11-12-2025, 08:54 PM
Chaper 1 - Arjun's discovery & desicion [Sometimes letting one go is also love]
Arjun's hands trembled on the steering wheel, the doctor's words looping like a cruel mantra in his head.
"Stage two, Arjun. The damage from your smoking and drinking habits has gone too far—reversal is impossible. Discuss this with your family soon. Don't wait."
The sterile clinic room felt like a distant nightmare now, but the faint he'd suffered that morning at his startup lingered, a sharp reminder of his crumbling body. He needed Pooja. He needed to bury his face in her shoulder and let the tears come. A year? If he was lucky?
The thought twisted like a knife. Slowly, he navigated the bustling Chennai streets, the engine's hum a mocking lullaby.
He pulled into the underground parking lot of the IT Park, the dim fluorescent lights casting long shadows over the concrete. This spot—bay number 47—held their beginning. It was here he'd first seen Pooja, her scooty kicking up dust as she parked with that determined smile.
And it was here he'd stolen her heart from Vikram's grasp. Arjun killed the engine, leaning back against the seat, eyes closing as memories flooded in.
Late 2022. Pooja had just arrived from Coimbatore, fresh-faced and fierce, her dupatta fluttering like a flag of independence.
The bullying started almost immediately. A group of rowdy colleagues from the sales team cornered her near the elevators, their laughter crude. "New girl from the small town? Bet you can't handle the big city pace," one sneered, blocking her path. Pooja stood tall, chin lifted, but her eyes flashed with hurt.
Arjun, passing by with his coffee, couldn't stand it.
"Hey, back off," he said, stepping between them, his voice steady despite the adrenaline.
"She's part of the team now. Touch her scooty again, and you'll answer to me."
The bullies muttered and slunk away, and Pooja turned to him, her dark eyes wide. "Thank you,"
she said softly. "I'm Pooja." "Arjun," he replied, offering a grin. "Welcome to the chaos."
From that day, their friendship sparked like code compiling flawlessly.
In the break room, over steaming filter coffee, they'd chat about everything—her love for Tamil poetry, his failed attempts at coding poetry apps. "You know, Arjun, back in Coimbatore, I'd ride my scooty through the hills, dreaming of places like this," she confessed one afternoon, stirring her cup. He laughed. "And here I am, dreaming of escaping the hills of deadlines. Tell me more about those poems." Their conversations flowed, easy and electric, her laughter pulling him like gravity.
One key moment etched forever: the late-night debugging session. The team was racing against a client deadline, screens glowing in the empty office. Pooja's fingers flew over her keyboard, frustration mounting as a bug eluded her.
"This code is mocking me," she groaned, rubbing her temples. Arjun slid his chair closer, peering at her screen. "Let me see. Here—try nesting the loop like this." Together, they fixed it, high-fiving as the program ran perfectly.
"You're a lifesaver," she said, her hand lingering on his.
"We make a good team, don't we?"
He nodded, heart racing. "The best."
Vikram lurked in the background, a shadow with sharp edges. The company's notorious womanizer, he flashed smiles like currency, but his words to women were often laced with innuendo.
Pooja was different, though. At the annual tech conference, she'd spotted a flaw in Vikram's presentation demo just in time.
"Wait—your algorithm's looping infinitely,"
she whispered urgently as he fumbled on stage. Her quick fix via a shared laptop saved him from disaster.
Backstage, Vikram pulled her aside. "Pooja, that was brilliant. Dinner to celebrate? My treat." She smiled politely. "Thanks, but I've got plans with the team." Arjun watched from afar, a flicker of protectiveness igniting.
Rumors spread like wildfire: Vikram was smitten, planning a grand proposal with roses in the parking lot, his "love" a thinly veiled lure for something more carnal.
Closer colleagues warned Arjun. "He's eyed her since day one, man. Don't let him snag her." Arjun's love for Pooja had deepened quietly—her quiet strength, the way she defended underdogs like she had for him in small ways. He couldn't lose her. Heart pounding, he raced to the parking lot that evening, spotting Vikram's car pulling in with a bouquet visible on the seat.
Pooja was there, adjusting her scooty helmet, oblivious. Arjun burst from his car. "Pooja, wait!" She turned, surprised. "Arjun? What's wrong?" He took a breath, words spilling out. "I can't hold this in anymore. From the day you parked here, you've been in my head. I love you—your fire, your kindness. Be mine?" Her eyes softened, a blush rising. "Arjun... I feel the same. I've been waiting for you to say it." They hugged under the harsh lights, the world fading. Vikram arrived moments later, bouquet in hand, but froze at the sight, stepping back into the shadows without a word.
