Chapter 5 – Only Until the Wedding

After dinner, Aradhya softly knocked on the bedroom door.

Aradhya: "Mom... Dad... can I come in?"

Poornima: "Come in, beta."

Aradhya stepped inside and looked at both of them nervously.

Aradhya: "I want to ask you both for something."

Veeresh and Poornima looked at her.

Aradhya: "Richard knows about your divorce... but his parents don't."

Poornima frowned slightly.

Poornima: "They don't?"

Aradhya shook her head.

Aradhya: "No, Mom. They come from a very traditional family. Everyone lives together, and they don't believe in divorce. Richard didn't tell them because he didn't want them to misunderstand either of you."

She held both her parents' hands.

Aradhya: "Please... I don't want anything to affect my wedding. Can you both just be normal until the wedding is over?"

The room fell silent.

Veeresh looked at his daughter for a moment before nodding.

Veeresh: "Okay."

Poornima turned towards him in surprise. She hadn't expected him to agree so quickly.

She looked back at Aradhya and smiled gently.

Poornima: "Done, beta."

Aradhya's face lit up with happiness.

Aradhya: "Thank you! I knew you both would do this for me."

She hugged them one by one before happily leaving the room.

As soon as the door closed, the silence returned.

Poornima folded her arms.

Poornima: "Now go to your room."

Veeresh sighed dramatically.

Veeresh: "Did you hear what our daughter said? Now you'll have to bear with me."

He stretched slightly and winced.

Veeresh: "My back is hurting. Just apply some ointment and give it a little massage."

Without waiting for an answer, he lay face down on the bed.

Poornima rolled her eyes.

"Unbelievable... what an idiot," she thought.

She walked to the cabinet, took out the pain-relief ointment, and returned.

Applying a small amount to his back, she said firmly,

Poornima: "Only until Aradhya's wedding. After that, nothing."

Veeresh simply nodded.

She began rubbing the ointment gently over the sore area.

A few moments later, he spoke.

Veeresh: "Massage properly."

Poornima continued without looking at him.

Poornima: "I am doing it."

After another moment, he said,

Veeresh: "A little harder."

Poornima let out an annoyed sigh but increased the pressure slightly.

Poornima: "There. Happy now?"

A faint smile appeared on Veeresh's face, though he wisely chose not to tease her further. For the sake of their daughter, both of them silently accepted the uneasy truce that had begun.