Chapter 49: The Gift That Gave Him Everything

It was already ten at night when Veeresh’s phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

Poornima.

His heart skipped.

He answered immediately.

“Veer,” she said softly, “bring Shona to the park. I want to tell you something.”

Something in her tone made him uneasy.

“Okay,” he said.

The call ended.

For a moment, he stood still.

A thought crossed his mind.

What if she wants to leave?

What if she wants a divorce?

He shook his head immediately.

No.

Poornima is not that person.

He knew her.

But still…

His heart refused to calm down.

He picked up Mannat, who was already sleepy, and drove toward the park.

The night was quiet.

Too quiet.

When he reached, he saw them.

Poornima sitting on the bench.

Aryan beside her.

Waiting.

Mannat noticed her first.

“Mumma!” she shouted and stretched her hands.

“Shona…” Poornima whispered, standing up quickly.

She took Mannat into her arms and hugged her tightly.

As if she had been holding her breath all these days.

Mannat kissed her face again and again.

“Bhaiya…” she said happily.

Aryan ran forward and hugged her too.

For a moment, everything felt normal again.

Complete.

Veeresh walked slowly toward them and sat beside her.

He did not wait.

He pulled Poornima toward him and kissed her.

Deeply.

Passionately.

As if all the days without her had gathered into that one moment.

Poornima responded immediately.

Without hesitation.

Without holding back.

When he pulled away, his voice broke slightly.

“Do not leave me,” he said. “Do not talk about divorce.”

Poornima stared at him for a second.

Then she hit his arm lightly.

“You are such a gadha,” she said. “I called you to say something important and you thought this?”

Veeresh did not argue.

He just pulled her into a tight hug.

“I missed you,” he said softly.

Poornima closed her eyes.

“Me too.”

The clock slowly moved.

The night grew deeper.

And then it was twelve.

Poornima pulled back slightly and looked at him.

“Happy birthday, Veer.”

Veeresh smiled.

A real one.

“My cake?” he asked.

Poornima rolled her eyes.

“You are impossible.”

She took out the small cake she had brought.

They sat together on the bench.

Simple.

Quiet.

Perfect.

They cut the cake.

He fed her first.

Then Aryan.

Then Mannat.

And finally, she fed him.

After that, Poornima handed him a small gift.

“Open it,” she said.

Veeresh opened it slowly.

Inside was a tux.

A watch.

And a greeting card.

He picked up the card.

Opened it.

And froze.

A sonography picture slipped out.

His eyes stayed on it.

His hands stilled.

He read the words.

“Happy birthday to the best Abbu. Cannot wait to meet you.”

For a moment, he did not breathe.

Then he looked at her.

Poornima smiled softly, her eyes filled with something deeper than words.

Veeresh’s eyes softened.

No.

They broke.

In the most beautiful way.

He pulled her toward him and kissed her again.

Deep.

Emotional.

Overwhelming.

Then he knelt slightly in front of her and placed his hand gently on her stomach.

He kissed her belly softly.

“This… is the best birthday ever,” he said, his voice full.

“I love you, Poornima.”

She smiled through her tears.

“I love you too, gadha.”

Mannat laughed beside them.

Aryan smiled.

And under the quiet night sky,

With nothing grand around them,

A family found its way back.

Stronger.

Fuller.

And complete in a way

They had never been before.