Chapter 19 — Her First Dream

The next morning, Poornima came downstairs quietly.

She looked calmer than she had the previous day, although the sadness in her eyes was still there.

Mrs. Qureshi noticed her and immediately walked toward her.

Mrs. Qureshi: "Beta, I am sorry."

Poornima looked at her for a moment.

She could still feel the hurt, but she didn't want to fight anymore.

Poornima: "It's okay, Maa."

Mrs. Qureshi gently held her hand.

Poornima: "I am still hurt. But it will take time."

Mrs. Qureshi nodded.

Poornima: "Please don't ask me to continue my education right now."

Mrs. Qureshi looked at her with understanding.

Poornima: "I need some time to clear my mind."

She took a breath.

Poornima: "But I will achieve my dream. I promise."

Mrs. Qureshi smiled softly.

Mrs. Qureshi: "Okay, beta. Take your time."

Poornima looked relieved.

After a moment, Mrs. Qureshi asked her something else.

Mrs. Qureshi: "Beta, do you know how to prepare food?"

Poornima nodded.

Poornima: "Yes, Maa."

Mrs. Qureshi: "You like cooking?"

Poornima's eyes brightened slightly for the first time that morning.

Poornima: "I love cooking."

Mrs. Qureshi smiled.

Mrs. Qureshi: "What do you want to do in the future?"

Poornima became quiet for a moment.

Then she finally said what she had always dreamed of.

Poornima: "I want to become a chef."

Mrs. Qureshi looked at her proudly.

Poornima: "I want to have my own restaurant one day."

She smiled faintly.

Poornima: "That is my dream."

Mrs. Qureshi gently touched her head.

Mrs. Qureshi: "You will, beta."

Poornima looked at her.

Mrs. Qureshi: "You will achieve it."

Poornima's eyes became slightly emotional.

Poornima: "Thank you, Maa."

Mrs. Qureshi smiled.

Mrs. Qureshi: "Then today, you prepare something for everyone."

Poornima nodded.

Poornima: "Okay, Maa."

She walked into the kitchen.

For the first time since coming to the Qureshi residence, she entered the kitchen not because someone had ordered her to, but because she wanted to cook.

She tied her hair back and rolled up the sleeves of her outfit.

She began preparing the ingredients.

First came the vegetables.

Then the rice.

She carefully prepared a fragrant vegetable biryani, adding spices according to her own taste.

She prepared fresh raita to go with it.

Then she started making kheer, stirring it slowly until it reached the consistency she wanted.

She also prepared aloo sabzi and soft rotis.

Poornima tasted the sabzi.

She frowned slightly.

Poornima: "A little more spice."

She added more chilli and spices, mixed everything properly, and tasted it again.

This time, she smiled.

Poornima: "Perfect."

She continued cooking.

The aroma slowly spread throughout the house.

Downstairs, Veeresh had just entered the dining room when he noticed the smell.

He looked toward the kitchen.

For a moment, he simply stood there.

Mrs. Qureshi noticed him.

Mrs. Qureshi: "Poornima is cooking."

Veeresh looked surprised.

Veeresh: "She is?"

Mrs. Qureshi smiled.

Mrs. Qureshi: "Yes. And apparently, she wants to become a chef and open her own restaurant someday."

Veeresh's expression softened.

He looked toward the kitchen again.

For the first time, he wasn't thinking about the marriage.

He wasn't thinking about whether Poornima would forgive him.

He was thinking about the dream she had just shared.

A restaurant of her own.

A dream that existed long before he entered her life.

And this time, Veeresh promised himself silently...

he would not become the reason she abandoned it.