Chapter 13: My Favourite Person

The school bell rang, and children poured out in waves of energy and laughter.

Poornima, dressed in a soft sky-blue kurti, waited patiently near the gate, Aradhya in her arms. Her eyes scanned the crowd, and soon enough, she spotted Ayan running towards her with a wide grin.

“Amma!” he called out, voice full of excitement.

She knelt down with a smile, letting Aradhya rest on her hip as Ayan crashed into her arms with a tight hug.

Then, gripping her hand tightly, he turned to his group of little friends and said proudly,

“This is my amma. My favorite person in the world.”

Poornima blinked, her heart swelling, eyes misting. She hadn’t expected this. That one word—“amma”—coming from Ayan so naturally… it pierced her gently, sweetly.

“Hi aunty!” a few of the kids chirped, and she nodded with a soft laugh, still dazed with joy.

Aradhya giggled, patting Ayan’s back with her chubby little hand as if approving his choice.

Then Ayan opened his school bag and pulled out a handmade card, colorful and unevenly cut, with stars and hearts drawn all over it.

“Here,” he said shyly. “Teacher told us to make a card for our favorite person. You’re my favorite, Amma.”

He kissed her cheek with pure innocence.

Poornima was speechless. She held the card close to her heart, kissed Ayan’s cheeks back, and whispered,

“You’re my favorite too. No one else. Not even Veeresh.”

They all laughed.

The evening was spent at a nearby park. Ayan ran ahead on the grass, dragging Poornima’s hand while Aradhya toddled behind them, holding onto her mother's saree edge.

They played catch, laughed, and finally sat on a bench sharing a vanilla cone, Aradhya's face smudged with cream and Ayan trying to clean it like a big brother.

Poornima watched them both with a full heart.

Two children. One moment. And a life she never expected but had started to deeply, deeply cherish.

In that simple park, as the sky turned orange and laughter echoed—she silently thanked destiny…

For Ayan.

For Aradhya.

For the bond that was no longer forced, but chosen.