Mumbai;

The scene opens with a view of the city's skyline, dominated by the tallest and most iconic building—Karma Industries. It is one of the leading corporations in the world, and the number one in the country. This isn't by accident, but the result of relentless hard work and sacrifice. One man is behind it all—Sanskar Maheshwari. A man whose every breath, every sleepless night, and every ounce of effort is etched into the foundation of this empire.

At the entrance, a sleek, black, luxury car pulls up. The door opens, and out steps Sanskar Maheshwari. Dressed in a sharp, tailored black suit, his presence demands attention. He wears dark sunglasses, masking the storm within him, while his cold demeanor sends shivers down the spines of anyone in his vicinity. He's a man who lives by his own rules—loyal to those he loves, but merciless to those who dare to betray him. Once, he was a man full of love and warmth. But life—or more accurately, betrayal—had turned that man into the ruthless devil standing here today.

Sanskar's monologue: "Once upon a time, I was full of love—maybe I still am, buried deep under the scars that life has etched onto my soul. They say destiny changes people. I've seen it firsthand. Destiny didn't just change me; it broke me. Turned me into someone I never imagined I'd become. All because of her. Swara. The angel who was supposed to save me, but instead pushed me into the darkness. And now, the past? It haunts me. It defines me. But I won't run from it. No. She might have buried me in the past, but I'll rise from those ashes—and she'll regret it."

The elevator doors open directly to his private office—luxurious, modern, and perched high enough that the whole city lies beneath him. Sanskar steps in, the city spread out like a kingdom below his feet. He stands at the glass window, staring down at the world he's conquered. He has everything now—money, power, success. But in the depths of his heart, a void remains—a hollow space left by the one person who shattered him.

Sanskar's monologue continues: "What was my fault? That I loved her beyond reason? That I dared to dream of a future with her when I was nothing but a middle-class boy? For her, it was never love—just a game. A cruel game she played with my heart, leaving it shattered. She crushed my dreams beneath her feet. And now, I carry this pain like a weapon, a reminder of the betrayal. A reminder of the day she walked away, leaving nothing but destruction behind. But Swara Gadodia, if you ever show your face to me again, I swear...you won't escape the hell I'll unleash. I'll destroy you."

There's a knock at the door, interrupting his thoughts. Without turning, Sanskar speaks.

"Come in," he says coldly.

His personal assistant steps in. "Sir, your mother called. She wanted to remind you about your flight to Kolkata this evening."

Sanskar nods, not looking back. Kolkata. The place where it all started...and ended. He doesn't want to go back, but duty calls. Karma Industries' main branch is there, and his presence is required. Besides, he's made a promise to himself—a promise to never let his past dictate his future. But some promises are harder to keep than others.

London;

At the airport, a girl is seated in the waiting area, her face framed by her long, wavy hair. She's dressed in a grey overcoat, black jeans, and simple shoes—effortlessly elegant, yet the glow that once illuminated her face is gone. In her hand, she holds her boarding pass and passport. The bracelet on her wrist catches the light, engraved with two intertwined initials: S and S. Her name is Swara Gadodia, and her flight is bound for Kolkata—the city where her heart was shattered, the city where she left everything behind.

Swara's monologue: "Kolkata...the place where it all began and where it all ended. I wonder, is it possible to run from your past? Or are we always destined to return to it? Every memory, every moment I shared with him, still haunts me. But no, I don't regret it. I don't regret pushing him away. Because it wasn't a game. It was never about status, power, or money. I loved him—still do. But I had to walk away. For him. For his sake. People will call me mad, foolish, but they'll never understand what it means to love someone so much that you destroy your own happiness just to save theirs."

She glances at the initials on her bracelet—S tangled with another S. Sanskar's name is engraved in her heart, just as it is on this bracelet. He may hate her now, but her love for him has never wavered. She sighs, staring at the words printed on her boarding pass. "Kolkata."

