Chapter 6: Silent Tears in the Guest Room

The room had gone quiet, except for the soft rise and fall of Veeresh's drunken breathing.

Poornima stood near the bed, her eyes locked on his sleeping form — his brows still furrowed even in sleep, his fists clenched like he was still fighting something… or someone.

She took a deep breath, her heart heavy, and turned away.

Slowly, quietly, she walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. The soft click of the door was swallowed by the suffocating silence of the house.

She made her way to the guest room, her feet dragging, her mind spinning.

The moment she shut that door behind her, she broke.

She slid down the wall and sat on the cold floor. Her hands covered her face as the tears came like a storm, heavy and raw, spilling out everything she had bottled up.

“You didn’t even ask me once...” she whispered through her sobs.

“I went to meet Rishi… not to smile at him. Not to laugh. Not to choose him.” Her voice cracked. “I went to tell him it’s over. That I’m married now. That I won’t meet him again.”

Her voice rose with each word, trembling and full of pain.

“But you never let me speak, Veeresh... You just assumed. Judged. Threw your pain on me.”

She pulled her knees to her chest, resting her head against them.

“Divorce papers...?” she whispered. “Our friendship over...? Marriage over...? You hate that you kissed me?”

Her heart ached with every word she recalled — like a dagger turning slowly in her chest.

“You were my safe place…” she murmured, tears still flowing. “And now you’re the one hurting me the most.”

Minutes passed in heavy silence.

Finally, drained from crying, from the pain, and from words left unsaid, Poornima pulled the blanket from the edge of the bed and lay down, her back facing the door.

The room stayed dark and quiet — holding her pain, her heartbreak, and the pieces of a shattered bond.