Mahalakshmi:

"Aaaaa... it’s so painful... someone help me…!"

She lay on the road, bleeding, barely able to move. Her step-sister, Yasmin, was sitting in the driver’s seat of the car, smirking. Beside her, Roshni, her so-called best friend, got out of the car and approached her.

Mahalakshmi:

"Roshni… help me… please… I’m dying."

For a moment, she thought Roshni had come to save her, but her hopes were shattered when Roshni crouched down with a sinister smile.

Roshni:

"Mahalakshmi… you want help? Let me help you."

Before Mahalakshmi could react, Roshni injected something into her arm. A cold numbness began to creep through her veins.

Mahalakshmi:

"What… what is this…? Roshni, what are you doing…?"

Roshni: (laughing cruelly)

"Oh, nothing. It’s just a little slow poison. Consider it my parting gift."

Mahalakshmi’s heart sank as she heard Yasmin burst into laughter.

Mahalakshmi: (angrily)

"My husband will never forgive you… he’ll find you both… and he’ll make you pay for this."

Yasmin: (mocking)

"Husband? Oh, you mean your ex-husband? Don’t worry, dear. He’s mine now."

Mahalakshmi: (through gritted teeth) "He’ll never give you a second glance. I know him better than anyone."

Yasmin’s face twisted in anger, and she raised her hand to slap Mahalakshmi, but Roshni stopped her.

Roshni:

"Leave her. She’s already finished. Let her rot here."

The two women left her lying on the road, laughing as they drove away.

Mahalakshmi: (weeping)

"Am I really going to die like this? God… is this what you had planned for me? I prayed to you every single day… is this how it ends?"

As darkness began to engulf her, a bright light suddenly surrounded her. A calm, ethereal voice spoke to her.

Voice:

"Do you wish to live again, Mahalakshmi? To rewrite your fate?"

Mahalakshmi:

"Yes! Yes, I want to live. Please, give me another chance!"

The light grew brighter, and she felt a strange warmth envelop her.

When she opened her eyes, she gasped. She was lying in her old room—the same room she had lived in before her divorce. Confused, she looked around, her heart racing.

Mahalakshmi:

"What… what’s going on? Did I… time travel? Am I alive?"

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft tug at her saree pallu. Looking down, she saw her two babies—a boy and a girl—smiling and playing with the fabric. Tears streamed down her face as she realized they were safe.

Mahalakshmi:

(clutching them tightly) "My babies… you’re here. I’m here. Thank you, God… thank you for this second chance."

Determined, she wiped her tears and held her children close.

Mahalakshmi:

"This time, I won’t let them hurt me or my family. Yasmin, Roshni… your days of betrayal are over. I’m taking back everything you stole from me."

-----

I don't believe in love or marriage.

My mother, Meera, had a love marriage, but it was far from the fairytale she imagined. My father, Rajagopal, was only after her wealth. My mom came from a prestigious and wealthy family, and my father never loved her—it was all about the money. Watching her endure a loveless marriage shattered my faith in love.

That's why I vowed never to fall for such illusions. Love seemed like a lie, and marriage felt like a trap.

But my mother, determined to secure what she thought was best for me, forced me to marry my mama’s son, Vijay Kumar. A man I barely knew.

Vijay Kumar—a CBI officer and part of the special forces. A man who commands respect and wields authority. But how could I trust a man when my own father betrayed my mother?

So, I hate him.

He never even asked if I was okay with this marriage.

Author note:

This story is my first Reborn story...

I hope you like this story....

Mahalakshmi’s phone buzzed, her father’s name flashing on the screen. Her hands trembled as memories came rushing back.

She remembered the day he had coldly blackmailed her, demanding her late mother’s small restaurant. "If you don’t hand it over," he had threatened, "your babies won’t live to see tomorrow."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought about her mother. Only then had she realized the real reason her mom had forced her into marrying Vijay. Her mother had known about her failing heart and the limited time she had left. She had wanted to protect me from her father’s greed and cruelty.

Her chest tightened as anger and sorrow clashed within her. "You fought so hard for me, Amma," she whispered, her resolve strengthening.

Mahalakshmi’s heart ached as she recalled that fateful day. Vijay had stepped in at the last moment, saving their babies from her father’s cruel intentions. But by then, everything between them had already fallen apart. Their divorce was finalized, and the rift between them seemed too wide to bridge.

"I will take care of them," Vijay had said firmly, his voice steady but his eyes filled with something unspoken. He had cradled their children in his arms and turned to leave.

Before stepping out, he paused, glancing back at her. The look in his eyes pierced through her soul—it was a mix of longing, pain, and something she couldn’t quite decipher.

