✨CHAPTER 9 – New Beginnings, New Feelings✨

Priya sat calmly at the café table, stirring her coffee without looking up.

Veeresh walked in, his shoulders strangely lighter, his expression finally honest.

She raised an eyebrow. “So… this is about the wedding?”

Veeresh nodded and sat down.

“I wasn’t fully into this relationship, Priya. I was fluctuating… confused.”

Priya let out a little laugh. “You? Confused? That’s new.”

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair.

“And now I know why.”

Priya leaned back. “Poornima.”

He didn’t deny it.

Instead, he simply said,

“I don’t know what this is yet… but I know I have to end this the right way. You deserve clarity.”

Priya nodded gently.

“Veer… I always knew your heart wasn’t fully here. I just didn’t know who had the other half.”

Her smile was soft, not hurt. Not angry. Just real.

“You’re still my friend,” Veeresh said firmly.

Priya’s eyes warmed.

“And you’re still mine. Go… be happy.”

For the first time in a long time, Veeresh felt a weight lift off his chest.

---

Back at the Office

Poornima sat in the waiting area of his company, flipping through a magazine. She looked small in that huge corporate space—but she also looked right there.

Veeresh walked in and instantly spotted her.

He smiled.

She didn’t notice him until he sat down right beside her—

and casually slipped an arm around her waist.

She jumped slightly.

“Veer! We’re in your company!”

“So?” he smirked. “You’re my wife.”

She blushed (not that she would admit it) and looked away.

“How did things go with Priya?”

“Smoothly,” he said, his voice softening.

“She understood.”

Poornima nodded with genuine relief. “Good.”

He watched her for a moment, her calmness surprising him again.

Then he whispered near her ear,

“You’ll work with me now. No more being pushed around.”

Before she could respond, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

Her eyes widened.

“Veeresh!”

“What? I never knew one day we’d be like this,” he teased.

She blinked. “Like what?”

He stood up.

“Come. Let me show you your cabin.”

---

Her New Cabin

Veeresh opened the glass door and stepped aside.

Poornima’s eyes widened—a spacious cabin, soft lighting, a large desk, a city view.

“This… is mine?”

“All yours,” he confirmed.

She turned to him slowly.

“Veer… thank you.”

He expected a smile.

But she walked straight into his arms and hugged him tightly.

He froze for a second—

then wrapped his arms around her even tighter, pulling her against his chest with quiet intensity.

“Don’t thank me,” he murmured.

After a few seconds, he let her go (reluctantly) and she started reviewing her files.

His PA entered with a polite smile and briefed her about upcoming projects.

Poornima listened carefully—professional, sharp, confident.

Veeresh, standing outside the glass wall, watched her silently.

His enemy.

His wife.

His new constant.

Something stirred inside him he wasn’t ready to name yet.

---

Night at Home

They returned home late, both exhausted but quietly content.

Poornima made dinner.

Veeresh watched her from the counter, secretly admiring the way she hummed softly while cooking.

They ate together—simple, warm, comfortable.

Later, when they lay on the bed, Poornima turned off the lights.

She was about to sleep on her side when Veeresh shifted—

placed his head on her chest again, like last night.

Poornima’s heart raced.

“Veer… again?”

He mumbled sleepily,

“You’re comfortable… enemy…”

She couldn’t help but smile, her fingers sliding gently through his hair.

She closed her eyes.

Two people who once fought for years…

were now slowly learning to breathe together.

And with each night like this—

their story was weaving itself tighter, deeper, unbreakable.

Neither of them knew…

love had already entered quietly.

And it wasn’t leaving.