Chapter 67: A Prayer for His Safety

The house was filled with excitement as everyone made the final preparations to leave for Bikaner.

Poornima looked around once to make sure nothing had been forgotten.

Then she picked up another beautifully wrapped gift and walked towards Aadhya's room.

Poornima: "Aadhya..."

Aadhya turned around.

Aadhya: "Yes, Mumma?"

Poornima smiled and handed her the gift.

Poornima: "This is your Eid gift."

Aadhya excitedly tore open the wrapping paper.

Inside was a beautiful purple lehenga with delicate silver embroidery.

Her eyes sparkled with happiness.

Aadhya: "Mumma..."

She held the lehenga against herself.

Aadhya: "It's beautiful!"

She looked at the colour again and laughed.

Aadhya: "Purple!"

Poornima smiled.

She remembered something Veeresh had told her a few days ago.

"Me and Aadhya both love purple."

The memory made her smile even more.

Another memory followed immediately.

The first gift Veeresh had ever sent her...

A purple saree with lavender shades.

He had written in his letter,

"I don't know your favourite colour... but purple is my favourite."

She had treasured that letter ever since.

Looking at Aadhya's happy face, Poornima softly said,

Poornima: "I remembered what your Papa told me."

Poornima: "He said purple is your favourite."

Aadhya nodded excitedly.

Aadhya: "And Papa's too."

She hugged Poornima tightly.

Aadhya: "Thank you, Mumma."

Poornima lovingly kissed her forehead.

Poornima: "Happy Eid, beta."

Meanwhile, downstairs...

Ayat and Aarhan were jumping with excitement.

Ayat: "We're going to meet Abbu Jaan and Dadi!"

Aarhan: "I want to show Nana my toy car!"

Mahesh laughed.

Mahesh: "Come on, little ones. We have a long journey."

Everyone carried their luggage towards the cars.

Before leaving, Poornima went back to her room one last time.

She checked that all her belongings were packed.

She also packed Veeresh's clothes carefully, just as he had asked.

She zipped the bag.

But as she turned to leave...

A strange feeling settled in her heart.

She couldn't explain it.

It wasn't fear exactly.

Just an uneasy feeling.

She instinctively held her mangalsutra.

Her fingers gently touched the sindoor in the parting of her hair.

Closing her eyes, she whispered a silent prayer.

Poornima: "Please keep him safe."

Her voice trembled softly.

Poornima: "By the blessing of this mangalsutra..."

She touched her sindoor again.

Poornima: "...and this sindoor..."

Tears gathered in her eyes without her understanding why.

Poornima: "Protect my husband from every obstacle."

Poornima: "Keep him safe until he comes to us."

She took a deep breath, composed herself, and wiped the corner of her eyes.

Poornima: "He'll be fine."

She smiled faintly, trying to reassure herself.

Picking up the last bag, she walked downstairs.

The family climbed into their vehicles.

With laughter, excitement, and plans for celebrating Eid together, they began their journey towards Bikaner.

None of them knew why Poornima's heart had suddenly become so restless.

She only knew one thing—

She couldn't wait for Veeresh to join them the next day.