This prompt was suggested by LizzieBennet in Submit a Writing Prompt Thread
Prompt - Remember their previous life OR be able to foresee their next life on meeting their soulmate.
Beyond this Chapter
Arnav Singh Raizada stood by the large window of his office, overlooking the bustling city thrived in the world of business—determined, shrewd, and often ruthless. Numbers, deals, and strategies were his lifeline. But now, as the date of his engagement approached, a different kind of anxiety gripped him.
Engagement. The word felt heavy. It was a commitment that tied him to someone else—an idea that thrilled and terrified him. He was used to making decisions for himself, forging paths based on logic and practicality.
His phone beeped.
“We have to meet the wedding planner today.”
Lavanya had messaged him.
His fingers hovered over the mobile, caught between his reluctance and a sense of obligation. He knew he should be excited about this, about the wedding but he was not.
His fiancée was a wonderful person—kind and intelligent, and someone he had shared many memories with as friends. Their families, eager for a union had celebrated this engagement as if it were a fairytale come true. But beneath the surface of familial joy lay a stark truth: He didn’t love Lavanya.
The thought of marriage loomed over him like a storm cloud. He wondered if it’s fair to Lavanya and himself to enter into a lifelong commitment without the foundation of love that he believed should be present in such a sacred bond.
He had tried to rationalize his feelings, to convince himself that love can grow over time, that he could learn to care for her in the way a husband should. But every time he pictured their future together, he couldn’t shake the sense of being trapped in a role that didn’t feel right. He feared waking up one day and realizing that he had sacrificed his happiness, and perhaps even hers, for the sake of duty and societal expectations.
Sighing deeply, he walked out of the office to meet Lavanya and the wedding planner.
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Lavanya sat cross-legged on the couch, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she flipped through a bridal magazine, the glossy pages reflecting her dreams.
Across from her, Arnav lounged in an armchair, his posture relaxed but his expression distant. Every time he looked at Lavanya, his heart felt heavy, knowing he could never truly love her in the way she deserved.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and the wedding planner entered the room like a whirlwind. Dressed in a vibrant teal outfit, she carried a laptop, a notepad, and a stack of colourful fabric swatches. The moment she stepped inside, Arnav felt a jolt of energy surge through him, as if the room had come alive.
“Hello! I’m Khushi Kumari Gupta, your wedding planner!” she said with an infectious smile that lit up her face. Her enthusiasm was palpable, and Arnav couldn’t help but notice her eyes sparkled with passion for her work.
Lavanya stood up, her excitement now at its peak. “Hi, Khushi! We’re so glad you’re here!”
As the two women began discussing details—color schemes, and wedding themes, Arnav found himself drawn in. Khushi’s animated gestures and vibrant ideas captivated him. She was not just a wedding planner; she was a creator, weaving dreams into reality.
Suddenly few images started flickering in his mind - Khushi’s radiant smile sending a sense of contempt in his heart, her laughter ringing like chimes in the wind, the way her eyes sparkled with mischief and warmth.
Arnav blinked, and suddenly, he wasn’t in the hall anymore. Instead, he found himself in a serene garden. His heart raced with anticipation. The garden was beautifully decorated, bathed in sunlight, and the air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers. Guests were seated, laughter mingling with the soft strains of music.
And then he saw her—Khushi, dressed in a stunning bridal gown, her face aglow with happiness. As she walked towards him, time seemed to slow. Her smile was radiant, eyes locked onto his, filled with love and a hint of mischief. He felt an overwhelming sense of joy, knowing that in just a few moments, she would be his.
They exchanged vows, laughter echoing in the sacred space as they shared whispered secrets and inside jokes. With every word, he felt the bond between them grow stronger, an unbreakable connection that felt destined.
He looked into her eyes, and in that moment, he saw not just a wedding, but a lifetime—their future together.
As the vision faded, Arnav found his heart beating rapidly. It was the first time he was meeting Khushi, then what was that? How why did it all feel so real? Everything he saw felt so precious like grains of sand slipping through his fingers, yet so vividly alive.
“Arnav, what do you think?” Lavanya’s voice pulled him back to the present.
Then, just as suddenly, he was back in his house, his heart racing and his mind a whirlwind of emotions. Khushi was standing in front of him, her brows furrowed in concern as she asked if he was alright. Arnav, still reeling from the vision, could hardly respond.
Unable to understand anything, he walked out of the room.
