Soul Swap: Trapped Forever

Tripti stood before her vanity, staring at the delicate fabric of the wedding dress laid out before her. Her fingers hovered over the silk, the cool material reminding her of the weight of what she was about to do. The air in the room was heavy, thick with tension, and the events that had unfolded in the past few hours kept replaying in her mind. She was supposed to be a bride—but not to Shashank.

Just as she took a deep breath to steady herself, the door to her room flew open, and in rushed Aakash, his face taut with worry, his brow creased in concern.

"Tripti!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with urgency, "Sarvagya wants to meet you."

Tripti's heart skipped a beat. Sarvagya. His name echoed in her mind, like a forbidden whisper in a room full of secrets. She'd known exactly what she was getting herself into when she agreed to meet him, but the way her chest tightened at the thought of seeing him again… it was inevitable.

Tripti inhaled deeply, already expecting this. "Fine. Send him in."

She had no reason to refuse. She knew exactly why Sarvagya wanted to see her. And honestly, she wanted to see him too. After all, he wasn't just anyone—he was hers.

At least, he used to be.

According to the story, their relationship had been a well-kept secret. They had met through social media, a slow-burning romance blossoming between them despite the distance. Sarvagya had been abroad, and they had only seen each other once—at Manisha and Shashank's engagement. And now, fate had thrown them together again, under circumstances neither of them could have foreseen.

But Sarvagya was afraid. He feared that Tripti had exposed their past, that his so-called "family" would now use it against him.

Moments later, the door opened, and there he was—Sarvagya. His tall, commanding presence filled the doorway. His eyes, dark and intense, immediately locked onto hers, like two forces drawn to each other in the midst of a storm. The tension between them was palpable, almost suffocating.

Sarvagya didn't waste time on pleasantries. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft but deliberate click. The silence that followed was suffocating, thick with the weight of unspoken words.

His gaze was sharp, cutting through her with the precision of someone who had spent too long trying to keep their emotions locked away. His jaw clenched as he spoke, his voice low and almost dangerous. "What have you done, Tripti?"

Tripti remained calm, crossing her arms, her back straight. She met his gaze without flinching. "You'll have to be more specific," she replied, her voice cold and composed.

Sarvagya's nostrils flared, and his gaze darkened. "Don't play dumb with me. You told them about us, didn't you?" His voice was an accusing whisper, a blade slicing through the thick air between them. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that is? You know what these people are capable of! If they find out the truth, they'll destroy you. They'll destroy both of us."

Tripti's eyes softened, and for a brief moment, her emotions flickered across her face. She understood his fear—his need to protect the secret that had bound them together in the shadows. But she wasn't afraid. Not anymore.

"I didn't say a word, Sarvagya," she replied firmly. "No one knows about us."

He didn't seem convinced, his brows knitting together as he studied her, looking for any trace of deception. "Then why is my father discussing our wedding?" he demanded, his voice edged with frustration. "Why did I hear him telling my so-called family that I'm the one getting married today? They even came to meet him!"

Tripti let out a quiet sigh and motioned for him to sit on the bed. "Manisha ran away," she explained slowly, her voice measured but heavy with the gravity of the situation. "She drugged me during lunch. Slipped sleeping pills into my drink so she could escape. I was the only one with her, so no one noticed until it was too late. And now, with her gone, everyone expects me to take her place as the bride."

Sarvagya's face twisted in disbelief, and he let out a bitter chuckle, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Unbelievable." He glanced up at her, his eyes burning with frustration. "And what, you just agreed to this? You're going to be the stand-in bride?"

Tripti's expression softened, and she walked toward him, gently cupping his face in her hands. She felt the hardness in his features, the tension in his shoulders, and her heart ached for him. "You know it's not that simple," she said, her voice low, almost tender. "Manisha is Akash's sister. Her disappearance could tear his family apart. The Malhotras… they need everything to be covered up. If I refuse, it will ruin their lives. It will destroy their reputation, and I'll be the one to blame."

Sarvagya's hands clenched into fists at his sides, his frustration evident. "And what do I have to do with all of this? What am I supposed to do now?"

Tripti pulled away slightly, a small smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "I made a deal."

Sarvagya's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What kind of deal?"

"I refused to marry Shashank," she said quietly, her voice a mix of defiance and resolve.

His shoulders relaxed, just a fraction, as though a small weight had been lifted. "Good," he muttered. "At least you have some self-respect."

