Chapter 68 Echoes of Us

That night, they returned quietly.

No heavy conversations.

No pressure.

Just presence.

When they lay down, it felt natural.

As if the distance between houses did not matter when they were together like this.

Poornima moved closer and rested against him.

He wrapped his arms around her instinctively.

The same way he always had.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Just breathing.

Just being.

Then softly, she asked,

“Did we ever talk about babies?”

The question caught him off guard.

He looked down at her.

There was no tension in her face.

Just curiosity.

“Yes,” he said gently.

Poornima shifted slightly, her fingers playing with the fabric of his shirt.

“Did I say… we will name… Chris…”

Before she could complete it, Veeresh smiled faintly.

“Your man crush,” he said softly. “Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth.”

Poornima’s face lit up immediately.

“Yes!” she said, smiling. “They are.”

A small laugh escaped her.

Then she grew quiet again.

“I had this… memory,” she said slowly. “When I was standing on the terrace… before you came.”

He listened carefully.

“I could hear voices,” she continued. “Like… we were talking.”

Her brows furrowed slightly.

“But I couldn’t see anything.”

She paused.

“It felt real.”

Veeresh’s hold around her tightened just a little.

Because he remembered.

That exact moment.

That exact conversation.

A night on the terrace.

Wind brushing past them.

She had been leaning on the railing, talking endlessly.

Excited.

Dreaming.

“Let’s name our baby Chris,” she had said suddenly.

He had looked at her, confused.

“Chris?”

“Yes,” she had said proudly. “Because Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth.”

He had laughed softly.

“You are serious?”

“Very,” she had replied, crossing her arms playfully. “Our baby will have a Hollywood name.”

He had stepped closer then.

“And if it’s a girl?” he had asked.

She had thought for a second.

Then shrugged.

“Still Chris.”

He had laughed louder that time.

“Begum jaan…”

But she had been stubborn.

“Final.”

That memory stayed with him.

Clear.

Alive.

And now…

She was recalling it.

Not fully.

But enough.

Back in the present, Poornima looked up at him.

“So… we are naming Chris,” she said with a small smile.

Veeresh smiled back.

“Yes.”

There was no hesitation.

Because for him…

That name carried more than humor now.

It carried hope.

She leaned forward and placed a soft peck on his lips.

Then settled back into his arms.

Within moments, she drifted off to sleep.

Peaceful.

Calm.

Veeresh stayed awake a little longer.

Looking at her.

Thinking.

Remembering.

Feeling.

Her memories were not gone.

They were there.

Somewhere.

Finding their way back.

Slowly.

And this time…

He wouldn’t rush them.

He just held her closer.

As if protecting both her present…

And their past.

At the same time.