✨CHAPTER 7 – The First Night of Peace✨

The ride to Veeresh’s penthouse was quiet—comfortable, not awkward.

Poornima kept her face turned toward the window, letting the city lights blur her thoughts.

Veeresh kept glancing at her, as if checking she was still okay.

When they entered his penthouse, she blinked in surprise.

It wasn’t the cold bachelor space she expected.

It was warm. Minimal. Calm.

Just like him.

“Sit,” Veeresh said softly. “I’ll make dinner.”

Poornima raised an eyebrow.

“You cook?”

He smirked. “Better than you, enemy.”

She rolled her eyes but she smiled—really smiled.

Veeresh moved around the kitchen with surprising ease.

Poornima watched him from the couch, her heart strangely full.

This was the first time in years she had eaten a meal prepared for her with care, not obligation.

They sat at the small dining table and ate quietly.

No tension.

No force.

Just two tired souls sharing space.

Halfway through dinner, Veeresh put down his spoon.

“I need to talk to Priya,” he said calmly.

Poornima froze—just for a second.

But she nodded.

“Of course, Veer. You should.”

He stared at her—surprised.

No jealousy.

No insecurity.

No questions.

Just understanding.

“You’re… calm about this?” he asked.

Poornima took a sip of water and shrugged.

“What else should I be? You didn’t choose this marriage. I pulled you into it.”

He frowned. “Poornima, you didn’t pull—”

“I did,” she said softly, eyes lowering. “I kissed you just to escape. I trapped you with me. It was… shameful.”

Veeresh leaned back, watching her carefully.

“But you had no other way,” he said.

His voice was gentle. Unusually gentle.

“And I’m not blaming you. Not even for a second.”

Her eyes softened. A lump rose in her throat.

In that moment, he wasn’t her enemy.

He wasn’t the boy she fought with all her life.

He was just Veeresh—

someone who understood her pain without her having to explain it.

After dinner, the exhaustion finally caught up with both of them.

Poornima changed into one of his oversized shirts.

He changed into a plain tee.

The bed felt too large, too unfamiliar.

They lay down without speaking.

But then—unexpectedly—Veeresh shifted closer.

He rested his head on her chest like it was instinct.

Like he needed comfort.

Like he had been holding himself together for too long.

Poornima froze for a heartbeat—

then smiled softly, her fingers gently brushing through his hair.

He muttered something half-asleep,

“Don’t leave the bed, enemy…”

She chuckled under her breath.

“Go to sleep, Veer.”

And for the first time since childhood…

she held someone.

Someone held her.

Someone trusted her heart.

They fell asleep like that—two broken pieces finally fitting without realizing it.

Neither of them knew…

This wasn’t the end.

This was the beginning.

Their story had already started—

quietly, unexpectedly, beautifully