Chapter 7: A Mother’s Prayer, a Father’s Truth

My back slammed into the wall, pain shooting up my spine. Chotu must have heard—he ran out barefoot, standing between me and Arjun, his tiny frame fierce and unyielding.

The sight of him guarding me made my heart ache. Arjun looked down, sneering, "You and your mother are both annoying."

Chotu’s eyes went red. That line must have shattered him.

Under his pillow, Chotu hid Arjun’s photo. He always knew who his father was.

On the worst nights, curled up in my arms, he dreamed of Papa coming home, of never having to see his mother work so hard again.

Now, when he finally met his father, all he heard was, "You and your mum are both annoying."

Arjun barely glanced at him, then looked away, irritated. He tossed me a bank card. "Use it for your precious son—ten lakh or a crore, spend as you like. But stop drinking with men, and don’t forget to thank my wife."

He pulled Meera close and strode away.

Chotu watched his father’s back, then whispered, "Papa..." before turning to me, holding back tears: "Mumma, Chotu doesn’t want Papa anymore."

His face was so serious, as if he wanted to say more. Suddenly, he started coughing, blood staining the floor, my clothes, and the photo of Arjun clutched in his small hand. His schoolbag with a faded Ganpati sticker fell to the ground, its childish zipper half-open.

He collapsed into my arms, whispering, "Mumma’s not dirty, Mumma is very clean. It’s Chotu’s fault, he dirtied Mumma’s clothes. Mumma, throw Chotu away, don’t work so hard for me..."

His voice faded as his eyes closed. I screamed his name, agony splitting my heart.

I hadn’t told him—how could any mother throw away her own child? He was the flesh and blood I carried for ten months.

The nurses rushed in, chaos swirling. They pulled him from my arms and dashed to emergency. I forced myself to follow, numb with fear.

At the end of the corridor, I saw Arjun running back, tears streaming down his face. He trembled as he asked, "Ananya, did someone just call me Papa?"

The hospital lights flickered, and for the first time, we stood together—no secrets, no lies, just a broken mother, a desperate father, and the child we both might lose.