Chapter 51 – A Silent Claim

The staff room buzzed with chatter during lunch. Professors sat in small groups, enjoying their food, exchanging jokes, and the occasional gossip.

Poornima sat with her tiffin open, laughing softly at a joke cracked by one of her colleagues. Her laugh was gentle, unforced, the kind that turned heads without her realizing.

Veeresh walked in, carrying his tray of food, his usual aura of authority trailing behind him. Without asking, without hesitation, he took the seat beside her. His presence filled the space instantly.

As the conversations continued around them, his hand slid to her waist—casually at first, but his touch was unmistakably firm, a silent possession. Poornima stiffened for a moment, her heart skipping, but then… she didn’t move his hand away. Instead, she leaned slightly, letting him know she didn’t mind.

She laughed again at a colleague’s comment, her eyes sparkling, and Veeresh glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. The grip on her waist tightened just a little, his thumb brushing against her side as if reminding her: “Even when you laugh for them, you’re mine.”

Professor Banerjee, sitting across from them, chuckled warmly.

“Professor Poornima, Professor Veeresh—you both are married to your spouses, aren’t you? Where’s our treat then? At least share some sweets with us!”

The table joined in the playful demand, laughter filling the room.

Veeresh didn’t flinch. His grip on Poornima’s waist became firm, steady, like he was grounding her to him. His voice came calm, commanding, yet laced with amusement:

“Sure.”

Poornima, catching his gaze for just a second, smiled softly and added,

“Ok.”

Their colleagues clapped in excitement, none the wiser to the hidden meaning in their agreement. Only Veeresh and Poornima knew that the “treat” had already been given and shared in secret—far more binding than sweets.

They both smiled, hiding their truth in plain sight, their eyes stealing glances that spoke more than words ever could.