Chapter 44 – It's Okay Not to Be Ready

The drive home was quiet.

The doctor had confirmed the pregnancy, but neither of them spoke for several minutes.

Poornima looked out of the window, watching the roads pass by.

Finally, she broke the silence.

Poornima: "Veer..."

He glanced at her while driving.

Veeresh: "Hmm?"

She took a deep breath.

Poornima: "I'm still not ready."

He didn't interrupt.

She continued slowly.

Poornima: "Maybe... it will take time."

Her voice trembled.

Poornima: "I don't know how I'll do it."

She looked down at her hands.

Poornima: "Everything happened so suddenly."

A tear rolled down her cheek.

Poornima: "One moment I was thinking about Aradhya's wedding..."

She smiled sadly.

Poornima: "...and the next moment, I'm thinking about becoming a mother all over again."

She let out a shaky breath.

Poornima: "I'm sorry."

Veeresh looked at her with concern.

Poornima: "It's just..."

She wiped her tears.

Poornima: "...too many emotions."

Her voice cracked.

Poornima: "It's just so much, Veer."

Without saying a word, Veeresh slowly pulled the car to the side of the road.

He switched off the engine.

The silence inside the car felt peaceful.

He turned completely towards her.

Poornima looked at him with tear-filled eyes.

Veeresh gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Then he leaned forward and softly kissed her forehead.

He rested his forehead against hers for a moment.

Veeresh: "Poons..."

His voice was gentle.

Veeresh: "Do you know what I heard just now?"

She looked at him, confused.

He smiled softly.

Veeresh: "I didn't hear a woman saying she doesn't want this child."

He held her hand.

Veeresh: "I heard a woman who is overwhelmed."

Another tear escaped her eyes.

He wiped it away immediately.

Veeresh: "And there is nothing wrong with that."

He spoke slowly, making sure every word reached her heart.

Veeresh: "You don't have to be excited today."

Veeresh: "You don't have to feel ready today."

Veeresh: "You don't have to have all the answers today."

He smiled reassuringly.

Veeresh: "You're allowed to be scared."

Veeresh: "You're allowed to cry."

Veeresh: "You're allowed to take your time."

Poornima listened quietly.

Veeresh: "Please don't apologize for your emotions."

He squeezed her hand gently.

Veeresh: "After everything we've lived through, it would be strange if you weren't overwhelmed."

His eyes softened.

Veeresh: "Being strong doesn't mean you never feel afraid."

Veeresh: "It means we face that fear together."

He gently placed his hand over hers.

Veeresh: "If today you can only take one step, then we'll take one step."

He smiled.

Veeresh: "Tomorrow, we'll take another."

He looked into her eyes.

Veeresh: "I'm not expecting you to carry this alone."

He touched his chest.

Veeresh: "This is our baby."

Then he pointed at both of them.

Veeresh: "Our responsibility."

"Our joy."

"Our worries."

"Our sleepless nights."

"Our happiness."

He laughed softly.

Veeresh: "So stop saying 'How will I do it?'"

He gently lifted her chin.

Veeresh: "Say, 'How will we do it?'"

Poornima's tears continued to fall, but this time they were quieter.

She nodded slowly.

Poornima: "How will we do it?"

Veeresh smiled.

Veeresh: "Exactly."

He held her hand and kissed it gently.

Veeresh: "One day at a time, Poons."

He smiled with warmth.

Veeresh: "Just like we found our way back to each other... we'll find our way through this too."

For the first time since leaving the hospital, Poornima felt the weight on her heart become a little lighter. She still wasn't ready—but she no longer felt that she had to become ready all at once, because Veeresh had made one thing clear: she would never have to face it alone.