Chapter 14

The road stretched ahead, the wind cutting through the silence between them.

For a while, neither spoke.

Then—

Without warning—

The sky broke.

Rain poured down suddenly, heavy and relentless, soaking them within seconds.

“Gadha!” Poornima snapped, hitting his shoulder. “I would have gone in an auto instead of sitting on your bike. Show off!”

Veeresh slowed the bike and pulled over to the side, the rain drenching his shirt, his hair falling slightly over his forehead.

He turned just enough to look at her.

“It’s not show off, Mrs. Veeresh,” he said calmly.

She glared at him.

“Then what is it?”

For the first time, his voice shifted—not losing its firmness, but carrying something quieter beneath it.

“I don’t know if it’s love,” he said, holding her gaze. “But I’m… fond of you.”

The words landed differently.

Not a claim.

Not a challenge.

Something else.

Before she could respond, she hit him again, more out of confusion than anger.

“Stop saying things like that!”

Just then, an old lady passing by paused under her umbrella, looking at them with a small smile.

“You shouldn’t beat your husband like that, dear,” she said kindly before walking away.

Poornima froze.

Her expression shifted instantly into irritation.

“I am not—” she began, then stopped, exhaling sharply and looking away.

Veeresh watched her, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Then, without warning—

He stepped closer.

Too close.

His hand reached out, pulling her slightly toward him.

“Enough,” he said, his voice low.

She turned to him, startled.

“Veeresh—”

“I’m crossing my line,” he said quietly.

And before she could react—

His hand settled firmly at her waist.

And he kissed her.

It wasn’t hesitant.

It wasn’t uncertain.

It was deep.

Certain.

Unapologetic.

For a second—

Poornima froze.

Her mind blank.

The rain poured around them, the world fading into nothing but the sound of it hitting the ground.

His grip held her steady, anchoring her in that moment.

And then—

Something shifted.

Her fingers moved on their own, clutching his shirt.

She didn’t think.

Didn’t question.

Didn’t stop.

She kissed him back.

Not knowing why.

Not understanding how.

But she did.

The rain fell harder.

The world blurred.

And for that moment—

There was nothing else.

Only him.

Only her.

And the kiss that neither of them stopped.