Chapter 5: A Night of Accusations

The night was cold and silent when the door burst open.

Veeresh stumbled inside, his shirt half untucked, hair disheveled, and his eyes red — not just from the alcohol, but from something deeper. Pain. Betrayal. Anger.

Poornima, sitting on the couch with tear-swollen eyes, immediately stood up. “Veeresh…” she said softly, rushing toward him.

But he shoved her hand away. “Don’t touch me!” he slurred, staggering back.

Her heart sank.

“You drank this much?” she asked, shocked. “Why are you doing this to yourself?”

He laughed bitterly. “Why? Why am I doing this? We got married just yesterday, Poornima. Yesterday! In front of God, in front of fire, in the temple. I tied that damn knot. I smeared sindoor on you. You said nothing… and I thought maybe—just maybe—you were accepting it.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but he was already spiraling.

“But today…” he continued, his voice breaking, “you met Rishi. Smiling. Glowing. Hiding things. Like I’m just a background character in your love story.”

Poornima shook her head. “I didn’t—”

“Don’t lie to me!” he shouted, his voice thundering through the room.

“You’re my best friend from childhood. The girl who knew every stupid thing about me. The one I shared all my dreams with. And today, the day after our wedding, you went to meet the man you love?”

Her lips trembled. “I didn’t—”

“Where is she?” he asked bitterly, mimicking his own younger self. “Where’s the Poornima who said she’d always be loyal? Who never hid things from me? Who stood by me like a shadow? I lost her, didn’t I? She’s gone…”

“Veeresh…” her voice cracked, but he wouldn’t let her speak.

“I should never have agreed to this marriage,” he spat. “I did it thinking maybe we’d make it work… but you? You were thinking of someone else the whole time.”

“And last night,” he said, stepping closer, face twisted with anger, “you told me you would never accept this marriage. You said it yourself. And then… you kissed me back. What was that? Guilt? Or confusion?”

Poornima’s eyes filled again, but no words came out.

Veeresh gave a pained laugh, eyes glinting with raw hurt. “Rishi is good for you. Go to him. We’ll be divorced in six months anyway. No friends. No marriage. No love. Nothing.”

He took a deep breath. “I hate that I kissed you. I hate that I let myself feel something.”

And with that, he stumbled toward the bed and collapsed.

Within seconds, the alcohol took over, and he passed out.

Poornima stood there for a moment — frozen, silent, devastated.

Then quietly, with trembling hands, she walked over. She sat beside him, removed his shoes gently, then his shirt. She pulled a blanket over him.

And sat there in the dark, beside the man who had once been her safe space… and who now hated her more than anyone ever could.

Her tears fell quietly, soaking into the silence.