Their love bloomed unapologetically after that.
Another memory: their first weekend getaway to a quiet beach near Mahabalipuram. The spot became their regular love meet place. After weeks of stolen kisses, they escaped to a beachside guesthouse near Mahabalipuram. "Promise you'll always protect me?" Pooja teased, sand clinging to her feet. Arjun pulled her close. "Always. You're my everything." Under the stars, their whispers turned to passion—her hands tracing his scars, his lips on her neck. "You're perfect," she breathed.
That night, they consummated their love, a vow sealed in tenderness. Days later, they married in Coimbatore, a grand affair with silk sarees, fireworks, and her family's blessings—everyone came, except Vikram. Arjun knows, even though Vikram was a womanizer, he had once treated a woman as a woman, and that is Pooja. How could he bear to see her marrying someone?
Their wedding cemented their loyalty. Diwali followed, a joyous celebration at her parents' home. "Uncle, I'll cherish Pooja forever," Arjun promised over dinner. Pooja squeezed his hand under the table. "He already does, Appa." On the terrace, fireworks painted the sky as she whispered, "With you, anywhere is home." Their love deepened, her devotion unwavering as she balanced work and their new life.
Pooja stayed at the IT firm, her salary anchoring them as Arjun launched his startup. One rainy evening, after investors bailed, she handed him a plate of hot pakoras. "We're in this together. Quit if you must, but I'm not leaving." He hugged her tight. "What did I do to earn you?" Their chemistry shone—banter over breakfast, her head on his shoulder during films, a love that felt invincible.
Their intimacy grew, a blend of passion and tenderness. One night, after a long day, Pooja massaged his shoulders. "You carry too much," she said softly. "Let me share it." Arjun turned, pulling her into his lap. "You're my strength, Pooja. I love you more every day." Their kisses deepened, bodies entwining in quiet devotion, her loyalty a vow unspoken.
But now, in the parking lot,
reality crashed back. Arjun's phone buzzed—a text from Pooja: Where are you? Miss you.
Tears welled as he gripped the wheel. How could he tell her? A year left, if that. The curse of his habits had caught up, and he couldn't drag her into widowhood's shadow.
Vikram came down from the office, he entered his car. Arjun, seeing him from his car, his mind asked—What if Vikram takes care of Pooja after my exit, the man with money from his family business, a heart hidden beneath his rough exterior, and eyes that had once lingered on Pooja too long?
Mind Voice: Arjun's mind: Shit, what am I even thinking?
His mind despised him. But his mind quickly accepted one thing: no more dramas, weakness, sobbing. I can't let the woman I love suffer lonely. He decided to leave her for good and ensure her happiness safely in someone's hands before his demise. It was a momentary decision he never thought he would cling on it, proposing Pooja once was also like this!
Arjun started the car again, resolve hardening. He had to let her go, push her toward someone stable. It was madness, but for her future, he'd orchestrate the unthinkable. As he drove toward home, the memories mocked him. Their love was everything. Wasn't it worth the heartbreak?
Vikram, who saw Arjun coming to the parking lot but didn't pick up Pooja, caused a doubt. Not sure what Vikram thought, he stopped the engine and waited for Pooja. He knew their house. Maybe Arjun got running for an emergency, let me pick her and drop her at home, he thought.
Two hours later, Pooja came down, she had called Arjun a lot of times but he didn't pick up the call.
Vikram offered Pooja a lift, he said two hours back, Arjun came but it looks like some emergency, he went away.
Pooja: "You've just been here for two hours?"
Vikram: "Yeah, I was waiting for you."
Pooja: "Why?"
Vikram: "I sensed something wrong with Arjun, so thought I could help if he didn't come to pick you. I tried your call, but it's not reachable, so stayed here."
Pooja looked at her mobile, she dialed Vikram's number. (Unknown to her, Arjun had once blocked Vikram's contact.)
Pooja, not sure what's happening, decided to trust Vikram at that point. Vikram, for his sake, dialed Arjun's number; his luck, Arjun had blocked his number.
Finally, Pooja got into Vikram's car. While the duo started there ...
Arjun had not reached home, his mind made him drive toward Mahabalipuram beach guesthouse where he used to go with Pooja.
While driving....
