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Prologue:
I always thought that if someone were to reincarnate, they'd become a villainess, a female lead, or at the very least, a side character. But when I woke up this morning, I found myself in a story I had just read the night before, a cliché romance titled "Sanam Teri Kasam." Yet, I wasn't any of those typical roles. I wasn't even sure if I could call this a reincarnation.
:- The World of Mythili Shrivastava
Mythili Shrivastava, a 24-year-old resident doctor at a city hospital, was everything a female lead ought to be—kind, innocent, independent, and stunningly beautiful. She was so attractive that girls envied her, leaving her with only one friend, while boys endlessly pursued her. Unaware of the attention she garnered, Mythili went about her life, focusing on her work and living a simple life.
One evening, after finishing her shift, Mythili stopped to buy groceries on her way home. To save time, she decided to take a shortcut through a nearby alley. That's when she stumbled upon a man lying in a pool of blood. The man was Ashwin Singh Rathore, a successful businessman and feared mafia boss, also known as ASR. Despite his intimidating appearance, Mythili's nurturing instincts kicked in, and she decided to take him home to treat his injuries, following his fainted plea not to take him to a hospital.
:- The Encounter
Ashwin Singh Rathore, ruthless in the business world and feared by many, found himself drawn to Mythili the moment he regained consciousness. Her innocence and beauty captivated him, and he fell in love at first sight—because why not? She was the female lead, and he was the male lead. However, there was one significant obstacle: Mythili had a boyfriend.
Her boyfriend was a neighborhood guy she had been dating for six months, a relationship sparked by the friendship of his mother and her aunt. But this guy was nothing more than a jerk. He was attracted to Mythili for all the wrong reasons, often attempting to cross boundaries, only to be stopped by her firm "only after marriage" rule. Unable to control his desires, he cheated on Mythili with her only friend.
When Ashwin discovered this, his obsession with Mythili grew. He decided she was his, and he would do whatever it took to make her his wife. He hatched a plan to trick her into marriage.
:- The Plan
The jerk boyfriend, growing impatient, decided to take drastic measures. He planned a night out at a club under the guise of celebrating his birthday. His real intention was to drug Mythili and take advantage of her.
But things didn't go as planned—for him, at least. Mythili ended up drugged, but instead of losing her purity to her boyfriend, she lost it to Ashwin, who had orchestrated the entire event. Playing the victim, Ashwin convinced Mythili to take responsibility for what happened, leading them to marriage.
:- A New Player Enters
This is where I come in. I read this story as a total time-pass, but now I find myself in its world. When I woke up this morning, I wasn't in my room but in an unfamiliar place. The walls were painted a soft green, and four photo frames hung in an orderly fashion. To my shock, one of the pictures was of me, dressed in an orange georgette sari. Yet, I didn't recognize anyone else in the photos.
As I tried to make sense of my situation, a buzzing sound pulled me out of my thoughts. A phone vibrated on the side table. I cautiously picked it up—wait, wasn't this my phone? As I furiously tapped the screen, words began to appear:
"Welcome to the world @khb973. You are chosen for this mission. Your mission is to give this story a happy ending. Congratulations on becoming the new character of Sanam Teri Kasam. Please enter your name so we can continue the process."
Sanam Teri Kasam? Isn't this the story I read last night? It already had a happy ending, didn't it? And now, I'm supposed to give it one? Congratulations on becoming a character? Does that mean I've been reincarnated?
As disbelief turned into excitement, I hurriedly typed in my name, Khushboo, grinning from ear to ear. I wonder who I've become in this twisted tale.
:- The Task
As soon as I entered my name, the phone displayed a new message:
"Khushboo, please complete the following tasks to go back to your world."
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:- The First Task
Go back to my world!? What is happening here?
I stared at the screen, hoping it would have the answers I desperately needed.
"Task One: Get reunited with your old friend Mythili."
Mythili is my friend? None of this made sense. How was I supposed to find her, let alone reunite with her? I didn't know anything about her beyond what I'd read in the story. What kind of twisted system was this?
As I pondered the absurdity of it all, the screen flashed again, revealing a location.
"Location: XY Mall."
With no other options and a sigh of resignation, I put the phone back down and looked at my current outfit. A panda night suit. Great, I thought sarcastically. Even a side character deserves a good outfit, right? There's no way I'm going to a mall in this unless I want people to think I've lost my mind. And since this is my first appearance, I might as well make it a good one. Fighting! I encouraged myself.
But first, I needed to explore this place. I had no idea where I was, and a house tour seemed like a good place to start.
:- The House Tour
Stepping out of the bedroom, I found myself in a cozy hallway with cream-colored walls adorned with minimalist artwork. A plush carpet cushioned my steps as I made my way toward the first door. It led to a well-furnished living room, complete with a large sofa, a coffee table, and a TV mounted on the wall. The sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, giving the room a warm, inviting glow.
