Chapter 43 – Six Years

Veeresh remained seated beside Poornima on the balcony.

The whiskey glass was still in his hand, but he wasn't drinking anymore.

He stared at the city for a long moment before continuing.

Veeresh: "She did it deliberately."

Poornima looked at him quietly.

Veeresh: "That's what makes it worse."

His jaw tightened.

Veeresh: "She knew I was there. She knew I could hear everything."

He closed his eyes.

Veeresh: "And she didn't stop."

Poornima gently held his hand.

Veeresh: "She kept taking his name... even after she knew I was outside."

His voice broke slightly.

Veeresh: "I still remember it."

Poornima didn't ask him to explain further.

She knew some memories were too painful to describe.

After a moment, Veeresh spoke again.

Veeresh: "I never told Mom."

Poornima looked at him.

Poornima: "What did you tell Kamala Chachi?"

Veeresh: "The same thing I told everyone."

He paused.

Veeresh: "I told Mom, Bade Papa and Badi Maa that we had compatibility issues."

Poornima understood.

Veeresh: "I never told them the real reason."

Poornima: "Why?"

Veeresh looked down.

Veeresh: "Because I couldn't say it."

His voice became quieter.

Veeresh: "I didn't want Mom to know what happened to me."

He took a slow breath.

Veeresh: "And I didn't want Bade Papa and Badi Maa to look at me with pity."

Poornima squeezed his hand.

Veeresh: "So I kept it to myself."

He looked toward the dark sky.

Veeresh: "I try not to think about it."

He paused.

Veeresh: "I really do."

His eyes became distant.

Veeresh: "But sometimes it just comes back."

Poornima: "I know."

Veeresh shook his head.

Veeresh: "Six years, Poons."

He looked at her.

Veeresh: "Six years, and I still don't know how to leave it behind."

His voice was filled with frustration.

Veeresh: "I don't know how to move forward without those memories following me."

Poornima moved closer.

Poornima: "Maybe you don't have to forget."

Veeresh looked at her.

Poornima: "You just have to learn that what happened six years ago isn't happening now."

She placed her hand over his heart.

Poornima: "You're here."

Then she gently touched his hand.

Poornima: "I'm here."

Veeresh stared at her.

Poornima: "And when those memories come back, you don't have to fight them alone."

He remained silent.

Then he slowly turned his hand and held hers.

Veeresh: "I'm trying, Poons."

Poornima smiled softly.

Poornima: "I know."

For a while, they sat together without speaking.

The past hadn't disappeared.

The pain hadn't magically gone away.

But for the first time, Veeresh was beginning to understand that moving forward didn't mean pretending it never happened.

It meant learning to live beyond it.