Chapter 39: A Father's Arrival

Yash looked at Aarhan's tear-stained face.

He took out his phone and called Veeresh.

The call connected after a few rings.

Veeresh: "Hello, Yash."

There was no answer.

Veeresh: "Yash?"

Yash remained silent for a moment.

Veeresh immediately sensed something was wrong.

Veeresh: "I'm just leaving for a meeting."

He paused.

Veeresh: "I'll call you later."

Yash spoke only one sentence.

Yash: "Papa... can you come to school?"

His voice was unusually serious.

Veeresh stood up from his office chair immediately.

Veeresh: "I'm coming."

He didn't ask another question.

He picked up his car keys and left the office without informing anyone where he was going.

Twenty-five minutes later...

A black SUV stopped outside the school.

Veeresh walked in briskly.

He found Yash, Aarav, and Aarhan sitting outside the infirmary.

The moment Aarhan saw him, he lowered his head.

Veeresh looked at his sons.

Veeresh: "What happened?"

Yash looked away.

He couldn't bring himself to say the words.

Veeresh frowned.

Veeresh: "Yash."

Still, no answer came.

Aarav took a deep breath.

Aarav: "Papa..."

Veeresh turned towards him.

Aarav: "Some boys bullied Aarhan."

Veeresh's expression hardened.

Aarav continued,

Aarav: "They asked why his surname is 'Qureshi Rathore.'"

He looked at Aarhan, who was silently wiping his tears.

Aarav: "Aarhan told them you married Ammi."

Veeresh listened without interrupting.

Aarav: "Then they asked whether you were his real father."

He clenched his fists.

Aarav: "When Aarhan said no..."

His voice filled with anger.

Aarav: "They laughed."

Veeresh's jaw tightened.

Aarav continued,

Aarav: "They told him..."

He hesitated before repeating the cruel words.

Aarav: "'Your real father didn't even want you.'"

Silence.

Aarav: "They also said that's why his father left him."

Veeresh slowly turned towards Aarhan.

The little boy stood there with tears still rolling down his cheeks.

Without saying a word, Veeresh walked over to him.

He knelt down.

Very gently, he wiped Aarhan's tears.

Then he opened his arms.

Aarhan immediately ran into them.

Veeresh hugged him tightly.

He closed his eyes for a moment, holding the child close.

Finally, he spoke softly.

Veeresh: "Look at me, beta."

Aarhan looked up.

Veeresh: "No child deserves to hear those words."

He placed a hand on Aarhan's head.

Veeresh: "And no matter what anyone says..."

He smiled gently.

Veeresh: "...you are my son."

Aarhan's lips trembled.

He whispered,

Aarhan: "Really, Abbu?"

Veeresh nodded without hesitation.

Veeresh: "Really."

Standing a few steps away, Yash and Aarav silently watched.

For the first time...

They saw their father not just as a parent to them—

But as a father protecting their little brother.