Unspoken Heat

Poornima returned home just as the sky turned a soft navy blue.

The Rathore mansion stood tall and silent, bathed in shadows and secrets.

She walked in, tired but composed, and headed straight to her room.

She changed into a simple white kurta — soft cotton, comfortable — her go-to after hospital hours.

She walked to the kitchen and asked softly,

> “What does… he like for dinner?”

The maid smiled a little.

> “Sir likes simple food… dal and chapathi. But he never says much. Eats quietly.”

Poornima nodded.

She took out a Cadbury chocolate from her bag and placed it carefully in the fridge.

> “For him…” she whispered to herself.

Then she rolled out the chapathis, stirred the dal, and prepared a small bowl of curd rice for herself.

She set the table — not overly done. Just enough. Simple. Just like her.

Then… she waited.

---

The Entrance

The clock ticked past 9:00 PM.

The sound of the heavy main door opening stirred the silence.

Veeresh walked in, removing his shoes, and glanced at her briefly.

> “I’ll freshen up,” he said in his usual gruff voice.

Poornima gave a quiet nod.

A few minutes later, he came out — track pants hanging low on his hips, a shirt draped over his shoulder, bare-chested, hair still wet.

Her heart skipped — for just a moment.

He looked raw. Real. Dangerous. And… human.

> "Oh god, he looks hot. Poornima… don't think dirty," she scolded herself silently.

---

Dinner

She served him his dal and chapathi without a word.

She sat beside him with her curd rice, eating quietly. The only sound was of cutlery clinking lightly.

Veeresh didn't say much — but he finished every bite.

She noticed.

Once done, she cleared the plates and began washing them.

Veeresh walked to the fridge, opened it.

He spotted the chocolate — unwrapped it slowly.

> “Chocolate?” he muttered.

He didn’t ask who kept it.

He just bit into it — eyes thoughtful, cold water in the other hand.

Poornima stood quietly by the kitchen door, watching him from the corner of her eye.

---

The Room

She walked back to their room and adjusted the pillows.

She was just about to lie down when Veeresh entered slowly.

> “So…” he said casually, leaning against the wall, “how were your thoughts tonight?”

Poornima’s eyes widened.

> “What thoughts?”

He gave a half-smirk, didn’t answer.

> “Sleep,” he said.

> “Okay,” she replied nervously.

She climbed onto the bed and turned to the other side.

But before she could curl up, he pulled her close, his arm sliding around her waist.

> “Sleep closer to me,” he whispered, his voice low, serious.

Her breath hitched slightly.

> “Okay,” she whispered back.

She didn’t move away.

And neither did he.

Wrapped in silence, heat, and tension that neither admitted but both felt…

They slept.

For now.