Swara's monologue continues: "I know he hates me. I know that in his eyes, I'm the villain. But how can I stop loving him? How can my heart forget the way it used to beat for him? The way it still does. But I'm not the one for him. I never was. And that's why I had to let him go. I wish I could see him again, but I know if I do, I won't be able to stop myself. I'll fall for him all over again, and I can't afford that. Not after everything."

"Swara..." a voice calls out, pulling her out of her thoughts.

She turns to see Rohan, her friend who's always been like a brother to her.

"Yes, Rohan?" she asks.

"Come on, Swara. The flight's been announced. Let's go."

Swara glances once more at her boarding pass and then at the destination. "I wish I could change it," she mutters.

Rohan smirks. "The destination? Or your past?"

Swara pauses for a moment. "Doesn't matter. Let's go."

They walk towards the gate, boarding their flight to Kolkata, while miles away, Sanskar is preparing to board his own flight in Mumbai. Both heading to the same city, to the same destiny. Two hearts that once beat as one, now broken and lost. He hates her. She loves him. They're both determined to never see each other again. But fate? Fate has other plans.

The screen splits—Swara walking to board her flight in London, and Sanskar stepping onto his plane in Mumbai. Two souls, traveling towards the same destination, unaware of how their paths are about to collide once more. Because destiny always finds a way to bring those together who are meant to be—no matter how much they try to resist it.

The Next Morning:

Sanskar had already reached the previous night. He was in his room, getting ready, when his mother, Sujatha, entered.

"Sanskar..." Sujatha called out, her voice loud enough to break his concentration.

"Yeah, Mom?" Sanskar responded, still focused on buttoning his shirt.

"Hey, you're not ready yet? We need to leave soon! They might already be waiting for us. I promised them we'd be on time, but here you are, still not dressed. What's taking so long? Are you a girl, spending all this time getting ready?"

Sanskar smirked slightly, glancing at his mother through the mirror. "Seriously, Mom? I'm almost done. It's not like we're late or anything. We still have a whole hour before we need to leave, and you're acting like we've missed the event entirely."

Sujatha huffed dramatically. "Whatever. But I'm excited to see my daughter-in-law. I can't wait!"

Sanskar forced a smile, his face betraying none of the turmoil he was feeling inside.

"Alright, finish up quickly and come downstairs," Sujatha said, turning to leave.

As she left, Laksh stepped into the room, his usual grin plastered on his face.

"Hey, Sanskar!" Laksh greeted him, leaning against the doorframe casually.

Sanskar turned to face him and smiled. "Hey, Lucky."

Laksh walked in and clapped Sanskar on the back. "Good to see you, man."

"You too. What are you doing up so early? You're never up this early unless there's some emergency," Sanskar joked, eyebrow raised in amusement.

Laksh chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, you may forget, but I remember that today you're going to meet the girl's family. I figured I'd come and tag along. After all, I'm your brother—I can't let you go alone, can I?"

Sanskar smiled, but his expression turned serious as Laksh's words sank in.

Laksh's grin faded as well, his tone becoming more concerned. "Sanskar, are you really okay with this marriage? I mean, are you really ready for it?"

Sanskar took a deep breath and looked away, his shoulders tense. "I've already told you, yes. I'm ready."

Laksh studied him closely, his eyes narrowing. "But maybe that's not the truth. Are you sure?"

Sanskar let out a sigh, knowing he couldn't hide his real feelings from Laksh. "No. I'm not okay. But I can't tell Mom that. I can't let my past get in the way of the present. She didn't feel anything for me back then, so why should I hold on to something that's gone? I won't hurt my family for something that's already dead."

Laksh nodded understandingly. He was more than just a brother to Sanskar—he was his confidant, someone who knew everything about him. He didn't need more explanation. "I get it. But still, don't hide it from yourself, bro."

