Chapter 16 — The First Meal

Veeresh walked downstairs and stopped near the dining area.

He looked at the food that had already been prepared, but he wasn't sure what Poornima would actually eat.

After everything that had happened, he didn't want to make another wrong decision.

He took out his phone and called Rajiv.

Rajiv answered after a few rings.

Rajiv: "Veeresh?"

Veeresh: "Appa, I need to ask you something."

Rajiv was surprised by the call.

Rajiv: "What happened?"

Veeresh: "What does Poornima like to eat?"

There was a short silence on the other end.

Then Rajiv gave a small laugh.

Rajiv: "Why are you asking me?"

Veeresh: "Just tell me."

Rajiv understood immediately.

Rajiv: "She likes noodles."

Veeresh nodded even though Rajiv couldn't see him.

Veeresh: "Anything else?"

Rajiv thought for a moment.

Rajiv: "When she's angry, she usually eats chicken biryani."

Veeresh's lips curved into a faint smile.

Veeresh: "When she's angry?"

Rajiv: "Yes. Don't ask me why. Whenever she's upset, chicken biryani somehow makes her feel better."

Veeresh gave a quiet chuckle.

Veeresh: "Alright. Thank you."

Rajiv: "Take care of her, Veeresh."

Veeresh became silent for a moment.

Veeresh: "I will."

He ended the call.

A short while later, Veeresh returned upstairs carrying two plates of food.

Poornima was sitting on the bed with her phone in her hand.

When she saw him enter, she looked at the food.

Her eyes immediately went to the chicken biryani.

She looked at Veeresh suspiciously.

Poornima: "How did you know?"

Veeresh placed the food on the table.

Veeresh: "Your father told me."

Poornima's expression softened for a moment.

Then she looked at him again.

Poornima: "Thanks, asshole."

Veeresh shook his head.

Veeresh: "You're welcome."

Poornima took the plate and began eating.

For the first few minutes, she didn't say anything.

Veeresh sat in the chair nearby and watched quietly.

She was clearly hungry because she finished the first few bites quickly.

Veeresh didn't comment.

He simply let her eat.

After a while, Poornima looked up.

She noticed that Veeresh hadn't touched his own food.

Poornima: "Did you eat?"

Veeresh: "I'll eat later."

Poornima frowned.

Poornima: "Why later?"

Veeresh: "I'm not hungry."

Poornima immediately looked annoyed.

Poornima: "Eat."

Veeresh looked at her.

Veeresh: "Poornima, I'm fine."

She pointed toward his plate.

Poornima: "Eat or else I'll get a stomach ache."

Veeresh stared at her.

Veeresh: "What?"

Poornima rolled her eyes.

Poornima: "If you don't eat, I'll feel guilty, and then I'll get a stomach ache. So eat."

Veeresh almost smiled.

Veeresh: "That's your logic?"

Poornima: "Yes."

She pushed his plate toward him.

Poornima: "Now eat."

Veeresh looked at the plate and then at her.

Veeresh: "You're ordering me now?"

Poornima: "Yes. I'm your wife. I have every right."

Veeresh remembered what she had said earlier.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Veeresh: "You really like using that line."

Poornima: "Because it works."

She picked up some food from her plate and continued eating.

Veeresh finally picked up his spoon.

He started eating.

Poornima glanced at him.

Poornima: "Good."

Veeresh looked at her.

Veeresh: "Happy now?"

Poornima nodded.

Poornima: "A little."

For a few moments, they ate in silence.

There was no discussion about the marriage.

No argument about Noor.

No accusations.

Just two people sitting in the same room, sharing a meal.

Poornima looked at him again.

Poornima: "The biryani is good."

Veeresh nodded.

Veeresh: "I'm glad."

She took another bite.

Poornima: "You can stay."

Veeresh looked at her.

Veeresh: "Here?"

Poornima: "Yes."

She paused.

Poornima: "But don't talk too much."

Veeresh gave a small smile.

Veeresh: "Understood."

Poornima continued eating.

And for the first time since their wedding, the silence between them wasn't filled with anger.

It was simply quiet.