Chapter 1: Shadows of the Past

The rain lashed against the windows of the high-rise apartment in Bangalore. The city was alive, but Veeresh felt dead inside.

He sat in silence in his office—alone, successful, and haunted. The nameplate on the desk read "Veeresh Suryavanshi – CEO, Suryavanshi Enterprises", but the man sitting behind it looked nothing like the proud, charming man the media adored.

His eyes stared blankly at a photograph—faded at the edges. Sahana. The love of his life. The woman who once brought sunshine into his world. The woman who died three years ago in a car accident.

Or so he believed.

He gripped the photo frame, fingers trembling.

"Why did you leave me like that?" he whispered.

Veeresh hadn’t cried at the funeral. He hadn’t screamed or begged. He had gone completely numb. Only one thing remained—his work. He buried himself in it. Built an empire. But every night, the guilt and pain returned like clockwork.

---

A knock on the door interrupted his spiral.

His mother entered, her voice firm but exhausted. “It’s time to stop punishing yourself, Veeresh. She’s gone. And life has to move forward.”

He didn’t answer.

She continued, “You married Poornima two years ago. You have responsibilities.”

His lips curled into a bitter smile.

“That wasn’t a marriage. That was your arrangement. Your guilt over her ruined life and your debt to her father. Don’t call it marriage.”

His mother’s eyes welled up. “Poornima... she’s a good girl. She had a painful past, yes. But she deserves kindness.”

“I didn’t ask for her. I didn’t promise her anything.”

“And yet, you married her and left her alone,” she snapped.

Veeresh stood up. “Because I have nothing left to give. Not after Sahana.”

---

Somewhere across town, Poornima stood near the balcony of a small apartment, watching the same rain. Her eyes weren’t empty—they were strong, determined, but undeniably sad.

She still wore the mangalsutra he tied around her neck two years ago.

Even though he had left her the night of their marriage.

Even though he had never called, never cared.

Even though no one knew the truth about her past, and she bore the burden in silence.

A voice from inside called her, "Poornima, tea's ready!" Her roommate.

She wiped her tears and turned around, whispering to herself:

“You left me, Veeresh... but someday, you’ll know everything. About me. About her. About the lies you’ve been living with.