Chapter 46: The Broken Trust

The room remained quiet.

Veeresh still rested against Poornima's shoulder.

She gently ran her fingers through his hair, letting him speak at his own pace.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

Veeresh: "She could have told me..."

His voice was low and tired.

Veeresh: "So many times..."

"I asked her..."

He closed his eyes, remembering those conversations.

Veeresh: "I used to ask, 'Rashmi... are you happy?'"

"'If you're not happy... tell me.'"

"'We can work through it.'"

He let out a painful smile.

Veeresh: "And every single time..."

"She would look at me and say..."

"'I'm happy.'"

He shook his head slowly.

Veeresh: "She never wanted to come with me anywhere."

"Business dinners..."

"Family functions..."

"Vacations..."

"She always refused."

"I thought..."

"I thought she was just an introvert."

"I never questioned her."

Poornima listened quietly.

Veeresh looked at the floor.

Veeresh: "If she had told me she didn't love me..."

"I would've let her go."

"I would've signed the divorce papers."

"I would've wished her well."

His voice cracked.

Veeresh: "But instead..."

"She lied."

"She cheated."

"And she let me believe Adwait was my son."

A tear rolled down his cheek.

Veeresh: "Do you know what that does to a person?"

"It doesn't just break your heart..."

"It breaks your trust."

He looked at Poornima.

His eyes were red.

Veeresh: "Trusting again is hard, Poons."

"For years..."

"I questioned myself."

"I thought I had failed as a husband."

"I kept wondering what I had done wrong."

He gave a bitter laugh.

Veeresh: "Today I found out..."

"The answers I was searching for were never mine to find."

Poornima gently held both his hands.

She looked at him with steady eyes.

Poornima: "Veer..."

"You gave her chances to speak."

"You asked if she was happy."

"You tried to understand her."

"You were willing to listen."

She squeezed his hands.

Poornima: "She chose not to tell you the truth."

"That was her decision."

"It wasn't your failure."

Veeresh looked at her silently.

Poornima continued.

Poornima: "I can't erase what happened."

"I can't give you those lost years back."

"But I can promise you one thing."

She placed her hand over his heart.

Poornima: "You'll never have to wonder where you stand with me."

"If I'm happy..."

"I'll tell you."

"If I'm upset..."

"I'll tell you."

"If I disagree with you..."

"I'll tell you."

A faint smile appeared on Veeresh's face.

Poornima smiled back.

Poornima: "I don't want a marriage built on silence."

"I want one built on honesty."

Veeresh's eyes softened.

He covered her hand with his own.

Veeresh: "Thank you, Chudail."

Poornima rested her forehead against his.

Poornima: "One person's betrayal doesn't have to define the rest of your life, Rakshas."

For the first time that day, Veeresh felt that while the past had left deep scars, he no longer had to face the future alone.