The paragraphs in italics indicate Harini's point of view. The story lies between the pair of four asterisks.

*Baasinga - A traditional thread tied slightly above a bride and groom's forehead. A round or kalash-shaped piece of metal or thermacool is aligned with stones and pearl(maybe original or artificial) at the circumference. Different cultures design different types of baasingas . This one's in Carnatic tradition.
......................................................................
"I don't understand anything. What's all this confusion? First they say Sandhya lost her life in the accident six years ago and now you say... I died?"
Vihaan breathed unevenly. It was evident that he was trying to hold back his tears, portraying himself to be the strong person he is.

Settling down on the rocky surface beside a waterfall, Janani gave a quick pat on his shoulder and withdrew immediately seeing him uncomfortable with her touch.

"Vihaan, there has to be a way out. Think! Can you recall anyone in the name of Harini Ranganath?"

Closing his eyes in dissapointment, he palmed his face.
"Yes! Yes, I remember. It's in our house."
He jolted in sometime.

"What's in your house?"

"I'd seen a brown diary in our house which had the name H-A-R-I-N-I on it."
- -

They scurried off to the Kamarottu house and kicked open the door which had been seized by the police.

"You head towards that cupboard. I'll search in the drawers."

"Did you find anything!"

Frowning, he strided upstairs to the attic, where Sandhya had created a small library for herself.

"Switch on the lights."

"There's no power, Vihaan."

He avoided directing his senses at the rocking chair on which his wife would most of the time be found relaxing over and delved into her collection of books.

"Here! H-A-R-I-N-I." Janani paced to him.

Vihaan's pulse felt abnormal while he could hear his own heartbeat. It wasn't something that could be given an explanation. The sudden rush of fright through his viens and the uneasiness he fought within reasonless, or was it? 'Why?' was another question to which he too lacked an answer until he flipped the cover revealing the first page....

****
They say that things we are oblivious to, would never hurt us. Not paying heed to what my conscience said was wrong, I listened to my heart and sealed the truth about you. Vihaan, my life infact has two phases, one was before you entered and the other after you stepped in.

"Oh, where is this girl? She absconds in a fraction of seconds."

"Shilpa, look there."

Clad in a gorgeous royal blue lehenga, sparkling accessories and breath-taking smile, she tapped her feet to the melodious music from the santoor.

Madarangiyalli manassina rangu moodidhe.......
Madarangiyalli manassina rangu moodidhe
The colors of your heart have bloomed in this mehendi/henna
*Baasingadalli kanasina mutthu thoogidhe
Pearls of dreams are swaying at the tip of the baasinga
Banni kuniyona yalla seri, naliyona
Shubha kori, ullaasadalli Ee dina
Let us all dance together, dance to convey good wishes, today with mirth
Baala dhaarili hosa jodi horatidhe
Jathegoodi, ellellu thaliru thorana
A new couple has started on the path of life hand in hand, strands of mango leaves decorating their surrounding.
Balagaalanittu, baalindu olage bandhide
Setting in the right foot, life has made an entry
Manadangaladalli preetiya deepa belagide
And lit the lamp of love in the open heart.

Harini chuckled seeing her friend's face tinting to a red shade reflecting that of her wedding dress.

"Harini, was the song and dance necessary? And why did you pull me there? My in-laws were making fun, you know?" Shilpa whisper yelled.

"Your fiance was drooling over you anyway." Harini winked nudging her.

"Yeah yeah! Just like how Pramukh is ogling at you now."

Adhvi Shesh as Pramukh

Grumbling, she rolled her eyes and turned away, leaving behind a wondering bride.

"Sandhya!"
Harini almost squeezed the air out of her best friend, who walked in with her husband.

Sandhya was my collegemate and Vihaan, her husband. We all met after two long years, in my friend Shilpa's marriage. That was when Sandhya told me that she had thought of offering a puja to the bhūthakolu at her grandfather's house.

"So, how's it going Sandhya dear?" Harini grinned cocking her brows.

"Hi Harini, how are y--"
Vihaan waved at her only to be blocked by a tall, fair guy.

"Pramukh. My dad is the city corporator." he bragged forwading his hand towards Vihaan.
"Harini, I wanna have a word with you!"

"I-I'm busy!" she spoke irritably making him stomp away.
- -
"Hmm.. Now who is he?" Sandhya teased.

"Eww! Him? He's a huge flirt! Look at that scar on his face! Rowdy sheeter!"
- -

"My grandparents and the rest of the family passed away then.
I'm thinking of putting those jewels back in the *bhūtha sthala and hosting a bhūtha aaradhane again"
Sandhya explained.
(Note that these were the same things Sandhya says to Vihaan in chapter two.)

"But you said your family members don't get along."

"They are angry with my grandpa. I haven't even seen him once. This will be my first visit."

My real name is Harini, not Sandhya. But for me you are Vihaan because I don't know how, where or who you had been before the accident.

Anyway, I packed my luggage waiting for a bus, the next day, to reach Sandhya's. Pramukh again followed me!

"Harini! Get in."

"I'm okay."

"I suppose this didn't sound like a request. Did it?"

Harini reluctantantly sat in his car.

"There's a party in Zero-G. You can join me."

"I can't. I have to go to my friend's."

"Well then. There's enough privacy around. We can party inside the car."
Pramukh's hand shifted to her knee.

Slapping him, she diverted the steering wheel which led to a crash. He fumed getting down to check on the engine. A trembling Harini jumped to the driver's seat and put the car on the second gear and opened her eyes to the most horrible sight, a sight that changed her fate for good.
She unintentionally ran over Pramukh, who laid on the ground soaked in blood as a lifeless body.
- -
"Harini. Calm down. Let's talk to Vihaan. He'll find a solution."
Sandhya wiped the former's tears consoling her, who had fled barefoot all the way home.
****

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One more update's coming up probably by tonight or tomorrow, guys.
So we FINALLY got to know who Sandhya is.

The wedding song's from Puneet Rajkumar and Parvathi Menon's Kannada movie 'Milana'. Here's the link. It's a beautiful track infact!
Apologies if you find any mistake in the translation.

Please don't forget to hit the star icon! 😊
~ Sri