Chapter 38 — The Truth He Couldn't Hide

Mr. Qureshi was about to leave the room when he stopped and looked back at his son.

Something was still bothering him.

He knew Veeresh was telling him about the six months, but he also knew there had to be a reason why Poornima had reached this point.

Mr. Qureshi: "Veeresh, what happened between you both?"

Veeresh remained silent.

Mr. Qureshi: "I know about her wanting space. I know she thought about divorce. But why has she been distant from you for an entire year?"

Veeresh looked down.

He knew he couldn't hide it from his father anymore.

Veeresh: "There was an incident."

His father waited.

Veeresh: "I found out that Poornima had taken the breastfeeding process for Bubba when Noor was having health problems."

Mr. Qureshi frowned.

Veeresh: "She hadn't told me about it. When I found out, I became angry."

His voice became quieter.

Veeresh: "I was worried about her health. I was angry that she had done it without telling me."

Mr. Qureshi stared at him.

Veeresh swallowed.

Veeresh: "But I lost control."

There was a long silence.

Veeresh: "I slapped her."

Mr. Qureshi's expression immediately hardened.

Before Veeresh could say anything else, his father slapped him across the face.

The sound echoed through the room.

Veeresh stood completely still.

Mr. Qureshi looked furious.

Mr. Qureshi: "You raised your hand on her?"

Veeresh didn't answer.

Mr. Qureshi: "You raised your hand on a twenty-year-old girl who had already lost control of her entire life because of this marriage?"

Veeresh lowered his eyes.

Veeresh: "Yes."

His father shook his head in disbelief.

Mr. Qureshi: "And what did she say?"

Veeresh's jaw tightened.

He remembered every word.

Veeresh: "She told me her father never raised his hand on her."

His voice cracked slightly.

Veeresh: "She said I did."

Mr. Qureshi stared at him.

Veeresh: "She told me to add it to the list and said she would never forgive me."

His father took a deep breath.

Mr. Qureshi: "And you wonder why she has been distant?"

Veeresh looked away.

Veeresh: "I know why."

Mr. Qureshi: "No, Veeresh. You may understand it now, but you didn't understand it when it mattered."

Veeresh remained silent.

Mr. Qureshi: "She wasn't trying to hurt you. She was trying to help Bubba."

Veeresh: "I know, Papa."

Mr. Qureshi: "Then remember that."

He pointed toward Veeresh's bleeding hand.

Mr. Qureshi: "And don't ever hurt yourself because you are afraid of losing her. Don't hurt her either."

Veeresh nodded slowly.

Mr. Qureshi's anger softened slightly, but his voice remained firm.

Mr. Qureshi: "You cannot undo what you did."

Veeresh closed his eyes.

Mr. Qureshi: "But you can make sure you never repeat it."

Veeresh looked at his father.

Veeresh: "I won't."

Mr. Qureshi: "Then give her the six months she asked for."

Veeresh nodded.

He finally understood that Poornima's distance wasn't punishment.

It was the boundary she had created to protect herself.

And if he truly wanted her to trust him again, he would have to respect it.