Chapter 20 — Bubba

Poornima finished preparing everything and carefully placed the dishes on the dining table.

The vegetable biryani was steaming, the raita was chilled, the aloo sabzi was fragrant, and the rotis were neatly arranged beside it.

She brought the kheer last and placed it in a serving bowl.

Then she looked toward Veeresh.

Poornima: "Veeresh, serve yourself."

Veeresh looked at the food and then at her.

Veeresh: "Okay."

He served himself some vegetable biryani, aloo sabzi, roti, and raita.

Mr. and Mrs. Qureshi also sat down.

Mrs. Qureshi took her first bite and immediately smiled.

Mrs. Qureshi: "Beta, this is very tasty."

Poornima smiled softly.

Poornima: "Thank you, Maa."

Mr. Qureshi tasted the biryani.

Mr. Qureshi: "Very good, Poornima."

Veeresh remained quiet as he continued eating.

He took another bite.

The food was genuinely good.

He looked at Poornima.

Veeresh: "It's good."

Poornima raised an eyebrow.

Poornima: "Only good?"

Veeresh almost smiled.

Veeresh: "Very good."

Poornima nodded with satisfaction.

Poornima: "That's better."

After everyone finished the main course, Poornima brought the kheer.

Mr. Qureshi took a spoonful and smiled.

Mr. Qureshi: "The kheer is excellent."

Mrs. Qureshi nodded.

Mrs. Qureshi: "You really have a talent for cooking, beta."

Poornima smiled.

Poornima: "Thank you."

She looked happy hearing the praise.

It was one of the few things that had made her feel like herself again.

After the meal, Poornima quietly went upstairs.

Noor was already in the room with her nanny.

The moment Poornima saw the baby, her expression softened.

She sat on the bed and held out her hands.

Poornima: "Come here, little one."

Noor happily moved toward her.

Poornima picked her up and settled her comfortably in her arms.

Noor looked at her with bright eyes.

Poornima smiled.

Poornima: "You need a pet name."

Noor made a tiny sound.

Poornima thought for a moment.

Poornima: "Bubba."

Noor smiled.

Poornima's eyes widened.

Poornima: "Bubba!"

She laughed softly.

Poornima: "You like it?"

Noor smiled again.

Poornima gently touched her little nose.

Poornima: "Your appa is such an asshole."

She looked at Noor conspiratorially.

Poornima: "I want to fight with your appa."

Noor made another happy sound.

Poornima laughed.

Poornima: "Bubba, you're smiling!"

She kissed her forehead.

Poornima: "I like your smile."

Just then, Veeresh entered the room, adjusting his watch.

Veeresh: "I'm going to the party office."

Poornima looked at him without much interest.

Poornima: "Go wherever you want. Why are you telling me, asshole husband?"

Veeresh looked at her for a moment.

Veeresh: "Nothing."

He glanced at Noor.

Then he looked back at Poornima.

Veeresh: "Eat your food."

Poornima immediately frowned.

Poornima: "I know how to eat."

Veeresh smiled faintly.

Veeresh: "I know."

He turned and walked away.

Poornima watched him leave.

Once the door closed, she looked down at Noor.

Her expression became mischievous.

Poornima: "Bubba..."

Noor looked at her.

Poornima: "One day, I'm going to run away from the Qureshi house."

She whispered as though she were telling Noor a secret.

Poornima: "I'll leave your dad too."

She sighed dramatically.

Poornima: "But now that plan is getting spoiled."

Noor simply stared at her.

Poornima smiled.

Poornima: "Because of you."

What Poornima didn't know was that Veeresh had stopped in the corridor.

He had heard every word.

His expression changed slightly.

He had been carrying a secret of his own.

A tiny transmitter had been hidden within the mangalsutra Poornima wore, allowing him to listen from a distance.

It was something he had arranged without telling her.

And now he had heard exactly what she had been planning.

One day, I'm going to run away.

Veeresh stood silently outside.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Veeresh: "So that's your plan, Poornima?"

Inside the room, Poornima continued playing with Noor, completely unaware that Veeresh had heard her secret.

She didn't know that the man she was planning to escape from already knew about her plan.

And Veeresh knew one thing for certain.

If she wanted to leave, he would have to face the decision she was making—not secretly control it.

Because his father’s words from the previous night still remained in his mind.

Love is not politics.

And Poornima was not another move on his chessboard.