Chapter 14

The party wound down, but Veeresh’s mind did not. Long after the laughter and clinking glasses faded, the image of Poornima Rai walking away with tears in her eyes stayed with him. Her defiance, her strength, her quiet dignity—it had stirred something unexpected.

Back in his sleek black car, he leaned back against the leather seat and spoke in his calm, commanding tone.

“Get me everything on Poornima Rai. Full details. Education, family, habits—everything.”

His assistant, a sharp and discreet man named Arjun, glanced at him through the rearview mirror. “Of course, sir. By morning.”

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The next day, a thick file landed on Veeresh’s desk in his private office. He opened it, his eyes scanning quickly, absorbing every detail.

Name: Poornima Rai

Age: 27

Profession: Professor of English Literature, St. Xavier’s College

Education: Master’s in Literature from Delhi University, Gold Medalist; published several papers on classical and modern literature.

Family: Daughter of Rajan Rai (CEO, Rai Industries) and Meera Rai (Managing Partner, Rai & Co. Law Firm). Only daughter, one younger brother studying abroad.

Background: Belongs to one of the most powerful corporate families in the city. Known for philanthropy, but also infamous for their cutthroat deals.

Personality: Soft-spoken, disciplined, simple lifestyle. Rejects luxury despite her wealthy background. Known among colleagues as approachable and loved by students.

Habits: Prefers books to parties, rarely attends social gatherings unless compelled by her family. Spends evenings reading or writing. Loves tea, dislikes coffee. Enjoys classical music.

Character Notes: Rejected two arranged proposals in the past due to “lack of compatibility” and “marriage being treated as business.” Currently facing pressure from her family to marry into another corporate family for alliance.

Recent: Stood against her parents last night at Raj Mansion, refusing arranged marriage with Raj Industries’ elder son.

Veeresh leaned back in his chair, closing the file slowly. A small, rare smile played on his lips.

“Literature listens, but numbers don’t…” he recalled her words in the staff room.

Now he understood why she carried herself the way she did—why her eyes held both gentleness and fire. She was born into a world of power, yet she chose simplicity. Surrounded by wealth, yet she desired only truth.

Arjun spoke carefully, breaking his thoughts. “Sir, do you want me to keep tracking her?”

Veeresh tapped the file once, his eyes distant but sharp. “No. I’ll handle this myself.”

And for the first time in years, the man who read people like books found himself wanting to read just one person—Poornima Rai—not through files or reports, but through her eyes.