Soul Swap: Trapped Forever

Afternoon had slipped into a golden-hued evening as the house remained draped in a lazy silence. After lunch, Tripti and Sarvagya had retreated to their room, stretching out on the soft mattress, letting the weight of the day settle over them. With the upcoming honeymoon in mind, they had planned to go shopping for new clothes. Sarvagya, having returned from abroad, had barely enough to wear, while Tripti realized she lacked outfits suited for the trip.

With that thought, they had dozed off, their fingers lightly intertwined—a silent reassurance that, despite the chaos of their marriage, they had each other.

The sharp chime of an alarm shattered the peaceful stillness. Tripti stirred, her eyelashes fluttering open as she reached out to silence the intrusive noise. Blinking at the screen, she saw it was already half past four. She exhaled heavily before turning her gaze toward Sarvagya. He was still deep in slumber, his breath steady, his face relaxed in a way that made him look boyishly innocent.

A smirk played on her lips.

Leaning in, she brushed a gentle kiss on his cheek—soft and fleeting. But just as she pulled back, a mischievous thought crossed her mind. Instead of another kiss, she playfully bit down on the same spot, just enough to make him stir.

Sarvagya groaned, his voice thick with sleep. "If you're hungry, sweetheart, there's food in the kitchen. Why must you take it out on my poor cheek?"

Tripti giggled, tilting her head. "Because your cheeks look delicious. I thought— why bother with anything else when I can just snack on you?"

Sarvagya cracked one eye open, his lips curving into a slow, teasing smile. "Oh? If that's the case, I should return the favor. You're looking way too tempting yourself."

Before he could make a move, Tripti pushed him away, laughing. "Control yourself, loverboy! We have places to be. Get up, get dressed. We need to finish shopping early so we can get some sleep before our trip."

Rubbing his eyes, Sarvagya watched as she sprang out of bed, darting toward the bathroom before he could retaliate. He shook his head, stretching lazily before finally getting up.

Deciding to be helpful in his own way, he strolled over to Tripti's wardrobe, pulling out an outfit for her before heading to the bathroom. Inside, he found her at the sink, rubbing face wash into her skin with closed eyes. A wicked grin flickered across his face as he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind.

Tripti stiffened for a second before recognizing the familiar embrace. "Sarvagya!" she huffed, her voice slightly muffled. "Let go! I can't even open my eyes!"

But Sarvagya, sensing an opportunity, decided to make things interesting. He trailed his fingers down her sides, finding her most ticklish spots, and began his playful attack.

Tripti squealed, squirming as much as she could with her face covered in foam. "S-Sarvagya! Stop! This isn't fair—I can't even fight back properly!"

Sarvagya chuckled. "That's the point, jaan."

With newfound determination, Tripti quickly splashed water over her face, washing away the foam before grabbing a handful and flinging it at him.

Sarvagya leaned back, blinking as cool water dripped from his face. "Really?"

Tripti crossed her arms, victorious. "Consider that your punishment for messing with me."

Sarvagya wiped his face with his sleeve, shaking his head with amusement. "Oh, so now my own tactics are being used against me? Impressive."

Tripti grinned. "I am pretty smart, you know."

Sarvagya stepped closer, dropping his voice to a husky whisper. "Smart, and dangerously beautiful. Are you sure you want to leave for shopping right now? We could stay here a little longer…"

Tripti swallowed, her heartbeat betraying her calm facade. But she wasn't one to back down. She lightly ran her fingers over the buttons of his shirt. "Tempting offer, Mr. Agnihotri, but if we're late, my parents will lecture me—not you. So, let's go before they get another reason to be annoyed with me."

Sarvagya sighed dramatically. "And just like that, you killed the mood."

Tripti laughed, nudging him away. "Save your disappointment for later. Now go change!"

A few minutes later, they were both dressed and ready. Sarvagya pocketed his wallet and keys, checking everything as Tripti did one final touch-up in the mirror. Satisfied, she turned toward him. "Shall we?"

Sarvagya extended his hand. "Let's go, my love."

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Stepping into the living room, they found Tripti's parents, Rahul and Manorama, sipping their evening tea. The air between them was neither warm nor cold—just an unspoken tension lingering in the space.

