Chapter 6

The sky darkened as the final bell rang. By the time Poornima stepped out of the college gates, the rain had begun to fall in steady sheets, drumming against the ground, the smell of wet earth rising in the air. She clutched her bag close, glancing up at the stormy sky with a small sigh.

Just then, a hand appeared beside her, holding out an umbrella.

She turned, surprised to see Veeresh Raj standing there, calm as always, the faintest smile playing on his lips. “You’ll need this,” he said simply, his deep voice almost lost in the rhythm of the rain.

Poornima accepted it with both hands, her eyes soft with gratitude. “Thank you, Mr. Raj.”

Veeresh gave a short nod, his gaze holding hers for a moment longer than necessary. “I hope,” he said slowly, “you’ll return it.”

A hint of playfulness warmed her smile. “Yes,” she replied softly, “I will.”

Before the silence between them could grow, a black cab pulled up by the curb. Veeresh glanced at his watch, then at her. With a final nod, he stepped into the cab, his expression shifting back into the serious mask of a man with business waiting for him. Tonight, he had a deal to finalize—another piece in the empire he ruled by night.

Poornima watched the cab disappear into the rain-slicked streets before adjusting the umbrella above her head. She began her walk home, her thoughts unexpectedly lingering on the tall, sharp-eyed professor who lived two lives she couldn’t yet imagine.

And as the rain poured, two journeys—so different, yet slowly entwining—continued onward.