Karma - #ATOZCHALLENGE – K (2026)

 

The grand mirror in their walk-in closet saw them standing side by side—he was checking the fit of his Armani blazer one last time, before leaving, and she touching up her lipstick again trying to match it closer to her cocktail dress. They drew each other closer, not so much out of fondness but to see how they looked together, as a couple. They had to make a lasting impression, and an impeccable one.

Milan Kothari, a successful businessman, was to attend a Diwali party at the mansion of another big-wig. The who’s who of the city would be there. Any misstep would deliver a huge blow to his carefully curated image.

His wife, Amisha Kothari, dutifully allied with him through the optics.

 

“I believe in results. Excuses are for losers.” His chest puffed with pride upon getting yet another audience in the party, where he could talk about his achievements. He talked about fast-tracking his way into success by his sheer intelligence and out-of-the-box thinking.”

Alina, another coworker, stood afar, privy to the conversation. “He’s been taking credit for things he had goofed up by entrusting the wrong people with critical work. When the real people stepped in to solve the problem, he claimed credit for his own initiative. In his proud head he can never be wrong. How I wish, for him to see the reality of things.”

She shut her eyes tightly as if making a wish. The very next moment, something felt different, very different.

Alina was inside a male body—Milan’s. The shock of it paralyzed her for a second. Milan’s fair complexion went to shades lighter.

“Are you alright, dear?” Amisha asked with a concern that seemed well-enacted to Alina. “Let’s leave. I want to make sure you are alright.”

All along, Alina, who was now Milan for some unknown reason, decided to remain quiet. A thought plagued her mind. If she was here, where was Milan?

 

Suddenly finding himself walking on high-heels and tripping and falling, Milan began to groan loudly. “Stop creating such a scene, Alina. Did you forget you were in a party? And whose party?” The man was unempathetic towards her. He was more concerned about how they looked versus how Alina was. For a moment, Milan was shocked at his indifference. But then a realization hit him like a blow in the face. This was exactly how he was. Optics meant the world to him.

He struggled to stand on those heels. After stumbling in Alina’s heels two or three times, he decided to remove them and walk home.

“Mr. Reyansh.” Someone called out to the man with her. “We have hailed a cab for you and Mrs. Arya. She seems unwell.”

“We could have taken the bus, but I guess the office will foot this bill. It’s okay.” Reyansh’s hostility was crushing.

“What is a man without a woman, just a sorry loser,” Milan who was Alina talked back. “What!” Reyansh responded a bit of guard and livid at the sudden talking back.

“I am the one who makes sure you look impeccable for the parties. See I pick your clothes, your accessories and even those expensive Bvlgari cufflinks you are sporting. What exactly have you done all by your idiot self, you arrogant bum.”

Reyansh’s eyes were wide and bloodshot.

“You ungrateful wretch. How dare you!”

“How dare you! Alina mentioned everything the other day in the cafeteria. She does so much for you. She manages your home and your schedule. Did you ever ask her what she needed? Was she really happy? You don’t even have the decency to hail her a cab. You know what, you don’t deserve her.”

This meltdown only resulted in a mild chuckle from Reyansh. “You’ve lost your mind. You’re referring to yourself in the third person. Go away. I am going home alone. And if I don’t deserve you, stay out of my life, forever. Go park yourself wherever you want tonight.”

Alina grabbed the cab handle and directed the driver to go downtown, to Milan’s home.

 

Meanwhile, Alina was in the cab listening to Amisha.

“You said you will buy me that diamond set, right? I already gave feelers to my friends on my Gram. And yes, next month, my girlfriends and I are planning a trip to the Maldives. Anything less than a 7-star won’t look good.”

Is this something you say to a sick person? Alina debated in her head. Then an idea struck like lightening in her head.

“Amu, you’ve stood by me through thick and thin. Throughout my journey only you have been by my side. So, I think I can talk freely with you.”

Amisha threw him a suspicious glance.

“I’ve lost my fortune to a very big deal gone wrong. We won’t have our apartment for long. Not just that, not even the cars. And your platinum set. Can you remove it once we go home? I will need to sell that too. And since we don’t have a home, from tomorrow itself, we will have to move in with my mother.”

Amisha seemed outraged at the last sentence. Rumour mills were strong that Amisha had created a lot of differences between Milan and his mother. She strategically interjected into their disagreements trying to make them look like the mother was selfish and cold-hearted.

“You stupid arrogant man! Why do you think I put up with all your shenanigans for all these years? And I even supported you in your boastful rants. Who do you think you fooled? Only you were the fool in the room. And there is no way I am going to live with that mother of yours. I am off to my father’s place.”

She dialed a number and began pretending to sob. “Father, Milan has lost his fortune because he went ahead with a deal without consenting me. Our marriage has come to a point where it is beyond repair. I am remembering you a lot and am coming right back.”

The father seemed to oblige.

As soon as she got out of his luxury limousine, Milan, who got swapped back to his body just before her meltdown, heaved a sigh of relief. “I hope she never comes back. Alina is on her way. I must receive her. She’s been through an awful lot tonight. I hope that upstart Reyansh, is out of her life too.”

Surprised at finding herself in a cab and with a broken heel Alina thought, “Rey will be so upset. He’d bought this stiletto so I could wear it tonight. I hate heels, but I wore it just for him.”

“We’ve reached madam,” the cab driver said politely. “And I am a big fan of how you told off your partner. He was behaving so badly.”

“Huh?” Alina was able to process nothing.

“Hi Alina, welcome! Please come inside.” Milan escorted her to the sitting area.

“W-why am I here? Where is Rey?”

“Look Alina, I am not too sure what happened. But I found my, umm, soul maybe, in your body. I’d overheard many things you did for Reyansh and he couldn’t even tend to you when you needed him. So, I gave him an earful and asked him to get the fooz out of your life. You certainly deserve better. And you’re independent and intelligent enough. Till you don’t get a place for yourself, you are welcome to stay here.”

Hearing words of appreciation from Milan felt strange and pleasing to Alina.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Not sir, just Milan.”

Alina smiled as she walked to the guest room.

 

They both wondered what happened and why. But it made them realise two things. Reality is bigger than opulence and one shouldn’t ignore their own situation in analyzing another’s. Maybe this was Karma’s way of guiding these two lost souls, into a better life.