💔 Chapter 1: Shattered Threads

Bangalore’s morning breeze whispered through the half-open balcony as little Thoshini, barely a year old, waddled across the living room, clutching her favorite stuffed bunny. She looked up at her father—Veeresh Suryavanshi, the man who had once laughed freely, now reduced to silence and scars.

He sat cross-legged on the floor, laptop open but untouched, eyes only for her.

“Thaatha…” Thoshini giggled, mispronouncing “appa.”

Veeresh melted instantly, pulling her into his lap.

“Appa, not thaatha. I’m not that old,” he chuckled, kissing her soft hair.

To the world, Veeresh was IBM’s star IT architect. Strong, composed, and sharp-tongued in the boardroom. But at home, he was just a broken man raising a daughter who was now his entire world.

He had once believed in love. Once.

Until Poornima.

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🔥 Flashback – Two Years Ago

Poornima and Veeresh had been inseparable. Best friends turned lovers—fire and ice, logic and chaos. Their love was intense, raw, and passionate.

But love wasn’t enough.

A misunderstanding—rooted in ego, lies, and pride—tore them apart.

Veeresh had begged for an explanation. She had walked away.

Just a month later, he’d married Bindu, a rebound decision made in anger and despair. Bindu was sweet, quiet, and gentle. But their marriage was lifeless from day one. When she left him, leaving behind a newborn Thoshini with a short letter—“I can’t do this anymore”—Veeresh didn’t cry.

He didn’t have tears left.

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🧸 Present Day

“Appa… bujii,” Thoshini babbled.

He handed her a biscuit and watched her chomp down with innocent joy.

She had Poornima’s eyes.

It killed him.

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🖤 Hatred Rooted in Pain

Veeresh hated Poornima with every cell in his body.

Not because she left.

But because he still loved her, and she didn’t care.

He had sworn: If I ever see her again, I’ll destroy her. I’ll make sure she regrets the day she ever walked away from me.

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📞 Phone Call – Twist Begins

Just then, his phone buzzed.

Maya, his HR head and old friend, was on the line.

> Maya: “Hey… small update. We’re onboarding a new consultant for the upcoming digital transformation. She’s ex-BEL, high profile, lots of buzz.”

Veeresh (dry): “And?”

Maya: “Her name’s Poornima.”

The name sliced through him like ice.

Silence.

Then he said, voice low and deadly:

“Give her the worst project. Make her life hell. She wants to work here? She has no idea what hell looks like.”

Thoshini cooed in his lap, unaware of the storm her father was preparing.

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⚠️ Chapter Ends With a Warning

Veeresh stared at the city skyline, rage simmering behind his cold eyes.

> “You may have broken me once, Poornima. But this time, I’ll break you. Slowly. Piece by piece.”

Thoshini, still in his arms, clutched his shirt tighter.

And somewhere in Bangalore, Poornima had no idea what storm she was walking into.

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