Kriti walked over to the mirror, her eyes lingering on her reflection. She began to strip and gazed at herself, memories from her time with her ex-husband, Karan, flooded back. She recalled her days in Australia, where she met countless people and learned many things, including how a woman's charm could be her greatest asset.

Looking at her reflection now, Kriti saw herself clearly for the first time. Her past was filled with painful memories of being called ugly and worthless. But now, she could see a stunningly beautiful woman staring back at her. She laughed at her younger self, who had believed she wasn't beautiful and had never used her looks to her advantage. In this new life, she had no power other than her knowledge of the future. She lacked money and resources, making it challenging to become self-reliant, especially in a society that didn't always value independence in women.