Chapter 39 – You Have Your Answers

Olivia looked at Veeresh as he was about to leave.

Olivia: "Veeresh, come here."

Veeresh stopped and looked at her.

Olivia: "Sit down. I want to ask you something before you go."

He returned to the chair and sat opposite her.

Olivia: "What triggered you today?"

Veeresh was silent for a moment.

Then he sighed.

Veeresh: "I told Poornima about the other side of my life."

Olivia listened carefully.

Veeresh: "I told her I'm involved in the mafia."

Olivia: "And what happened?"

Veeresh looked down.

Veeresh: "She didn't judge me."

Olivia waited.

Veeresh: "She held my hand and told me to do what makes me happy. She only asked me not to do anything wrong."

He paused.

Veeresh: "Then she hugged me."

Olivia: "And that's when it happened?"

Veeresh nodded.

Veeresh: "Suddenly, I heard all those old words again."

His breathing became slightly heavier just remembering them.

Veeresh: "That nobody would stay with me. That people only wanted my money, my luxury, my position. That nobody would love me wholeheartedly."

Olivia listened without interrupting.

Veeresh: "That I would always be alone."

He rubbed his hands together.

Veeresh: "I pushed Poornima away. I told her to leave."

Olivia: "How did she respond?"

Veeresh's expression softened.

Veeresh: "She stayed."

Olivia smiled faintly.

Veeresh: "She didn't force me to talk. She didn't panic. She just asked me to breathe with her."

He looked toward the door.

Veeresh: "She kept telling me to look at her."

Olivia: "And you did?"

Veeresh nodded.

Veeresh: "She showed me how she was breathing and asked me to breathe with her."

He paused.

Veeresh: "She cried, but she didn't leave."

Olivia remained quiet.

Veeresh: "When I finally calmed down, she stayed beside me. She even came with me here."

Olivia leaned back in her chair.

Olivia: "And what did you feel when she stayed?"

Veeresh didn't answer immediately.

Finally, he whispered,

Veeresh: "Safe."

Olivia nodded.

Olivia: "Then you have your answers, Veeresh."

He looked at her.

Olivia: "You've spent years believing that everyone leaves. Today, someone had every reason to walk away, and she stayed."

Veeresh remained silent.

Olivia: "You were afraid she was pretending."

She smiled gently.

Olivia: "But when you showed her the part of yourself you were most afraid she'd reject, she didn't run."

Veeresh looked down.

Olivia: "You don't have to force yourself to trust her overnight."

She paused.

Olivia: "But perhaps you can start by believing what she has already shown you."

Veeresh slowly nodded.

Olivia: "And remember, progress isn't about never having another difficult moment. It's about learning that you don't have to face those moments alone."

Veeresh took a slow breath.

Veeresh: "Thank you, Olivia."

Olivia: "You're welcome."

She stood up.

Olivia: "Now go to your wife. She's been waiting for you."

Veeresh gave a small smile.

Veeresh: "I know."

And this time, when he opened the door, he didn't feel embarrassed about what had happened.

He simply wanted to see Poornima.