Chapter 36 – A Promise Kept

The celebrations continued throughout the day, with music, dancing, and laughter filling the house.

As promised, that night, after everyone had retired to their rooms, Veeresh and Poornima went to their bedroom.

On the table lay fresh mehendi cones and a small bowl of alta.

Poornima smiled.

Poornima: "You really remembered."

Veeresh looked at her.

Veeresh: "I promised you, Poons."

He spread a soft cloth on the bed.

Veeresh: "Now sit."

She sat comfortably on the bed and extended her hands.

Veeresh gently took one of her hands into his.

Holding the mehendi cone carefully, he began drawing.

His movements were slow and patient.

Poornima watched him in surprise.

Poornima: "Since when do you know how to apply mehendi?"

Without looking up, he smiled.

Veeresh: "I learned."

She looked at him curiously.

He continued tracing delicate floral patterns, graceful vines, paisleys, and intricate designs across her palms.

Every line was neat and carefully placed.

Slowly, her hands were covered in bridal-style mehendi, reaching almost to her elbows.

Poornima admired the beautiful patterns.

She smiled warmly.

Then Veeresh looked at her feet.

Veeresh: "Now your feet."

She extended them towards him.

He gently applied a simple mehendi design on both feet, elegant and graceful.

After finishing the mehendi, he picked up the bowl of alta.

With great care, he applied the red alta neatly around her feet, completing the traditional bridal look.

Poornima looked down at her hands and feet.

Her eyes widened.

The designs were beautiful.

She looked at Veeresh.

Poornima: "It's beautiful, Veer."

Veeresh finally looked up and smiled.

Seeing her happy made him happier than anything else.

He carefully placed the mehendi cone aside.

Then he adjusted the pillows behind her so she could sit comfortably without disturbing the designs.

Whenever she tried to move her hands, he immediately stopped her.

Veeresh: "No."

She smiled.

Poornima: "Veer..."

Veeresh: "Your mehendi shouldn't get spoiled."

He carefully held her wrists so the wet mehendi wouldn't touch anything.

He even moved a strand of hair away from her face for her, making sure she didn't accidentally smudge the designs.

Every little thing, he did with quiet care.

Poornima watched him fondly.

Her heart felt full.

Softly, she smiled.

Poornima: "Thanks, Veer."

He looked into her eyes.

A gentle smile appeared on his face.

Veeresh: "Always, Poons."

The room fell silent.

It wasn't the silence of distance anymore.

It was the peaceful silence of two people who had found each other again, with Veeresh making sure that not even a single line of the mehendi he had lovingly applied on his wife's hands would be spoiled.