Chapter 45 – She Embraced Me

The next morning, Poornima woke up quietly.

She looked at Veeresh, who was still asleep, and slowly got out of bed without disturbing him.

She freshened up and went to the small prayer area.

She folded her hands and closed her eyes.

Poornima: "Please give him peace."

She took a deep breath.

Poornima: "He has suffered enough. Let him be happy now."

She prayed for him for a few moments before returning to the room.

Meanwhile, Veeresh woke up.

He sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, thinking about everything he had told Poornima the previous night.

He went to freshen up.

As he stood in front of the mirror, his thoughts returned to her.

He remembered how she had stayed beside him.

How she had listened without judging.

How she had held his hand when he was afraid.

How she had told him that he didn't have to carry everything alone anymore.

Veeresh looked at himself in the mirror.

For years, he had allowed his past to decide how close he could become to someone.

But suddenly, something inside him felt different.

Veeresh thought,

It's not right to keep Poornima away.

She's my wife.

She has every right to know me, to stand beside me, and to have a place in my life.

He took a slow breath.

Not Riya.

Not my past.

Nobody else has the right to decide what my life will be now.

His eyes softened.

I want to live for myself.

He paused.

And for her.

He walked out of the room.

Poornima was standing near the window.

She turned when she heard him.

Poornima: "Good morning, Veer."

Veeresh looked at her for a moment.

Then he walked toward her.

Poornima smiled.

Veeresh gently held her and pulled her into a hug.

She was surprised.

For a second, she simply stood there.

Then she wrapped her arms around him.

Veeresh closed his eyes.

He held her tightly.

Veeresh: "Poons..."

Poornima: "Hmm?"

Veeresh: "I don't want to keep you away anymore."

She looked up at him.

Veeresh: "You embraced me when I showed you the worst part of myself."

His voice was quiet.

Veeresh: "I don't know how to repay that."

Poornima smiled.

Poornima: "You don't have to."

He rested his forehead gently against hers.

Veeresh: "Then stay."

Poornima smiled through slightly teary eyes.

Poornima: "I'm already here."

Veeresh hugged her again.

And this time, the embrace wasn't coming from fear of losing someone.

It came from a simple realization—

his past belonged to yesterday, but Poornima belonged to his present.