The silence that followed was unbearable.
Aarav looked at Ayaan.
Then at Ananya.
His voice softened—but remained firm.
"I'm not leaving this time."
Ananya's head snapped up.
"You don't get to decide that."
"I do," he said calmly.
"He's my son."
"He's my son," she corrected.
"I raised him. I protected him. I stayed when no one else did."
Aarav's expression didn't change.
"And I'll spend the rest of my life making up for that."
She shook her head.
"No. You don't just walk back into our lives like nothing happened."
Aarav stepped closer.
"I'm not asking for your forgiveness."
"Then what do you want?"
His eyes locked onto hers.
"My place… in his life."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Ayaan looked between them.
Confused.
Hopeful.
And then he asked—
"Mama… is he my Papa?"
Ananya froze.
Her world stopped.
Aarav's heart pounded.
Everything…
Came down to this moment.