Rudransh's Pov

The only sound in the room was the steady ticking of the clock, each second dragging itself across the silence .

And right now, it was testing the last threads of my patience.

Thirty minutes.

Thirty goddamn minutes, and still nothing.

Across from me, the principal stood frozen, visibly trembling, Sweat lined his forehead despite the cold air-conditioning.

Pathetic.

I leaned back in my chair, lifting the cigar to my lips, letting the smoke curl slowly into the air.

The door opened at that exact moment, and Aniket stepped in, his voice cautious. "Sir... here is the footage."

I didn't respond.The chair scraped loudly against the floor as I stood, closing the distance to the screen in long, controlled strides.

The footage began to play, and for a moment, it was nothing, just children moving, talking, existing. Then it came.

A voice. Sharp. Intentional.

"It's not like your mother is gonna appear at the event, Aryaman."

My jaw tightened instantly, recognition striking without warning.

Aarav Mishra, Son of Vrinda Mishra.

On the screen, my son stood there , silent, still, his face falling in a way no child should ever have to learn.

The others laughed, their amusement echoing faintly through the speakers, but it was enough. Enough to make something inside me snap.

My fists clenched, knuckles turning white as the weight of it settled in.

Cornered. My son was being cornered, humiliated, reduced to something smaller than he is.

And for what?

A void he never asked for?

A cruelty he never deserved?

No.

My voice, when it came, was low, controlled in a way that made it far more dangerous. "Sharma." The man flinched immediately. "Get a copy of this footage... and burn the entire fucking server."

Silence followed, thick and suffocating.

Then, I turned my gaze to the principal, and whatever little composure he had left crumbled under it.

A man responsible for shaping minds, yet blind to the rot growing under his own roof.

"Have his resignation ready by noon," I said, my tone leaving no room for negotiation.

I didn't wait for an answer. Staying there any longer would have pushed me past a line I had no intention of crossing inside a school.

I drove myself back. Ignored the convoy. Ignored the calls. The engine roared beneath me, but it did nothing to drown out the image of Arya standing there, silent, absorbing something he should never have to carry.

By the time I entered the mansion, my pulse was still uneven, the anger still sitting heavy in my chest. And then it hit me..the faint scent of sandalwood and vanilla. Soft. Familiar. Grounding.

Her.

For a moment, the storm inside me stilled. She was calm in a way I had never known, like still water that didn't need to prove its depth.

The way she had taken Arya as her own, without hesitation, without expectation... the way her eyes lit up when she looked at him, it did something to me I couldn't explain.

I found myself thinking of her from the morning, walking into the dining room in that soft pink saree, her presence quite yet impossible to ignore.

There was something dangerously pure about her, something that did not belong anywhere near the world I lived in.

But then , her innocence, that small mole just below her lips on the left side.

Oh dear lord, she is unraveling me slowly, undoubtedly.

Get a grip, Rudransh.

As I stepped inside the room it felt , Too still. Too empty.

Where did he disappear, now ?

And before I could question it, I was already moving towards her room. The door was slightly open, and just as I reached it, I heard Arya's voice. "What is she doing, mumma ?" I stopped.

Not out of hesitation, but curiosity. I wanted to hear her answer.

"She is having her food, baby... unlike you, she can't have solids yet," Ishani replied, her voice soft, patient, wrapping around him like comfort itself.

I stepped in then, and she turned slightly, her cheeks flushing instantly as she noticed me.

The sight caught me off guard...

she looked almost... like a flustered squirrel. My squirrel.

Arya, on the other hand, wasted no time, jumping straight into my arms.

"Papa, who fed me then?" The question hit me without warning, and for the first time in a long while, I didn't have an answer ready.

But she did.

"You were so strong manie," she said gently, "so papa had to give you super powdered milk when you were born."

Arya's chest puffed up immediately, pride now replacing curiosity, and I found myself watching her, not just hearing her words, but understanding what she had done.

She didn't fill a gap. She erased it. She turned something that could have been a wound into strength.

And in that moment, I realized just how carefully she held him together.

