Chapter 31: A Heart That Knows Where It Belongs

Ayan sat silently in a corner of Sahana’s grand but cold apartment.

His plate lay untouched on the table.

Sahana looked up from her laptop, irritated.

“Eat your food, Ayan! Don’t test my patience!”

Ayan quietly whispered, “I miss Amma…”

Sahana’s expression darkened. She stormed toward him and in a moment of fury, slapped his cheek.

“Stop calling her that! She’s not your mother! I am! You’ll forget her, do you hear me?”

Ayan’s face turned red with the sting—but more than pain, it was heartbreak.

That night, under the pale moonlight, he clutched the teddy bear Poornima gave him and whispered:

“I want to go home…”

He quietly opened the door, tiptoed out of the apartment, and began running through the familiar streets, tears blending with the night air.

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Chapter 32: Homecoming

Back at the Suryavanshi house, the lights were dim.

Poornima sat at the swing, staring at the stars, heart aching.

Veeresh was pacing inside the hall, restless.

Suddenly, the door creaked open. A small figure entered quietly.

“Amma…” a soft voice whispered.

Aradhya, who had just come out for water, turned and screamed,

“Ayan Anna!”

Poornima rushed inside. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

Veeresh froze.

Ayan stood there, in his school uniform, with tear-streaked cheeks and messy hair.

Poornima fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around him.

Veeresh joined, his hands trembling as he touched his son’s face.

“What happened, son? Why did you come alone? Are you hurt?” Veeresh asked.

Poornima pulled his face gently and gasped.

A red mark on his cheek.

“Ayan… what is this mark?” she asked softly, holding his face.

Ayan looked down and said with a sniffle,

“Sahana amma slapped me because I said I miss you… I didn’t eat food… I want to stay with you, Amma… please… I don’t want to go back…”

Poornima's eyes filled with tears, but her voice was firm.

“You’re never going back, Ayan. You’re our son. Our life. You’re safe now.”

Veeresh’s voice cracked as he hugged his son tight,

“I’m sorry, son. Appa will never leave you alone again. I promise.”

Poornima kissed his cheek where the mark had faded slightly.

Ayan looked at them both and whispered with a smile,

“Amma… Appa… I love you.”

Veeresh and Poornima wrapped him in warmth and love, as Aradhya, Arjun, and Ira came and cuddled beside them.

The family was whole again.