Chapter 55: The Truth They Never Knew

The hospital corridor was quiet.

Veeresh refused to leave Poornima's side.

No matter how much the children insisted, he simply shook his head.

"I am staying here."

His voice was firm.

The children exchanged glances.

Finally, Ajay spoke softly.

"Appa, we'll go home and bring some clothes and food."

Veeresh nodded without looking away from Poornima.

His entire world was inside that room.

Nothing else mattered.

Late that night, Ajay, Zara, and Rhea returned to the haveli.

The house felt empty.

Silent.

For the first time since Poornima had entered their lives, the warmth of the haveli felt missing.

The three walked inside quietly.

Just then one of the older maids approached them.

Her eyes looked worried.

"Ajay bhaiya..."

Ajay looked at her.

"Haan?"

The maid hesitated.

Then spoke carefully.

"There is something you should know."

Zara immediately sensed something was wrong.

"What happened?"

The maid looked down.

"Baisa heard some women talking this afternoon."

Ajay frowned.

"What women?"

The maid swallowed.

"Village women."

Rhea's heartbeat increased.

"What did they say?"

The maid's eyes became moist.

Because even repeating those words felt wrong.

"They said..."

She paused.

"They said ever since Thakur sa married Poornima baisa, problems have started."

Ajay froze.

Zara's face lost all color.

Rhea stared at the maid.

Unable to speak.

The maid continued quietly.

"They said first Rhea's matter happened."

"Then Ajay bhaiya's divorce."

"And they blamed baisa."

The silence in the room became suffocating.

Nobody moved.

Nobody breathed.

"They said..."

The maid's voice broke.

"They said Thakur sa should never have married her."

Zara's eyes immediately filled with tears.

"No..."

The maid nodded sadly.

"They said she brought bad luck."

"And..."

The maid stopped.

Unable to continue.

Ajay's voice came out harsh.

"Say it."

The maid looked down.

"They said she should leave."

The words hit all three like a slap.

For a few moments nobody spoke.

The maid continued softly.

"Poornima baisa heard everything."

"She was standing nearby."

The room became completely silent.

Ajay felt his chest tighten.

Suddenly everything made sense.

Her distant smile.

Her silence.

The sadness in her eyes during dinner.

The way she looked lost.

"Oh God..."

Ajay whispered.

His eyes immediately filled.

"Ma..."

Zara covered her mouth.

Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

The image of her mother smiling through her pain appeared before her eyes.

All her life Poornima had suffered because of what people thought.

Because of society.

Because of judgments.

Because of other people's words.

And now it was happening again.

Rhea slowly sat down.

Her legs suddenly felt weak.

The guilt crashed into her all at once.

The women had blamed Poornima because of her.

Because of Ajay.

Because of everything happening in the family.

The maid wiped her eyes.

"After hearing them..."

She paused.

"Poornima baisa looked very hurt."

The maid remembered the scene clearly.

"She didn't say anything."

"She simply walked away."

"And later during dinner..."

The maid's voice trembled.

"That was when she held her chest."

The realization hit everyone at the same time.

Zara burst into tears.

"Mom heard all that alone?"

The maid nodded.

Nobody had been there.

Nobody had defended her.

Nobody had even known.

Ajay sat down heavily on the sofa.

His eyes were red.

For the first time in years, he felt genuine anger.

Not towards himself.

Not towards Naina.

But towards those careless words.

Those cruel women had no idea what Poornima had done for their family.

How she had stood beside Rhea.

How she had protected her dignity.

How she had helped him when his marriage fell apart.

How she loved every one of them as her own.

And yet they had reduced her entire existence to being a bad omen.

"Damn it..."

Ajay whispered.

Tears rolled down his face.

"She was already worried about us."

"And then she heard this."

His voice broke.

"How much pain was she carrying?"

Rhea started crying.

Hard.

Uncontrollably.

"This happened because of me."

"No."

Ajay immediately looked at her.

"Don't."

"But bhai—"

"No."

His voice was firm.

"This is not your fault."

"It is not mine."

"It is not yours."

"It is those people's fault."

Rhea lowered her head and cried.

Because deep down she knew Poornima had suffered because she loved them all.

Zara wiped her tears.

Then stood up.

Her eyes were filled with determination.

"If anyone says one word against Mom again..."

Her voice shook with emotion.

"I won't stay silent."

For years she had watched her mother sacrifice everything.

Now someone had hurt her.

And Zara couldn't bear it.

Ajay slowly nodded.

Neither could he.

Because somewhere in the hospital, his father was sitting beside a woman who had become the heart of their family.

A woman who loved them without conditions.

Without expectations.

Without discrimination.

And she had nearly lost her life carrying pain she never deserved.

At the hospital, Veeresh still sat beside Poornima.

Holding her hand.

Completely unaware of what the children had just learned.

Completely unaware of the poison someone had poured into his wife's heart.

He gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

His eyes filled once again.

"Wake up, Poons."

He whispered.

"Please."

And for the first time, if Veeresh ever learned the truth behind her collapse, the village would witness a side of Veeresh Thakur that very few people had ever seen.

A husband whose wife had been hurt.

And a husband who would never forgive the people responsible for that pain.