Two days.
That's all she had before her first big TV shoot — real part on the set of Kitani Mohabbat Hai.
Her heart beat faster every time she thought of it. Not because she was nervous — but because this meant something. A beginning.
But there was one problem.
The grooming checklist.
Bani had never cared for. She didn't believe in torturing herself for camera-close skin. That was never her style.
So, the night before prep day, she sat on her studio floor, eyes closed, spine straight, breath slow.
She reached inward — toward that strange space where time folded, where her quiet power lived.
"Can you help?" she asked silently.
"I need to look camera-ready. But I don't want to go through pain."
The reply wasn't in words. It was more like a soft shimmer inside her chest. A warmth, like moonlight. Her skin tingled gently — not burning, not harsh. Just… clean.
When she stood up and glanced at the mirror, she blinked.
Her skin looked naturally even, her brows subtly shaped, her arms smooth as if brushed by wind and not wax.
No trace of struggle. No salon bills. Just her, quietly prepared.
She smiled.
"Thank you," she whispered into the space around her.
Then turned to check her outfits for the shoot — because that part she was ready to face head-on.
A distinctive voice echoed again — familiar yet freshly recorded:
"Kitani Mohabbat Hai… jald, sirf Imagine par!"
The music swelled — mournful, delicate, full of longing. The strings trembled with the weight of unsaid love.
Snippets began to appear across the monitor.
But this time… it wasn't Karan and Kritika.
It was him and her.
The same blue-toned visuals.
The slow-motion walk.
The silence between glances.
The ache of separation before anything even began.
Only one thing had changed.
Bani was now the Aarohi.
---
She stood off-set, makeup just barely smudged after the final take, watching the promo on the editor's screen. Her heart beat with quiet disbelief.
Because this wasn't inspired by the old promo.
It was a mirror.
The same tone. The same cuts.
The same haunting beauty.
Except… she had stepped through the glass.
She had become what once moved her.
Once, in her past life, she had watched this very promo in a dim-lit room, as a teenage girl with goosebumps on her arms.
She had whispered the lines.
Felt the pain.
And wondered what it would be like to be her — the girl in the center of the storm.
Now, years later — or maybe lifetimes —
She was that girl.
The promo was haunting.
Rain shimmered over dim-lit streets.
Soft piano. A trembling violin.
Two silhouettes — walking toward each other.
Almost touching.
Almost speaking.
But never quite.
And not once…
Not once did it show their full faces.
Just glances.
A jawline lit by lightning.
A tear clinging to a cheekbone.
A windblown strand of hair.
A breath caught between lips.
No names. No faces. Just emotion.
It was bold.
It was Balaji — and yet, strangely not
Balaji set : it was Evening.
The living room was quiet except for the soft hum of the TV. The old wooden clock ticked toward 3:59 PM. Bani sat on the edge of the couch, her knees tucked up to her chest, while Karan leaned against the window, sipping tea, pretending to be relaxed.
"Are you breathing?" she asked, only half-joking.
"Barely," he said. "This is worse than audition day."
Suddenly, the channel's signature tune faded, and the Imagine TV logo flickered onscreen.
Then:
🎶 "Mujhe tumse kuch kehna hai..."
The haunting first line of the OST played — Aishwarya Nigam's deep, textured voice echoed through the room.
The screen filled with a visual: Arjun, silent, intense, walking through smoke and shadows. Arohi, smiling in a mustard salwar, chasing her dreams across a bridge. The song swelled.
🎶 "Kitani mohabbat hai... tumse, tumse..."
They both went still.
Karan whispered, "They kept that shot. The slow turn. I thought they'd cut it."
Kritika smiled faintly. "And the part where you look at me from behind the window... it's in."
For a moment, the two leads — now just young actors sharing a humble living room — watched their love story unfold in high contrast, soft focus, and sweeping violins.
🎶 "Bina bole baat jo samajh jaaye..."
(Someone who understands even what I don't say...)
The line hit them. Karan glanced sideways at Kritika, but she was still, eyes fixed on the screen.
"It's not just a title song," she finally said, voice quiet. "It feels like it's telling the whole story before we've even acted it."
The final visual faded — Arjun walking away from Arohi, turning once to look back — and the screen dipped into silence.
The first episode began, but neither of them moved. For a full minute, the echo of the title song hung in the room like something holy.
Karan finally broke the silence. "We're going to break hearts."
"The entire day was devoted to shooting the title song, as both main leads were new to commercial projects. The production team patiently guided them, allowing space to build the romantic connection needed on screen." But the shooting was not over.
The title song shoot lasted a full day and extended into the next morning to capture those perfect romantic moments
Next day was actual episodes shoot
First was family scene shoot.
CAMERA: CLOSE-UP – BANI ASLEEP UNDER A WORN BEDSHEET]
Early sunlight brushes her face. Her lips curl into a gentle smile. She's dreaming.
(V.O. – ANNOUNCER, DREAM SEQUENCE)
And the winner of the national singing competition is… BANI!
Applause. She bows on stage, overwhelmed and emotional.
---
[BACK TO REALITY – CAMERA ZOOMS OUT]
The bedsheet is pulled off gently. Bani wakes with a soft gasp.
PURVI
If you stay under the bedsheet, Bani… that dream will never come true.
[CAMERA ON BANI – EYES HALF-OPEN, HER VOICE SOFT]
BANI
Just a few more seconds, Didi… I was winning.
[CAMERA: SUR ENTERS – confident and stylish, with a slight smirk]
SUR (playfully teasing)
Then get up and go win for real, drama queen.
[ANTARA ( cheerful and sweet) PEEKS IN, holding a soft toy]
ANTARA
Today's your stage day, Bani Didi! Let's make it real!
Bani finally smiles, touched, and slowly sits up. She gently pulls her hair back and heads toward the bathroom.
[CAMERA OUTSIDE BATHROOM DOOR – ONLY VOICE HEARD]
BANI (O.S.) (worried, emotional)
Oh God… I don't even have a good dress for the competition. Nothing new… nothing special...
---
[CAMERA: THE THREE SISTERS LOOK AT EACH OTHER]
PURVI (decisively)
Let's give her a reason to smile again.
SUR
Time for the sister styling squad!
[MONTAGE: INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYS, SOFT AND WARM]
Purvi picks a soft peach top from her wardrobe.
Sur pulls out her best-fit black pants.
Antara carefully brings a floral dupatta, holding it like a treasure.
ANTARA
This looks just like the one heroines wear on stage!
---
Bani returns, wiping her face. She stops at the doorway, stunned. The outfit is neatly laid out on the bed.
[CAMERA ON BANI – CLOSE-UP: HER EXPRESSION MELTS INTO EMOTION]
BANI (softly)
You… did this for me?
SUR (smiling)
Who else, superstar?
PURVI (tenderly)
Our love may not be designer... but it always fits.
[ANTARA OPENS A TINY BOX – REVEALS SPARKLING EARRINGS]
ANTARA
Jhumkas for the final touch!
She walks up and gently puts them in Bani's hand.
BANI (teary-eyed, holding them close)
I don't need anything else now…