Chapter: Where We Choose to Belong

Morning had barely settled when Ridhima’s voice cut through the house—sharp, hurried, restless.

“Pack your things,” she said abruptly. “We’re leaving for London. Today.”

Kayan looked up from his phone. “Why?”

“Because your father doesn’t love you anymore,” she said, bitterness spilling freely now. “He has a new family. New priorities. You don’t matter to him the way you used to.”

Kavya’s face fell. “That’s not true, Mom.”

Ridhima scoffed. “You think so? Open your eyes.”

Confused and shaken, Kayan and Kavya quietly walked away—not toward their rooms, but toward the kitchen.

Poornima was there, arranging flowers in a vase.

Kayan stood still for a moment, then spoke, his voice careful.
“Poornima aunty… if we stay here, and if we call you mom… would you have any problem?”

Poornima froze.

She turned slowly, her eyes softening instantly. She walked toward him and held his face gently.
“Not at all,” she said. “I would love that, Kayan. Just like I love Rudra, Ramir, Mannat… and Kavya.”

Kavya stepped closer. “Will you really be happy if we stay here?”

Poornima smiled, warm and certain. “Absolutely. My happiness doesn’t come from where you’re born—it comes from where you feel safe.”

Tears welled up in Kavya’s eyes.

Just then, Veeresh entered the room.

“Dad,” Kavya said firmly, “I don’t want to go to London with Mom.”

Kayan nodded. “We want to stay here. With you.”

Kavya swallowed hard. “Mom always tells us wrong things about you. But when we came here… we were happy. With Poornima mom, Rudra bhai, Ramir bhai, Mannat didi. This feels like home.”

Ridhima stormed in behind them.
“What nonsense is this?”

She raised her hand toward Kavya—

—but Veeresh caught her wrist mid-air.

“Enough,” he said, his voice low but final. “You will not raise your hand in this house.”

She stared at him in disbelief.

“You tried to poison Rudra’s mind,” Veeresh continued. “Now you’re doing the same with Kayan and Kavya. This stops now.”

“They’re my children,” Ridhima snapped.

“And they’re staying here,” Veeresh replied. “By their choice.”

Kayan stepped forward. “Mom, we won’t come with you. We’ll talk on the phone. But we’re staying.”

Kavya nodded. “Please don’t make this harder.”

Ridhima laughed bitterly, tears mixing with rage.
“I’ll see you in court,” she said, turning sharply toward Veeresh.

Veeresh didn’t flinch.
“So be it.”

The door slammed behind her.

Silence followed.

Poornima pulled both children into her arms without hesitation. Veeresh stood beside them, one hand resting protectively on Kavya’s shoulder.

This wasn’t about winning or losing.

It was about where love chose to stay.