For a moment, she could feel it—he missed her. Despite everything, there was a part of him that still held on. But he walked away without another word, leaving her standing there, lost and unsure of what to do next.

Her heart whispered what her mind refused to acknowledge: she missed him too.

----

Mahalakshmi ignored the buzzing phone, her father's name flashing persistently on the screen. She took a deep breath and turned her attention to the soft cries echoing through the room.

Her twins, a boy (Karthik)and a girl(Karthia), were crying, their tiny fists waving in the air. She gently picked them up, one in each arm, and settled into a comfortable spot. As they latched on for their feed, a sense of peace washed over her.

She looked down at their innocent faces, their small hands clutching at her, and smiled. In that moment, everything else—her pain, her past, her fears—faded into the background.

“You two are my everything,” she whispered softly. “No one will ever hurt you, not while I’m here.”

Her heart swelled with determination. Whatever challenges lay ahead, she knew she would face them for her babies. They were her strength, her hope, her reason to keep going.

-------

In the quiet of the night, Mahalakshmi heard the doorbell ring. Confused and hesitant, she approached and opened the door. Standing there was Vijay, her husband.

Without thinking, she threw herself into his arms, surprising both of them. Tears streamed down her face as she clung to him, seeking comfort she didn’t know she needed.

Vijay froze, stunned by her unexpected embrace. Slowly, his arms wrapped around her, holding her gently. He didn’t speak, but a bittersweet wave of emotions washed over him.

His mind flashed back to the painful memory of their first night together—how his drunken mistake had shattered the trust between them. That night had created a chasm between them, one he thought could never be bridged. Her hatred for him had been justified, and he had carried the guilt ever since.

But tonight, as she held him tightly, he felt something different. A flicker of hope lit in his heart. Though he couldn’t erase the past, maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance to make things right.

Mahalakshmi stood there, her heart heavy with unspoken truths, watching the man she once hated but now saw in a different light.

She whispered to herself, I know what you’re thinking, Vijay. But it wasn’t you. It was Roshni… my so-called best friend. She drugged you on our first night. She confessed it to me before I died.

Her thoughts overwhelmed her, and she looked at him with teary eyes. “I’m sorry, Vijay,” she finally said, her voice trembling.

Vijay, alarmed by the sadness in her voice, stepped closer. “What happened, Mahalakshmi? Who made you cry? Tell me, and I’ll—” But he couldn’t finish his sentence because she suddenly leaned forward and gave him a small kiss on the lips.

It was brief, but the moment felt electrifying, like a current of emotions passing between them. Vijay froze, shocked by her unexpected gesture, his heart racing.

Mahalakshmi pulled back, tears streaming down her face. “No one… It’s me… I’m sorry.” Her voice broke as she started crying, unable to say more.

Vijay gently cupped her face, his own eyes filled with concern. “Please tell me what happened,” he pleaded softly. He then pulled her into a comforting hug, holding her as she wept into his chest.

In that embrace, Mahalakshmi felt a sense of safety she hadn’t felt in a long time, and though the words were stuck in her throat.

Mahalakshmi looked into Vijay’s eyes, her heart pounding as she whispered, "Nothing... I just love you."

Vijay’s eyes widened, his mind struggling to process her words. He searched her face for any sign of deceit, but all he saw was sincerity. Still, the pain of their past made him hesitant to let his guard down.

"What?" he asked softly, his voice trembling. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, yet something in his chest tightened at her confession.

Mahalakshmi bit her lip, tears filling her eyes as she looked away. "You don’t believe me…" she said quietly, her voice cracking.

Vijay reached for her, his heart aching at the sight of her tears. "It’s not that, Maha," he said gently. "Okay… I love you too. And I will love you forever."

The words hung between them like a promise, but before either of them could say anything more, they both heard their babies crying in the other room.

The tension between them melted away in an instant, both of them rushing towards their children, knowing that their love for each other was just beginning to heal.

------

As Mahalakshmi and Vijay entered the room, they were surprised to find their babies no longer crying. Instead, they were playfully giggling and reaching out, their little hands waving in excitement.

Mahalakshmi’s heart melted at the sight of her children, and she couldn’t help but laugh softly. "Looks like they were just looking for some attention," she whispered, her voice filled with love.

Vijay smiled, his eyes softening as he looked at the two little ones. "I guess so," he said, kneeling down to pick up one of the babies. He looked at Mahalakshmi, the weight of their past struggles fading in the light of their present happiness. "They know how to keep us on our toes, don’t they?"

Mahalakshmi nodded, her heart full. "Yes, they do. But I wouldn't have it any other way."

As they sat down together, holding their babies, Mahalakshmi and Vijay realized that despite everything they had been through, they had finally found peace in their love for each other and their children. The future, though uncertain, felt brighter now that they were united as a family.