Sarvagya cleared his throat. "Uncle, Aunty, we're heading out for shopping. Since we'll be out till dinner, would you like to join us?"

Rahul looked up, setting his cup down. "No, thank you, beta. We don't prefer outside food."

Tripti, not one to give up so easily, tried again. "Come on, Papa, it's just one evening. It'll be fun."

But before Rahul could answer, Manorama cut in sharply "When your father has said no, why do you insist on arguing? Must you always push back?"

Tripti opened her mouth, about to retort, but Sarvagya, ever perceptive, spoke first. His voice was calm, but firm. "It's okay, Tripti. If Uncle and Aunty don't wish to join, we should respect their decision."

Tripti hesitated, sensing the warning in his gaze. He wasn't stopping her—he was protecting her from another pointless argument.

She forced a smile. "Alright then, we'll be back later."

As they stepped out, the atmosphere inside the house shifted. Rahul watched them go, his fingers drumming against the table. "They left so easily. No real effort to convince us."

Manorama scoffed. "That's how kids are these days. No patience, no respect for elders. Tripti has always been stubborn, but now she has a husband who encourages her. They're the perfect match in defiance."

Rahul took another sip of his tea, nodding. "Well, at least we've done our part. We married her off. Now, whatever she does is between her and her in-laws."

Manorama sighed, shaking her head. "I just hope she doesn't forget where she came from."

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Sarvagya fastened his seatbelt and glanced at Tripti, his brows furrowed in concern. "Why do your parents treat you so rudely? Can't they speak to you with love?"

Tripti smiled, a hint of bitterness hidden beneath her amusement. "This is nothing new. My sister is their favorite because she obeys them without question. But me? I challenge them, I question their decisions, and I fight for my rights. That makes me the 'disobedient' daughter in their eyes. It's really as simple as that."

Sarvagya shook his head. "Doesn't it bother you? The way your mother just spoke to you—do you think that was okay?"

Tripti let out a soft laugh. "I've grown used to it, darling. My parents were expecting me to insist that they come along with us a couple more times before finally agreeing. But thanks to you, their plan backfired completely. I'm sure they're sitting inside right now, cursing both of us."

Sarvagya chuckled. "That's so ridiculous. If they really wanted to come, why refuse in the first place? I wasn't just asking out of formality—I genuinely wanted us to have dinner together. But when your father declined outright, and then your mother spoke to you like that… I didn't feel like asking again."

Tripti patted his back reassuringly. "It's okay. Our elders expect us to respect them and understand them, but they forget that respect goes both ways. We learn from them, after all. If they set a good example, we'll follow it too."

Sarvagya nodded in agreement and started the car.

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They arrived at a large mall, packed with every necessity they could think of. Sarvagya took it upon himself to shop for Tripti, carefully selecting clothes according to his taste—because Tripti had already made it clear that she didn't trust her own choices.

Currently, Tripti was in the trial room, trying on a dress, while Sarvagya wandered around the store. His eyes landed on the saree section, and an unexpected thought crossed his mind—how would Tripti look in a saree during their vacation? The image in his mind intrigued him, and without a second thought, he picked out a few of his favorite ones, along with readymade blouses to match.

Just as he was waiting at the counter, Tripti's voice called out "How do I look?"

Sarvagya turned around, and his gaze swept over her from head to toe. His eyes softened, admiration clear in them. "You look beautiful. Like an absolute dream. We're definitely getting this one."

Tripti smiled. "I like it too. So that's a yes from me."

Sarvagya handed her a blue dress. "Try this one next."

Tripti reached for it, but before she could take it, a voice rang out from behind her—loud, confident, and far too familiar.

"Tripti, darling!"

Both Tripti and Sarvagya turned sharply toward the source of the voice. A young man was striding toward them, his face alight with excitement. Before either of them could react, he closed the distance and pulled Tripti into a tight hug.

Tripti froze. Her mind went blank for a second, unable to comprehend what was happening. Her arms remained stiff at her sides, her breath caught in her throat.

Sarvagya, however, had no such hesitation. His expression darkened instantly, his body tensing with fury. His hands clenched into fists as he watched another man not only address his wife so intimately but also have the audacity to wrap his arms around her—in public, no less.

Who was this man?

And more importantly…

Why the hell was he calling Tripti darling?