Chapter 46 – The Unspoken Distance

A soft knock came on the door just as the room had settled into quiet, and Veeresh stepped back to open it, his expression shifting the moment he saw her. “Mrs Thakur,” he said out of habit, moving aside.

Devki stood there for a second before her eyes moved past him. “Poornima?” she asked gently.

“Come inside, maa,” Poornima replied without hesitation.

Devki stepped in, her gaze immediately softening when it fell on Veda. She walked closer, lifted the baby carefully into her arms, and kissed her cheeks, holding her a little longer than necessary. “She is just like Rajeshwari,” she murmured, her voice carrying something old, something unfinished.

Poornima watched quietly.

Devki then turned toward her and extended a small box. “This is for you.”

Poornima took it with both hands. “Thank you, maa.”

Devki gave a faint smile. “Nirmala told me… to give it to Veeresh’s wife.” Her words were simple, but they carried weight.

Veeresh didn’t react.

Didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t even look at her.

The silence didn’t go unnoticed.

Devki shifted slightly, then said, “You both… take Veda and visit the kuldevi mandir.”

“Yes, Mrs Thakur,” Veeresh replied immediately.

Something flickered across Devki’s face.

Small.

But visible.

Poornima noticed it.

The way her eyes dimmed just a little.

The way she held Veda tighter for a second before handing her back.

She didn’t say anything.

Just nodded and walked out.

The door closed.

Silence stayed.

Poornima looked at Veeresh. “Why don’t you call her mom?”

He didn’t answer immediately. He walked inside, sat down, then said, “I don’t know… I’ve been calling her Mrs Thakur for years.”

That was it.

No explanation.

No emotion added.

“Okay,” Poornima said quietly.

But her eyes didn’t leave the door for a moment.

She had seen it.

That small hurt.

And she didn’t forget things like that.

“I’ll find out,” she thought, not saying it aloud.

After a while, Veeresh looked at her. “Sunday… we’ll go.”

“To the temple?”

He nodded.

“Okay.”

The night slowed down after that.

Poornima fed Veda, holding her close until the baby relaxed completely and fell asleep against her, warm and safe, and Veeresh lay beside them, watching both of them for a moment before pulling them gently closer.

No words.

Just closeness.

Poornima rested beside him, one hand still on Veda, the other near his chest.

And slowly—

All three drifted into sleep.