Chapter 29

A Morning That Felt Different
(Poornima’s POV)

The morning sunlight slipped softly through the curtains.

Inayat woke up first, cheerful as always. She dressed quickly and ran downstairs to have breakfast with her grandparents, her laughter echoing faintly through the hallway.

I stayed back in the room.

He was still asleep.

looked different when he slept. The sharp lines of control softened. The constant tension in his jaw eased. He didn’t look like the man who ruled industries. He looked… human.

For a few seconds, I simply stood there wondering — should I wake him?

Was it my place?

I slowly walked closer and gently touched his shoulder.

“Veeresh… it’s morning.”

He stirred, eyes opening slowly, adjusting to the light.

“Your coffee,” I said, handing him the cup.

He sat up and took it without speaking, sipping quietly.

I watched him.

How much does he smoke? I wanted to ask. Why do you punish your body like that? Why do you carry everything alone?

But the words never came out.

I reminded myself — I am not fully accepted yet. Don’t overstep.

And then another thought struck me.

Why am I this concerned about him?

Why does it hurt me when he smokes? When he isolates himself? When he looks tired?

Am I… falling?

Before I could escape my thoughts, he looked at me directly.

“What are you thinking?”

“Nothing,” I replied quickly.

He didn’t believe me.

In one sudden movement, he placed the coffee aside and gently pulled me toward him. I lost my balance and landed on the bed beside him.

“Rest,” he said.

“You have office—”

“I’m not going,” he interrupted calmly. “I want to rest. And you will rest with me. Is that clear?”

There was no harshness in his tone.

Just certainty.

I nodded quietly.

He slowly moved the pallu of my saree aside — not with desire, not with urgency — but with care. His hand came to rest on my belly.

“How was the heartbeat?” he asked softly.

“It was good,” I whispered. “Strong.”

I hesitated for a second before continuing.

“I wanted you there… yesterday. I wanted to share that joy with you. But Inayat was so happy hearing it… I didn’t want to spoil it.”

He looked at my stomach, his palm warm against it.

“I won’t miss any appointment from now on,” he said firmly.

Then unexpectedly, he leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on my cheek.

“Sleep.”

My heart skipped.

This wasn’t protection.

This wasn’t responsibility.

This was something else.

As he wrapped his arm around me again, pulling me gently closer, I felt that strange warmth return — the same warmth from the previous night.

He was forbidden to me once.

He belonged to rivalry, to promise, to circumstance.

But now… he was my husband.

And my heart, foolish or brave, had started choosing him.

His hold tightened slightly as sleep claimed him again.

I lay there for a few seconds longer, listening to his steady breathing, feeling safe in a way I hadn’t expected.

Between his warmth and the quiet morning light, I let my eyes close too.

For the first time, resting beside him didn’t feel like obligation.

It felt natural.

One line:
What began as protection was slowly turning into something her heart could no longer deny.