"Mama… is he my Papa?"
Ayaan's innocent voice echoed in the room.
Time stopped.
Ananya's breath caught in her throat. Her mind went blank.
She wasn't ready.
Not like this.
Not now.
Aarav stood still, his heart pounding so loudly he could hear it in his ears.
He didn't speak.
Didn't move.
Because this wasn't his moment.
It was hers.
Ananya slowly looked at Ayaan… then at Aarav.
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
How could she explain six years of pain to a child?
"Mama?" Ayaan asked again, softer this time.
Ananya knelt down in front of him, holding his tiny hands.
Her voice trembled.
"He…"
She paused.
Closed her eyes for a second.
Then whispered—
"Yes."
Silence.
Ayaan blinked.
Then looked at Aarav.
"You're… my Papa?"
Aarav's vision blurred.
He knelt down slowly, his voice breaking for the first time.
"Yes… I am."
And in that moment—
Everything changed.