He looked at the mirror, he said, "Sometimes letting one go is also LOVE!"
Arjun's hands trembled on the steering wheel, the doctor's words looping like a cruel mantra in his head.
"Stage two, Arjun. The damage from your smoking and drinking habits has gone too far—reversal is impossible. Discuss this with your family soon. Don't wait."
The sterile clinic room felt like a distant nightmare now, but the faint he'd suffered that morning at his startup lingered, a sharp reminder of his crumbling body. He needed Pooja. He needed to bury his face in her shoulder and let the tears come. A year? If he was lucky?
The thought twisted like a knife. Slowly, he navigated the bustling Chennai streets, the engine's hum a mocking lullaby.
He pulled into the underground parking lot of the IT Park, the dim fluorescent lights casting long shadows over the concrete. This spot—bay number 47—held their beginning. It was here he'd first seen Pooja, her scooty kicking up dust as she parked with that determined smile.
And it was here he'd stolen her heart from Vikram's grasp. Arjun killed the engine, leaning back against the seat, eyes closing as memories flooded in.
Late 2022. Pooja had just arrived from Coimbatore, fresh-faced and fierce, her dupatta fluttering like a flag of independence.
The bullying started almost immediately. A group of rowdy colleagues from the sales team cornered her near the elevators, their laughter crude. "New girl from the small town? Bet you can't handle the big city pace," one sneered, blocking her path. Pooja stood tall, chin lifted, but her eyes flashed with hurt.
Arjun, passing by with his coffee, couldn't stand it.
"Hey, back off," he said, stepping between them, his voice steady despite the adrenaline.
"She's part of the team now. Touch her scooty again, and you'll answer to me."
The bullies muttered and slunk away, and Pooja turned to him, her dark eyes wide. "Thank you,"
she said softly. "I'm Pooja." "Arjun," he replied, offering a grin. "Welcome to the chaos."
From that day, their friendship sparked like code compiling flawlessly.
In the break room, over steaming filter coffee, they'd chat about everything—her love for Tamil poetry, his failed attempts at coding poetry apps. "You know, Arjun, back in Coimbatore, I'd ride my scooty through the hills, dreaming of places like this," she confessed one afternoon, stirring her cup. He laughed. "And here I am, dreaming of escaping the hills of deadlines. Tell me more about those poems." Their conversations flowed, easy and electric, her laughter pulling him like gravity.
One key moment etched forever: the late-night debugging session. The team was racing against a client deadline, screens glowing in the empty office. Pooja's fingers flew over her keyboard, frustration mounting as a bug eluded her.
"This code is mocking me," she groaned, rubbing her temples. Arjun slid his chair closer, peering at her screen. "Let me see. Here—try nesting the loop like this." Together, they fixed it, high-fiving as the program ran perfectly.
"You're a lifesaver," she said, her hand lingering on his.
"We make a good team, don't we?"
He nodded, heart racing. "The best."
Vikram lurked in the background, a shadow with sharp edges. The company's notorious womanizer, he flashed smiles like currency, but his words to women were often laced with innuendo.
Pooja was different, though. At the annual tech conference, she'd spotted a flaw in Vikram's presentation demo just in time.
"Wait—your algorithm's looping infinitely,"
she whispered urgently as he fumbled on stage. Her quick fix via a shared laptop saved him from disaster.
Backstage, Vikram pulled her aside. "Pooja, that was brilliant. Dinner to celebrate? My treat." She smiled politely. "Thanks, but I've got plans with the team." Arjun watched from afar, a flicker of protectiveness igniting.
Rumors spread like wildfire: Vikram was smitten, planning a grand proposal with roses in the parking lot, his "love" a thinly veiled lure for something more carnal.
Closer colleagues warned Arjun. "He's eyed her since day one, man. Don't let him snag her." Arjun's love for Pooja had deepened quietly—her quiet strength, the way she defended underdogs like she had for him in small ways. He couldn't lose her. Heart pounding, he raced to the parking lot that evening, spotting Vikram's car pulling in with a bouquet visible on the seat.
Pooja was there, adjusting her scooty helmet, oblivious. Arjun burst from his car. "Pooja, wait!" She turned, surprised. "Arjun? What's wrong?" He took a breath, words spilling out. "I can't hold this in anymore. From the day you parked here, you've been in my head. I love you—your fire, your kindness. Be mine?" Her eyes softened, a blush rising. "Arjun... I feel the same. I've been waiting for you to say it." They hugged under the harsh lights, the world fading. Vikram arrived moments later, bouquet in hand, but froze at the sight, stepping back into the shadows without a word.
