Chapter 46: A Father's Advice

That night, after dinner, Poornima went to her room and sat near the window.

Her phone rang.

The screen displayed "Abbu."

A smile immediately appeared on her face.

She answered the call.

Poornima: "Assalamu Alaikum, Abbu."

Haji Kareem: "Wa Alaikum Assalam, beta."

His voice was as warm as ever.

Haji Kareem: "How is everyone?"

Poornima smiled.

Poornima: "Everyone is good, Abbu."

She continued happily,

Poornima: "Ayat and Aarhan have bonded well with everyone."

Haji smiled from the other end.

Haji Kareem: "Really?"

Poornima: "Yes."

She laughed softly.

Poornima: "They love Veeresh a lot."

She added,

Poornima: "Yash and Aarav have also become very protective of them."

Haji closed his eyes in gratitude.

Haji Kareem: "Alhamdulillah."

Poornima smiled.

Poornima: "I'm really happy for the children, Abbu."

There was a brief silence.

Then Haji asked gently,

Haji Kareem: "And how are you, beta?"

Poornima's smile slowly faded.

She looked out of the window.

Poornima: "I'm... okay."

Haji knew that answer wasn't complete.

Haji Kareem: "Tell me the truth."

Poornima took a deep breath.

Poornima: "I'm scared, Abbu."

Haji remained silent, letting her continue.

Poornima: "What if..."

Her voice trembled.

Poornima: "...what if one day he also leaves me?"

A tear rolled down her cheek.

Poornima: "What if one day he starts making fun of me... or reminds me of my past?"

She quickly wiped her tears.

Poornima: "I know Veeresh isn't like that."

She smiled sadly.

Poornima: "He has never disrespected me."

She looked down at her hands.

Poornima: "But the fear..."

She placed a hand over her heart.

Poornima: "...it doesn't leave me, Abbu."

Her voice became quieter.

Poornima: "I don't even know how to talk to him."

Outside the room, Veeresh had come upstairs to ask whether she wanted tea.

As he reached the half-open door, he heard Haji's voice on the phone.

He stopped.

He didn't intend to listen.

But when he heard Poornima's trembling voice, he remained where he was.

Inside the room, Haji spoke gently.

Haji Kareem: "Beta..."

Poornima: "Ji, Abbu."

Haji Kareem: "Fear doesn't disappear because someone tells you not to be afraid."

Poornima listened quietly.

Haji Kareem: "It disappears slowly... when someone gives you enough reasons to feel safe."

He paused before continuing.

Haji Kareem: "Don't compare Veeresh with Shamir."

Poornima closed her eyes.

Haji Kareem: "Every person is different."

His voice was calm and wise.

Haji Kareem: "If you keep expecting Veeresh to repeat another man's mistakes, you'll never be able to see the man standing in front of you."

A tear escaped Poornima's eye.

Haji continued,

Haji Kareem: "Has he ever insulted you?"

Poornima: "No."

Haji Kareem: "Has he ever made fun of your past?"

Poornima: "Never."

Haji Kareem: "Has he accepted Ayat and Aarhan?"

A faint smile appeared on her face.

Poournima: "More than I ever imagined."

Haji smiled.

Haji Kareem: "Then judge him by his actions, beta... not by someone else's sins."

Poornima nodded silently.

Haji added,

Haji Kareem: "You don't have to love him overnight."

Haji Kareem: "You don't have to trust him overnight either."

He smiled warmly.

Haji Kareem: "But give him a fair chance."

His final words stayed with her.

Haji Kareem: "Sometimes Allah sends peace into our lives quietly."

Haji Kareem: "Don't let the noise of your past stop you from hearing it."

Poornima wiped her tears.

Poornima: "Thank you, Abbu."

Haji Kareem: "Be happy, beta."

Poornima: "Inshallah."

After the call ended, she sat silently, thinking about every word.

Outside the room, Veeresh quietly stepped back.

He hadn't meant to overhear the conversation.

Now he understood that Poornima's hesitation wasn't because she doubted his character.

She was still carrying wounds that hadn't healed.

Without making a sound, he walked away, silently promising himself that he would never become another reason for her to be afraid.