Chapter 16: Love Has No Age

Veeresh looked at all three of them, his expression serious now. The teasing had faded, replaced by something deeper.

“You… you really have no problem?” he asked quietly.

Rudraksh leaned back on the sofa, completely relaxed. “Come on, Uncle. Love doesn’t have any age.”

The words hit Veeresh harder than he expected.

Rudra continued, his voice softening. “Our father died when Mannu was in 10th standard. Mom broke after that. Completely.”

Mannat’s smile faded just a little, her fingers tightening around the cup in her hands.

“But she lived,” Rudra added. “For us.”

Ramir nodded. “We tried many times to make her move on. She didn’t want to. She said her heart was done.”

Mannat suddenly burst out laughing. “So we created her profile on a dating app.”

Veeresh’s eyes widened. “You did what?”

“She beat us,” Mannat said proudly, laughing harder. “All three of us.”

Ramir added, grinning, “And then she threw us out of the house.”

Veeresh couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face. For the first time, he saw Poornima not just as the composed RBI officer—but as a woman, a mother, fiercely loyal to love.

Rudraksh leaned forward, pointing at him. “So Uncle, we are okay. Completely okay.”

“Now go and make Mom agree,” he said with a mischievous smile. “Not us.”

Mannat tilted her head, eyes sparkling. “You’ll be a cool dad… if Mom agrees.”

Ramir laughed. “Yes. Condition applies.”

All three of them started teasing him at once, their laughter filling the penthouse, bouncing off the cold walls and warming the space in a way Veeresh hadn’t felt in years.

Veeresh shook his head, smiling helplessly. His heart felt full—and terrified.

“Looks like I don’t have an option,” he said softly.

Rudraksh smirked. “Exactly.”

As their laughter faded, Veeresh realized something important: this wasn’t just about two people meeting again after years.

This was about second chances, about children who wanted their mother to be happy, and a man who was finally ready to stop running from love.

And somewhere, in a quiet RBI office, Poornima Rai had no idea that her past—and her future—were about to knock on her door again.