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As the wedding day approached, Khushi was deeply involved in the preparations. Every detail was meticulously arranged, from the catering to the decoration. As Arnav stood there, he couldn’t help but admire her. Every time he looked at her, his mind went back to the vision. And the visions were so clear.
But he wasn't allowed such thoughts. He was on the brink of committing to someone else. He felt a pang of guilt and confusion, a struggle between duty and desire.
He turned away, trying to gather his thoughts, but his heart wouldn’t let him forget. The image of Khushi’s eyes, bright with dreams, haunted him.
For the day of the bridal shower for Lavanya, Khushi had organized everything beautifully, her laughter ringing through the air as she guided the festivities. He watched her, his heart aching with a longing that he couldn’t quite understand. Every laugh, every smile, pulled him closer to the vision he had seen—the life he wanted to have with her.
As the guests started leaving, Khushi caught Arnav's eye. She approached him, her expression a mix of enthusiasm and nervousness.
"Mr. Raizada, can we talk for a minute?"
"Sure," he replied, his heart racing.
They stepped away from the crowd, finding a quiet corner of the lavish venue. The air was thick with the scent of roses, and the soft music playing in the background seemed to fade away. Khushi took a deep breath, her brow furrowed in concentration.
"How do you think Lavanya would feel about the flowers? I know she likes jasmine but lilies were going better with the color scheme," she said, flipping through her notes. But she could sense the tension in Arnav's demeanor.
“You have always done a great job, Miss Gupta.” He complimented genuinely. “It all looks really good.”
Khushi smiled proud of herself and looked around.
"Khushi," Arnav called, taking a deep breath.
Khushi tilted her head, a curious expression on her face.
"Yes, Mr. Raizada?"
Arnav hesitated, his heart racing.
"Actually, I… I don’t know how to say this but I… I have been having these visions... about a life with you. It's overwhelming, and I don’t know what to do about it." He paused, searching her face for any sign of understanding. "I’m engaged to Lavanya, and she deserves my commitment, but..."
Khushi's eyes widened. Arnav was actually saying all that that she had been feeling since day one. From the moment she met him, Khushi had felt an inexplicable connection. She had dismissed those feelings as respect for his business achievements. Yet, now, hearing him speak of visions, visions of a life together—made her heart leap in disbelief.
Khushi had often caught herself daydreaming about a different life, a life where she and Arnav were not just the wedding planner and the groom-to-be, but partners in every sense of the word. Was it the same visions that Arnav was talking about?
“You… you see that too?” she stammered. “I thought it was just me being silly.”
“No, it’s not silly,” he replied, leaning closer, his voice low and intense. “It’s real. There are moments when I can see us in a different world, living a different life. And they feel so vivid—like memories.”
Khushi’s mind raced. The memories she had crafted in her head flashed before her—moments of laughter, shared meals, quiet evenings wrapped in each other’s arms.
“But Arnav, you’re about to marry Lavanya. This… this can’t be happening,” she said, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and exhilaration.
Arnav ran a hand through his hair, visibly torn.
“I do care about her, Khushi but it feels like my heart is caught between two paths. And every time I think about my future, it keeps leading back to you.”
“Arnav, you have to think about what you want,” Khushi urged, her voice steadying. “This is your life, and Lavanya is a wonderful person. If you’re feeling this way, it might be a sign to reassess everything.”
“I can’t just call off the wedding. I can’t walk away from my commitment,” he said, the conflict in his eyes clear. “But how do I ignore what I feel?”
Khushi sighed, her own heart breaking at the thought of causing chaos in Arnav's life.
"Maybe you need to figure out what you truly want first. Before making any decisions that could change your lives forever."
They stood there, suspended in a moment of raw honesty, both understanding the weight of the choices ahead. Arnav felt a surge of hope mixed with uncertainty. He knew he had to confront his feelings, and he had to do it soon before it was too late.
"Thank you, Khushi," he said softly, his gaze steady on hers.
As he walked away, Khushi watched him go, knowing that their lives were at a crossroads. The vision of a life together loomed large in both of their hearts, but the reality of their current situation was pressing down, threatening to shatter the delicate balance they had.
Khushi looked at her laptop. Not working, just looking at it, lost in thoughts. The bustling sounds of wedding preparations surrounded her, but her mind was miles away. She had spent countless hours meticulously planning every detail for Arnav and Lavanya’s wedding, all the while trying to push aside the visions that haunted her thoughts. The truth was, Arnav’s confession had shaken her to the core.
