Chapter 34: A Mother's Worry

After completing the admission formalities, Veeresh and Poornima walked with Ayat and Aarhan towards their classrooms.

The school campus was lively with children laughing and running around.

Veeresh bent down to the children's level.

Veeresh: "Your two brothers and your didi are studying here too."

Ayat smiled.

Ayat: "Really, Abbu?"

Veeresh: "Yes. Yash Bhaiya, Aarav Bhaiya, and Aadhya Didi are all here."

He smiled warmly.

Veeresh: "Enjoy your school."

He gently patted Aarhan's shoulder.

Veeresh: "And remember, if anything happens..."

He looked at both children.

Veeresh: "...you come and tell Abbu or Ammi. Never keep it to yourselves."

Both children nodded together.

Ayat & Aarhan: "Okay!"

Ayat happily held her brother's hand as they walked towards their classrooms.

Veeresh and Poornima stood watching until they disappeared inside.

After a long silence, Poornima spoke softly.

Poornima: "Do you think they'll adjust?"

Veeresh looked at her.

Veeresh: "They will."

She smiled faintly but worry still filled her eyes.

Poornima: "Ayat will adjust."

She sighed.

Poornima: "But Aarhan isn't like that, Rana Sa."

Veeresh listened quietly.

Poornima: "He's very introverted."

She looked towards the classroom building.

Poornima: "Even in his school in Bikaner, he made only one friend."

Her voice became heavy.

Poornima: "I was so worried that I even took him to a psychologist."

Veeresh turned towards her.

Veeresh: "What did the doctor say?"

Poornima: "The doctor said it's simply his nature."

She smiled sadly.

Poornima: "He told me Aarhan would open up in his own time."

She continued,

Poornima: "So I never forced him to make friends."

Her eyes became moist.

Poornima: "I wanted him to grow at his own pace."

She paused before saying the words that had weighed on her heart for years.

Poornima: "But I'm scared."

Veeresh looked at her with concern.

Poornima: "I'm scared someone will tease him... or bully him."

He frowned slightly.

Poornima lowered her eyes.

Poornima: "In his school in Bikaner..."

Her voice trembled.

Poornima: "...some children used to call him a bastard because his father left him."

For a moment, Veeresh's expression hardened.

He could imagine the pain those words must have caused a six-year-old child.

Poornima wiped away a tear.

Poornima: "He never complained."

She smiled sadly.

Poornima: "He would just come home, hug me, and stay quiet."

She looked towards the school building again.

Poornima: "I don't know how he'll manage here."

Veeresh remained silent for a few moments before speaking.

Veeresh: "He's not alone anymore."

Poornima looked at him.

Veeresh: "He has Ayat."

He smiled gently.

Veeresh: "He has Yash, Aarav, and Aadhya."

Then he looked directly into her eyes.

Veeresh: "And he has me."

His voice was calm but firm.

Veeresh: "If anyone insults Aarhan or Ayat because of their past, they'll answer to the school... and to me."

Poornima felt a weight lift from her heart.

Veeresh continued quietly,

Veeresh: "We'll help him grow with confidence."

He smiled reassuringly.

Veeresh: "Not by forcing him to change who he is..."

Veeresh: "...but by making sure he always knows he has a family standing behind him."

For the first time since entering the school, Poornima smiled without worry.

She realized that while she had spent years carrying every burden alone...

She no longer had to.