Chapter 15: What Do I Want?

That evening, the house was unusually quiet.

The sun had set, and the warm yellow light from the living room lamp filled the space.

Poornima sat on the balcony, a book resting unopened in her lap.

For once, she wasn't reading.

She was thinking.

Zara stepped outside carrying two cups of tea.

She handed one to her mother and sat beside her.

For a few moments, neither spoke.

Then Zara finally gathered the courage.

"Mumma?"

"Hmm?"

"What have you decided?"

Poornima looked at her daughter.

There was no accusation in Zara's eyes.

Only concern.

Only love.

Poornima looked away toward the darkening sky.

After a long silence, she spoke softly.

"Zara... I honestly don't know."

Zara listened quietly.

For years she had watched her mother carry everyone else's burdens.

Very rarely did Poornima speak about her own.

"I don't know what I want."

The words came out almost like a confession.

"I spent so many years thinking about you and Airav."

"School."

"Fees."

"Responsibilities."

"Life."

A sad smile appeared on her face.

"I never stopped to ask myself what I wanted."

Zara felt her chest tighten.

Poornima stared into her tea.

"The truth is..."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"The betrayal from your father broke something inside me."

The words hung heavily between them.

Poornima rarely spoke about her marriage.

Very rarely.

Yet tonight the walls she had built for years seemed weaker.

"I trusted him."

She laughed softly, but there was no happiness in it.

"I trusted my best friend too."

Zara's eyes immediately filled with tears.

Poornima continued quietly.

"When everything happened, I kept telling myself I was strong."

"I told myself I didn't need anyone."

"I told myself I would focus on my children."

"And I did."

She smiled gently at Zara.

"You and Airav became my whole world."

For a moment neither spoke.

The night breeze moved through the plants around them.

Then Poornima whispered something she had never admitted aloud.

"I don't think I ever healed."

Zara's breath caught.

Poornima's eyes glistened.

"I learned to live with it."

"I moved forward."

"I built a life."

"But healed?"

She slowly shook her head.

"No."

The honesty in her voice broke Zara's heart.

For years she had assumed her mother had simply moved on.

She hadn't realized how much pain still remained beneath the surface.

Poornima looked down.

"Sometimes I wonder if I forgot how to trust."

The words were barely audible.

Zara immediately set her tea aside.

Without saying anything, she moved closer and wrapped her arms around her mother.

Poornima froze.

Then slowly relaxed into the embrace.

For a few moments, neither spoke.

Mother and daughter simply held each other.

Zara rested her head on Poornima's shoulder.

"You don't have to decide today."

Poornima closed her eyes.

"You don't have to decide tomorrow either."

A tear escaped Poornima's eye.

Zara gently squeezed her hand.

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

"I'm not asking you to forget what happened."

"I'm not asking you to pretend you're healed."

Poornima listened silently.

"I'm only asking you to give yourself permission to think about your own happiness."

The words settled deep inside her.

For so many years, happiness had felt like a luxury.

Something meant for other people.

Not for her.

Zara smiled softly.

"You spent years giving me courage."

"Maybe it's my turn now."

Poornima laughed through her tears.

"You're becoming very wise."

"I learned from the best."

That finally made Poornima smile.

A real smile.

Small.

But genuine.

As mother and daughter sat together beneath the Delhi night sky, neither realized that only a few kilometers away, Veeresh was sitting in his hotel room.

Thinking about the same woman.

Thinking about the same questions.

And wondering whether two people carrying old wounds could still find peace in each other's company.

To be continued...