The visions were undeniable. Everything felt so real. Yet, they left her feeling more confused than ever. Was it merely a figment of her imagination, or was there something deeper? Either way, she had made a decision: she had to ignore Arnav’s presence and his allure.
It wasn’t just about her feelings; it was about respect. Respect for Arnav’s commitment to Lavanya. She didn’t know if there was love between them, but she couldn't be the reason for any conflict, for any rift between them. No matter how her heart raced at the mere sight of Arnav, she would not allow herself to act on those feelings.
Khushi took a deep breath, steeling herself. She had to focus on her role as a wedding planner, to be the professional she knew she could be. There was no room for distraction in her heart, no place for the what-ifs. She was determined to be there for Arnav and Lavanya, even if it meant burying her own feelings deep down. The visions might linger in her mind, but she would build walls around her heart to protect it from further hurt. After all, love was not just about passion; it was also about sacrifice.
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Arnav stood at the center, adorned in traditional attire. He could feel the warmth of his family's eyes on him but he felt uneasy. Khushi was ignoring him and it pained him. As the tilak ceremony unfolded, he caught glimpses of Lavanya, sitting surrounded by her family. The way she smiled made Arnav’s heart swell, yet a quiet unease tugged at him.
“Arnav beta,” a soothing voice called him.
He turned to come face to face with Lavanya’s grandmother, her with eyes that seemed to hold centuries of stories.
“I am going to tell the tale of soulmates to the children, you want to join?” she asked with a warm smile.
Soulmates?
“The eternal bond that transcends time and space,” she spoke as her eyes shined.
“Sure, Dadi.”
“In the beginning, when the universe was still young, the Creator wove a tapestry of existence. This tapestry, known as the Loom of Destiny, intertwined the fates of every being, binding them together through invisible threads of love, longing, and shared purpose. Among these threads were the rare and sacred bonds known as soulmates—two souls destined to find each other across lifetimes and dimensions.”
Arnav listened intently, feeling the room around him fade away.
“Throughout history, countless tales have emerged about the signs that indicate the presence of a soulmate,” the grandmother continued, her eyes glimmering. “Many describe a profound sense of déjà vu upon meeting their other half, as if they have known each other forever. Others speak of synchronicities—shared dreams or matching birthmarks. Some are able to see their past or future life also. It comes as memories, thar feels real and then fade away.”
Arnav’s breath caught in his throat. The world spun around him as the realization washed over him like a tide. Khushi was his soulmate. The one who made him feel alive in ways he had never experienced before. A connection that felt like home.
Arnav’s heart raced. Could he truly abandon this moment? Was he willing to risk everything he had built in the name of destiny?
“When you meet your true soulmate, you will know. Trust your heart, for it speaks the truth and don’t let them go,” the grandmother’s words acted like answers to his questions.
He took a deep breath, the world around him still swirling with joy and celebration. The decision loomed ahead, a crossroad of his heart. In that moment, he realized that love was not about obligation or tradition. It was about connection, understanding, and the gentle pull of souls intertwined. And somewhere in the depths of his heart, he knew he had to follow that pull.
In the days leading up to the wedding, Arnav found himself caught in a tumult of emotions, torn between duty and desire. And as the wedding day approached, he knew that a decision had to be made—one that would change everything for him and for Khushi. That evening, Arnav stood before the mirror, rehearsing what he would say. He needed to be brave, follow his heart, and perhaps find a way to embrace the life that had been waiting for him all along. With a newfound resolve, he reached for his phone, his fingers hovering over Khushi's name, ready to change the course of their lives forever.
In the days leading up to the wedding, Arnav found himself caught in a tumult of emotions, torn between duty and desire. And as the wedding day approached, he knew that a decision had to be made—one that would change everything for him and for Khushi.
The evening before the wedding, Arnav stood before the mirror, rehearsing what he would say. He needed to be brave, follow his heart, and perhaps find a way to embrace the life that had been waiting for him all along. With a newfound resolve, he reached for his phone, his fingers hovering over Khushi's name. He was ready to change the course of their lives forever, he was finally ready to listen to his heart, he was going to risk everything he had built, because it was destined that he would do so.
BR - Oh_nakhrewaali
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I hope that was good. Liz, I hope I did justice to the prompt 
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
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