The mansion was silent under the cloak of night. Poornima stirred in her sleep, the chill in the air brushing against her skin. Slowly, instinctively, she snuggled closer to Veeresh, seeking warmth and comfort.

Veeresh, half-asleep, was taken aback by the sudden closeness. She rested her hand lightly on his waist, her face almost touching his chest. His sharp instincts told him to pull away—but something held him still.

He didn’t move. Instead, with a quiet, careful gesture, he placed his own hand gently on her swollen belly, feeling the soft curve where their child—Pavan’s legacy—was growing.

The room was still, filled with the soft rhythm of two hearts beating in quiet harmony. Veeresh allowed the warmth to stay, his mind momentarily silenced, letting this small moment of closeness exist without words.

And slowly, the two of them drifted back into sleep, the chill of the night replaced by a quiet, unspoken bond.