Chapter 2: The First Night – Fire Beneath Silence

The wedding rituals were over. The guests had left. The fire had died. But in that quiet room on the upper floor of the ancestral home, emotions raged like a storm.

Poornima sat stiffly on the edge of the decorated bed, still in her green saree, bangles clinking nervously. Her eyes stared at the floor, and her heart raced with anger… and confusion.

Veeresh, still in his dhoti and now with a thin cotton shawl around his bare shoulders, leaned against the wall. His eyes were on her — quiet, unreadable.

Minutes passed.

And then, she broke the silence.

“Veeresh!” she snapped, rising to her feet, her eyes blazing.

“You knew I loved Rishi… yet you still agreed to this madness. You didn't even ask me once!”

Veeresh’s jaw clenched. “Don’t start now, Poornima.”

Her voice rose. “Start? I was forced into a marriage while my heart still belonged to someone else! How dare you act like this is normal?”

He crossed his arms. “Rishi? Really? The same guy who ghosted you the minute you mentioned commitment? And you think he loved you?”

Poornima’s throat tightened. “At least he never pretended to be my best friend while ruining my life.”

Veeresh stepped closer. His eyes, dark and hurt, locked onto hers. “I ruined your life? Really, Poornima? I’ve been the one cleaning up your messes since school. And now suddenly, I’m the villain?”

Her voice trembled with fury. “I’m not accepting this marriage, Veeresh. Not now, not ever.”

Something in him snapped.

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her close — so close she could feel his breath.

“Stop pretending, Poornima.” His voice was low, rough. “Stop lying to yourself.”

She tried to push him away. “Let me go—!”

But before she could utter another word, he pinned her gently but firmly against the wall, his hands on either side of her.

And then… he kissed her.

Not softly. Not sweetly.

But deeply. Fiercely. As if everything he’d buried inside — the silent longing, the hidden hurt, the quiet love he never admitted — exploded in that moment.

Poornima gasped, caught off guard. Her hands pushed against him… but her body betrayed her. Her mind screamed, but her heart went silent.

And then…

She kissed him back.

The rage melted. The anger dissolved. Her hands curled around his neck. For a few seconds, there was no Rishi. No family. No expectations. Just the two of them… lost in a kiss that shouldn’t have happened — but somehow, felt like home.

They pulled apart, breathless.

Neither spoke.

She turned away, her cheeks burning. Her chest rising and falling fast.

Veeresh ran a hand through his hair, his eyes still dark.

Poornima walked silently to the other side of the bed and lay down facing the wall, gripping the blanket tightly.

Veeresh turned off the light.

He lay beside her — inches apart. Not touching. Not speaking.

But both wide awake, hearts thudding, thoughts spiraling.

The silence between them was heavy… but no longer cold.

Somewhere in that quiet night, two best friends — now unwilling spouses — began crossing the line between denial and something dangerously real.