RESTART

A Second Chance

Jeevika had been living a simple and peaceful life once, or so it seemed. Growing up, everything felt normal. Her mother had passed away when she was in her teens, a loss that still weighed heavy on her heart. A year after her mother’s death, her father had remarried his assistant, a practical decision he said was necessary to maintain the family. Jeevika had accepted it without protest, especially since her stepmother had always treated her well. There were no harsh words, no cold behavior. It was as if her stepmother had slipped seamlessly into their lives. Her stepsister, however, had always kept her distance, never speaking much to Jeevika. But that suited Jeevika just fine—she preferred to avoid conflict. Life continued in a predictable rhythm, and she never had any real complaints.

At 23, when her father decided it was time for her to marry, everything changed. Her father, a wealthy businessman, arranged for her to marry Abhiman, the son of his business partner, a powerful billionaire. At first, Jeevika had no objections. It was an arranged marriage, and she trusted her father to make the right decision for her future. But her best friend, Tara, painted a much darker picture. Tara had convinced her that Abhiman was nothing but a ruthless playboy, someone who would never be a good husband. The idea of being trapped in a loveless marriage terrified Jeevika, and Tara fueled her fears with stories of his reckless behavior.

In her panic, Jeevika made a decision that would change everything—she ran away from the wedding. It had seemed like the right thing to do at the time, her only way out. With Tara’s encouragement, Jeevika thought she was saving herself from a terrible fate. She didn’t know then that she was running straight into a trap. Tara, her so-called best friend, had betrayed her.

Five years passed since that fateful day, and those five years were nothing but a nightmare. Jeevika had discovered the truth only recently—Tara had never cared about her well-being. Tara had wanted Abhiman for herself. The day Jeevika fled from the wedding, Tara had stepped in, hoping to take her place. Jeevika had been too blind to see it then, too trusting, too naïve. She had believed Tara was her friend, but she had been wrong. The revelation had left her shattered.

Betrayed, broken, and angry, Jeevika found herself alone. Her father had disowned her after she ran away, her stepmother and stepsister turned cold, and now Tara had revealed her true colors. Her entire life had fallen apart, and she had no one left to turn to.

That day, when Jeevika got into her car to drive away from it all, her mind was a storm of emotions—rage, sorrow, and regret. The betrayal, the lies, the years she had lost weighed down on her heavily. She had no direction, nowhere to go, and no one who cared about her. As she sped down the road, her thoughts consumed by everything she had lost, fate struck again.

The screech of tires, the deafening crash—it all happened too fast. Her car spun out of control, flipping off the road and smashing into a tree. Jeevika felt the sharp pain tearing through her body, but worse than the physical pain was the ache in her heart.

She lay there, bleeding and broken, trying desperately to reach someone, anyone who might still care. She called her father, her stepmother, her stepsister. Each call went unanswered, the silence cutting deeper than the wounds on her body. Despair crept in, and as the world around her darkened, she saw something that shattered her completely—her stepmother, her stepsister, and Tara.

They were standing there, not far from the crash site, watching. Watching her die.

Her breath hitched as she realized they wouldn’t help her. No one would. Tara, the friend she had trusted, stood with a cold smile, her arms folded. Her stepmother and stepsister looked on without an ounce of concern. In that moment, Jeevika’s world collapsed entirely. Her family—her own flesh and blood—was letting her die.

Her vision blurred, and she could feel her life slipping away. The only thought that consumed her mind was revenge. How could they do this to her? All she had ever wanted was a simple life, the life her mother had dreamed for her. She had wanted nothing but peace and love. And now, as her life ebbed away, all she could think of was getting back at them.

“Please, God,” she whispered, her voice weak as tears streamed down her face. “Just one chance. Give me one more chance… I will change everything. I will get my revenge. Please, God…”

Her words faded into the night, and then everything went blank.

When Jeevika opened her eyes, the world was completely different. Her heart raced, confusion flooding her senses as she sat up. She was no longer in the wrecked car. She was no longer bleeding or broken. Instead, she was dressed in a rich, ornate wedding lehenga, her hands adorned with the deep red mehndi of a bride.

She looked around, her breath coming in sharp gasps. This wasn’t the site of her accident. This was a wedding—her wedding. Jeevika’s pulse quickened as the realization hit her. She was back. The intricate mandap, the sound of wedding chants, the soft glow of the fire—all of it felt eerily familiar.

It was the day of her wedding to Abhiman.

She was back to the moment when she had made the worst decision of her life. She had run away that day, thrown away everything. But now, God had given her exactly what she had begged for—a second chance.

Jeevika stood, the weight of her bridal attire heavy but not as heavy as the emotions swirling inside her. This time, things would be different. This time, she wouldn’t run away.

This time, she would stay, and she would make sure that everyone who betrayed her paid for it.

The beginning of her revenge had just begun.

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