Chapter 13: Unveiled Truths & Silent Scars

The rain outside whispered against the glass windows of the penthouse. A rare calmness settled between Veeresh and Poornima as they lay on the bed, the room dimly lit, hearts slowly learning to breathe together.

Veeresh turned to her, his fingers brushing her arm gently.

> “Poornima…” he whispered.

She looked at him, her eyes still reflecting hesitation.

> “Tell me about your ex-husband. I want to know.”

Poornima’s eyes widened slightly.

> “Really?”

He nodded.

She took a breath, shifting slightly so she could see the ceiling, as if searching for the words there.

> “His name was Arjun. He was my Appa’s friend’s son. Ours was an arranged marriage… but a gentle one,” she smiled faintly.

Veeresh listened without a single interruption, his eyes focused solely on her face.

> “He was a good man. Not dramatic. Not filmy. Just… calm. Balanced. He always used to say, ‘You find joy in small things, Poornima.’ And somehow, I did — with him.”

Her voice softened.

> “We got married in a small temple. No big fat wedding. Just family, vows, and silence. The first three months felt like… a dream. We laughed at silly things, had coffee together at 5 AM, argued over toothpaste caps, and watched sunsets.”

She smiled, tears glistening now.

> “We confessed our love one morning. Just a simple, ‘I love you’ — no dramatic music. And that evening… the call came. He was gone.”

Veeresh’s chest tightened.

> “Accident?”

She nodded.

> “Yes. And just like that… I was no longer a bride. I was a widow.”

Poornima turned her face away for a moment, composing herself.

> “His parents blamed me. Called me unlucky. Said I brought death with me. I didn’t have the strength to defend myself. I packed my bags and disappeared into Himachal. Stayed with monks. Took therapy. Meditated. Spoke to no one. Grieved in silence.”

Veeresh’s eyes never left her.

> “Then your family approached mine. My parents said no initially… but your amma came home and told my amma she liked me. My parents… told them the truth. But your family said they still wanted the proposal. Eventually, they convinced me.”

She looked at him now, directly.

> “And then… you happened. But the morning after our wedding, I woke up to a man who spoke nothing, who left silently. That shattered me again.”

A long pause.

Veeresh didn’t speak — he just reached out, his hand sliding over her belly gently, tracing slow circles near her navel, grounding her to the moment.

> “You’re a good person, Poornima,” he whispered, his voice laced with emotion. “Too good for people like us who didn’t know how to love properly.”

Her eyes shimmered.

He bent slightly and placed a soft kiss near her navel, a wordless apology, a gesture of connection. She didn’t stop him. She allowed it — allowed herself to be seen.

Veeresh then gently pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist, resting his head just below her chin.

> “Let’s sleep,” he murmured, the emotional weight too heavy to carry longer that night.

And just like that — for the first time in years — they both slept peacefully.

Two broken souls, finally resting in the warmth of shared truth.

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End of Chapter 13