Chapter 36

The room was quiet.

Not the empty kind of silence—but something softer, something that settled after everything that had been said.

Before Poornima could say anything more—

Veeresh stepped closer.

In one smooth motion, he lifted her.

She gasped lightly, instinctively holding onto his shoulder.

“Veeresh—”

But he didn’t answer.

He carried her to his room and gently laid her down on the bed.

For a second, he just looked at her.

Then he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against her lips.

Not intense.

Not demanding.

Just… real.

“Eletem…” he said quietly.

There was something different in his voice now.

Something unguarded.

“Please don’t leave.”

Her expression softened instantly.

“Nothing will happen,” she said gently. “I won’t.”

He didn’t question it.

Didn’t ask again.

He simply pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her firmly, holding her against him.

“My house…” he murmured, his voice already drifting, “feels alive.”

She felt it.

The way he held her.

Not possessive.

Not controlling.

But like he needed it.

Like he found peace in it.

Within minutes—

His breathing slowed.

Evened out.

He had fallen asleep.

Just like that.

Poornima lay there, still in his arms, watching him.

His face looked different in sleep.

Calmer.

Younger.

Free from the weight he usually carried.

She studied him quietly.

“There is more…” she thought.

More he hadn’t said.

More he was hiding.

But not tonight.

Tonight—

He looked at peace.

And that was enough.

Her fingers moved slightly, resting against his chest.

For the first time—

She didn’t feel guarded.

She didn’t feel unsure.

She felt…

Certain.

A quiet promise formed within her.

Not spoken.

Not dramatic.

But firm.

“I won’t leave you.”

Her eyes slowly closed.

And in his arms—

Poornima drifted into sleep.

Holding on—

Just as tightly as he was.