Chapter 62 Not Leaving, Just Pausing

Poornima listened to him quietly.

Then she shook her head a little.

“Mr Qureshi… you have responsibilities,” she said softly. “Your party members, your work… everything.”

Her voice was calm, but firm.

“You cannot keep coming like this every time something happens.”

Veeresh looked at her, not agreeing, but not interrupting either.

“It will affect your work,” she continued. “People will start questioning you.”

A small pause.

“And I don’t want that.”

He exhaled slowly.

“This is why I am saying… for some time,” she added. “I will stay there.”

Her eyes met his.

“You can always visit me.”

There was no distance in her tone.

Only practicality.

“I don’t want you to be questioned by anyone,” she said quietly. “Just accept it.”

Silence fell between them.

Veeresh looked at her for a long moment.

Then asked, softly,

“Is this really what you want?”

Poornima’s gaze softened.

“I don’t want it,” she admitted honestly.

A pause.

“But it is required.”

Her fingers tightened slightly over his.

“This is not separation,” she added quickly. “Just… for some time.”

Those words didn’t ease him.

But they gave him something to hold onto.

Veeresh suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.

Firm.

Desperate.

As if he was afraid she might disappear if he let go.

His shoulders trembled.

“I should have come with you that day,” he said, his voice breaking.

“I am sorry… everything is happening because of me.”

Poornima immediately shook her head, still in his hold.

“Don’t say such things,” she said softly.

She gently pulled back just enough to look at him.

Then leaned forward and kissed his forehead.

A quiet reassurance.

“It is not your fault.”

Veeresh closed his eyes for a second, trying to steady himself.

“Poornima…” he whispered, his voice low and vulnerable. “Please… just don’t leave me.”

She looked at him, almost surprised by the fear in his words.

“Why would I leave you, Mr Qureshi?” she asked softly.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

“That is not possible.”

Something inside him settled hearing that.

Not completely.

But enough.

He looked at her for a second longer.

Then leaned in.

And kissed her.

This time…

Not hesitant.

Not careful.

But full of everything he felt.

Fear.

Love.

Relief.

Poornima responded.

Naturally.

As if her heart remembered what her mind could not.

Her hands moved to hold him.

The kiss deepened slowly.

Not rushed.

Not forced.

Just… real.

A quiet promise.

That even if distance came for a while…

What they had…

Was still there.

Unbroken.