Chapter 34

Later, in the staff room, silence stretched between them again. Poornima sat at her desk, marking essays, her pen moving carefully. Veeresh sat opposite, pretending to go through reports. But every few minutes, their eyes met above the pages.

It wasn’t deliberate. It wasn’t planned. Yet it happened.

Her eyes, tonight, were softer than yesterday—like a quiet acceptance. His were darker, heavier, as though battling between restraint and something uncontainable.

At one point, Poornima set her pen down and looked straight at him. No words, just eyes. For the briefest moment, he felt as though she had seen through all his layers—professor, businessman, spy—and touched the man beneath.

His throat tightened. He looked away first this time.

The silence between them said everything words couldn’t:

Her heart whispered: You don’t have to fight alone.

His heart warned: If I let you in, you’ll see too much.

And yet, neither left the room. They sat there, bound by silence, their eyes weaving a story that both feared, but neither could stop.