Chapter 64 — The Truth About Bubba

The room was quiet.

Poornima was still lying close to Veeresh, her head resting against him. After a few moments, a question suddenly came to her mind.

She looked up at him.

Poornima: "Veer, you never told me about Bubba's mother."

Veeresh became quiet.

Poornima noticed the change in his expression.

Poornima: "What happened?"

Veeresh took a slow breath.

Veeresh: "Poons... Bubba is not my daughter."

Poornima immediately frowned.

Poornima: "Asshole. How can you say that about your own daughter?"

Veeresh shook his head gently.

Veeresh: "Listen to me."

Poornima remained silent.

Veeresh: "Bubba is the daughter of my childhood friends, Rakesh and Ramya."

Poornima's expression softened.

Veeresh: "They were very close to me. We grew up together."

He paused.

Veeresh: "They died in an accident when Bubba was still a baby."

Poornima looked at him sadly.

Veeresh: "Before they died, they had trusted me with their daughter. After the accident, I took responsibility for her."

He looked toward the door, where Noor was sleeping peacefully in the adjoining room.

Veeresh: "I legally adopted her. She became my responsibility, and I have raised her as my own."

Poornima listened carefully.

Veeresh: "She doesn't know the entire truth yet. She's too young to understand it."

He looked at Poornima seriously.

Veeresh: "Please let this remain between us for now. When she's old enough, we'll tell her the truth properly."

Poornima nodded slowly.

Poornima: "Okay, Veer. I understand."

There was a brief silence.

Veeresh looked at her.

Veeresh: "And Poons..."

She looked at him.

Veeresh: "You are my first and my last."

Poornima's heart skipped a beat.

Those words meant more to her than he realized.

For so long, she had wondered whether she would always be second.

Whether she would always be the replacement.

But now, hearing him say those words made something inside her feel lighter.

She smiled softly.

Without saying anything, she moved closer to him and kissed him.

Veeresh was surprised for a moment.

It was their first kiss.

He then gently kissed her back.

There was no rush.

No pressure.

Just a quiet moment between two people who had spent so long trying to understand each other.

When they pulled away, Poornima looked at him shyly.

Veeresh smiled.

Veeresh: "Poons..."

She immediately hid her face against his chest.

Poornima: "Don't say anything, asshole."

Veeresh laughed softly and held her closer.

For the first time, the distance between them felt truly smaller.