Chapter 26: Stars of Doubt

That night, the haveli was quiet.

Veeresh and Poornima lay on the bed, maintaining a respectful distance between them. Neither crossed into the other’s space. The silence between them was calm, but not completely settled.

Poornima stared at the ceiling, her mind refusing to rest.

Veeresh had spoken with certainty in the evening. His words had been steady, protective, almost reassuring.

But still…

Her heart did not fully believe peace so easily.

She turned slightly, glancing at him in the dim light. He was already still, breathing evenly, as if sleep had already found him.

A small thought rose in her mind.

He will not hurt me.

She knew that.

Somewhere deep inside, she felt it.

But another thought followed immediately, sharper and more painful.

What if one day he chooses his people… and leaves me?

Her chest tightened slightly.

It wasn’t about trust in him alone.

It was about everything she had already lost in life.

A betrayal once had been enough to change how she looked at love forever.

And now, for the first time after years, she had allowed herself to step forward again.

That was what scared her the most.

Not love.

But losing it after finding it again.

She turned away slowly, unable to sleep.

Carefully, she got up from the bed and walked out to the balcony.

The night air outside was cooler.

The sky above Rajgarh was full of stars, quiet and endless.

Poornima sat down on the balcony floor, pulling her dupatta closer around herself.

She looked up.

And for a long time, she said nothing.

Her thoughts kept returning to Veeresh’s words.

“You are here because you are my wife.”

“We are not living for villagers’ opinions.”

“I will handle it.”

Each sentence replayed in her mind like a loop.

Strong.

Certain.

But still…

Life had taught her that even strong promises could break.

She hugged her knees closer, resting her chin on them.

Her eyes remained fixed on the sky.

A quiet question formed inside her.

Can I really trust again?

The wind moved gently through the courtyard below.

Somewhere inside the haveli, Veeresh was still sleeping.

Or maybe not.

She didn’t know.

But for the first time since arriving in Rajgarh, Poornima allowed herself to feel something she had long avoided.

Not fear of him.

But fear of losing what had just begun.

And under the vast sky full of stars, she sat alone with her thoughts, trying to believe that this time… life might not break her again.