Before Laksh could say more, Sujatha's voice rang out from downstairs. "Are you both done yet? Come on, we're going to be late!"

Sanskar called back, "Coming, Mom!" He turned to Laksh and nodded. "Let's go."

As they made their way downstairs, Laksh asked casually, "By the way, Mom, which family are we meeting today? And what's the girl's name?"

Sujatha paused, looking at both of them with surprise. "You don't even know the family's name? One minute... Sanskar, do you know?"

Sanskar shrugged nonchalantly. "Actually... no, I don't."

Sujatha threw her hands up in exasperation. "What? And you said yes to the marriage without even knowing the family? Unbelievable!"

Sanskar's expression remained calm as he muttered under his breath, "Whoever she is... doesn't matter."

Sujatha didn't catch his words. "What was that?"

"Nothing, Mom. I trust you. I know you'll pick someone good for me."

Sujatha's face softened as she smiled proudly. "Well, it's the Gadodia family."

Sanskar froze mid-step. His heart skipped a beat, his face paling slightly. "What?" he whispered, though it came out barely audible.

Laksh, noticing his brother's reaction, furrowed his brow. "What's the girl's name?" he asked Sujatha quickly.

Sujatha, oblivious to their tension, replied, "Her name is Neha. Neha Gadodia."

Laksh let out a small sigh of relief, nudging Sanskar gently. "Relax, Bhai. It's someone else."

Sanskar nodded, regaining his composure, but a faint shadow of disappointment lingered in his eyes. Not finding it's Swara...

At Gadodia Mansion:

Swara had arrived earlier that morning. She had gotten ready quickly and now sat in the living room, chatting with her parents, Shekhar and Sharmistha. They had urged her to rest after the long journey, but Swara had insisted on spending time with them since she hadn't visited in years. It was also a special day for her younger sister, Neha.

As they were talking, Neha burst into the room with boundless energy.

"Swaraaa!" she screamed with excitement, running over to her.

Swara smiled warmly at her. "Hey, Neha."

Neha threw herself onto Swara, hugging her tightly. "I'm so happy you're here, Di! After all these years... you're finally back!"

Swara laughed as she gently pushed her sister away. "Neha, get off me. You're squishing me."

Neha grinned mischievously. "Oops, sorry! But I'm so happy to see you! I've missed you. Love you so much."

Sharmistha smiled at the interaction but couldn't resist commenting. "Neha, she's older than you. You should call her 'Di' properly."

Neha rolled her eyes dramatically. "Mom, 'Di' sounds so old-fashioned. Besides, Swara's a cool name. Right, Swara?"

Swara chuckled, shaking her head. "You're such a nutcase. But Mom, can you imagine what Neha will call her mother-in-law? 'Take a chill pill, sasu maa!'"

Everyone in the room burst into laughter, except for Neha, who pouted, clearly not amused. "Di! You're so mean."

Swara grinned. "Don't worry about me. Focus on your soon-to-be husband instead."

Neha's eyes sparkled as she teased back, "Oh, I'll show you when it's your turn to get married, Di. Then we'll see who's laughing."

Swara's smile faltered slightly, and the laughter in the room quickly died down. Everyone seemed to realize the slip Neha had made.

"I'm sorry, Swara," Neha said quickly, her face filled with guilt.

Sharmistha reached over to hold Swara's hand gently. "But Swara, when will you stop avoiding marriage? We wanted you to get married first, but you insisted on letting Neha go before you. Now Neha's getting married... when will it be your turn?"

Swara's eyes darkened, and she looked down at her hands, unable to meet anyone's gaze.

Shekhar spoke softly. "Beta, running away from your problems won't help. You have to face them eventually."

Swara's voice trembled as she looked at her father, tears welling up in her eyes. "But Dad, that's what I've been doing for the past four years. I've been facing it every day. Please... please don't force me. You know I can't."

Sharmistha moved closer, pulling Swara into a tight hug. "I'm sorry, beta. I won't bring it up again. Calm down, okay?"

