Chapter 41 — "So You Want Me Gone?"

Poornima was sitting on the bed with Bubba in her arms.

Noor looked up at her and suddenly said her first clear word.

Noor: "Mumma."

Poornima froze.

Then her face lit up with a beautiful smile.

Poornima: "Bubba..."

She hugged Noor tightly and kissed her forehead.

Poornima: "You called me Mumma."

Noor smiled innocently.

Poornima's eyes filled with tears.

Poornima: "I'm not leaving the mansion, Bubba."

Just then, the door opened.

Veeresh walked into the room.

He had heard enough to know that Poornima was no longer planning to leave immediately.

He looked at her carefully.

Veeresh: "Poornima, when will you leave?"

The smile disappeared from her face.

She looked at him in disbelief.

Poornima: "You asshole husband."

Veeresh stopped.

Poornima: "So you're ready to send me away?"

He frowned.

Veeresh: "That's not what I meant."

But Poornima was already hurt.

Poornima: "Because you won't be able to see me or bear me anymore, right?"

She stood up while holding Noor.

Poornima: "You're bored of me."

Veeresh stared at her.

Poornima: "You want me away from your life."

Her voice became emotional.

Poornima: "So that you can bring another woman?"

Veeresh: "Poornima—"

Poornima: "No!"

She shook her head.

Poornima: "I'm not going."

Veeresh remained silent.

Poornima: "I'm staying here."

She hugged Noor closer.

Poornima: "And I'm torturing you by staying here, right?"

Veeresh's expression changed.

Poornima: "I'm so mean. I'm the worst."

Her eyes filled with tears.

Poornima: "You just want to get rid of me."

Veeresh slowly stepped closer.

Veeresh: "Poons, that's not what I meant."

She turned her face away.

Poornima: "Then why did you ask me when I would leave?"

Veeresh didn't immediately have an answer.

Because the truth was complicated.

He had spent months preparing himself for the possibility of losing her.

He had expected her to leave after six months.

But hearing her say she was staying made something inside him loosen.

Veeresh: "I asked because I thought you wanted to leave."

Poornima looked at him.

Poornima: "I changed my mind."

She looked down at Noor.

Poornima: "I'm staying."

Veeresh nodded slowly.

Veeresh: "Okay."

Poornima narrowed her eyes.

Poornima: "That's it?"

Veeresh: "What else should I say?"

She glared at him.

Poornima: "You're impossible."

Veeresh almost smiled.

Veeresh: "And you're still calling me asshole husband."

Poornima turned away.

Poornima: "Because you are one."

Noor giggled between them.

Both of them looked at her.

For a brief moment, the tension disappeared.

Veeresh looked at Poornima.

She wasn't leaving.

Not today.

And for now, that was enough.