Chapter 16

Unspoken Fears

Days passed quietly, and despite Veeresh’s distance, Inayat bloomed around Poornima.

She followed her everywhere.

Held her dupatta.

Shared her tiny stories.

Demanded bedtime tales.

Poornima never forced the bond.

She simply responded.

And slowly, naturally, warmth grew between them.

Inayat laughed more.

Smiled more.

Even ate better.

Poornima felt something inside her settle — a space she didn’t know was empty began to fill.

She embraced Inayat one evening after helping her with homework, and the little girl wrapped her arms tightly around her waist.

“I love you, Mumma.”

Poornima closed her eyes and held her closer.

“I love you too, Innu.”

From across the room, Veeresh watched silently.

Expression unreadable.

Heart unsettled.

—

That night, the mansion grew quiet.

Poornima stayed awake.

She waited.

The clock moved past midnight before Veeresh finally entered the room.

He loosened his tie and noticed the lamp still on.

“Why are you still up?” he asked.

She sat up slowly. “I wanted to talk.”

He didn’t respond, just removed his watch.

“Don’t act cold towards Innu,” she said gently. “She’s a sweet girl. When she calls me Mumma… I feel happy. Loved.”

Her voice softened further. “Please don’t stop her. I am not going to leave.”

The words lingered.

He looked at her then.

Not with anger.

With guarded concern.

“I’m not against you,” he said calmly. “I just don’t want her hurt.”

He paused before continuing.

“When you have your own child… I don’t want Inayat to feel left out.”

There it was.

Not rejection.

Fear.

Poornima’s eyes filled slightly, but she held his gaze steadily. “Children are the same for me. I won’t do that.”

He studied her face, searching for doubt.

He didn’t find any.

Still, he wasn’t ready to trust it.

“Sleep,” he said finally. “I’m tired.”

He lay down on the couch, creating physical distance as he always did.

Poornima lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Between them was space.

Not just of furniture.

But of history.

Of fear.

Of unspoken wounds.

Yet under the same roof, something fragile was forming.

Slowly.

Carefully.

And neither of them was ready to admit it.

One line:
They slept apart — but their fears were already intertwining.