Chapter 14: A Sweet Victory

The evening was peaceful, as the golden sky faded into dusk. Poornima stood in the kitchen, her hands gently stirring the kheer on the stove, the aroma of saffron, cardamom, and roasted dry fruits wrapping around her like a memory. She’d also prepared a simple, warm dinner — soft rotis, sabzi, dal — Veeresh’s favorites.

As she set the table, Veeresh’s father called her from the verandah.

“Poornima beta, come sit with me for a minute.”

She smiled, wiped her hands, and went out to him. He asked her about her day, her health, and gently placed his hand on her head.

“You bring peace to this house,” he said warmly.

Inside the kitchen, Bindu and Sahana slipped in like shadows.

Bindu whispered, “Let’s ruin her perfect day.”

Sahana took a spoonful of salt and added it into the pot of kheer.

“Now let’s see how this ‘perfect bahu’ handles the insult,” she sneered.

They shared a quiet high-five and walked out, satisfied with their sabotage.

---

Poornima came back, blissfully unaware of their actions. She placed the final bowl of warm kheer on the table and sat beside Veeresh, who instinctively held her hand under the table.

“Relax, begum,” he whispered. “You’ve done well.”

Everyone gathered. Veeresh’s mom smiled as she took the first bite.

“MashaAllah, this kheer is even better than the one you made on the first day, Poornima.”

Poornima smiled humbly. Her heart fluttered.

One by one, the guests tasted it.

“Amazing.”

“Delicious as always.”

“Perfectly sweet!”

Bindu and Sahana’s faces fell.

Veeresh smirked slightly as he looked at them, then turned to Poornima.

He held out his bowl.

“My favorite. From my favorite hands.”

She served him with a soft smile, and he gently squeezed her hand under the table — a silent, proud "well done".

Bindu and Sahana quietly excused themselves, humiliated.

Poornima didn’t even notice.

But Veeresh did.

And he knew — no one could ever dim her light