Veeresh woke up first, the soft dawn light spilling into the room. His eyes fell on the neatly pressed suit hanging by the dresser. A rare smile touched his lips. He turned to Poornima, still asleep, and gently kissed her cheek before slipping out of bed.

Freshening up quickly, he made his way to the children’s room.

“Good morning, princess,” he said softly, helping Anaya wash up. Aarav, however, had other plans—he tugged at his father’s tie with tiny fists, giggling.

“Poornima,” Veeresh called, carrying the restless baby into their room. “He’s crying, and I don’t know how to calm him down.”

Poornima chuckled, taking Aarav into her arms. “You just need patience.” She fed him his milk, wiping his little mouth with a mother’s care. Veeresh watched silently, something warm and unsettling stirring in his chest.

She placed his tea on the table and handed him breakfast while packing Anaya’s tiffin. Aarav giggled from his cradle, kicking his legs, and in that simple, homely moment, Veeresh felt something shift inside him.

Without overthinking, he leaned down and kissed Poornima’s cheek, then kissed Anaya’s forehead and Aarav’s tiny hand. “I’ll be late today,” he said, his tone softer than usual. “Meeting with both company boards.”

Poornima smiled at him, her eyes calm and reassuring.

On impulse, Veeresh leaned forward and pecked her lips, a fleeting touch that still made her blush. “Bye,” he murmured, before leaving.

Anaya skipped to the car happily for school, Aarav gurgled in his cradle, and Poornima stood for a moment, her fingers brushing her lips, her heart caught between the past and the present.