Chapter 24: Midnight Truce

Sleep wouldn’t stay with her.

No matter how many times Poornima turned, her mind refused to rest. Thoughts came in waves—her parents, the mandap, the words spoken, the choices she never made yet was forced to live with.

The room was silent.

Slowly, carefully, she turned toward him.

Veeresh was asleep, his breathing steady, unaware of the storm inside her. She hesitated only for a second—then moved closer and wrapped her arms around him.

This time, there were no tears.

Just exhaustion.

Veeresh stirred slightly, sensed her, and instinctively hugged her back—no questions, no surprise, no demand. Just warmth. Just acceptance.

He didn’t try to wake her.
He didn’t read meaning into it.

He simply held her.

And for the first time that night, Poornima felt her body relax. The tight knot in her chest loosened, her thoughts slowing down.

She rested her head against him and finally fell asleep.

Veeresh, half-asleep, pulled her a little closer and drifted off again.

That night, they slept peacefully.

Not as husband and wife bound by duty.
Not as two people trying to fix everything.

But as two tired souls who, for a few quiet hours, chose comfort over pain—and left all unanswered questions outside the room until morning.