Chapter 39 — His First Prayer

That night, after his father left, Veeresh remained alone in the dark room.

For the first time in his life, he felt completely helpless.

Politics had taught him how to fight.

Power had taught him how to control situations.

His position had given him the ability to solve almost every problem around him.

But none of that could solve this.

Poornima wanted six months.

She wanted freedom to understand herself.

And Veeresh couldn't change that without destroying the very trust he wanted to rebuild.

He sat silently for a long time.

Then something inside him broke.

He had never been a religious man.

He had never truly believed in prayer.

He had always believed that if he wanted something, he had to make it happen himself.

But tonight, for the first time, he didn't know what else to do.

He slowly stood up.

He went to a quiet corner of the room and lowered himself to his knees.

His eyes filled with tears.

He looked upward.

Veeresh: "Allah..."

The word felt unfamiliar coming from him.

He swallowed hard.

Veeresh: "I don't know if I have the right to ask you for anything."

His voice trembled.

Veeresh: "I've never prayed like this before."

He lowered his head.

Veeresh: "But today, I don't know what else to do."

He took a shaky breath.

Veeresh: "Please let Poornima be happy."

That was the first thing he asked for.

Not for himself.

Not for his marriage.

Not for her to forgive him.

Just for her happiness.

Veeresh: "Let her live the life she wants."

His eyes closed.

Veeresh: "Let her study. Let her work. Let her follow her dreams. Let her become the person she wants to be."

His voice became quieter.

Veeresh: "Let her decide for herself."

A tear slipped down his cheek.

Then came the prayer he had been afraid to say.

Veeresh: "But Allah... please..."

He struggled to continue.

Veeresh: "Don't let her go completely away from me."

He pressed his hands together.

Veeresh: "I know I don't deserve to ask that after everything I've done."

He remembered the slap.

Poornima's tears.

Her words.

My father never raised his hand on me.

His eyes closed tightly.

Veeresh: "I hurt her."

He whispered the words like a confession.

Veeresh: "I crossed the line."

He took a deep breath.

Veeresh: "But I love her."

His voice broke.

Veeresh: "She's my askim. She's my cennat."

He wiped his tears.

Veeresh: "And I don't know how to live without her."

He bowed his head.

Veeresh: "Give her the strength to choose whatever she wants."

He paused.

Veeresh: "But if there is any place for me in her heart..."

His voice became almost a whisper.

Veeresh: "Please don't let that place disappear."

He stayed there for a long time.

For the first time, the ruthless politician wasn't commanding anyone.

He wasn't making a plan.

He wasn't trying to control the outcome.

He was simply begging.

Veeresh: "Six months, Allah."

He closed his eyes.

Veeresh: "Give me the strength to wait."

Another tear fell.

Veeresh: "And if she comes back to me..."

He smiled faintly through his tears.

Veeresh: "I promise I'll never take her choice away from her again."

He remained there in silence.

His first prayer wasn't for Poornima to be forced to stay.

It was for her to be free.

And yet, deep inside, he still carried one selfish hope.

That after finding herself...

Poornima would still choose him.