Chapter 56 — The Pride She Always Wanted

The restaurant was finally complete.

Everything had turned out exactly the way Poornima had imagined it.

The elegant interiors, the warm lighting, the dining area, the kitchen, the furniture and every little detail had been completed according to her original design.

Most importantly, she had managed to build everything within her planned budget.

Poornima stood in the middle of the restaurant, looking around with a wide smile.

She couldn't believe it was finally real.

Poornima: "Veer... I actually did it."

Veeresh smiled.

Veeresh: "You did, Poons."

Before Poornima could say anything else, her father, Rajiv, walked into the restaurant.

He looked around carefully.

His eyes moved from the dining area to the kitchen and then to his daughter.

A proud smile appeared on his face.

Rajiv: "I am proud of you, Poornima."

Poornima's eyes immediately became emotional.

Rajiv: "I'm happy that you did everything according to your plan."

He looked around again.

Rajiv: "You planned your budget, chose everything carefully and made your dream come true."

Poornima smiled through her tears.

Poornima: "Appa... Veer helped me."

Rajiv turned toward Veeresh.

Rajiv: "Thank you, beta, for helping her."

Veeresh nodded respectfully.

Veeresh: "She did most of it herself. I only helped where she needed me."

Rajiv smiled.

Rajiv: "She has always made me proud."

Poornima looked at her father.

Rajiv's eyes became emotional.

Rajiv: "I'm happy that I am blessed with a daughter like you."

Poornima couldn't hold her tears anymore.

She walked toward her father and hugged him tightly.

Poornima: "Thank you, Papa."

Rajiv hugged her back.

Rajiv: "You deserve to be proud of yourself."

Veeresh stood a few steps away, silently watching them.

He knew exactly how much those words meant to Poornima.

He remembered something she had once told him.

I want my father to be proud of me, Veer.

And then she had spoken about her sister.

My sister always made him proud.

Veeresh remembered the hurt in her voice when she had said it.

Poornima had spent so much of her life wanting to hear those words from her father.

And now, standing in the restaurant she had built with her own savings, her own planning and her own determination, she had finally heard them.

I am proud of you, Poornima.

Veeresh looked at her quietly.

For once, he didn't feel like the person who had to protect her or solve something for her.

He simply watched her receive something she had wanted for years.

Her father's pride.

And perhaps, Veeresh thought, that was one of the most important things she had ever achieved.