Chapter 41

The hall fell silent the moment they stepped in. The patriarch of the Thakur family sat at the center, his presence enough to make everyone stand straight, and Veeresh walked forward without hesitation, Poornima beside him, Veda still resting in her arms, his hand firmly holding hers like a statement no one could ignore.

Gayathri Devi’s eyes moved from Veeresh to Poornima, slow, assessing, and then she spoke, “So… you married the girl her father disowned from the Rai family?”

Poornima’s fingers tightened slightly around Veda.

Before she could react, Veeresh’s voice cut through, steady but sharp, “Dadi, she is my wife.” He didn’t look away. “One word against her… and I won’t tolerate it.”

There was a brief pause.

Then Gayathri Devi smiled. Not warm. Just measured. “Ritika is beautiful,” she said, glancing toward her, then back at Poornima, “but she is dusky.”

Veeresh’s jaw tightened. “Enough,” he said, his tone dropping. “I came here to inform, not to stand here and listen to this.”

Gayathri didn’t react to his anger. “You should live here,” she said calmly. “I want to see how your wife will make a place in this family… something your mother couldn’t do till her last breath.”

That landed.

Veeresh stepped forward instantly. “This is not required—”

“Peheli rasoi,” Gayathri continued, ignoring him. “You will cook everyone’s favourite.” Her eyes shifted to Poornima. “You are the daughter-in-law of this house now.”

Silence stretched.

Veeresh looked at Poornima. “You don’t have to—”

“Okay,” she said.

That stopped him.

Gayathri smiled faintly. “Good. Let’s see.”

Veeresh didn’t wait another second. He turned and walked out, pulling Poornima along with him, his grip tighter now, irritation clear in every step, and the moment they entered his room, he shut the door.

“Why did you agree?” he asked, his voice controlled but edged.

She turned toward him. “Shut up, gadha.”

He blinked once.

She shifted Veda slightly in her arms and asked, more quietly now, “Your mom… your dad?”

That changed him.

He looked away for a second before speaking. “My mom… Nirmala,” he said slowly. “She was my father Rajesh’s first love. But family pressure… he married Devki first.”

Poornima listened without interrupting.

“They had three sons—Rakesh, Nitin, Rahul,” he continued, his voice steady but heavier now. “Later… my father married my mom again.”

A pause.

“My mom accepted everything. Even them. She never separated.”

Poornima’s eyes softened slightly.

“I had a sister,” he added. “Rajeshwari.” His voice lowered. “She died during childbirth.”

Her gaze shifted to Veda instinctively.

“That baby…” he said quietly, “is Veda.”

Silence.

“My parents died in a car accident,” he finished, his tone flattening now. “After that… Devki never spoke to me properly. Never accepted. But…” he exhaled once, “my parents were good. My father… he was the best.”

Poornima looked at him for a moment, then said softly, “That is enough.”

He looked at her.

Then she added, a faint confusion returning, “But I don’t understand one thing… how did my sister get married into your family?”

A small pause.

“She’s not exactly… a family type.”

For the first time since entering that house—

Veeresh almost smiled.