Shekhar sighed heavily, stroking his daughter's hair lovingly, feeling the weight of her pain.

Neha, sensing the emotional tension, spoke up to lighten the mood. "Hey! Why is everyone getting so emotional? The boy's family is coming soon. If they see us like this, they'll run away! And I'm definitely not ruining my makeup."

Swara managed to smile at her sister's antics. "So, Neha is all set for her big day, huh?"

Neha nodded enthusiastically. "Obviously!"

Swara smiled wider, teasing her. "By the way, what's the guy's name?"

Before Neha could answer, Sharmistha interrupted, "Oh, the Guy's family has arrived!"

Sharmistha and Shekhar moved forward with wide smiles, their faces lighting up as they welcomed Sanskar and his family. Neha, who was standing beside Swara, was called by her mother.

"Neha, come here," Sharmistha said warmly, gesturing for her daughter to greet the guests.

Neha hurried over, taking blessings from the elders with a bright smile. Swara remained seated, her mind suddenly clouded with an unsettling feeling. Her heart fluttered, the familiar sensation creeping over her like a haunting memory. It wasn't new—this only happened when he was near.

Reluctantly, Swara raised her eyes to glance at the guests. The moment she saw him, it felt like her entire world shattered. A jolt ran through her, like being hit with a 440-volt current. It was none other than Sanskar.

Swara felt like the ground had shifted beneath her feet. Seeing Sanskar standing there, surrounded by his family, was like a punch to the gut. . But this was not the Sanskar she had known.

Her breath caught in her throat as the memories of that fateful day flooded her mind. Saying she was shocked would have been an understatement. Her memories of him came flooding back—the guy she had once loved, the man she had never expected to see again. But this Sanskar standing before her wasn't the same man she once knew. His entire presence was different—stronger, colder.  This Sanskar had changed. She remembered how her mother had mentioned that the guy was extremely wealthy and owned the number one company in India.

Swara's mind echoed with Sanskar's words from long ago: "From today... I have only one target, to be the richest man in this country."

What a cruel twist of fate. The very person she had been running from had appeared right in front of her—and worse, as her sister's soon-to-be husband. Her heart ached at the thought of Sanskar belonging to someone else, but she quickly pushed it down. After all, that's exactly what she had wanted—to be free from him.

As Sanskar entered the house, Sharmistha and Shekhar welcomed them with warmth, oblivious to the storm brewing between Swara and Sanskar. His face held a polite smile, but as he stepped further inside, he began to feel a strange uneasiness creeping over him. He took blessings from the elders, but it was when his eyes finally landed on her that everything clicked.

He didn't need an answer for the tension he had felt—it was because she was here. After all these years, Swara was right before him, yet everything felt different. The love that once shone in his eyes when he looked at her was now replaced by seething anger and cold venom. Their gazes locked for a brief moment, and Swara felt the burn of his fiery glare, but she knew better than to show any signs of weakness. She quickly broke the eye contact, forcing herself to act unaffected. She grabbed her phone, pretending to be engrossed in it as though his presence didn't shake her to the core.

Sanskar's internal monologue started, his rage simmering beneath the surface. "You're still the same, Swara. You still don't care. Not a single thing has changed about you..." His fists clenched as he thought bitterly. "But you made a huge mistake by coming in front of me again. As I promised, you're going to face hell."

Just then, Sanskar felt a hand rest on his shoulder. It was Laksh, his brother.

"She's the same Swara, isn't she?" Laksh asked softly, his gaze fixed on his brother. Laksh had been silently observing Sanskar's reactions. He didn't need anyone to tell him—he knew instantly that this was the same Swara who had changed his brother's life forever.

Sanskar nodded curtly, his expression darkening as he stared daggers at Swara.

The screen freezes on Sanskar's furious face and Swara's stern, unreadable expression, two worlds colliding once again.