The Curse That Couldn’t Break Them

The temple courtyard had emptied, but the storm hadn’t.

Sahana stood by the temple steps, her eyes wild, lips trembling in fury.

> “You’ll suffer for this, Veeresh!” she screamed. “For choosing her… for forgetting me!”

Poornima stood frozen for a second, her heart pounding. She didn’t want a fight. She never wanted to hurt anyone.

But Veeresh stepped ahead and stood between them.

> “Don’t curse what you never cared to return to, Sahana,” he said firmly.

“You were gone. I grieved. But I moved on. She gave me a reason to breathe again.”

Sahana’s eyes welled, but her rage had long overpowered her pain. She pointed at Poornima, venom in her tone.

> “You will suffer like I did. You took my place, and you will regret this day.”

With that, she turned away, her anklets clinking loudly as she descended the steps. The wind howled — like echoing the storm she carried in her heart.

---

Poornima stood silently, her fingers cold, eyes cast down.

Veeresh walked to her, gently cupped her face and looked deep into her eyes.

> “Don’t look away,” he said, “We didn’t do anything wrong.”

> “But she—” Poornima’s voice cracked.

> “She left,” Veeresh said softly. “And you stayed.”

He held her close, wrapping her in his arms like a promise.

> “No curse can touch what’s built with truth, love, and pain. We didn’t steal happiness, Poornima. We created it. Brick by brick. Wound by wound.”

She looked up at him, the flickering temple diya lighting the love in his eyes.

> “I’m not leaving you. Not for guilt. Not for doubt. Not for anything in this world,” he whispered, voice heavy with emotion.

And before she could say anything, he pulled her in and kissed her — deeply, passionately, wholly.

The kind of kiss that tells you:

You’re safe.

You’re chosen.

You’re home.

Poornima smiled against his lips, a tear slipping down her cheek — not of sorrow, but of release.

---

They walked out of the temple hand-in-hand, hearts light despite the shadows Sahana left behind.

Love had already won.