Chapter 31: Between Doubt and Holding On

Veeresh sat through the meeting, his face calm, his posture straight, his voice steady as he spoke.

No one in the room could tell what was happening inside him.

But his head was splitting.

Each word he spoke felt heavier than the last. The light felt too bright, the voices around him too sharp. Still, he didn’t stop.

He continued.

Focused.

Controlled.

He finished the meeting, answered every question, closed the discussion, and stood up like nothing was wrong.

The deal was successful.

Everyone left, satisfied.

Poornima stood at the door, watching him.

She could see it.

The slight tension in his jaw.

The way he pressed his fingers lightly against his temple.

The way his silence wasn’t normal silence.

It was pain.

She stepped closer once everyone had left.

“Veeresh… tablet,” she said softly, holding it out.

He didn’t even look at it.

“Stop all this.”

His voice was sharp.

Flat.

It hurt.

For a second, she felt it.

But she didn’t step back.

Because she knew him.

And she loved him more than the way he spoke in his worst moments.

She lowered her hand quietly.

“Okay,” she said.

But inside, her worry only grew.

The whole day passed like that.

He stayed busy.

Work after work.

File after file.

Not stopping.

Not resting.

And Poornima kept watching from a distance.

Waiting.

Hoping he would slow down.

But he didn’t.

By evening, he left before anyone could say anything.

He didn’t speak to anyone.

Didn’t wait.

Just walked out.

At home, the tension hadn’t left him.

He ignored everyone and went straight to his room.

Lakshmi looked at Poornima, worried. “Beta…”

Poornima gave a small nod. “Ma, I’ll go.”

She walked upstairs quietly.

When she entered, he was standing near the balcony.

Smoking.

The room carried that familiar silence.

Heavy.

She didn’t call his name.

She didn’t question him.

She walked straight to him and wrapped her arms around him from behind.

A back hug.

Soft.

Steady.

“Veer… please don’t push me away,” she said gently.

He didn’t move for a second.

Then he said, “I’m not.”

But his voice didn’t fully match his words.

She rested her cheek lightly against his back.

“Listen,” she continued softly, “I have accepted you wholeheartedly… the day I took those seven vows.”

He exhaled slowly.

“I don’t believe.”

The words came quiet.

But heavy.

She tightened her hold slightly.

“I am all yours,” she said.

There was no hesitation in her voice.

He turned suddenly, pulling her toward him.

And kissed her.

Deep.

Intense.

Not just closeness—

But something he was trying to hold onto.

Something he was trying to believe.

When he pulled back, he didn’t say anything.

But she looked at him, her eyes steady.

“Veer… please don’t doubt,” she said.

His expression shifted slightly.

“I believe you the most,” he replied. “How could I doubt? Don’t say that.”

Her shoulders relaxed just a little.

“Now come down… ask Ma sorry. She felt bad.”

He looked away for a second. “I will… later.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

Then she took out the waist chain.

“Here,” she said softly. “It’s fixed.”

He looked at it.

Then at her.

Without a word, he took it and gently fastened it around her waist, his fingers brushing against her skin.

Then, without thinking, he leaned slightly and left a mark near it.

Poornima inhaled softly at the sudden touch.

He looked at her for a moment.

Something in his eyes had softened.

“I don’t want anything to eat,” he said. “I’m not hungry.”

“Sit,” she said gently. “Let me massage your head.”

He shook his head slightly. “Poornima… you still have time to leave me. You don’t need to stay.”

Her expression changed.

“Why are you saying this?” she asked, her voice firm now. “What happened? Tell me.”

“There is nothing like that,” he said. “I just want to be sure.”

“Trust me,” she replied.

He looked at her.

“I don’t want you to accept me just for the sake of marriage.”

Her eyes didn’t move from his.

“Veer… don’t think like that. I accept you. Completely.”

There was no doubt.

No confusion.

Just truth.

He stayed silent for a moment.

Then a small smile appeared.

Not big.

But real.

He pulled her closer again.

Kissed her.

Deep.

But calmer this time.

When he pulled back, his forehead rested lightly against hers.

“I have something to tell you,” he said.

Her eyes softened. “What?”

“Not now,” he replied quietly. “But I will.”

She nodded.

“Okay.”

And for that moment—

The doubts didn’t disappear completely.

But they didn’t control him either.

Because she was still there.

And she wasn’t leaving.