Chapter 28

Between Two Heartbeats
(Poornima’s POV)

After the conversation faded into silence, I felt him move away carefully so he wouldn’t disturb Inayat. I heard the balcony door slide open.

A few seconds later, the faint smell of smoke drifted inside.

I closed my eyes.

How much does he carry inside to need that many cigarettes?

From the bed, I could see his silhouette against the city lights. Strong. Still. Alone.

For a moment, I wondered what kind of battles he fought that he never spoke about. He looked powerful in the world outside… but here, in the quiet of night, he looked tired.

Not ruthless.

Just tired.

After a while, the balcony door closed. His footsteps approached slowly. My heart began to beat faster without reason.

The mattress dipped.

He lay down beside me.

I froze.

He didn’t say anything.

He didn’t ask anything.

He simply moved closer — carefully — and wrapped his arm around me.

The hug wasn’t hesitant.

It wasn’t demanding either.

It was firm.

As if he needed something to hold on to.

I was shocked at first. My body stiffened. But he didn’t do anything beyond that. He just rested his forehead lightly near my shoulder and exhaled slowly.

And in that exhale… I felt something break inside him.

I didn’t feel uncomfortable.

I didn’t feel afraid.

I just stayed still… letting him hold me.

Between us, Inayat shifted and hugged me tighter from the other side, her tiny hand pressing against my belly protectively.

And suddenly I was between two heartbeats.

One small and innocent.

One heavy and guarded.

Is he my husband? I asked myself quietly.

Legally… yes.

Emotionally… I don’t know.

But in that moment, when his arm tightened slightly as if afraid I would disappear… I felt something strange bloom inside my chest.

Not passion.

Not desire.

Something softer.

Belonging.

His hold wasn’t possessive.

It was seeking comfort.

As if the man who conquered boardrooms needed reassurance in the dark.

And I didn’t move away.

I let him find that comfort.

For the first time since coming into this house, I didn’t feel like I was staying in someone else’s space.

I felt included in it.

My eyes slowly grew heavy.

Between my daughter’s warmth on one side and my husband’s silent need on the other… I drifted into sleep.

And for once, the night didn’t feel lonely.

One line:
That night, she wasn’t protected by walls — she was protected by arms.