Chapter 4 – Lines Between Them

The juice glasses were nearly empty, condensation sliding down their sides. The streetlights flickered on, washing the small corner shop in a pale yellow glow.

Veeresh leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on her in a way that made Poornima shift uncomfortably.

“Why are you not in this project?” he asked, his tone calm, but carrying that edge that always demanded answers.

Poornima looked up, her fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“I’m already handling two other projects,” she said lightly. “This one wasn’t assigned to me.”

Veeresh’s jaw tightened. “Hmm.” He tilted his head, then slowly leaned forward. His hand landed on her shoulder, firm and deliberate. The world might have seen it as casual, but she knew better — it was his way of staking claim.

“But I wanted you in this project.”

Her eyes widened, searching his. There was no mistaking the authority in his voice, but there was something else hidden beneath it too — something softer, almost vulnerable.

“It’s government orders, Veeresh. I can’t change it.”

For a moment, silence stretched. His gaze lingered on her face as though he could bend reality itself if he wished. Finally, he nodded once, sharply.

“Ok.”

The spell broke when the waiter slid the bill onto the table. Before Veeresh could reach for it, Poornima slipped the notes from her purse and paid. He frowned faintly but said nothing, watching as she rose gracefully, adjusting her saree.

Outside, his car purred to life, sleek and dark against the busy Jayanagar street. He opened the door, glanced back at her once more, and without a word, slid inside. Moments later, he was gone.

Poornima stood on the curb, pulling out her phone to book a cab. The evening air was cool, but her thoughts were warm — tangled with the strange duality that was Veeresh. Ruthless to the world, yet… softer in his own way with her.

As she leaned back in the cab, her phone buzzed.

Veeresh: Good night.

Her lips curved into a small smile she didn’t realize she was wearing. She typed nothing back, but her heart whispered it anyway.

Good night, Veeresh.