Chapter 72: Home at Last

It was well past midnight.

Poornima was still awake, sitting near the window with her phone in her hand.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

She answered immediately.

Poornima: "Veer?"

She heard his tired but cheerful voice.

Veeresh: "Poons..."

A smile instantly appeared on her face.

Poornima: "Where are you?"

Veeresh: "I'm almost in Bikaner."

He laughed softly.

Veeresh: "About twenty minutes away."

Poornima let out a sigh of relief.

She hadn't realized how tightly she had been holding her breath.

Veeresh: "My cardamom tea, please."

She smiled.

Poornima: "Already ordering?"

He chuckled.

Veeresh: "Yes."

Veeresh: "I drove all this way thinking about your tea."

She laughed softly.

Poornima: "Okay."

Poornima: "I'll make it."

Veeresh: "Twenty minutes."

Poornima: "Drive carefully."

Veeresh: "I'm almost home."

Poornima: "I'll be waiting."

The call ended.

For the first time that night, Poornima's heart felt peaceful.

She hurried to the kitchen.

The house was silent as everyone slept.

She boiled water, added fresh ginger, crushed cardamom, tea leaves, and milk.

The comforting aroma of cardamom tea filled the kitchen.

She poured it into his favourite cup.

Just then...

She heard the sound of a car entering the courtyard.

Poornima smiled.

"He is here..."

Without realizing it, she whispered those words to herself.

She walked towards the entrance.

A few moments later, Veeresh stepped inside carrying his overnight bag.

He looked tired after the long drive.

The moment Poornima saw him standing safely before her, the strange fear she had been carrying for two days disappeared.

She smiled with relief.

Poornima: "You came."

Veeresh smiled back.

Veeresh: "I told you I would."

She handed him the steaming cup.

Poornima: "Your cardamom tea."

He took a sip.

Closing his eyes, he smiled.

Veeresh: "Perfect."

She looked at him carefully.

Poornima: "Any migraine?"

He shook his head.

Veeresh: "No."

Veeresh: "Your tea saved me."

She smiled.

Poornima: "Good."

She then led him to the dining table.

The dinner had been kept warm for him.

She served him fresh rotis, dal, sabzi, and rice.

Veeresh looked at her.

Veeresh: "Sit."

She hesitated.

Poornima: "You've just come. You eat."

He gently pulled out the chair beside him.

Veeresh: "Sit with me."

She smiled and sat down.

The two of them quietly had dinner together.

Neither spoke much.

Sometimes silence itself was comforting.

From the hallway, Haji Kareem happened to pass by.

He stopped for a moment.

He watched his daughter-in-law serving Veeresh with care, and Veeresh making sure she ate with him instead of standing beside the table.

A contented smile appeared on Haji's face.

He whispered to himself,

Haji Kareem: "Alhamdulillah."

He quietly turned and walked back towards his room, his heart at peace.

After dinner, Veeresh stood up.

Without warning, he scooped Poornima into his arms.

She gasped.

Poornima: "Veer!"

She lightly tapped his shoulder.

Poornima: "You're a gande aadmi!"

Veeresh laughed.

Veeresh: "Your gande aadmi only."

She couldn't stop herself from smiling.

Resting her head against his shoulder, she let him carry her upstairs.

As Haji glanced back once before entering his room, he saw them laughing together.

He smiled once more.

The daughter-in-law whose happiness he had prayed for...

Was finally smiling from her heart.

With that comforting thought, Haji switched off the lights in his room and went to sleep peacefully.