Chapter 27 – Family Teasing

The reunion had filled the house with laughter once again.

In the garden, Veeresh and Poornima were still standing close, talking quietly.

Veeresh gently wiped the last of her tears away.

Just then, a familiar voice interrupted them.

Adwait: "Dad!"

Both of them turned.

Adwait was standing there with Thoshini, Rudra, and Aradhya, all trying to hide their smiles.

Adwait folded his arms dramatically.

Adwait: "Dad, stop your romance."

The others burst into laughter.

Adwait continued with a grin.

Adwait: "You have grown-up children."

Veeresh looked completely unbothered.

He slipped an arm around Poornima's shoulder and smiled proudly.

Veeresh: "So what?"

Everyone looked at him.

With a mischievous grin, he said,

Veeresh: "I can still have babies."

For a second, complete silence filled the garden.

Then—

"Dad!"

All four children exclaimed at once.

Aradhya covered her face in embarrassment.

Aradhya: "Papa! My wedding is in a few days!"

Rudra laughed so hard he nearly lost his balance.

Rudra: "Dad has absolutely no filter."

Thoshini looked at Veeresh in disbelief.

Thoshini: "Seriously?"

Adwait dramatically held his forehead.

Adwait: "Mum, please control your husband."

Poornima's cheeks turned bright red.

She glared at Veeresh.

Poornima: "Veeresh!"

He looked at her innocently.

Veeresh: "What?"

Poornima lightly smacked his arm.

Poornima: "Will you stop saying such things in front of the children?"

Veeresh laughed.

Veeresh: "They're not children anymore."

He pointed toward Aradhya.

Veeresh: "One is getting married."

Then at the others.

Veeresh: "The rest are adults."

Poornima shook her head.

Poornima: "That doesn't mean you say whatever comes to your mind."

Veeresh leaned closer and whispered just loudly enough for her to hear,

Veeresh: "You're blushing."

Poornima immediately looked away.

Poornima: "I'm not."

He chuckled.

Veeresh: "You are."

Adwait clapped his hands dramatically.

Adwait: "See? Dad has started teasing Mum already."

Thoshini smiled.

Thoshini: "We've only been here a few hours, and they're already acting like newlyweds."

Rajendra, who had been watching from the veranda, laughed heartily.

Rajendra: "Some things never change."

Ritika smiled warmly.

Ritika: "And that's a good thing."

The entire family laughed together.

For the first time in many years, the Rajawat home echoed not with silence or misunderstandings, but with teasing, happiness, and the warmth of a family finally made whole.