Chapter 32: An Unexpected Call

By the time they returned to the haveli, the afternoon sun had started to soften.

Poornima entered her room and immediately noticed several boxes placed neatly near the wall.

She stopped.

"My books..."

A smile appeared on her face.

Her books from Delhi had arrived.

She quickly went toward them and opened the boxes.

One by one, she carefully removed the books, dusting a few lightly before arranging them neatly on the shelves.

History.

Literature.

Biographies.

Novels.

Each book seemed to carry a memory.

She became so absorbed in arranging them that she forgot about everything else.

Meanwhile, Veeresh was sitting in the balcony reading the newspaper.

The village was peaceful.

Only the occasional sounds of people passing outside could be heard.

Suddenly, he heard a phone ringing.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

It kept ringing.

Veeresh looked toward the room.

Poornima was still busy arranging her books and hadn't noticed.

The phone continued vibrating on the table.

Finally, he picked it up.

An unknown number.

After a moment, he answered.

"Hello."

Immediately a male voice came from the other side.

"Poornima..."

There was a brief pause.

"How are you?"

The man's voice sounded hesitant.

Then he continued,

"Airav said you're married."

"Please... can you meet me for five minutes?"

"Please don't say no."

Veeresh's expression became serious.

He spoke calmly.

"I am her husband speaking."

The line immediately went silent.

A second later the man replied nervously,

"Sir... I am sorry."

There was genuine embarrassment in his voice.

Then he spoke again.

"Can you please ask her to talk to me for five minutes?"

"I won't bother her again."

Veeresh lowered the newspaper completely.

"Who are you?"

The answer came after a brief pause.

"Her ex-husband."

"Arhan Qureshi."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Veeresh looked toward the room where Poornima was arranging her books.

Then he said firmly,

"I will tell her."

"If she doesn't want to talk, don't disturb her again."

On the other side, Arhan sounded desperate.

"Please, sir."

"Just once."

"Please."

Veeresh remained silent for a moment.

Then he replied,

"Let me see."

The call ended.

Veeresh slowly put the phone down.

His gaze remained fixed on it for several seconds.

The newspaper had been forgotten.

His thoughts drifted.

Arhan Qureshi.

The man who had once been her husband.

The man whose betrayal had left scars that still affected her years later.

And now he wanted to speak to her.

Why?

The question immediately appeared in his mind.

Did he regret it?

Did he want forgiveness?

Did he want her back?

Veeresh's jaw tightened slightly at the last thought.

Not because he believed Poornima would go back.

He didn't.

Not even for a second.

He knew enough about her to know that.

A woman who had rebuilt her life from the ground up was not going to return to the person who had broken it.

Still...

The call felt unexpected.

Uncomfortable.

A few moments later he looked toward the room again.

Poornima was standing on a stool arranging books on the top shelf.

Completely unaware of the phone call.

Completely unaware that a piece of her past had suddenly appeared again.

Veeresh folded the newspaper and set it aside.

He took a deep breath.

Then shook his head slightly.

No.

He didn't want to think anything wrong.

Not without knowing the facts.

Not without speaking to her.

And certainly not without hearing what she wanted.

So he simply sat there quietly, watching her happily arrange her books, while wondering how he should tell her that her past had just called the house.