Chapter 73: They Listen to Me

A few weeks passed, and slowly the fear Aryan carried in his heart began to disappear.

The nervous little boy who had once cried himself to sleep because of school was changing.

Every day, he returned home a little happier.

A little more confident.

A little more like himself again.

That evening, the front door burst open and Aryan ran inside carrying his school bag.

"Mumma!"

Poornima looked up from where she was arranging books in the living room.

Immediately, she knew something had happened.

Not something bad.

Something exciting.

Aryan's face was glowing.

He ran straight to her.

"Mumma!"

"What happened, beta?"

Aryan was practically bouncing with excitement.

Before he could answer, Veeresh entered from the courtyard after finishing some work and looked at his son.

"What happened, young man?"

Aryan turned toward both of them.

His eyes shining.

"Dad! Mumma!"

"Tell us."

Aryan sat between them and immediately started talking.

"People here are good."

Poornima exchanged a quick glance with Veeresh.

Already feeling emotional.

"They don't make fun of me for speaking."

His voice was innocent.

Simple.

But the words hit both parents deeply.

Because they knew exactly how much pain those old experiences had caused him.

Aryan continued happily.

"When I say something wrong, they correct me."

"They don't laugh."

"They help me."

Poornima felt her eyes becoming moist.

The relief in her son's voice was impossible to miss.

Then Aryan smiled even wider.

"And nobody beats me."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Veeresh looked away briefly.

His jaw tightened.

Even now, hearing those words hurt him.

A child should never have to feel grateful for basic kindness.

But Aryan did.

Because he knew what it felt like when kindness was missing.

"I have new friends."

Aryan continued excitedly.

"And they sit with me."

"And they share their lunch."

"And they play with me."

Poornima's heart swelled with happiness.

The loneliness she had seen in him was disappearing.

In its place was joy.

Pure childhood joy.

Then Aryan looked at Poornima.

"Mumma."

"Hmm?"

"The teachers are also good."

Poornima smiled.

"Really?"

Aryan nodded proudly.

"Yes."

Then he sat a little straighter.

As though sharing a very important achievement.

"They say I speak nicely."

Poornima froze.

For a second, she couldn't speak.

Because she knew how much those words meant to him.

A child who had been mocked for speaking.

A child who had started doubting himself.

A child who had become afraid of opening his mouth.

And now someone had told him he spoke nicely.

The smile on his face said everything.

Poornima immediately pulled him into her arms.

"My baby."

Then she kissed his forehead.

A long, loving kiss.

The kind only a mother could give.

"I'm so proud of you."

Aryan hugged her tightly.

His little heart feeling lighter than it had in months.

Veeresh watched them quietly.

His eyes softening.

He remembered the night Aryan had cried between them.

The red marks on his back.

The fear in his eyes.

The way he had asked not to go back to school.

And now...

Now he was smiling.

Talking.

Laughing.

Making friends.

Healing.

Veeresh felt something warm settle inside his chest.

Pride.

The deepest kind of pride.

Not because Aryan was the best student.

Not because he was perfect.

But because despite being hurt, he had found the courage to try again.

That took strength.

More strength than most people realized.

Veeresh stretched out his hand.

Aryan immediately grabbed it.

"Happy?"

Veeresh asked softly.

Aryan nodded.

A huge smile spreading across his face.

"Very happy, Dad."

For a moment, Veeresh couldn't speak.

He simply squeezed his son's hand.

Because that answer was all he wanted.

All he had hoped for.

Poornima looked at both of them.

Her heart overflowing with gratitude.

There had been a time when she worried Aryan would carry those wounds forever.

But now she could see the light returning to him.

The confidence.

The excitement.

The happiness.

The little boy who deserved to feel loved and accepted exactly as he was.

Aryan suddenly stood up.

"Dad."

"Hmm?"

"Tomorrow my friend is sharing his lunch with me."

"Good."

"And I am sharing mine."

"Very good."

"And teacher said I read nicely."

Veeresh laughed.

"Anything else?"

Aryan thought for a moment.

Then nodded.

"Yes."

"What?"

"I like my school."

The words brought a smile to both parents' faces.

A real smile.

A relieved smile.

The kind that comes after watching someone you love finally find their happiness again.

That night, as Poornima watched Aryan talking nonstop about his friends, his teachers, and everything he had learned, she silently thanked God.

Not for making life easy.

But for giving her son a place where he could simply be himself.

And beside her, Veeresh watched Aryan too.

His heart full.

Because there was nothing more beautiful for a parent than seeing their child smile without fear.