Chapter 18 – Waiting for Him

Poornima sat quietly in the living room of the Singh mansion, still trying to understand her new surroundings.

Everything felt unfamiliar.

The huge rooms, the quiet corridors, the number of staff, and the luxurious lifestyle were completely different from the simple life she had built for herself in Delhi.

She picked up her phone and called her parents.

Gayathri answered almost immediately.

Gayathri: "Poons, how are you?"

Poornima: "I'm okay, Maa."

Gayathri: "How is the house?"

Poornima looked around the enormous living room.

Poornima: "It's... very big."

Gayathri laughed.

Gayathri: "Are you comfortable?"

Poornima: "I'm trying to be."

Aravind came onto the call.

Aravind: "How is Veeresh?"

Poornima paused.

Poornima: "He went to the office."

Aravind: "Good. You both will need time to adjust."

Poornima: "I know, Papa."

After speaking to her parents for a while, she called Kamala.

Kamala: "Poons!"

Poornima smiled.

Poornima: "Chachi."

Kamala: "Did you reach safely?"

Poornima: "Yes."

Kamala: "And how is my son's house?"

Poornima looked around again.

Poornima: "It's huge."

Kamala laughed.

Kamala: "You'll get used to it."

Poornima remained quiet for a moment.

Poornima: "Chachi, I need to talk to Veeresh about something."

Kamala immediately understood.

Kamala: "Then talk to him when he comes home. Don't keep things inside."

Poornima: "Okay."

After ending the call, Poornima sat silently.

She had been thinking about something ever since she arrived.

She couldn't simply accept everything without understanding how Veeresh lived.

Just then, Maria, one of the housemaids, came into the room.

Maria: "Madam, would you like anything?"

Poornima: "Maria, can I ask you something?"

Maria: "Of course."

Poornima: "What does Veeresh usually have in the morning?"

Maria smiled politely.

Maria: "Sir usually has around thirty millilitres of whiskey in the morning."

Poornima's eyebrows rose.

Poornima: "That's all?"

Maria: "He often doesn't eat much in the morning."

Poornima frowned.

Poornima: "Does he at least have breakfast?"

Maria: "Sometimes. Usually he is busy and leaves quickly."

Poornima looked concerned.

Poornima: "Okay."

Maria: "Should I prepare anything for you?"

Poornima shook her head.

Poornima: "No. I'm fine."

Maria left.

Poornima sat back on the sofa.

She thought about what Kamala had told her.

Be there for each other.

She didn't want to interfere in Veeresh's life.

But she also couldn't simply watch him neglect himself.

She decided she would speak to him when he returned.

She would ask him directly.

No assumptions.

No arguments.

Just a conversation.

Poornima looked at the clock.

Evening was approaching.

She decided to wait.

Meanwhile, at Singh Industries, Veeresh was still working.

His board meeting had ended, but his work was nowhere near finished.

Files were spread across his desk.

Reports from Germany, Europe, and Japan were waiting for his approval.

His assistant, Rose, entered his office with another set of documents.

Rose: "Sir, these require your signature."

Veeresh: "Leave them here."

Rose placed the files on his desk.

Rose: "You haven't taken a break."

Veeresh continued reading.

Veeresh: "I'm fine."

Rose sighed quietly.

She knew better than to argue.

Veeresh continued working through every pending file, completely absorbed in his business.

Outside his office, the employees were slowly leaving for the day.

But Veeresh remained at his desk.

He had no idea that someone was waiting for him at home.

Someone who had decided that tonight, she was going to talk to him.