"But I also made another request," she continued, stepping back to give him space. "If they were going to change the bride, then they should change the groom too."

Sarvagya froze, his gaze locking onto hers in disbelief. "You didn't—"

Tripti raised her hand, silencing him. "I didn't mention your name. It was Aakash who thought of you. He suggested it to the family."

Sarvagya exhaled sharply, his body relaxing with the release of tension. "Thank God," he whispered. "For a second, I thought…" His voice trailed off as he glanced at her, a teasing smirk slowly curving on his lips. "You really are something, aren't you? Taking advantage of this situation like this."

Tripti chuckled softly, tilting her head to the side. "Would you have preferred waiting for another lifetime for our wedding?" she teased, her eyes sparkling with a glint of mischief.

Sarvagya stepped closer, his hand reaching out to gently cup her cheek. His lips brushed her forehead in a soft, lingering kiss. "No," he said quietly, his voice suddenly serious. "But I need you to be careful. Don't let anyone see how happy you are about this. You know my family—they despise my happiness. If they think you're the source of it… they'll come after you too."

Tripti nodded, understanding the risks that came with this arrangement. She knew the depths of his family's cruelty, and she wasn't naïve enough to think that everything would be easy from here on out.

She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close in an embrace. "We'll be fine," she whispered, her voice filled with conviction. "Together, we can handle anything."

Sarvagya kissed the top of her head before pulling back, his expression hardening. "Once this wedding is done, we'll have to be careful. We have to act like this marriage is a burden, not a blessing."

Tripti pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, her lips curving into a mischievous smile. "Then we'll put on the best performance of our lives."

Sarvagya's lips twitched in a ghost of a smile, but his eyes remained cold. He pressed one last kiss against her cheek before turning toward the door.

"Be careful, Tripti," he said, his voice low and filled with warning. "And remember—you're not alone in this."

As he stepped out, the door clicking shut behind him, Tripti stood motionless for a moment, her thoughts swirling in a chaotic mix of emotions. The story she had been living, reading, and now—living—was turning darker with every passing moment. But she wasn't going to let it control her. This time, she would write her own ending.

She turned toward the wedding dress with renewed resolve.

It was time to become the bride. But not just any bride. The bride who would change everything.

________________

Sarvagya stood before his father, Keshav Agnihotri, his posture stiff with defiance.

"I'll marry Tripti" he said. "But on my terms."

Keshav's expression darkened. "What terms?"

Sarvagya met his gaze without flinching. "First, I can divorce her whenever I want. I'm only doing this to save your reputation, not because I'm giving up my right to marry someone of my own choice. I already have a girlfriend. I love her, and I will marry her later."

The entire room tensed.

Gayatri Agnihotri, his grandmother, narrowed her eyes. "What kind of nonsense is this? And what other terms do you have?"

Sarvagya gave her a cold smile. "You'll find out soon enough. But let me make one thing clear—if you refuse even one of my conditions, I'll expose every dirty secret you people have hidden all these years."

Shashank, who had been silently seething in the background, finally snapped. He stomped his foot like a petulant child. "I don't get why we're even entertaining this! I'm right here! Why change the groom?"

Sejal, his mother, sighed. "Because Tripti doesn't want to marry you, Shashank. And honestly? I don't blame her. Given your past… let's just say, I wouldn't be surprised if Manisha ran away because of something you did."

Shashank's face turned red. "You've covered up my 'scandals' before! You really think Manisha or Tripti wouldn't have found out?"

Sarvagya's lips curled in disdain. "And because of you, I'm stuck in this mess. So now, all of you will play by my rules."

Keshav exhaled heavily. "Fine. We'll agree to your terms. Just keep your mouth shut and go get ready."

Sarvagya gave a mocking bow. "As you wish."

As he walked out, Sejal asked "What will we tell the guests? They'll ask why both the bride and groom have changed."

Keshav smirked. "We'll say Manisha got a prestigious job offer and had to leave immediately. It was her dream, so we supported her. But since the wedding preparations were already done, Sarvagya and Tripti stepped in. After all, they've been dating for a while."

Gayatri clapped her hands. "Brilliant. That way, no one will question it, and our family's dignity will remain intact."

The Agnihotris were pleased with their deception.

What they didn't know was that they were the ones being deceived.

Because Tripti had read this story.

And now, she was rewriting its ending.

Will Tripti and Sarvagya's plan work? Or will fate have its own surprises in store?