Chapter 60 – Promises in Tears

Poornima entered the penthouse quietly, carrying the weight of her secret close to her heart. Veeresh, already in his study room, didn’t even turn—his voice carried through the air with its usual command.

“Make tea and come to the room. And… pack my bags.”

Her fingers froze on her saree for a moment. Pack his bags? Her chest tightened, but she steadied herself.

“Okay,” she replied softly, her voice carrying both obedience and the unspoken storm inside her.

She went into the kitchen, brewed his kadak chai the way he liked it—strong, hot, with just a hint of ginger. Carrying it carefully, she entered the room where Veeresh was sitting with files spread across the bed. His eyes softened at the sight of her, though his face remained stoic.

She placed the cup beside him and silently began folding his shirts, carefully placing them into his bag. Every crease she pressed down with her palm carried a prayer.

Finally, Veeresh broke the silence.

“I will be gone… for eight months.”

Her hand froze mid-air, gripping his shirt. She turned to look at him, confusion and fear swimming in her eyes.

“Eight months?”

“Yes,” he said, his voice low but firm. “My team has cracked the biggest lead on the mission. And as the head, I have to leave tomorrow morning. 5 a.m.”

The words stabbed her heart, but Poornima forced her trembling lips into stillness. She didn’t argue. She didn’t beg. Instead, she walked to him, knelt before him, and took his hand into hers.

“Veeresh,” she whispered, her voice breaking, “I don’t want to stop you. I know your duty. But… promise me something.”

His sharp eyes softened, seeing her tears. “What promise, Poornima?”

She swallowed, placed his hand gently over her stomach, and whispered with all her heart,

“Promise me you will come back on the day of my delivery. Promise me you will be the first person to hold our baby. You may miss these nine months, but I want you to feel the fatherly love first, before anyone else… and I want our baby to feel you.”

Veeresh’s lips parted, his breath caught. For a moment, the world stopped around him. His usually unshakable presence faltered as tears welled up in his eyes. He looked at her, raw emotions breaking through the armor he always wore.

“Poornima…” his voice cracked.

She pulled out the folded report from her handbag and pressed it into his hand. He looked down, read it, and then looked up at her with wide, tear-filled eyes.

“I’m going to be a father,” he whispered, almost in disbelief.

Poornima nodded, her own tears streaming freely now. “Yes. Our baby, Veeresh.”

He pulled her into a fierce embrace, holding her as if the world could take her away. His tears dampened her hair as he whispered, “I promise. No matter where I am, I will come back. On that day, I will be there to hold our baby first. I swear it.”

Poornima cupped his face, wiping his tears with her thumbs. “That’s all I want.”

Veeresh kissed her deeply, pouring every ounce of his love, fear, and vow into that moment. Between the kiss, his trembling voice broke,

“You’ve given me everything, Poornima. You’ve given me a life beyond duty.”

She smiled through her tears, hugging him tightly. “And you’ve given me love beyond fear.”

That night, they didn’t need words. They simply held each other, his hand never leaving her belly, as if already protecting the tiny heartbeat inside.