Chapter 33

Mumbai felt louder after Kashmir.

The calm had faded, replaced by the usual rush of life—but something between them hadn’t gone back to what it was before.

They walked out of the station together.

That’s when Veeresh’s phone buzzed.

He glanced at it.

And something in his expression changed.

Not loud.

Not dramatic.

But sharp.

His jaw tightened slightly, his gaze hardening for just a second longer than necessary.

Poornima noticed.

Of course she did.

“You okay?” she asked.

He slipped the phone back into his pocket.

“Nothing.”

She watched him for a moment.

“It’s okay,” she said softly. “Don’t worry.”

He didn’t respond immediately.

They walked a few more steps.

Then suddenly—

He stopped.

Poornima turned toward him.

“Marry me.”

The words came without warning.

Clear.

Direct.

Her eyes widened.

“Gadha…” she said instinctively.

But he didn’t smile.

“I’m not joking,” he said.

There was no playfulness in his tone.

No teasing.

Just certainty.

“Please.”

That word—

He rarely used it.

Poornima looked at him carefully now.

This wasn’t his usual dominance.

This was something else.

Real.

Steady.

Unshaken.

“Veer…” she started.

But her words slowed.

Because he didn’t look away.

Didn’t push.

Didn’t demand.

He just stood there—

Waiting.

And for the first time—

She didn’t see pressure.

She saw intention.

A long pause passed between them.

Then—

Quietly—

She nodded.

“Yes.”

That was all.

But it was enough.

In the next moment—

He pulled her toward him and kissed her.

Deep.

Certain.

Full of everything he hadn’t said.

This time—

She didn’t hesitate.

Didn’t question.

She kissed him back.

Just as deeply.

Just as surely.

When they parted, neither spoke for a second.

Then—

He reached into his bag and took something out.

A saree.

Red.

Rich.

Beautiful.

Along with it—

Kashmiri bangles.

The same ones he had bought quietly.

Her eyes softened as she looked at them.

“When did you—”

He didn’t answer.

He just handed them to her.

A silent gesture.

She understood.

Without another word, she took them.

Later—

She wore them.

The red saree draped around her, the bangles resting against her wrists, their soft sound filling the silence.

When she stepped out—

Veeresh looked at her.

And for a moment—

He said nothing.

Because there was nothing to say.

He stepped closer, adjusting the edge of her saree slightly, his touch steady.

Then—

He picked up a simple thread and tied it around his wrist.

She looked at him, confused.

“I will give you a proper wedding,” he said.

A pause.

“But not now.”

His gaze held hers.

“But this…”

He didn’t finish.

He didn’t need to.

Because what stood between them now—

Was no longer uncertain.

And Poornima—

Didn’t step back.