Chapter 38 – An Unexpected Surprise

The house was still filled with the sounds of wedding preparations.

After the chooda ceremony and Devi puja, everyone became busy with the next set of rituals.

Poornima quietly excused herself.

Poornima: "I'll be back in a few minutes."

No one thought much of it.

She slowly walked upstairs to her room.

Closing the door behind her, she paused.

Veeresh's teasing words from earlier echoed in her mind.

"Poons... did you miss your periods?"

She frowned.

She quietly counted the dates in her mind.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She had.

She walked into the washroom.

Standing in front of the mirror, she took a deep breath.

After a few minutes, she looked down at the pregnancy test in her trembling hands.

Two clear lines.

Positive.

Poornima stared at it in complete disbelief.

Her hands began to shake.

Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.

She sat down on the bathroom floor, unable to process what had just happened.

Her thoughts raced.

"How will this happen now?"

"Aradhya's wedding is in a few days..."

"What will Richard's family think?"

"What will society say?"

"Our daughter is becoming a bride... and I'm..."

She covered her face and cried silently.

A few minutes later, Veeresh came upstairs looking for her.

Veeresh: "Poons?"

There was no answer.

He noticed the bedroom was empty.

The washroom door was slightly open.

Concerned, he walked closer.

Veeresh: "Poons?"

He stepped inside.

His eyes immediately fell on Poornima sitting on the floor.

Then he noticed the pregnancy test lying beside her.

He looked at it.

Then at her tear-filled face.

For a moment, he stood frozen.

Without saying a word, he knelt beside her.

Gently, he lifted her into his arms.

Poornima didn't resist.

He carried her to the bed and carefully made her sit down.

Then he sat beside her.

His voice was soft.

Veeresh: "What happened, Poons?"

He gently wiped her tears.

Veeresh: "Tell me."

She couldn't speak.

He held both her hands.

Veeresh: "Tell me what's running through your mind."

Poornima finally looked at him.

Her voice trembled.

Poornima: "Veer..."

She struggled to continue.

Poornima: "How will this..."

She stopped again, overwhelmed.

Veeresh gently squeezed her hand.

Veeresh: "Poons..."

Veeresh: "Tell me properly."

She took a deep breath.

Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

Poornima: "What will people think?"

She lowered her head.

Poornima: "Aradhya's in-laws..."

Poornima: "They've come here for the wedding."

Her voice cracked.

Poornima: "Everyone will talk."

She looked at him helplessly.

Poornima: "They'll wonder how parents of grown-up children... are expecting a baby."

She closed her eyes.

Poornima: "I don't want Aradhya to feel embarrassed because of me."

Poornima: "I don't want anyone to judge her or make comments during her wedding."

Veeresh listened quietly.

He didn't interrupt.

He simply stayed beside her, letting her express every fear that had been building inside her. His hand remained wrapped around hers, silently assuring her that whatever came next, she would not have to face it alone.