Chapter 45 — Don't Poison a Child's Mind

Back at the Qureshi mansion, the atmosphere was tense.

Safeena had been confronted about what she had told Rishi.

Shabana stood in front of her, deeply angry.

Shabana: How dare you?

Safeena: What did I even say?

Shabana: You deliberately tried to poison a child's mind against his own family.

Safeena: I only told him the truth. He isn't Arnav's biological son.

Shabana's anger reached its limit.

She slapped Safeena.

Safeena stared at her in shock.

Shabana: Don't you ever speak to Rishi like that again.

Safeena: Shabana!

Shabana: He is a child!

Her voice shook with anger.

Shabana: What kind of person tells an eight-year-old that the man he loves isn't his father?

Safeena: What did I tell that boy that was wrong?

Rehnaa stepped forward.

Rehnaa: Everything.

Safeena looked at her.

Rehnaa: You didn't simply tell him that Arnav wasn't his biological father.

Rehnaa: You told him that he was a burden.

Safeena became silent.

Rehnaa: You told him he shouldn't call Arnav Baba.

Shabana: And you made him question whether he belonged in this family.

Rehnaa: Do you understand what that can do to a child?

Safeena looked away.

Rehnaa: Rishi already lost his biological father.

Her voice softened.

Rehnaa: And instead of giving that child love, you made him feel guilty for loving another father figure.

Shabana: Arnav accepted him.

Rehnaa: Ritika accepted this family.

She looked directly at Safeena.

Rehnaa: And we accepted both of them.

Shabana: You have no right to interfere in their relationship.

Safeena: I was only saying—

Rehnaa: No.

Rehnaa interrupted firmly.

Rehnaa: You were judging a woman for being a widow and a mother.

Shabana: And then you carried that cruelty to an innocent child.

Rehnaa shook her head.

Rehnaa: If you cannot respect Ritika, at least respect Rishi's innocence.

Safeena remained silent.

Shabana: From now on, you will not speak to Rishi without one of us present.

Rehnaa: And you will never again tell him that he doesn't belong here.

Shabana's voice became firm.

Shabana: Because he does belong here.

Rehnaa nodded.

Rehnaa: He is our family.

The room fell silent.

For once, Safeena had no answer.