Their love bloomed unapologetically after that.
Another memory: their first weekend getaway to a quiet beach near Mahabalipuram. The spot became their regular love meet place. After weeks of stolen kisses, they escaped to a beachside guesthouse near Mahabalipuram. "Promise you'll always protect me?" Pooja teased, sand clinging to her feet. Arjun pulled her close. "Always. You're my everything." Under the stars, their whispers turned to passion—her hands tracing his scars, his lips on her neck. "You're perfect," she breathed.
That night, they consummated their love, a vow sealed in tenderness. Days later, they married in Coimbatore, a grand affair with silk sarees, fireworks, and her family's blessings—everyone came, except Vikram. Arjun knows, even though Vikram was a womanizer, he had once treated a woman as a woman, and that is Pooja. How could he bear to see her marrying someone?
Their wedding cemented their loyalty. Diwali followed, a joyous celebration at her parents' home. "Uncle, I'll cherish Pooja forever," Arjun promised over dinner. Pooja squeezed his hand under the table. "He already does, Appa." On the terrace, fireworks painted the sky as she whispered, "With you, anywhere is home." Their love deepened, her devotion unwavering as she balanced work and their new life.
Pooja stayed at the IT firm, her salary anchoring them as Arjun launched his startup. One rainy evening, after investors bailed, she handed him a plate of hot pakoras. "We're in this together. Quit if you must, but I'm not leaving." He hugged her tight. "What did I do to earn you?" Their chemistry shone—banter over breakfast, her head on his shoulder during films, a love that felt invincible.
Their intimacy grew, a blend of passion and tenderness. One night, after a long day, Pooja massaged his shoulders. "You carry too much," she said softly. "Let me share it." Arjun turned, pulling her into his lap. "You're my strength, Pooja. I love you more every day." Their kisses deepened, bodies entwining in quiet devotion, her loyalty a vow unspoken.
But now, in the parking lot,
reality crashed back. Arjun's phone buzzed—a text from Pooja: Where are you? Miss you.
Tears welled as he gripped the wheel. How could he tell her? A year left, if that. The curse of his habits had caught up, and he couldn't drag her into widowhood's shadow.
Vikram came down from the office, he entered his car. Arjun, seeing him from his car, his mind asked—What if Vikram takes care of Pooja after my exit, the man with money from his family business, a heart hidden beneath his rough exterior, and eyes that had once lingered on Pooja too long?
Mind Voice: Arjun's mind: Shit, what am I even thinking?
His mind despised him. But his mind quickly accepted one thing: no more dramas, weakness, sobbing. I can't let the woman I love suffer lonely. He decided to leave her for good and ensure her happiness safely in someone's hands before his demise. It was a momentary decision he never thought he would cling on it, proposing Pooja once was also like this!
Arjun started the car again, resolve hardening. He had to let her go, push her toward someone stable. It was madness, but for her future, he'd orchestrate the unthinkable. As he drove toward home, the memories mocked him. Their love was everything. Wasn't it worth the heartbreak?
Vikram, who saw Arjun coming to the parking lot but didn't pick up Pooja, caused a doubt. Not sure what Vikram thought, he stopped the engine and waited for Pooja. He knew their house. Maybe Arjun got running for an emergency, let me pick her and drop her at home, he thought.
Two hours later, Pooja came down, she had called Arjun a lot of times but he didn't pick up the call.
Vikram offered Pooja a lift, he said two hours back, Arjun came but it looks like some emergency, he went away.
Pooja: "You've just been here for two hours?"
Vikram: "Yeah, I was waiting for you."
Pooja: "Why?"
Vikram: "I sensed something wrong with Arjun, so thought I could help if he didn't come to pick you. I tried your call, but it's not reachable, so stayed here."
Pooja looked at her mobile, she dialed Vikram's number. (Unknown to her, Arjun had once blocked Vikram's contact.)
Pooja, not sure what's happening, decided to trust Vikram at that point. Vikram, for his sake, dialed Arjun's number; his luck, Arjun had blocked his number.
Finally, Pooja got into Vikram's car. While the duo started there ...
Arjun had not reached home, his mind made him drive toward Mahabalipuram beach guesthouse where he used to go with Pooja.
While driving....
He looked at the mirror, he said, "Sometimes letting one go is also LOVE!"
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