6 . Mistaken identity

Morning time.

Chahat, in the form of Vrinda, was having breakfast with Ashwat and Shalini ji. The three of them ate together, and after finishing breakfast, Ashwat was about to leave for his office. He had just reached near the hall when he caught a glimpse of Chahat.

She was wearing a green Banarasi saree, which originally belonged to Vrinda. She hadn't applied sindoor in her hairline, nor was she wearing a mangalsutra — because for her, Ashwat meant nothing. Even Shalini ji didn't say anything to her because, after all, Chahat was the one planning to get them divorced.

Even in that simple look, Chahat looked stunning — so beautiful that Ashwat couldn't take his eyes off her. He wondered to himself, Since when did Vrinda become this beautiful? Was she always like this, or did he just never notice her before? He was still lost in watching her when he overheard Chahat speaking to Shalini ji.

"Maaji, I want to go out. I have some work," Chahat said.

Shalini ji replied, "Okay, go ahead. You don't need my permission for that. Ashwat will drop you wherever you need to go."

Ashwat was furious upon hearing that.

What did she mean by that? Did they think he had nothing better to do than to drive that rustic Vrinda around? His eyes flared with anger. He stormed towards them, but before he could say anything, Chahat replied,

"No, I'll go myself. There's no need to trouble Ashwat. He must have work anyway."

Ashwat looked at her.

He didn't know why, but he didn't like that Chahat refused to go with him — even though that's exactly what he wanted. He wasn't sure if it was concern or jealousy, but he found himself speaking words he hadn't planned:

"How will you go? Do you even know anything about this city?"

Hearing this, Chahat glared at him and thought, When I was your wife, Vrinda, you never showed this concern. Why now?

But she knew this wasn't concern — it was mockery. Because Vrinda was uneducated, unlike Chahat, who now resided in her body.

She turned towards him and said,

"I didn't even know you, yet I married you, didn't I? So what's this city compared to that? The people here are probably less cruel than you — or maybe just like you. Anyway, I've gotten used to living among such things."

Ashwat frowned at her words.

What was she trying to say? Was he really that bad? That now even the people of this strange city seemed better than him?

The words stung him, burning in his chest. He looked at her and snapped:

"Fine, then go alone. And if you get lost, that would be even better."

With that, he stormed out of the house in rage.

---

When he reached his car, he stopped, slapped the bonnet in frustration, and muttered,

"Who does this Vrinda think she is? That illiterate village girl! She refused me! Does she even know who I am? AD! She's ignoring me and manipulating my mother into her party — I'll make sure she finds out who Ashwat Dhanraj really is tonight."

Fuming, he got in the car and sped away.

---

Meanwhile, Chahat also left the house shortly after. She took a taxi and went to the place that once used to be her real home. Her real life.

But this wasn't her real life anymore.

She got down from the taxi and stared at the ruins that once were her home — now a burnt-down wreck. Her eyes welled up. Memories of her family overwhelmed her. She didn't know what they were going through after hearing the news of her death, but right now, she missed them deeply.

Even if they had never truly loved her, they were still her family. Her parents. How could she not love them?

She wiped her tears and stepped towards the ruins, but just then, someone placed a hand on her shoulder. Chahat turned around, and her eyes widened in shock. She stood frozen, staring as if she had seen a ghost.

Standing in front of her was her younger sister, Vartika.

Chahat couldn't believe her eyes — but maybe, it was true. Vartika had sindoor in her hairline and a mangalsutra around her neck. In a black georgette saree, she looked beautiful — though maybe not as much as Chahat.

Seeing her like this made Chahat's eyes tear up. A terrible thought struck her — Had Vartika married Anshuman? But before she could say anything, the girl in front of her spoke.

"What are you doing here, Vrinda? Did you have some work here?"

Hearing that, Chahat stared at her in confusion.

Why was she calling her Vrinda? Didn't she recognize her? Was she really Vartika… or someone else entirely?

---

So what happens next?

Who is this Vartika calling her Vrinda?

Is she truly Chahat's sister?

What will Chahat do now?

What fate awaits her in this story?

To find out… keep reading —

Rebirth in Novel