It was nighttime. Chahat sat on the bridge, deeply engrossed in a book titled "A Relationship Tied by Love."
She opened the first page and began to read. As she absorbed the words, the emotions on her face shifted—forming and fading with each line.
This story revolved around a hero and heroine named Ridhaan and Anira. Ridhaan was an actor, while Anira was his manager. They fell in love and got married. Their life was filled with happiness, but there was someone who wasn't happy—Ashwat.
Ashwat was Anira's friend and secretly loved her. He was already married to a village girl named Vrinda, whom he didn't like at all. The reason? His heart belonged to Anira.
To win Anira's love, he tried every possible trick—he plotted to kill Ridhaan and even had Anira kidnapped. In his obsession to get her, he completely forgot about Vrinda, who waited for him every single day, prayed for his love, and suffered in silence.
She once tried to take her own life by jumping into a river, but was saved by some people. Even then, Ashwat didn't come to see her.
Ashwat never got Anira's love, but he did get a lifelong pain. Ridhaan had Vrinda killed. When Vrinda died, her last words were:
> "It's not your fault, Ashwat. You only chased your love and lost your way. But after my death, leave all this behind and move on. Anira will never come back to you—she loves Ridhaan."
Ashwat broke down:
> "How can I move on? Will you help me get through this? You've listened to all my anger till now, but now, when you're needed to guide me, you want to leave me?"
For the first time ever, Ashwat cried in front of Vrinda. He wiped her tears with his bloodied hands, which left stains on her face. But instead of letting go, he held her hand tightly.
> "I can't stay any longer, I've endured too much. But in my next life, I still want to be your wife. And this time, I'll come with the destiny lines of your love etched on my palms."
With those words, her breath stopped. Ashwat held her limp body and cried endlessly. He cremated her and vowed revenge for her death. He killed Ridhaan, and then, jumped from the mountain himself, ending his life.
Even if he had never truly loved Vrinda before, he finally understood her love. By avenging her death, he ended his own story too.
The only one left behind in this tragedy was Anira. With Ridhaan's death, she too ended her life—putting an eternal full stop to this tale.
---
Chahat closed the book and turned to look beside her—the old man (baba) was gone. She looked at the book and murmured:
> "People may say Ashwat wronged Ridhaan and Anira, but I don't think so. I feel the real villain was Ridhaan. Why did he kill Vrinda? What had she done to deserve this? And Ashwat… yes, he was lost, but in the end, he changed."
> "Maybe… maybe I'm like Ashwat. Even Vartika stole Anshuman from me. And instead of becoming the villain in someone else's story, maybe I should just end my own."
Chahat wiped her tears and stepped once again onto the bridge's railing. She looked at the river below—deep and dark. She took a deep breath, and her whole life flashed before her eyes. Not a single moment of happiness.
A tear slipped from her eye… and with her eyes still closed, she jumped into the river.
With a splash, she disappeared into the depth of the water—gone forever.
On the other side of the bridge, the old man (baba) smiled. He softly said:
> "You will find your true love, child. Just believe in yourself and never give up."
He smiled and began playing his flute. Then, turning, he walked away.
Meanwhile, Chahat's lifeless body floated to the surface. She had lost everything—her love, her family, her world.
But one thing still remained in her hands—the book.
Suddenly, the title on the wet cover glowed brightly. A yellow light emerged from it, and then, the book vanished—disappearing into thin air.
---
A girl had jumped into the river, and a boy ran after her. He was wearing a brown three-piece suit. Without caring about his expensive clothes, he dove straight into the water.
He swam to her and pulled her to the shore. The girl was unconscious, soaked completely, as if water had filled her lungs. The boy quickly started pressing her stomach, and within moments, she vomited water.
About five minutes later, she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the handsome face of the boy. Half-conscious, she smiled and said:
> "Looks like the angel of death has come for me… but why does he look so good? Take me with you. If you're there, I wouldn't even mind dying."
She was still speaking when a slap landed on her cheek.
Her eyes snapped open completely.
> "Are you crazy? What were you doing there? What's the meaning of walking on the railing like that? Do you want to die?" the boy yelled.
Chahat's memories from the previous night flashed back—the betrayal of her love and her family… her decision to end it all… her jump from the bridge.
But how was she alive? Why was she in this boy's arms?
Furious, she pushed him away and shouted:
> "Yes! I came to die. But it seems now even the right to die has been taken away. And who gave you the right to save me? Who are you to me?"
Hearing this, the boy also lost his temper. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her:
> "I'm your husband, understand? What nonsense is this? Do you want the world to think I mistreat you?"
Chahat's head spun.
Did people now go around claiming to be someone's husband just like that? He was good-looking, sure, but that didn't mean he could call himself her husband.
Before she could say anything, she felt dizzy again. Her head throbbed, her eyes closed—and she collapsed.
The boy caught her in his arms, looking at her face closely.
> "What's happening to you, Vrinda? Why are you doing all this?"
---
What was about to happen next?
How did Chahat end up in this boy's arms?
Why was he calling her Vrinda?
Had Chahat entered the world of the story?
To know more, keep reading…
Rebirth in Novel