with me every moment.

People don’t really understand, but you know what lives inside my heart.

I’m so happy that I’ll get to meet my friends again — they might have forgotten me, but that’s okay, I’ll remind them.

And I’ll meet that Kutteshwar too — he comes during vacations only and then disappears within just a week… hmph!

Anyway, just keep everything alright."

Vaidehi said to krishna locket tied  by her neck,while drifting back to sleep on the both of train.

Her eyes were red by crying cause she had to leave a piece of herself for something she wanted always - her home place, her childhood town.

Vrindavan was never bad but incomplete - always felt incomplete.

"Vaidu uthh na yaar. Aagaye ham sab Rishikesh. Uthh jaldi warna papa ku buladenge ham!"

Kritika said with irritation as she was trying wake Vaidehi from last 20 minutes.

Translation

“Vaidu, get up na! We’ve reached Rishikesh. Wake up fast or I swear I’m calling Papa!”

"Papaa-aaaa!!!!" She was cut off by Vaidehi’s hand over her mouth.

"Aree yarr di kyu hamko Baba ki dhamki deti ho ham darte nahi hai aur bas uth hi rahe the. Chalo wanna train me hi reh jaogi aur phir aapko dhundhne k chakkar me late hojayega chalo ab jaldi karo!" Vaidehi said while moving from the both along with her bag.

As if it was Kritika who was sleeping late.

[A/N:-she is me;me is she!]

Translation

“Arre yaar, Di, why do you always threaten me with Baba? I’m not scared, okay—I was getting up anyway. And Come on, or you’ll end up staying on the train itself, and then we’ll get late looking for you. Now hurry up!”

She was wearing baggy clothes and headphones. Her hair were tied in a bun, her natural pink lips still shining.

"Uth gayi beta tum, chalo wanna tumhare Baba meri jaan nikal legend pata nahi kya hoga iss ladki ka, sirf sona, khana aur shararat karna apni hi duniya me raho."

"Maa....subha hai chodo na ye sab hojaye Jo bhi hona hai mera....ek gale toh lag jao apni beti k that gaye hai ham so so kar!" Vaidehi said with a grin while hugging her mother.

Translation

“So you’re finally awake, beta? Come on then—otherwise your Baba will have my life today. God knows what will become of this girl… all she does is sleep, eat, and get into mischief, lost in her own little world.”

“Maa… it’s morning, leave all this now. Whatever is meant to happen to me will happen… at least give your daughter a hug—I’m tired after all that sleeping!”

"Radhe radhe Baba!" She said touching her father's feet.

"Radhe radhe!" Her father said firmly yet softness was known in it.

Now the family was waiting for Karthik who was supposed to pick then up.

"Rukiye Baba, ham karte hai aapke bete ko call. Kahi bhul toh nhi gaya vo k aaj aap yaha aarahe hai!"

She said dramatically.

Translation

“Wait, Baba, let me call your son. What if he’s forgotten that you’re coming here today?”

Vaidehi pulled her phone out, already smiling before the call even connected.

“Karthiiik,” she sang into the receiver, stretching his name.

“Zinda hai ya bhootni ban gaya? Kaha hai tu? Senior Rathore barely gussa control karenge abb. Sach bata tu bhul toh nahi gaya na k ham sab aarahe hai yaha? Kahi tu kisi ladki chakkar me toh nahiiii!!!!” She said with shock, drama and disbelief.

Translation

“Are you alive or have you turned into a ghost? Where are you? Senior Rathore is barely controlling his anger now. Tell me the truth—you didn’t forget that we’re all coming here today, did you? Or wait…. you are involved with a girl, aren't you?!”

[BHOOTNI - FEMALE GHOST]

“Platform number bata,” came his calm, familiar voice. “Aur drama band kar.”

[A/N:aur kiska bhai aise karta hai mera bhai Mere sath toh nhi par meri choti behno k sath aise hi karta hai srf apne kaam ki baat!]

Translation

“Tell me the platform number,” came his calm, familiar voice. “And stop the drama.”

She laughed softly.

That voice.

Some things really don’t change.

“Platform teen. Aur haan—jaldi aana warna di teri complain file kar degi.”

Translation

“Platform three. And hey—come quickly, or Di will file a complaint against you.”

“Kuch naya bol.” he replied, and cut the call.

Translation

"Say something new!"

Vaidehi slipped the phone back into her pocket and looked around.

Rishikesh.

The air felt… different.

Cleaner. Quieter. Like it knew her.

She closed her eyes for a second, letting the smell of chai, dust, and early morning dampness fill her lungs. Somewhere, temple bells rang—faint, unhurried.

Her fingers instinctively went to the Krishna locket again.

"Dekha Kanha," she thought, not speaking this time. "Aa gaye na."

Translation

"Kanha, I am here, in Rishikesh."

Vrindavan had given her peace.

But Rishikesh—Rishikesh held her roots.

“Bas… ajeeb lag raha hai Kanha,” she said honestly. “Jaise kuch wapas milne wala ho… aur kuch phir se chhootne wala ho.”

Translation

“Just that it.… feels strange, Kanha,” she said honestly. “As if I am about to get something.… and something is about to slip away again.”

Vaidehi’s head, the way she used to when Vaidehi was younger.

A familiar whistle cut through the noise.

“Kya scene hai Rathore family?” Karthik’s voice came from behind.

Translation

“What’s the scene, Rathore family?” Karthik’s voice came from behind.

Vaidehi turned.

There he was.

Taller. Broader. Still the same.

Before anyone else could react, she ran forward and crashed into him, hugging him tight.

“Tu late ho gaya,” she muttered into his shoulder, voice muffled.

Translation

"You are late!"

“Sirf panch minute,” he said, patting her head awkwardly. “Aur tu drama kar rahi hai!”

Translation

"Just five minutes and you are doing drama!"

She pulled back, eyes shining. “Miss kiya na hame?”

Translation

"Did you miss me?"

He looked at her for a second longer than necessary.

“Chal ghar chalte hai,” he said finally. “Baaki baatein baad me.”

Vaidehi smiled.

Translation

"Come, let's go home, then we will tall."

"Ghar." She thought.

(Home!")

Maybe this time, she wouldn’t have to leave it behind.

"Namaste Papa, Namaste maa!" He said touching their feet.

"Hello Kriti Di. Kaise ho aap?" He asked hugging Kritika.

Translation

"Hello Kriti Di, how are you?"

"Mai toh wahi Kritika hu, tu bata kaisa hai Bandar?" She asked with mischief.

[A/N:bhaiyo ko Bandar ya kutta bole bina din hi nahi guzara hota!]

Translation

"I am the same Kritika, you tell me how are you Bandar!"

"Ghar chalo baccho....Milna jhulna wahi abb....Karthik baki samaan lao." Their father said.

Translation

"Kids, let's go home then stay with eachother and karth bring the other luggage."

"Chal Vaidu tu bhi thoda sa utha le." He said and she declined.

Translation

"Come Vaidu help me lifting."

"Nahi ham nahi karenge. Bohot thak gaye ham, itni dur se aaye hai hamse mehnat chod kar srf khana sona aur masti karna hoga. Tu hi aa." She said while going fast towards the exit.

Translation

"No, I’m not doing it. I’m completely exhausted—we’ve come from so far away. I’m officially done with hard work; from now on it’s only eating, sleeping, and having fun. You only do it.'' she said, walking quickly toward the exit.

[A/N:kiske paas iska ultha hota hai attendance lagao jiska bhai kaamchor aur definitely kutta hai!]