Chapter 31: A Place That Felt Like Home

The Bullet moved slowly through the streets of Rajgarh while Veeresh showed Poornima different parts of the village.

"This is the primary school," he said.

"And that building?"

Poornima asked.

"The high school."

She looked at it carefully as they passed.

Teaching had been such a large part of her life that schools immediately caught her attention.

A few minutes later they stopped near a larger building.

Veeresh parked the Bullet and looked at her.

"Come."

Poornima followed him.

The moment she entered the campus, her eyes fell on a room with a board outside.

Library.

For a second, her face lit up.

A genuine smile appeared.

Without even realizing it, she walked toward it.

Veeresh watched quietly.

The excitement in her eyes reminded him of the girl he used to see in school libraries years ago.

Some things truly never changed.

Poornima stepped inside.

Rows of books filled the shelves.

She slowly ran her fingers along the spines, looking at the collection.

Her expression had completely changed.

She looked happy.

Truly happy.

A happiness Veeresh had not seen since she arrived in Rajgarh.

Then she moved toward a classroom nearby.

A teacher was conducting a lesson.

The children immediately became curious about the new visitor.

Poornima smiled at them.

The children smiled back.

Within minutes she was talking to them.

Asking questions.

Looking at their notebooks.

Encouraging them.

It looked effortless.

Natural.

As if she belonged there.

Veeresh stood near the doorway watching her.

For a moment he forgot everything else.

The village.

The responsibilities.

The meetings waiting for him.

All he noticed was how alive she looked while speaking to those children.

A few local teachers came forward.

One teacher said,

"Namaste Thakur sa."

Veeresh nodded.

"This is my wife, Poornima."

The teachers greeted her warmly.

Poornima smiled politely.

They spoke for a few minutes about the school and the students.

As the conversation continued, Veeresh noticed something.

A few men nearby were staring at Poornima.

Not speaking.

Just watching.

She was busy talking to children and didn't notice.

Veeresh did.

His expression immediately changed.

He turned and looked directly at them.

One look.

Nothing more.

The men instantly looked elsewhere and moved away.

Veeresh said nothing.

But his message was understood perfectly.

A little later he walked toward Poornima.

She was still surrounded by children.

One little girl was showing her a notebook.

Poornima patiently looked through it.

Veeresh waited until she finished.

Then he said,

"Poornima."

She turned.

"Yes?"

"You want to teach?"

Her answer came immediately.

"Yes."

There wasn't even a second of hesitation.

Teaching was the one thing she never had to think twice about.

Veeresh nodded.

"Come with me."

She followed him.

Together they walked toward the principal's office.

The principal immediately stood up when Veeresh entered.

"Namaste Thakur sa."

Veeresh nodded.

Then he gestured toward Poornima.

"My wife is a teacher."

The principal smiled.

"Very good."

Veeresh continued,

"She wants to teach here."

The principal immediately replied,

"She can directly join."

Before Poornima could even react, Veeresh shook his head.

"No."

The principal looked confused.

Veeresh's voice remained calm but firm.

"She will go through all the process."

"I don't want my name to be used."

Poornima looked at him.

Surprised.

Veeresh continued,

"She has experience also."

"So let her attend it."

The principal immediately nodded.

"Of course."

He looked at Poornima respectfully.

"Madam can attend the interview tomorrow."

Veeresh nodded.

"Alright."

They left the office together.

The afternoon sun bathed the school grounds in golden light.

As they walked outside, Poornima looked at him.

Really looked at him.

He had not used his influence.

Not even for her.

Instead, he had made sure she would be respected for her own qualifications.

For her own hard work.

For who she was.

Not because she was Mrs. Thakur.

As they walked, Veeresh casually placed his hand on her shoulder.

A simple gesture.

Natural.

Protective.

Possessive.

As though it was the most normal thing in the world.

Poornima glanced at him.

Then she remembered something.

The men who had been staring at her.

The way Veeresh had looked at them.

The way they immediately looked away.

And now this.

His hand on her shoulder.

Walking beside her.

Completely unconcerned about who saw it.

A small smile appeared on her face.

Possessive guy.

The thought made her shake her head slightly.

For years she had known men who made promises.

Men who wanted control without responsibility.

But Veeresh was different.

He didn't speak much.

He didn't make grand declarations.

He simply stood beside her.

Quietly.

Steadily.

As if it was understood that wherever she was now, he would be there too.

And strangely enough, for the first time in many years, that thought didn't frighten her.

It made her smile.