Chapter 49: Stand By Her

Poornima slowly climbed the stairs.

Her heart was heavy.

Not because of Rhea alone.

But because she knew the man upstairs was hurting just as much.

When she entered their room, she found Veeresh standing near the balcony.

A cigarette burned between his fingers.

His shoulders looked tired.

Defeated.

The strong Sarpanch of Rajgarh was nowhere to be seen.

Today he was just a father whose heart had been broken.

Poornima quietly walked towards him.

For a few seconds she simply stood there.

Then she wrapped her arms around him from behind.

Resting her forehead against his back.

"Thakur ji..."

Veeresh didn't respond.

The cigarette trembled slightly in his hand.

"Please."

Her voice was soft.

"Once listen to me."

The silence stretched.

Then suddenly Veeresh sat down heavily on the chair.

As if all his strength had left him.

Poornima immediately knelt beside him.

And for the first time since she had known him, she saw tears in his eyes.

Not anger.

Not frustration.

Pain.

Pure pain.

"I failed as a father."

His voice cracked.

The words broke Poornima's heart.

She immediately shook her head.

"No."

"Please don't say that."

A tear rolled down Veeresh's cheek.

"I did."

He laughed bitterly.

"I taught her everything."

"How to walk."

"How to study."

"How to protect herself."

His voice trembled.

"But I couldn't teach her who to trust."

Poornima held his hand tightly.

"No."

"You are a good father."

Veeresh closed his eyes.

The tears kept falling.

"I should have protected her."

"She is my daughter."

"I promised Janaki I would always protect them."

His voice broke completely at the mention of Janaki.

"And today look at her."

Poornima moved closer.

Her own eyes were wet now.

"Thakur ji."

She gently wiped his tears.

"Please."

"This is not your fault."

"She fell in love."

"She trusted someone."

"She made a mistake."

"That doesn't make you a bad father."

Veeresh lowered his head.

Like a man carrying the weight of the world.

Poornima placed her hand on his cheek.

Making him look at her.

"Listen to me."

Her voice was firm now.

"She is our child."

The words made him look at her.

"Our child."

Not his.

Not hers.

Theirs.

Poornima continued softly.

"And right now she needs us."

"More than ever."

"Please don't abandon her."

The moment those words left her lips, Veeresh immediately looked away.

As if the thought itself hurt him.

"I would never abandon her."

His voice came out instantly.

Almost offended.

Poornima nodded.

"I know."

"Then don't let her think that."

A fresh tear escaped Veeresh's eyes.

Because deep down he knew she was right.

Rhea was terrified.

Broken.

Ashamed.

And she needed her father.

Not his anger.

Not his disappointment.

His love.

Veeresh rubbed his face tiredly.

"I need time, Poons."

Poornima gently hugged him.

Resting her head against his shoulder.

For a few moments neither spoke.

They simply sat there.

Sharing the same pain.

Then Veeresh suddenly looked at her.

"Thank you."

Poornima smiled sadly.

"Don't."

He frowned.

"What?"

"Don't thank me."

She squeezed his hand.

"You would have done the same."

Veeresh looked at her quietly.

Then shook his head.

"No."

"You put that man behind bars."

His voice held gratitude.

And pride.

"You protected my daughter."

"Our daughter."

Poornima smiled softly.

"It was needed."

"Nobody hurts our children and walks away."

For the first time since the afternoon, a faint smile appeared on Veeresh's face.

He looked at her lovingly.

Then she stood up and pulled his hand.

"Come."

Veeresh didn't move.

"Poons."

"I need time."

"No."

She replied immediately.

Veeresh blinked.

Poornima rarely argued with him.

Today she did.

"She needs us now."

"Not tomorrow."

"Not next week."

"Now."

Veeresh looked at her.

The determination in her eyes left no room for argument.

"She has made a mistake."

Poornima said softly.

"But she is still our daughter."

"Come."

For a few moments Veeresh remained silent.

Then finally he stood up.

Together they walked downstairs.

Side by side.

Like husband and wife.

Like parents.

Ready to face the storm together.

Rhea was sitting on the bed downstairs.

Her eyes were swollen from crying.

Zara sat beside her.

Ajay stood near the window.

Airav and Ritesh remained silent.

The moment Rhea saw Veeresh enter, she immediately became nervous.

Her hands started trembling.

She lowered her head.

Unable to look at him.

The room became silent.

Everyone watched.

Waiting.

Holding their breath.

Veeresh slowly walked towards his daughter.

Rhea's tears began falling again.

Then Veeresh spoke.

"I'm sorry."

The words stunned everyone.

Including Rhea.

She looked up.

Unable to believe what she had heard.

Veeresh's eyes were red.

His voice rough.

"I was angry."

The honesty in his voice made Rhea cry harder.

"Dad..."

Before he could say anything else, Rhea fell at his feet.

Holding his legs tightly.

"I'm sorry."

The words came out between sobs.

"I'm sorry, Papa."

"I am so sorry."

Veeresh immediately bent down.

"No."

His own voice broke.

"Get up."

But Rhea wouldn't.

She continued crying.

"I disappointed you."

"No."

Veeresh finally lifted her into his arms.

Like he used to when she was little.

And suddenly both father and daughter were crying.

Holding each other tightly.

"It's okay."

Veeresh whispered.

His hand moved through her hair.

"I'm here."

The words broke whatever strength Rhea had left.

She buried her face in his chest.

The same chest she had hidden behind as a child whenever she was scared.

And for the first time since all this began, she felt safe.

"Dad..."

Veeresh kissed her forehead.

"I'm here."

The room was silent except for their crying.

Even Ajay wiped his eyes.

Zara held Poornima's hand.

Airav looked away.

And Ritesh quietly sat beside his sister.

After a long time, Rhea finally whispered something.

Her voice was barely audible.

"Papa..."

Veeresh looked down at her.

"Hmm?"

Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

She looked broken.

Exhausted.

Scared.

"I don't want this child."

The words shattered the room into silence once again.

Veeresh's arms tightened around her.

Not because he had an answer.

Not because he knew what to do.

But because he could see how frightened she was.

And at that moment, more than anything else, she needed her parents beside her.

Not as judges.

Not as people angry with her.

But as the family who would help her find a way forward together.