Chapter 29: The Judgment Day

The courtroom echoed with silence after the judge’s voice fell.

"Custody of Ayan will be granted to his biological mother, Sahana, with visitation rights to the father."

The words hit Poornima like a dagger. Her breath caught.

Veeresh was frozen in disbelief, his fingers curled into fists.

Sahana smiled coldly, triumphant, as she walked toward Ayan.

But Ayan clung to Poornima’s saree, his voice choked with sobs.

“Amma, I don’t want to go… please Amma… don’t let them take me…”

Poornima crouched down, tears running freely, hugging him tightly.

“Ayan… you are my heart. Amma loves you more than anything. Be strong, my little lion…”

But before she could finish, Sahana pulled Ayan away, his hand slipping from Poornima’s grip.

He cried out, "Appa! Amma! Don’t let her take me… please!"

His screams echoed as he was dragged away, clutching the teddy bear Poornima gave him.

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Chapter 30: A Broken Home

The house was silent, painfully so.

Poornima stood in Ayan’s room, eyes falling on the drawings he made—the one where he drew "Amma, Appa, Aradhya, Arjun, Ira, and Me" holding hands.

She sank to the floor, clutching the handmade card that read:

“To My Favourite Person – Amma.”

Tears spilled uncontrollably.

In the living room, Veeresh sat with a bottle, staring into nothingness.

“I failed him. I failed you. I should’ve fought harder…” he muttered.

Poornima walked to him slowly. Her eyes red. She didn’t speak.

She sat beside him on the floor and took the bottle away.

“We can’t fall apart… not when Ayan needs us to be strong. We’ll get him back, Veeresh. He’s our son. My son. He’ll come home.”

Veeresh looked at her—broken, but still finding strength in her love.

He pulled her into a hug, and for a long time, they just stayed there—two wounded hearts, holding each other in silence.