Chapter 63 – Two Lives, One Thread

On the Mission – Veeresh

The night was dark, the safehouse colder than ice. Veeresh sat surrounded by his team, maps and red-marked photographs spread across the table. His men whispered about movements, contacts, and drop points. Veeresh’s sharp eyes were locked on the board.

One piece of evidence stood out—a ledger showing shipments masked as exports, with initials signed off by his brothers. His fist clenched, nails digging into his palm. My own blood… destroying innocent lives.

But even in the middle of crime reports and intelligence chatter, his mind drifted. He reached for his pocket, felt the photo, and held it close to his chest beneath his coat. Poornima.

His team leader called, “Sir, are you with us?”

Veeresh straightened, his commanding tone returning instantly. “Always. Proceed.”

But deep down, he whispered to himself, Wait for me, wifey. I will finish this nightmare.

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At Rai Mansion – Poornima

Poornima sat on the balcony of her room, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. A plate of food lay untouched beside her. She wasn’t hungry; instead, her hands caressed her small belly.

She closed her eyes, imagining Veeresh’s voice. “Look at me, Poornima… only me.”

Her lips curved into a soft smile. “I am looking at you, Veer. Even when you’re far away.”

But the smile faded when her mother barged in.

“Why are you sitting here alone? You need to look presentable. We’ve spoken to the Raj family about Rishabh. Don’t shame us this time.”

Poornima lowered her eyes, hiding both her pain and her secret. “Yes, maa.”

When her mother left, she whispered fiercely to her belly, “You’re mine and your father’s. No one can take us away. No deal, no forced marriage. We already belong to him.”

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Parallel Nights

That same night, Veeresh was on surveillance duty in a ruined warehouse. Rain poured, thunder rumbling. His gun was ready, his instincts sharp—but inside, he was thinking of her. Was she eating well? Was she safe?

At the exact same time, Poornima lay on her bed, sleepless. One hand rested over her stomach, the other clutching the edge of his shirt she had kept hidden beneath her pillow. Is he safe? Has he eaten?

Two different worlds. Two different battles. But one unshakable thread tied them together.