Chapter 68 – Silent Prayers

The room was quiet except for the soft hum of machines and the faint cries of the newborn. Poornima lay still, her face pale yet serene, her hair falling around her like a fragile crown.

Veeresh entered with his son in his arms, his steps unsteady. His eyes burned with sleeplessness, but his arms held the baby as though he carried the entire world.

He sat beside Poornima, leaning closer, his voice trembling.

“Poornima… look at me. I held him first, just like you wanted. He’s beautiful, our son. Your smile in his tiny lips, my eyes in his little face.”

He kissed her cold cheek, his tears falling onto her skin. Then gently, he placed the baby on her chest. The child instinctively curled against her warmth, his tiny fingers clutching her gown.

“See?” Veeresh whispered, his voice breaking. “He knows you. He needs you. Our baby is searching for his Amma.”

The baby let out a soft whimper, nuzzling closer. Veeresh stroked Poornima’s hair, his lips trembling as he kissed her forehead.

“Get up, Poornima. Please. He needs your warmth, your lullabies, your touch. Don’t let him grow with just my arms. You promised me… and I can’t do this without you. You are my strength, my peace, my everything.”

His tears streamed freely, wetting her face as he pressed his forehead against hers. The baby stirred, cooing faintly, and his small movements pressed against her heart, as if urging her to wake.

Veeresh’s sobs deepened, but he never let go. He wrapped one arm around Poornima, the other around their son, pulling them both into his chest.

“We’re here, the three of us… don’t leave us incomplete. Come back to me, Mrs. Raj. Come back to him. I can fight the world, but not without you.”

The monitors beeped steadily, but Poornima gave no response. Still, Veeresh held on, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered again and again,

“I love you. I love you. I love you…”

And though there was no reply, he swore he saw a single tear slip from the corner of her closed eye.