Chapter 82: Don't Ever Say That Again

Poornima stood silently for a few moments.

Her eyes were still wet.

She took a deep breath.

Then she looked at him.

Poornima: "Then tell everyone, Veer."

Veeresh slowly turned back towards her.

There was surprise in his eyes.

Veeresh: "You... really want to?"

She gave him a sad smile.

Poornima: "You were the one who said you wanted a divorce."

He looked at her for a few seconds.

Then, in a quiet voice, he said,

Veeresh: "Lie down beside me."

Without saying another word, she carefully lay beside him on the hospital bed, making sure not to disturb the IV line.

The moment she settled beside him...

Veeresh broke.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her and buried his face in her shoulder.

His body trembled.

For the first time in years...

He cried without holding back.

Veeresh: "I'm sorry..."

His voice was muffled against her shoulder.

Veeresh: "I'm so sorry, Poons."

She gently ran her fingers through his hair.

He held her even tighter.

Veeresh: "Please don't leave me."

His voice cracked.

Veeresh: "I'm nothing without you."

Tears rolled down his face.

Poornima closed her eyes.

She had never seen him this vulnerable.

She softly asked,

Poornima: "Then why did you say those words?"

She cupped his face and made him look at her.

Poornima: "You broke my heart."

Veeresh lowered his eyes.

After a long silence, he spoke.

Veeresh: "Poons..."

He took a shaky breath.

Veeresh: "Years ago... I met with an accident."

Poornima listened quietly.

Veeresh: "It wasn't very serious."

He smiled bitterly.

Veeresh: "But for a few weeks I needed help."

His eyes filled with pain as old memories returned.

Veeresh: "One day..."

He swallowed hard.

Veeresh: "Radhika looked at me and said..."

His voice almost disappeared.

'I didn't marry you to become your nurse.'

He closed his eyes.

'You're becoming a burden.'

Another tear escaped.

'I can't spend my life taking care of a weak man.'

He laughed bitterly.

'If you can't even take care of yourself, how will you take care of anyone else?'

The words still hurt even after all those years.

Veeresh looked at Poornima.

Veeresh: "Those words never left me."

He looked at his own hands.

Veeresh: "When I fainted today..."

He shook his head.

Veeresh: "I remembered every single word."

His voice trembled.

Veeresh: "I know you."

He smiled weakly.

Veeresh: "I know you'll never complain."

Veeresh: "Even if I depend on you, you'll never make me feel guilty."

He looked into her eyes.

Veeresh: "But that's what scares me, Poons."

He held her hand tightly.

Veeresh: "I'm scared of becoming someone who takes away your freedom."

Veeresh: "I'm scared that one day you'll spend all your time looking after me instead of living your own life."

Poornima listened without interrupting.

Then she gently wiped away his tears.

She held his face in both her hands.

Poornima: "Veer..."

Her voice was calm but firm.

Poornima: "I'm not Radhika."

She waited until he met her eyes.

Poornima: "Don't punish me for someone else's words."

A tear slipped down her cheek.

Poornima: "Marriage isn't only about sharing happiness."

She squeezed his hand.

Poornima: "It's also about standing beside each other on the difficult days."

She smiled gently.

Poornima: "When I was scared because of my past, you didn't walk away."

Poornima: "You held my hand."

She placed his hand over her heart.

Poornima: "Now it's my turn to hold yours."

Veeresh looked at her silently.

Poornima: "If you ever become ill, I'll care for you."

She smiled through her tears.

Poornima: "Not because you're a burden."

She shook her head.

Poornima: "Because you're my husband."

Her voice softened.

Poornima: "Because I love you."

She leaned forward and rested her forehead against his.

Poornima: "So promise me one thing."

Veeresh whispered,

Veeresh: "Anything."

Poornima: "Never ask me for a divorce because you're afraid."

She smiled gently.

Poornima: "If you're scared..."

She intertwined her fingers with his.

Poornima: "...hold my hand instead."

Veeresh closed his eyes and nodded.

This time, he didn't let go of her hand.