Chapter 27: The First Morning

The first rays of sunlight entered the room.

Poornima slowly opened her eyes.

For a moment, she forgot where she was.

Then she remembered.

She was now in the Rathore Palace.

She quietly got ready in a simple cotton saree, tied her hair neatly, wore her mangalsutra, and walked downstairs.

The family was already awake.

Mahesh Rathore was sitting with Ayat and Aarhan, who were happily talking to him.

The moment they saw her, both children ran towards her.

Ayat: "Ammi!"

Aarhan: "Ammi!"

Poornima smiled and hugged them both.

She looked at Mahesh.

Poornima: "Abbu... did they trouble you last night?"

Mahesh laughed warmly.

Mahesh: "Not at all."

He looked at the children affectionately.

Mahesh: "They're wonderful children."

Poornima smiled with relief.

Just then, footsteps echoed from the staircase.

Yash, Aarav, and Aadhya came downstairs.

The three siblings looked towards the living room.

For a brief second, their eyes met Poornima's.

She smiled politely.

Before she could greet them, all three quietly walked past everyone without saying a word.

Neither did they greet Veeresh's family nor Poornima.

They simply left for the dining area in silence.

Poornima lowered her eyes.

She understood.

They needed time.

A few moments later, Veeresh came downstairs.

He greeted everyone.

Veeresh: "Good morning."

Mahendra smiled.

Mahendra: "Good morning."

He then looked at Poornima.

Mahendra: "Beta, today is your first morning in this house."

He pointed towards the kitchen.

Mahendra: "Prepare something sweet and offer it to God before serving everyone."

Poornima folded her hands respectfully.

Poornima: "Ji, Dadu."

She walked towards the kitchen.

As she began taking out the ingredients for kheer, Veeresh quietly entered.

She looked at him.

Before leaving, he said gently,

Veeresh: "One thing."

Poornima waited.

Veeresh: "Yash and Aarav are allergic to dry fruits."

She immediately nodded.

Poornima: "Okay."

Veeresh: "Please don't add dry fruits to their serving."

Poornima: "I won't."

Veeresh gave a small nod and quietly left the kitchen.

Poornima began preparing the kheer.

The aroma of milk, cardamom, and saffron slowly filled the house.

Before adding chopped almonds and cashews to the main pot, she carefully removed two separate bowls.

Those bowls were kept plain, without any dry fruits.

She smiled to herself.

"They may not accept me today... but I can still care for them."

Once the kheer was ready, she carried a silver bowl to the family temple.

She folded her hands and placed it before the deity.

After offering her prayers, she returned to the dining hall.

One by one, she served everyone.

When she reached Yash and Aarav, she quietly placed the separate bowls before them.

Neither of them looked at her.

But they noticed there were no dry fruits.

Mahendra took the first spoonful.

He smiled.

Mahendra: "Excellent."

Mahesh nodded.

Mahesh: "Just like homemade kheer should taste."

Veeresh tasted it and looked at Poornima.

Veeresh: "It's very good."

Hearing the praise, Poornima smiled softly.

She didn't say anything.

After everyone had finished eating, she held Ayat's and Aarhan's hands.

Poornima: "Come, let's go upstairs."

Both children nodded happily and followed their mother.

As she climbed the stairs, she didn't notice that Yash had quietly looked at the untouched bowls before him.

He still wasn't ready to speak to her.

But somewhere in his heart, he had noticed that she had remembered something important about him without being asked twice.