Chapter 5

Thrown Out

The funeral ended before the grief could.

Smoke from the pyre still clung to the air when reality turned uglier than death itself.

The Shekhawat mansion, which had echoed with mourning just hours ago, now echoed with accusations.

Poornima stood near the entrance, numb, her white saree clinging to her fragile frame. Her empty wrists felt heavier than iron chains. Her hand rested unconsciously over her stomach — the only reason she was still standing.

Sharada, Akash’s stepmother, walked toward her with sharp eyes.

“No more drama,” she said coldly. “Go inside and bring the property papers.”

Poornima looked up, confused. “I… I don’t know anything about the papers.”

A sharp sound filled the hall.

Sharada’s hand struck her face.

The slap echoed.

Poornima stumbled to the side, her cheek burning, tears spilling instantly.

“You don’t know?” Sharada hissed. “Don’t act innocent.”

Relatives began whispering loudly.

“She is unlucky.”

“She brought death.”

“Even the baby in her womb is inauspicious.”

Each word stabbed deeper than the slap.

Rohan stepped forward, fury mixed with greed in his eyes. He grabbed Poornima by her hair and dragged her toward the door.

“Get out of this house!” he shouted. “You and your cursed child have no place here.”

Poornima cried out, trying to protect her stomach as she was shoved forward.

She lost balance.

She was about to hit the marble floor—

But a strong arm caught her.

Veeresh.

He pulled her against him firmly, steadying her before she could fall.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low but controlled.

She didn’t answer.

She just cried.

Veeresh’s eyes slowly moved to her cheek.

The red handprint was visible.

Something snapped.

He stepped forward and grabbed Rohan by the collar, lifting him slightly off the ground.

“How dare you push her?” Veeresh’s voice was no longer calm. It was lethal. “She is pregnant. If she had fallen—”

His grip tightened.

“The baby could have—”

He stopped himself, jaw clenched.

“And how dare you slap her?”

Rohan tried to free himself, anger replacing fear. “Why are you showing so much mercy?” he spat. “Did you fall in love with her already?”

The hall went silent.

Rohan smirked cruelly.

“Or is the child in her womb yours?”

Time froze.

Poornima’s crying slowed in shock.

Sharada stared.

The relatives held their breath.

And Veeresh…

He didn’t blink.

He didn’t shout.

He didn’t react violently.

He just looked at Rohan.

But the look in his eyes promised something far more dangerous than anger.

A war had just begun.

One line:
The day they called her a curse, Veeresh decided to become their destruction.