Chapter 42 — “I Missed Everything”

Veeresh looked at Poornima, who was still holding Bubba close to her.

He could see the hurt in her eyes.

Veeresh: "I am not bored of you, Poornima."

She looked away.

Veeresh: "Nor would I bring anyone else."

Poornima shook her head.

Poornima: "I won't believe you."

Veeresh frowned slightly.

Poornima: "You might."

She looked directly at him.

Poornima: "You asked me when I would leave. What am I supposed to think?"

Her voice became emotional.

Poornima: "It tells me you're fed up with me."

Veeresh took a step closer.

Poornima: "You're the worst."

She turned away from him.

Veeresh gently held her hand.

Veeresh: "Please, no."

Poornima looked at him.

Veeresh: "I'm not bored of you."

His voice was quiet.

Veeresh: "Instead..."

He paused.

Veeresh: "I missed everything."

Poornima remained silent.

Veeresh continued holding her hand, but he didn't pull her closer.

Veeresh: "I missed your arguments."

She looked at him.

Veeresh: "I missed you calling me asshole husband."

A tiny change appeared in her expression.

Veeresh: "I missed you calling me gadha."

Poornima tried not to react.

Veeresh: "I missed you asking me to help you with your saree."

He smiled faintly.

Veeresh: "I missed you asking me to take your pictures."

His voice softened.

Veeresh: "I even missed you getting angry with me."

Poornima's eyes became moist.

Veeresh: "That entire year, you spoke to me only when necessary."

He looked down.

Veeresh: "And I didn't know how to bring back the woman who used to argue with me."

Poornima swallowed.

Poornima: "Then why didn't you try?"

Veeresh looked at her.

Veeresh: "Because you asked me for space."

He took a breath.

Veeresh: "And after everything I had done, I thought the least I could do was respect that."

Poornima was silent.

Veeresh gently released her hand.

Veeresh: "When I asked when you would leave, I wasn't asking because I wanted you gone."

He looked into her eyes.

Veeresh: "I asked because I thought you were still planning to leave."

Poornima looked down at Bubba.

Veeresh: "I was preparing myself for something I didn't want to happen."

Poornima didn't answer.

Veeresh gave her a small, sad smile.

Veeresh: "I don't want another woman."

He glanced at Noor.

Veeresh: "I don't want another family."

Then he looked back at Poornima.

Veeresh: "I just want you to be happy."

Poornima's expression softened slightly.

But she still wasn't ready to forgive him.

And Veeresh understood that.

He didn't ask her to.

For now, he was simply grateful that she had decided to stay.