That night, the mansion had finally gone quiet after a long day of laughter and rituals. The soft glow of diyas flickered across the courtyard, and a faint scent of mehndi lingered in the air.

Veeresh walked into their room and found Poornima sitting by the window, her bangles resting beside her and her hands folded in her lap. She looked lost in thought, the moonlight falling gently over her face.

He came closer and noticed something. “You didn’t apply mehndi?” he asked softly.

Poornima looked up, surprised. “No… I was busy helping Kavya,” she said with a small smile.

Veeresh frowned lightly, glancing at her bare palms. “Show me your hand.”

She hesitated but raised her hand slowly, her bangles chiming softly.

Veeresh took the cone lying on the table, opened it carefully, and said with a quiet smile, “If everyone got mehndi today, then you should too.”

Poornima’s eyes widened slightly. “You?” she asked, almost shyly.

“Why not?” Veeresh said simply, and began tracing small, uneven swirls on her palm. The design wasn’t perfect, but it was gentle—just like him.

Poornima couldn’t help but smile as she watched him. “You know, Abhimanyu used to do the same thing,” she said fondly.

Veeresh looked up curiously. “Tell me about him.”

Her expression softened. “He was one year old when I brought him home. Full of mischief… full of life. He loves me more than Anand ever did,” she said with a quiet chuckle, though her eyes glimmered with mixed emotions.

Veeresh’s hand paused for a moment. “He seems like a good boy,” he said gently.

“He is,” Poornima nodded. “He’s my pride.”

There was a moment of silence between them—comfortable, peaceful.

Veeresh finally asked, “Are you happy… with our kids’ marriage?”

Poornima looked at him, her eyes calm and full of meaning. “Yes,” she said softly. “I’m happy when they’re happy. That’s all I ever wanted.”

Veeresh smiled faintly, still holding her hand. “Then that’s all that matters,” he whispered.

Outside, the night breeze carried the faint sound of wedding drums. Inside, two hearts—once strangers bound by fate—sat quietly under the same moonlight, finding a strange new comfort in each other’s presence.