Chapter 36: A Place in His World

The next morning felt calm and settled.

Poornima woke up early, quietly slipping out of bed without disturbing him. She chose a simple kurta, tying her hair neatly, her movements soft and practiced.

From inside, she could hear the shower running.

She went around the room, arranging everything the way she always had. His suit was laid out perfectly on the bed, crisp and ready. She placed his watch beside it, his wallet, his phone—everything in place.

As she picked up his wallet, it slipped open slightly.

Her eyes fell on something inside.

A photo.

She paused.

Carefully, she pulled it out.

It was her.

An old picture… simple, natural, probably taken without her noticing much.

A soft smile spread across her face.

“Veer…” she whispered to herself.

She didn’t say anything more, just placed it back gently and kept the wallet where it belonged.

By the time he came out, everything was ready.

He got dressed without asking, without checking—because he knew she had already taken care of it.

They went downstairs together.

She served him breakfast, moving naturally around the kitchen, placing everything in front of him.

He glanced at her once. “You ate?”

“I will,” she said.

He looked at her for a second. “Sit.”

She didn’t argue. She sat beside him and started eating.

There was no awkwardness.

Just routine.

Just them.

After breakfast, they left together.

Walking side by side.

Like it was always meant to be that way.

Behind them, Riya watched, her expression still holding doubt.

“One day,” she said quietly, “he will only make her stop working.”

Lakshmi looked at her immediately.

“That won’t happen,” she replied firmly.

Her voice carried certainty.

Because she knew her son.

And she knew the girl he had chosen.

This was not control.

This was something else entirely—

A place where Poornima wasn’t being held back…

But was being allowed to stand beside him.