2025 – Mumbai
The highway stretched endlessly under the yellow glow of streetlights as Raj rode his motorcycle toward home. The wind brushed against his face, but it couldn't cool the heaviness sitting in his chest.
At forty, Raj's life looked ordinary from the outside. A steady job at a well-known company. A small rented house. No scandals. No achievements worth remembering.
But inside, his life felt empty.
He came from a simple middle-class family. Nothing fancy, nothing poor. His parents had worked hard all their lives, dreaming that their son would do something meaningful.
That dream ended in 2015, the year everything burned—literally.
A massive fire accident had taken both his parents away in a single night.
Raj still remembered the smell of smoke. The sirens. The silence that followed.
That night broke him.
He never married. Never truly moved on. The only woman he had ever loved was Mital, his childhood friend. She believed in him even when he didn't believe in himself.
She wanted to marry him, wait for him—but Raj was stubborn.
He wanted to become an actor.
Not a star kid. No godfather. No connections.
Just dreams.
He spent years learning acting, dancing, body language—everything the industry demanded. His parents supported him. Mital supported him. But talent alone wasn't enough in Bollywood.
Rejection after rejection followed.
Auditions ended with polite smiles. Calls never came. Years passed.
And one day, Mital stopped waiting.
She married someone else—not out of love, but family pressure.
Raj never blamed her. He blamed himself.
As his bike slowed near a traffic signal, a giant poster caught his eyes—a newly released blockbuster movie. A smiling superstar stared down at him, confidence shining in every inch of the frame.
Raj looked away, bitterness rising in his throat.
"Why not me?" he muttered.
"I'm an outsider too… but outsiders never get real chances."
He exhaled deeply.
"Enough. I'm old now. Acting was just a dream."
With that thought, Raj turned toward his old neighborhood—the house his parents once owned.
The road ahead suddenly felt wrong.
A truck swerved dangerously, its headlights shaking wildly. Raj's instincts screamed danger. He tried to dodge
But another truck came from the side.
Impact.
Pain exploded through his body as he was thrown onto the road. The world spun. Blood soaked the asphalt. Sounds faded.
Lying there, staring at the dark sky, memories rushed into his mind.
His parents' tired smiles.
Mital's gentle laughter.
The sacrifices he never deserved.
His vision blurred.
Then—darkness.
He felt like he was floating.
As if drifting through a long, silent river.
Slowly… his eyes opened.
Raj frowned.
Wooden furniture. Old walls. A familiar ceiling.
His heart skipped.
This place…
It was his old house.
The one that burned down years ago.
Before he could think further, a voice echoed from outside.
"Raj! It's your graduation day. Don't be late!"
His body froze.
Graduation?
Raj rushed to the bathroom and stared into the mirror.
A young man stared back.
Smooth skin. Sharp eyes. A twenty-year-old face.
His breath trembled.
"No… this isn't possible…"
Memories crashed into his mind.
2005.
His graduation day.
"I… I've gone back," he whispered.
Tears filled his eyes as he clenched his fists.
"This time… I won't waste it."
"I'll protect you, Mom. Dad."
"And Mital… I won't let you go."
After a quick shower, Raj changed into old but clean clothes. He checked his button phone with shaking hands.
10 March 2005.
Reality confirmed.
He walked into the kitchen.
His mother was cooking, humming softly. His father sat nearby, reading the newspaper.
Alive.
Raj swallowed his emotions and bowed slightly.
"Good morning, Mom. Dad."
They smiled back, unaware of the storm inside him.
After breakfast, his father spoke calmly.
"Raj, after graduation… what do you want to do?"
Raj met his eyes—this time without fear.
"I want to become an actor. Give me one year. I'll prove myself."
His father thought for a moment, then nodded.
"One year. Don't waste it."
Raj smiled.
"I won't."
As he stepped outside, sunlight touched his face.
Raj looked up at the sky.
"God… thank you for this second chance."
"This time—
I won't lose."
Mumbai Arts College
Raj stepped off the crowded city bus and stood at the college gate, staring ahead with quiet emotion. The security guard checked his ID, nodded, and let him pass.
As Raj walked inside the campus, memories flooded his mind.
"Not much has changed," he murmured to himself.
"Even in 2025, this place still exists… just like this."
The familiar buildings, the open lawns, the buzzing chatter of students—it all felt surreal. In his previous life, he had walked these same paths without knowing how precious they were.
This time, he noticed everything.
Raj headed toward his classroom.
"Hey! Raj is here!"
Several students turned around and greeted him. In the Arts department, Raj was known—not just for his decent grades, but for his looks and calm confidence. Tall, sharp features, and a natural charm that stood out effortlessly.
"Hi, guys," Raj smiled.
"Sorry I'm late. Let's go, the ceremony is about to start."
Laughing and talking, Raj walked with his friends toward the college hall. For the first time in years—no, decades—he felt genuinely happy just being surrounded by them.
Graduation Hall
The hall was packed. Arts and Commerce students filled the seats, excitement buzzing in the air.
Raj's eyes moved across the crowd—
And then he saw her.
Mital.
She was sitting with the Commerce students, wearing a soft pink outfit. Simple. Elegant. Exactly how he remembered her.
Their eyes met.
Mital smiled.
Raj smiled back.
On the stage, the principal stepped forward and adjusted the microphone.
"Dear students," the principal began,
"today marks the completion of an important chapter in your lives."
Raj listened quietly.
"I congratulate all of you on graduating," the principal continued.
"But remember—this is only the beginning. Some of you will pursue higher studies, some will take up jobs, and some will chase dreams that others may not understand."
Raj's hands tightened slightly.
"As your principal," the voice echoed through the hall,
"I want to tell you one thing—never give up on what you truly want. Hard work, patience, and belief will decide your future."
Raj closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Images of his failed auditions, lonely nights, and unfulfilled dreams flashed through his mind.
This time…
I won't quit.
I won't settle.
"I may not be a star today," he thought,
"but I will become one."
After the Ceremony
The ceremony ended, and the atmosphere turned festive. Students gathered around food stalls, laughter echoing across the campus.
Raj walked toward Mital.
"Hi, Mital," he said softly.
"How are you?"
She smiled. "I'm good, Raj. What about you?"
"Are you really planning to focus on the entertainment industry?"
They walked away from the crowd and
sat under a tree, away from the noise.
Raj took a deep breath.
"Mital… I like you."
She looked at him, surprised.
"I want you to be my girlfriend now," Raj continued, his voice steady,
"and my wife in the future."
For a moment, Mital was speechless.
Then she hugged him tightly.
"I like you too, Raj," she said softly.
"I want to be your girlfriend… and your wife."
Raj closed his eyes, holding her, feeling something he had lost once before.
I won't repeat the same mistake.
After a while, they pulled apart.
"Mital," Raj said seriously,
"trust me. Give me one year. I'll prove myself."
She looked into his eyes and nodded.
"I believe in you."
They returned to the hall together. Music started. Couples filled the dance floor. Raj and Mital joined them, laughing, moving freely, enjoying a happiness that felt brand new.
As the party ended, they walked out of the campus together.
"Mital, goodbye," Raj said gently.
"Go safely."
"You too," she replied with a smile.
Raj watched her leave before heading home.
At home, he greeted his parents, shared dinner with them, and then went straight to his room.
He turned on his father's old computer.
The screen glowed softly in the dark room.
Raj cracked his fingers.
"I've lived this life once," he said to himself.
"This time, I'll use everything I remember."
He opened a blank document.
"First—scripts," he whispered.
"Short serials. Few episodes. Low risk."
A small smile formed on his face.
"This is where my second life truly begins."