Chapter 23: The Stand He Took

Everyone was seated for breakfast.

Poornima served quietly and was about to move aside when Riya spoke, “Poornima, you should eat after your husband.”

Poornima paused.

Before she could respond—

“No,” Veeresh said.

All eyes turned to him.

“She will eat next to me. Now.”

Riya tried again, “Beta, that is the ritual—”

“Everyday,” he interrupted calmly, “she will eat beside me.”

His tone was not loud.

But final.

No one spoke for a second.

Poornima slowly sat beside him.

Her heart felt something shift.

Not forced.

Not uncomfortable.

Just… protected.

Then he continued, as if the matter was simple.

“She will be back to the office.”

Siddharth frowned slightly. “Beta, that’s not required now. She is married.”

Riya nodded. “Yes, no need to work now.”

Veeresh looked at them.

“So what?” he said.

A pause.

“She only got married. What is the big deal?”

His voice remained steady.

“She is my wife now. I know what I am doing.”

Silence filled the table.

“From tomorrow,” he added, “she will be back to the office. No questions. She will work. Nobody will question it.”

His words were clear.

Direct.

Unarguable.

Raju leaned back slightly and said, “Yes. She will work.”

Lakshmi nodded. “Of course.”

Veeresh turned his head slightly toward her.

“Poornima. Tomorrow.”

She looked at him.

“Okay,” she said softly.

He stood up after finishing.

No further discussion.

No explanation.

He walked toward his study.

As he passed her, he gave a brief look.

A silent message.

Come.

She understood.

No one else did.

Riya sighed, still not fully convinced. “Poornima, make him understand.”

Before Poornima could speak, Lakshmi said firmly, “Didi, she is my daughter-in-law now. I have no problem.”

Riya looked at her.

Lakshmi continued, calm but strong, “You are worried about how she will handle the house. Before marriage also she was doing everything well. Now also she will manage.”

Raju added, “Beta, from tomorrow, get back to work.”

Poornima nodded. “Okay, Papa.”

Her voice was soft.

But inside…

Something felt lighter.

She stood up.

Her eyes instinctively moved toward the study.

And then she walked.

Toward him.

Because he had already asked… without saying a word.