Chapter 25 A Truce in Between

Evening settled softly as Veeresh’s car stopped outside the college gates.

Poornima walked out, her bag slung over her shoulder, her expression still carrying that same quiet distance from the morning. She opened the door and sat inside without a word.

The car moved.

Silence followed.

But this time, it did not last long.

Instead of heading home, Veeresh turned toward the shopping district.

Poornima noticed.

“Where are we going?” she asked, her tone neutral.

“You said shopping,” he replied.

She looked at him for a second.

Then leaned back.

“Good,” she said simply.

The market was lively, filled with lights, colors, and voices blending into one continuous hum. They walked side by side, not too close, not too far.

Poornima moved from one store to another, picking clothes for herself. Simple kurtas, a few elegant pieces, things she liked without overthinking.

At one point, she picked up a few shirts and turned toward him.

“These will suit you,” she said, holding them against him briefly.

Veeresh looked at them, then at her.

“You are shopping for me also now?” he asked.

She shrugged lightly.

“You are paying, so I can choose.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

As they moved toward the billing counter, Veeresh spoke quietly,

“I am sorry.”

She did not respond immediately.

He continued, “Please talk to me.”

Poornima looked at him then.

Her expression was still firm, but not as cold.

“Okay, Mr Qureshi,” she said after a moment. “Next time, think and talk.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

“Otherwise, I will slap you.”

There was no anger in it this time.

Just warning.

Clear and simple.

Veeresh nodded.

“Fair.”

She turned back toward the counter, then added casually,

“Papa was telling you are not doing work properly in office.”

That made him look at her sharply.

“What’s the matter?” she continued, glancing at him sideways. “Did you find someone?”

There was a hint of mischief again.

A test.

He shook his head immediately.

“No.”

Poornima raised an eyebrow.

“Then better work properly and earn,” she said, her tone light but pointed. “Otherwise who will buy me everything?”

For a second, Veeresh just looked at her.

Then he smiled.

Not controlled.

Not faint.

But real.

“Understood,” he said.

They finished the shopping and walked out, bags in hand.

The air between them had changed again.

Not fully healed.

Not completely light.

But no longer distant.

A truce.

Fragile.

Unspoken.

But enough for now.