Chapter 52 – One Table

Veeresh left for college after arguing for another ten minutes about “three children,” and Poornima had finally pushed him out of the room saying, “Go teach economics instead of teaching population control.” He had laughed, kissed her forehead quickly before leaving, and Veda had giggled watching both of them.

After he left, the room became quieter. Poornima spent some time playing with Veda, making faces at her until the baby laughed loudly, her tiny hands pulling at Poornima’s saree pallu. Later, she fed her carefully and rocked her gently until Veda slowly fell asleep against her chest.

Poornima laid her down softly and covered her with a light blanket before coming downstairs.

The kitchen was already active, but today she joined the maids herself, helping prepare a simple lunch instead of something elaborate. Dal, sabzi, rice, fresh rotis, curd, salad—nothing grand, just warm food that felt homely.

But while cutting vegetables, her mind stayed somewhere else.

That dining table.

That silence.

Brothers avoiding each other like strangers.

Kids already learning that distance.

She didn’t like it.

At all.

“Ma’am?” one of the maids called softly.

Poornima looked up. “Hmm?”

“Should we keep everyone’s lunch separately like always?”

That sentence made her stop.

Like always.

So this had become normal here.

“No,” she said slowly.

The maids exchanged glances.

Poornima wiped her hands and leaned slightly against the counter, thinking carefully now. “Tell me one thing,” she asked. “Do they avoid each other because of fights… or just habit?”

The older maid sighed softly. “Both, ma’am. Earlier they used to eat together. After saab died… business issues started, misunderstandings happened, then everyone slowly separated.”

Poornima nodded quietly.

Then an idea formed.

Simple.

But effective.

By afternoon, she personally called each person one by one.

Not formally.

Naturally.

To Rakesh she said, “Bhai, I made lunch. Please come taste it once.”

To Nitin, “I need help deciding if the dal has too much salt.”

To Rahul, “Kids are eating together today. Come before they finish everything.”

None of them realized immediately.

That they had all been called at the same time.

Then she told the maids something else.

“Remove the separate trays.”

“But ma’am—”

“Only one dining setup today.”

The maids looked nervous but obeyed.

Poornima arranged the table herself again, but this time differently. Not according to separation.

Together.

Water glasses placed equally.

Food in the center.

One table.

One meal.

Then she waited quietly near the kitchen entrance, hearing footsteps slowly approaching from different directions at different times.

First Rakesh entered.

Then Nitin stopped near the dining hall after seeing him already there.

A few seconds later Rahul walked in too.

Silence.

Immediate.

The old tension returned so fast it was visible.

All three looked at each other.

Then at the single dining arrangement.

Then at Poornima.

And she smiled calmly like nothing was wrong.

“Lunch is ready.”