The kitchen smelled of spices and home-cooked food, the aroma mingling with the faint sweetness of a cake that had been forgotten. Poornima set the table quietly, her movements calm and deliberate. Tonight, she had asked Veeresh to bring her favorite cake — a small, innocent request.

But Veeresh, caught up in meetings and his endless world of deals and danger, had forgotten.

Poornima didn’t complain. She served dinner as always, silently placing the plates in front of him. Veeresh’s eyes caught her stillness, and for the first time, a pang of guilt hit him.

> “I… I’m sorry, Ruby,” he muttered, almost quietly.

The words made his guards freeze mid-step. His pets — trained to obey only him — lifted their heads in confusion. Veeresh Deewan said ‘sorry’? In their lifetime, they had never heard such a sound.

Poornima didn’t move. She didn’t even look at him.

“Please,” Veeresh added, voice lower, more genuine this time.

She finally lifted her eyes, calm but sharp, and said:

“Do 50 sit-ups.”

Veeresh blinked. “Sit-ups…?”

“Yes,” Poornima said firmly. “And while doing push-ups, I’ll sit on your back for all fifty. This is your punishment.”

The guards exchanged nervous glances. Today, they realized, madam had completely lost it — or maybe she was just revealing a side of herself no one had ever seen.

Veeresh, stunned, stared at her for a moment, then a slow, dangerous smirk curved his lips.

> “Really?” he asked, voice a mix of disbelief and amusement.

> “Yes,” Poornima said firmly, voice unwavering. “And if you don’t… I will not talk to you for the rest of the night.”

Veeresh paused, then exhaled slowly.

> “Okay,” he said finally, the single word heavy with reluctant obedience.

Poornima’s faint smile returned, victorious, as she watched him get into position, her quiet authority now absolute in their little world.

The guards whispered among themselves, astonished.

The pets stared, confused but obedient.

And Veeresh, for the first time that evening, realized who truly ruled their home.