Chapter 6: The Breaking Point

The soft rays of dawn crept through the curtains of Veeresh’s penthouse.

Poornima stirred awake, her mind still heavy from the sleepless night beside a man who had once meant nothing… and now brought every unhealed wound crashing down.

She quietly got up, gathered her saree pleats, and stepped toward the door.

But before she could reach the exit, Veeresh stood there — arms crossed, eyes unreadable.

> “Where are you going?”

> “Back to my life,” she said coldly. “You can’t control me.”

He stepped forward. “You’re my wife.”

> “You remembered that too late.”

> “You will stay here. With me,” he said sharply. “Call my parents. Tell them we’re back together.”

> “I won’t lie.”

The next second felt like a blur. A snap.

In a moment of fury and desperation — he slapped her.

A loud crack echoed in the room.

She stumbled back in shock, hand to her cheek, eyes wide.

Her voice shook, not in fear, but in painful disbelief.

> “You’re bad.”

Tears welled in her eyes.

> “What was my mistake, Veeresh? You left me in silence. You shut me out like I didn’t matter. You never gave me a chance.”

He stood frozen. Her words pierced like blades.

> “It wasn’t just you who was broken. I was too,” she cried, voice rising. “You think you’re the only one who lost someone?”

She stepped toward him, her entire body trembling.

> “My first husband died just after four months. An accident. We had just confessed our love... I still remember that morning. He smiled. He kissed my forehead. By evening, he was gone.”

Her voice cracked.

> “They all blamed me. His family, society — everyone. I slipped into depression. I lost myself.”

Veeresh stared, shaken. He didn’t know this. Not this deeply.

> “A year later, your proposal came. I said no. I wasn’t ready. But my parents… they begged me. They thought marriage would heal me. I said yes.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she continued.

> “The morning after our wedding, I found out you were mourning someone too. Sahana. You left me like I was nothing. No explanation. No warmth. Not even a goodbye.”

Her sobs became more intense. Her knees began to give out.

> “Do you know… how many times I was mocked for being married twice, for being left twice? I tried to end my life, Veeresh. Twice. That’s how worthless I felt.”

She clutched her chest.

> “I wasn’t just carrying my pain. I was carrying yours too. In silence.”

And before he could step forward, she collapsed — fainting in mid-sentence, her body crumpling onto the cold floor.

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Hospital Room – Later That Day

The pale green hospital walls felt suffocating.

Machines beeped steadily. IV lines dripped slowly into her fragile wrist.

Veeresh sat beside her, unmoving, broken.

The doctor had spoken gently.

> “She’s emotionally exhausted. Her body gave in after carrying too much for too long. She will wake up. But she needs peace… and strength.”

Veeresh could only nod.

His gaze locked on Poornima’s pale face, eyes shut in deep slumber.

He reached out and gently took her hand in his.

It was cold. Still.

For the first time… he saw her. Truly saw her.

Not as the girl he married.

Not as the woman he abandoned.

But as the soul that had survived hell twice, and still kept standing.

> “I’m sorry…” he whispered, voice cracking. “I’m so sorry, Poornima.”

And he sat there — not as Veeresh the businessman, but as a man who had broken someone’s heart without ever knowing it beat for him.

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End of Chapter