Chapter 1: The First Glance

Chapter 1: The First Glance

Date: June 1, 2022

Location: Bangalore, India (Remote Work)

Rhea Verma, a 23-year-old Bio Science graduate, had just stepped out of college and into the corporate world. Beautiful, sweet, and intelligent, she carried an aura that could brighten any room—even a virtual one. Her milk-white skin, long hair cascading with bangs, a delicate nose, and warm brown eyes made her unforgettable.

She joined TechNova Solutions, assigned to the Orion x Integration project. It was her first job in IT—a world so different from her academic roots. Excitement and nervousness danced within her as she logged into her first Microsoft Teams call.

That’s when Arjun Malhotra saw her.

Arjun, 36, had been part of the same project for years. Life had carved deep lines into his soul—years of struggle, missed chances, and silent battles. Average in height, his hair thinning, a salt-and-pepper beard framing his face, he was no stranger to hardship. Yet behind those tired eyes lived kindness and depth.

The moment he saw Rhea on that screen, something shifted. Her grace, her voice—it was like sunlight breaking through his long night. Days passed, and their conversations grew—from work updates to life stories. Remote work became their bridge, and soon, they were inseparable on calls, even beyond office hours.

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