Chapter 6: Between Duty and Desire

The clock showed 4:00 AM when Veeresh’s eyes opened.

For a moment, he didn’t move.

His head rested on Poornima’s lap, the calm from the night still lingering.

Then reality returned.

Slowly, carefully, he lifted his head, making sure not to wake her.

She had fallen asleep sitting, leaning awkwardly at the edge of the bed.

His gaze softened.

Without a word, he adjusted her gently, guiding her down onto the bed, placing her head properly on the pillow.

Her hand slipped slightly, but she didn’t wake.

He pulled the blanket over her, tucking it in just enough.

A quiet pause.

He looked at her for a second longer than needed.

Then stepped back.

He knew.

If anyone saw them like that…

Questions wouldn’t be asked to him.

They would be asked to her.

And he wouldn’t let that happen.

Without another sound, he left the room.

The door clicked shut softly behind him.

Minutes later, he was in the gym.

Punching harder than usual.

Lifting heavier than needed.

Letting the silence of the morning take everything he didn’t say.

By the time the house woke up—

He was already composed.

Untouchable again.

—

At breakfast, everyone had gathered.

Poornima walked in quietly, her eyes instinctively searching—

And finding him.

For a brief moment, their eyes met.

“Your headache… how is it?” she asked softly.

“Okay,” he replied, simple, neutral.

Nothing more.

As if the night hadn’t happened.

As if it never existed.

Siddharth cleared his throat. “Beta, Poornima will resign from the company.”

A pause.

Veeresh didn’t react immediately.

Then calmly, “She’s handling one project. After that, she will resign.”

Siddharth nodded. “That’s fine.”

Riya added, “Yes, better to finish properly.”

Veeresh’s gaze shifted briefly to Poornima.

“Finish it fast,” he said, his tone turning professional. “I need the files on my table.”

“Yes,” she replied.

He stood up and walked away.

No extra glance.

No pause.

—

After he left—

“Poornima, finish all your work and resign,” Siddharth said firmly.

Riya nodded. “Don’t delay.”

Before Poornima could respond, Raju spoke calmly, “She will. Don’t force her.”

A small silence followed.

Poornima just lowered her gaze. “I’ll complete everything.”

—

Breakfast ended.

She left for the company.

The same building.

The same desk.

But everything felt… different.

She sat in her cabin, staring at the screen for a moment before taking a deep breath.

“Finish it,” she whispered to herself.

Her fingers moved quickly, preparing the reports, organizing files, detailing every part of the new project.

Perfect.

As always.

She drafted the email carefully, explaining everything clearly—every number, every step, every responsibility.

No confusion.

No dependency.

She attached the files.

Sent.

Then gathered the physical documents and walked to his cabin.

She knocked.

“Come in.”

Veeresh didn’t look up immediately.

She placed the files on his table. “Project details… everything is updated.”

He glanced through them briefly.

“Good.”

A pause.

Then—

“Submit your resignation letter.”

Her fingers tightened slightly.

Just for a second.

“…Okay.”

No argument.

No hesitation in her voice.

She turned and walked out.

Back to her cabin.

The chair felt heavier now.

She sat down slowly, opening a blank document.

Resignation Letter.

Her eyes lingered on the words.

This place…

Her work…

The only space that was truly hers.

A deep breath.

She typed.

Each word felt like letting go of something she couldn’t hold onto anymore.

When she finished, she read it once.

Closed her eyes briefly.

Then sent it.

Just like that.

It was done.

—

By afternoon, she was back at Thakur Mansion.

Her steps slower than usual.

No one stopped her.

No one asked.

She walked straight to her room.

Closed the door.

The silence inside felt different today.

Heavier.

She lay down on the bed, not even bothering to change.

Her body sank into the mattress, exhaustion taking over.

Her mind tried to think.

Tried to process.

But it couldn’t.

Within minutes—

She fell asleep.

Not peacefully.

Not restfully.

Just… tired.

As if something inside her had quietly ended—

Without anyone noticing.