A Deal with the Devil

The glass cabin was quiet, the tension thicker than smoke.

Veeresh sat at his desk, fingers laced, his eyes unreadable. Poornima stood across, firm but silently uneasy.

He finally spoke — voice sharp, words heavier than steel.

> “Let’s get married.”

Poornima flinched slightly, confusion rippling across her face.

> “What?”

> “One-year contract marriage. You’ll play the role. At the end of it, I’ll divorce you. Clean. Legal. And done.”

Her heart thudded. This had to be a joke.

> “Why me?”

Veeresh leaned back, lit a cigarette, and said without blinking—

> “Because you’re not the type to run after my money. You’re not even interested in my daughter — and that’s perfect. She means the world to me, and I don’t want her around you.”

> “So… I’m nothing?”

> “Exactly. You’re nothing to me. Just a name to fill a blank for a year. I’m not forcing you. It’s your choice. Yes or no.”

Poornima looked at him, her eyes burning with silent rage and pain.

> “No.”

He smiled — that cruel, arrogant half-smile she once found irresistible.

> “Good. Now, get out of my cabin.”

She turned without another word.

Behind her, he exhaled smoke — cold, unbothered.

---

🌸 Innocence Interrupted

As Poornima stepped into the hallway, trying to hold herself together, she felt a small tug at her kurti.

She turned to see Thoshini, smiling brightly.

> “Princess!!”

A soft gasp escaped Poornima’s lips.

Before she could kneel down, Veeresh stormed out of the cabin, eyes blazing.

> “Thoshini!”

He grabbed her little arm harshly, and then—

SLAP.

The sound echoed.

Thoshini stumbled back, shocked, tears filling her eyes.

> “How many times have I told you?! Don’t talk to strangers! Especially not her!”

The hallway froze. People watched, horrified. But no one dared speak.

Poornima stood frozen — the little girl’s tears tearing through her heart.

> “She just said princess…” she whispered.

Veeresh scooped up his crying daughter and turned away.

But before he could walk off, Poornima stormed forward, grabbed his collar, and shoved him against the wall.

> “What kind of father are you?! You hit a child because she spoke to me?! She’s just a baby, Veeresh!”

> “She’s my daughter! And I don’t want her near cheaters and cheap women like you!”

His words sliced through her like a thousand knives.

He pushed her hand away with force and spat—

> “You ruined me once. Stay the hell away from my daughter.”

He picked up the crying Thoshini and walked away without looking back.

And Poornima…

She collapsed against the wall, her chest heaving, silent tears tracing her cheeks — her soul bleeding where no one could see.

End Scene.