On the other side of the hallway was a small but modern kitchen, equipped with all the essentials. The countertops were spotless, and a bowl of fresh fruits sat on the dining table, as if waiting for someone to grab a quick snack.
Continuing my exploration, I found a neatly organized bathroom with soft towels hanging on a rack. The scent of lavender lingered in the air, adding to the sense of calmness.
Finally, I returned to the bedroom where I had woken up. The wardrobe stood in the corner, and I headed straight for it. Opening the doors, I was greeted with an array of clothes, from casual wear to elegant dresses. I picked out an outfit that I thought would be perfect for a trip to the mall—a stylish yet comfortable ensemble that screamed confidence.
As I got dressed, I couldn't help but wonder how this all fit into the story. Who was I in this world? And how would reuniting with Mythili help me return to my own?
With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I took one last look at myself in the mirror. Not bad, I thought. I was ready for whatever lay ahead at XY Mall.
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:- The System's Generosity
Grabbing the phone from the side table, I made my way to the kitchen. If I was going to be thrown into this bizarre situation, I'd need some energy. The bowl of fruits on the counter seemed to be conveniently placed for me. Thanks, system, I thought, not entirely sure if I was supposed to feel grateful or manipulated.
After filling up my stomach, I walked to the front door, where a variety of stylish shoes, sandals, and heels were neatly arranged. I picked a pair that perfectly matched my outfit. At least this system has good taste, I mused, feeling a bit of excitement despite the weirdness of the situation.
But then reality hit me. Wait! Where is this XY Mall? I had no idea where I was, let alone how to find this mall. I tried yelling at the system, hoping it would give me directions, but the phone screen remained stubbornly silent.
Maybe I should just take a taxi, I thought. The driver will know where it is. But then another problem crossed my mind—money. How was I supposedly to pay for the taxi? I didn't have any cash, and I was pretty sure I didn't have any credit cards in this world.
Frustrated, I looked at the phone again, hoping for some kind of miracle. The screen had reverted to my normal lock screen. I typed in my password, hoping to find something useful. My familiar apps were there, but one stood out—a new app called "PayIt."
Curious, I clicked on it. Various options appeared, and I decided to check my balance. The app asked for a password. What could it be? I hesitated before entering my lock screen password. To my surprise, it worked.
I knew I was smart, I thought, feeling a tiny bit of pride. But when I saw the balance, my jaw dropped.
"Holy moly shit..."
The amount was massive. I stared at the number, trying to count the zeros [ekam, dasak, so, hajar…] This is so unfair! I'm only here for a few missions, and I can't even enjoy this ridiculous wealth. Shaking my head in disbelief, I decided it was time to take that taxi. At least now, I knew I could afford it.
:- Off to the Mall
I stepped outside, the autumn breeze brushing against my face as I walked down the street. The city felt familiar yet strange, like a place I had seen in dreams but never really visited. I flagged down a taxi, and when the driver asked for my destination, I confidently said, "XY Mall."
The driver nodded without hesitation, and we were on our way. I leaned back in the seat, watching the city pass by. Finding Mythili seemed like the first step in unraveling this mystery, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was much more to this story than just a happy ending.
As the taxi approached the mall, I took a deep breath, Here goes nothing, I thought, stepping out of the cab and into the unknown.
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:- The Unexpected Encounter
The mall had everything—famous brand stores, restaurants, clothes, makeup, you name it. As I strolled through the corridors, I couldn't help but feel a little giddy. The money sitting in my bank account was practically begging me to go on a shopping spree. What should I buy? I pondered, glancing at the shops around me. And then it hit me—an iPhone!
Sure, the phone I had was functional, but it seemed to have a mind of its own, operating on its own terms. If I was going to meet Mythili, I'd need her number, right? And what better excuse to get a brand-new phone? With that thought in mind, I made my way toward the nearest electronics store.
But just as I was about to reach the store's entrance, I collided with someone.
"Ouch!"
I hissed as I hit the ground. My butt was throbbing, and I was ready to give whoever knocked me over a piece of my mind. But before I could look up, I heard a deep, manly voice.
"Are you okay?"
No, I'm not! I was about to snap at him, but then I realized the question wasn't directed at me. The guy was asking his girlfriend, who stood beside him, looking perfectly fine. Seriously? I thought. I'm the one who's on the floor, and you're asking her?
It was like some kind of cheesy romantic scene, except I was the one who got the raw deal. I pushed myself up off the floor, fuming, ready to give them a piece of my mind.
"Look..." I began, but before I could continue, the girl interrupted me.
"Khushboo!?"
I froze. Did she just say my name? I looked up, taking in her appearance—she was beautiful, with doe eyes, pale skin, and plump lips. She seemed vaguely familiar, and then it hit me.
"Mythili!?"
The shock was all over my face. No way. Was this how my first encounter with her was supposed to happen? Of all the scenarios I'd imagined, this was not one of them.
Be Back Soon...….