Chapter 7: Zara's Tears

That evening in Delhi, things did not go as smoothly as they had in Rajgarh.

Poornima had accidentally seen messages on Zara's phone.

Messages from Ajay.

Discussions about profiles.

Conversations about remarriage.

For a few seconds, she simply stared at the screen.

Then came shock.

Then hurt.

Then anger.

By the time Zara entered the living room, Poornima was standing there with tears in her eyes and the phone in her hand.

"Mumma—"

"What is this, Zara?"

Zara froze.

The room suddenly felt smaller.

Poornima's voice trembled.

"You made a profile for me?"

"Mumma, please let me explain—"

"Explain what?"

Poornima's eyes filled with tears.

"That my own daughter thinks I need to be sent away?"

"No!"

"Am I a burden?"

The question broke Zara's heart.

Poornima continued before Zara could answer.

"Tell me honestly."

"Mumma—"

"Am I a burden in this house?"

"No!"

"Do you want me gone?"

Poornima's voice cracked.

"If that's what you want, I'll leave."

"Mumma!"

"I won't trouble anyone."

Poornima wiped her tears angrily.

"I'll live somewhere else. But don't make decisions about my life without asking me."

Zara's eyes immediately filled with tears.

She rushed forward and held her mother's hands.

"Mumma, please stop."

Poornima tried to pull away.

But Zara held on.

"No."

"Mumma, look at me."

Poornima reluctantly met her daughter's eyes.

And what she saw there was not guilt.

It was heartbreak.

"You think I did this because you're a burden?"

Zara whispered.

Poornima remained silent.

A tear rolled down Zara's cheek.

"Mumma, you're the most important person in my life."

The anger on Poornima's face began to soften.

"You sacrificed everything for us."

"Zara..."

"You gave up your dreams."

"You worked day and night."

"You never bought things for yourself."

"You never complained."

More tears escaped Zara's eyes.

"And now when I try to do one thing for your happiness, you think I want to get rid of you?"

Poornima looked down.

For the first time, she realized how deeply her words had hurt her daughter.

Zara's voice shook.

"I don't want you to leave."

"I can't imagine my life without you."

She hugged her mother tightly.

"I just don't want you to be lonely anymore."

The words hung in the air.

Poornima closed her eyes.

Lonely.

The one feeling she never admitted.

Not even to herself.

Zara continued softly.

"When I go to college..."

"When Airav bhai is busy..."

"When everyone is living their own life..."

Who sits alone at home, Mumma?"

Poornima had no answer.

"I see it."

"I see you pretending you're fine."

"I see you smiling when you're sad."

"I see you changing the subject whenever someone asks about your future."

Tears finally slipped from Poornima's eyes.

Zara gently wiped them away.

"You are not a burden."

"Never."

"You are my home."

The room fell silent.

Mother and daughter stood holding each other.

After a long moment, Poornima whispered,

"You should have told me."

"I know."

"I'm sorry."

"I wasn't trying to hurt you."

"I was trying to make you happy."

Poornima looked at her daughter.

The same little girl she had protected for years.

Only now that little girl was trying to protect her.

A small smile appeared through her tears.

"You really created a profile?"

Zara gave a nervous nod.

Poornima shook her head.

"Pagal ladki."

A watery laugh escaped both of them.

The tension slowly faded.

Then Zara spoke carefully.

"Mumma, I'm not asking you to marry anyone."

Poornima listened.

"I'm only asking you not to close the door before even looking outside."

Poornima remained thoughtful.

For the first time, she didn't immediately reject the idea.

She wasn't ready.

Not even close.

But she understood something important.

Her daughter hadn't acted out of embarrassment or obligation.

She had acted out of love.

And that made all the difference.

As mother and daughter sat together that night, neither knew that far away in Rajgarh, Veeresh Thakur was also staring at a photograph and thinking about a future he had never imagined before.

To be continued...