Chapter 38 – His Story

Inside the consultation room, Olivia sat across from Veeresh.

She noticed that he was calmer than when he had arrived, but there was still tension in his face.

Olivia: "Tell me something first. How did you get married?"

Veeresh remained silent for a moment.

Veeresh: "It's complicated."

Olivia: "I have time."

He leaned back in the chair.

Veeresh: "Poornima and I were actually supposed to get married when we were children."

Olivia looked surprised.

Olivia: "You knew each other from childhood?"

Veeresh nodded.

Veeresh: "Our families had decided our marriage. She was Aravind bade papa and Gayathri badi ma's daughter. My father was Rajendra."

He paused.

Veeresh: "But things changed. We didn't get married then."

Olivia: "And what happened afterward?"

Veeresh: "We both went our separate ways."

He looked down at his hands.

Veeresh: "Poornima eventually married someone else."

Olivia: "Her first marriage?"

Veeresh nodded.

Veeresh: "Rishi Malhotra."

He continued quietly.

Veeresh: "He was unfaithful to her. His family actually supported Poornima instead of defending him. Her father-in-law, Arman, fought her case and helped her get divorced."

Olivia listened carefully.

Veeresh: "She moved forward with her life. She became an economics professor in Delhi."

Olivia: "And you?"

Veeresh gave a faint, humorless smile.

Veeresh: "I stayed in Germany. Built my company. Stayed away from relationships."

Olivia: "So how did you two end up together again?"

Veeresh: "Her family and mine brought the proposal back."

He paused.

Veeresh: "This time, we were adults. She was 33."

Olivia: "And you?"

Veeresh: "I'm 40."

Olivia raised an eyebrow.

Olivia: "I thought you were 41."

Veeresh gave a small shrug.

Veeresh: "Forty."

Olivia smiled faintly.

Olivia: "And you agreed?"

Veeresh: "Yes."

Olivia: "Why?"

Veeresh was silent for a few seconds.

Veeresh: "At first, it was practical."

Olivia waited.

Veeresh: "I was planning to expand my business into Japan. I thought having a family would help with the way I wanted to establish myself there."

He looked away.

Veeresh: "I told her she would have to move to Germany with me. She agreed."

Olivia: "And now?"

Veeresh's expression softened slightly.

Veeresh: "Now it's different."

Olivia noticed the change in his voice.

Olivia: "Different how?"

Veeresh looked toward the closed door where Poornima was waiting outside.

Veeresh: "She's not what I expected."

Olivia: "What did you expect?"

Veeresh: "Someone who wanted the lifestyle. The money. The luxury."

He paused.

Veeresh: "But she doesn't care about any of that."

Olivia: "What does she care about?"

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Veeresh: "A small home. Keeping everything organized. Her work. Her students. Simple food."

Olivia smiled.

Olivia: "And you?"

Veeresh looked down.

Veeresh: "I'm trying to understand what I feel."

Olivia studied him carefully.

Olivia: "Does she know about your struggles?"

Veeresh shook his head.

Veeresh: "No."

Olivia: "Why?"

Veeresh: "Because I'm afraid."

Olivia: "Of what?"

Veeresh's voice became quieter.

Veeresh: "That once she knows everything, she'll look at me differently."

Olivia remained silent.

Veeresh continued.

Veeresh: "Everyone eventually leaves."

Olivia: "You don't know that."

Veeresh: "That's what I've learned."

Olivia leaned forward slightly.

Olivia: "Maybe this time you should allow someone to prove you wrong."

Veeresh didn't answer.

But his expression changed.

For the first time during the session, he looked less defensive.

Olivia: "And from what you've told me, Poornima doesn't sound like someone who married you for your money."

Veeresh looked toward the door again.

Veeresh: "I know."

Olivia: "Then perhaps you should start trusting what you see instead of only trusting what your past taught you."

Veeresh remained quiet.

After a moment, he nodded.

Veeresh: "I'm trying."

Olivia smiled gently.

Olivia: "That's enough for today."

She stood up.

Olivia: "Let's continue working through this, Veeresh. You don't have to fight it alone anymore."

Veeresh nodded.

As he reached the door, he glanced toward the waiting area.

He knew Poornima was still there.

And for the first time, the thought of someone waiting for him didn't feel frightening.

It felt comforting.