Chapter 40 – The Scolding

Poornima was still sitting on the bed, holding the pregnancy test in her hand.

Veeresh, who had just finished comforting her, suddenly smiled.

A very familiar, mischievous smile.

Poornima immediately noticed it.

Poornima: "What?"

Veeresh scratched the back of his neck.

Veeresh: "Nothing..."

She narrowed her eyes.

Poornima: "Veeresh."

He couldn't hold it in anymore.

A grin spread across his face.

Veeresh: "I think... our anniversary night was memorable."

Poornima stared at him in disbelief.

For a second, she was speechless.

Then she picked up a pillow and hit him lightly.

Poornima: "You couldn't control yourself!"

Veeresh laughed.

Poornima: "Pervert man!"

He laughed even harder.

She folded her arms and continued scolding him.

Poornima: "Look what you've done to me!"

She pointed at the pregnancy test.

Poornima: "You're forty!"

Then she pointed at herself.

Poornima: "And I'm thirty-seven years old!"

She stood up dramatically.

Poornima: "We already have four children!"

She started counting on her fingers.

Poornima: "Aradhya... Rudra... Adwait... and Thoshini."

She looked back at him.

Poornima: "Our daughter is getting married."

She sighed dramatically.

Poornima: "We're stepping into becoming in-laws."

She shook her head.

Poornima: "And you still think you're young!"

Veeresh tried very hard not to laugh.

That only made Poornima glare at him.

Poornima: "Don't smile!"

He immediately pressed his lips together.

She continued,

Poornima: "Other people our age are happily preparing for their children's weddings."

She pointed at him again.

Poornima: "And you..."

She paused.

Poornima: "...you've given me another surprise!"

Veeresh finally spoke.

Veeresh: "A beautiful surprise."

Poornima rolled her eyes.

Poornima: "Don't 'beautiful surprise' me."

He gently stood up and walked towards her.

Veeresh: "You're angry?"

She looked at him.

Poornima: "Very."

He smiled softly.

Veeresh: "You'll stay angry forever?"

She tried to answer, but seeing his expression, she couldn't help smiling.

Veeresh noticed immediately.

Veeresh: "There it is."

Poornima: "What?"

Veeresh: "The smile."

He gently held both her hands.

Veeresh: "You can scold me as much as you want."

He looked into her eyes.

Veeresh: "But if this little one is truly coming into our lives..."

He rested his hand gently over hers.

Veeresh: "...I'll love this child just as much as I love Aradhya, Rudra, Adwait, and Thoshini."

Poornima looked at him quietly.

Her anger slowly melted away.

She sighed.

Poornima: "You're impossible, Veer."

He smiled.

Veeresh: "And you're still the only one who can scold me like this."

Despite herself, Poornima laughed, and Veeresh wrapped her in a gentle hug, happy that even in the middle of an unexpected surprise, they could still find reasons to smile together.