Chapter 6 – The War of Silence, the Confrontation, and the Order

The house felt different after her return.

Not warmer.

Not livelier.

Colder.

Because Poornima Azeez had mastered the art of silence—and she used it like a weapon.

Veeresh kept his distance. He had always kept his distance. But now it felt different.

Because now, she was the one who didn’t want him near her.

Not even in the same room.

---

1. The Silent Punishment

Every morning, she walked past him in the corridor.

No glance.

No acknowledgment.

Not even a shift in her expression.

She walked like he did not exist.

She talked to her father.

She talked to her mother.

She talked to Agasthya, the staff, the maids, even the gardener.

But Veeresh?

Not a word.

Not a nod.

Not a single “move aside.”

She simply walked past him like he was a statue.

For everyone else, it looked normal.

For Veeresh—

it was torture he had earned.

And he took it silently.

---

2. At Breakfast

Rehan was reading a file.

Agasthya was scrolling through his phone.

Poornima was eating quietly, elegant and distant.

Veeresh stood near the doorway, expression blank.

Rehan said, “Poo, beta, today evening you must come with me to the youth event.”

She didn’t look up. “Okay, Dad.”

“You’ll go with Veeresh,” he added casually.

Her spoon froze mid-air.

She slowly lifted her eyes—cold, sharp, emotionless—and looked at him for the first time.

“No.”

Rehan sighed. “Poornima—”

“I said no,” she replied. “I don’t need him. I don’t want him guarding me.”

Veeresh’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t react.

Rehan opened his mouth to argue, but she stood up, wiped her hands, and said,

“I’ll go with Agasthya.”

Agasthya nearly choked on his juice.

“Me?? I have a class—”

“Cancel it,” she said, already walking away.

And she left the room.

Veeresh stared at the closed doorway she disappeared into.

Rehan sighed heavily.

“This girl…”

---

3. Agasthya Confronts Veeresh

Later that day, Agasthya found Veeresh in the training room, hand-wrapping before sparring.

Agasthya closed the door behind him.

“You okay?” he asked bluntly.

Veeresh said nothing.

Agasthya sat on the edge of the table, staring at him.

“You know she hates you, right?”

Veeresh’s hands paused for half a second—barely—but Agasthya saw it.

“She actually hates you, Veer,” Agasthya said more softly. “Not anger. Not irritation. Real hate.”

Veeresh continued wrapping his hands, voice flat.

“She has every right to.”

Agasthya exhaled sharply.

“Then why don’t you explain? Why don’t you talk to her? Why don’t you at least tell her you didn’t mean—”

“I meant it,” Veeresh said quietly.

Agasthya froze. “What—?”

“I had to mean it,” he corrected, eyes dark, voice steady. “Otherwise she would’ve never left me alone.”

Agasthya stared at him like he didn’t understand this version of Veeresh.

“You’re impossible,” he muttered.

Veeresh didn’t deny it.

Agasthya ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

“She cries alone at night, you know,” he said. “Even though she acts strong.”

Veeresh’s fingers stiffened.

“She never forgets that night,” Agasthya continued. “She never forgets your words.”

Veeresh’s voice dropped lower.

“Neither do I.”

Agasthya looked at him—really looked at him.

“You regret it,” he said.

Veeresh didn’t reply.

He didn’t need to.

His silence said everything.

Agasthya sighed and stood up.

“Do something before it’s too late,” he warned. “She won’t forgive you easily.”

He left.

Veeresh stayed standing in the room, knuckles turning white, heart trapped in a cage of iron he built himself.

---

4. Rehan’s Final Decision

Evening.

The family gathered near the entrance, getting ready to leave for the youth event.

Poornima came downstairs in a crisp cream kurta, hair pinned back, eyes cold.

Agasthya stood beside her, clearly uncomfortable.

Rehan adjusted his coat.

“Poo, I’ve arranged for Veeresh to escort you.”

“No,” she said instantly.

Rehan’s voice rose, gentle but firm.

“Enough. I didn’t ask. I informed.”

Poornima’s eyes flicked to Veeresh standing behind Rehan—straight, unreadable, unshakeable.

Her jaw tensed.

“I don’t want him,” she said again.

Rehan stepped closer, lowering his voice.

“Beta, he’s the best. I trust him with my life. And yours.”

She didn’t look moved.

“I don’t trust him,” she said coldly.

“And I don’t want him.”

The sentence sliced clean through the air.

Veeresh felt the words like a blade dragged across his chest.

Rehan inhaled deeply.

“You don’t have a choice,” he said firmly. “From today onward, he is your bodyguard.”

Poornima stared at her father.

Her lips pressed together.

Her eyes flashed with fury.

Without another word, she turned and walked toward the car, refusing to look at Veeresh.

Agasthya whispered under his breath,

“This is going to be hell.”

Veeresh simply nodded once.

He deserved it.

Rehan patted Veeresh’s shoulder.

“I know this is difficult,” he said quietly. “But destiny doesn’t ask permission.”

Veeresh followed them to the car, his expression giving nothing away.

But inside?

Inside, the war had just begun.

And Poornima Azeez was ready to fight it with fire.