The Silent Prayer

The night was still. The city had gone to sleep — but Poornima hadn’t.

She lay on the bed, her body wrapped in warmth, yet her heart carried the weight of unspoken fears.

Veeresh was fast asleep beside her, his arm lazily draped around her waist, his face turned toward her with the gentleness of a man at peace. For the first time in a long time… he looked light.

He looked free.

His hair gently tousled, lips parted slightly in his slumber, and his face — glowing under the faint light slipping through the curtains.

Poornima quietly ran her fingers through his hair and blinked away the tear in her eye.

But her mind echoed with Sahana’s words:

> “You will suffer for this…”

She swallowed hard, her heart squeezing inside her chest.

> We never meant to hurt anyone, she thought.

Slowly, carefully, without waking him, she turned to face the window. The moonlight poured in — pale, silent, almost listening.

“Dear God…” she whispered in her heart.

“If there’s any punishment… any curse… let it fall on me. But not on him. He’s already suffered. Let him be free. Let our love be enough.”

She closed her eyes tight, hiding her trembling lips behind her hand.

And as if he heard her unspoken pain in his sleep, Veeresh pulled her closer, tighter, wrapping both arms around her like a shield, his breath soft on her neck.

> “Hmm… don’t go away…” he mumbled in sleep.

She gasped softly and turned back to him. His eyes were still closed. But the grip of his arms around her — it felt like forever.

She kissed his forehead gently and whispered:

> “I’m not going anywhere, Veeresh. Ever.”

With that, Poornima finally drifted off, cocooned in the man who once broke her — and now protected her even in his sleep.

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In the silence of the night, no curse had power.

Only love did.