Before I could think it through, I moved. Holding Arya in one arm, I bent slightly and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

She stilled under the touch, clearly not expecting it.

"You don't have to be shy," I murmured quietly. "It's a blissful moment... watching you nourish our baby."

She didn't reply, but her eyes softened in a way that said enough.

Aru stirred in her arms done with her feed, and I instinctively took her from Ishani where arya now sitting on bed, settling aru against my chest. "Haan meri jaan... papa aa gaya,"

I murmured, and she responded immediately, giggling as her tiny fingers curled into my shirt, her attention completely captured.

Behind me, Arya yawned, his energy finally giving in to sleep. I glanced back at Ishani. "You can rest with him. I'll watch her."

Arya protested weakly " papa , mujhe bhi cookie se kelna hai ".

I simply ruffled his hair and promised

" Later beta , abhi mummy will tell you a story."

"Yeah , I want lion story."

Within minutes, they were lying down, Arya curled into her, holding onto her tightly arms around her waist as he snuggled deep into her chest.

I stood there for a moment longer than necessary, watching them, memorizing something I never thought I would have.

Peace. Real, unguarded peace.

Out on the balcony, the afternoon had softened into something quieter. I sat down, adjusting Aru against my chest as she struggled to climb higher, tugging at my hair, grabbing my face with zero mercy, and finally chewing on top of my nose.

A small, unexpected laugh escaped me before she finally settled, her tiny fingers clutching my collar as sleep claimed her.

I pressed a kiss to her forehead, holding her just a moment longer than needed.

When I walked back into the room, I settled aru into her cradle, and both mother-son duo were asleep.

Undisturbed. Safe.

I adjusted the blanket gently, pressing a kiss to each of their foreheads before stepping out, careful not to break the silence they deserved.

As I made my way towards study room , My laptop screen lit up, emails flooding in-names, details, backgrounds.

One name remained on the screen.

Vrinda Mishra.

I stared at it for a moment longer.

No one touches my son and goes unharmed.

I would hunt every single one to the hell.

And Vrinda..." a faint, dangerous smile curved my lips, "...you're not ready this time.".

The time skipped as i went through files.

By the time I stepped out again, it was evening, and the mansion was anything but quiet.

Choas. Pure, absolute chaos.

The sight in front of me made me stop in my tracks, flour scattered across the dining table, the floor, the furniture, and right in the center of it all stood Ishani, hands on her waist, completely covered in it, trying very hard to look stern.

Arya, equally guilty, hid behind the aru's baby swing.

Aru watched from her swing, somehow also covered in flour, quietly sucking her fingers as if she had no role in the disaster around her.

"Mumma, gussa mat karo... yeh toh papa ka plan hai!" I heard arya say.

I frowned slightly. What plan?

Before I could process anything, Arya ran toward me. "Papa, bachao!" I caught him instinctively, still trying to piece together the chaos.

"Kya hua?" I asked, and Ishani walked toward me, Pointing at the flour-covered criminal in my arms.

"Aapko pata hai kya kiya isne?"

And then she began.

"He buttered with his velvety voice that he'll help me make brownies. Asked for flour... and then.."

She gestured around.

"Arranged his toys in a line... threw the flour in the air saying 'Santa aaya, gifts laya'... then jumped on the sofa shouting Spidey now will fight monsters in the snow!"

Her voice softened slightly.

"He almost fell, Rudransh. I got scared."

Arya unaware of her fear corrected her mid-way, giggling,

"Mumma... maine bola Iron Man..."

"Haan haan, wahi tho hai mera ladla beta..." she said tickling him as his laughter filled the room, pure and unfiltered.

I turned to Arya, trying to keep a straight face. "Arya... we don't jump on furniture, do we?"

He shook his head instantly,"Sorry, mumma."

She gently wiped his cheek, smearing a little more flour instead. "Arre meri jaan... masti karo, par thoda kam earthquake mode mein, okay? Mumma ka heart bhi hai idhar," she said, dramatically tapping her chest.

Arya nodded seriously... for exactly two seconds.

Then pointed at the flour. "Par snow toh accha tha na?"

I stood there, watching them.

Arya-laughing.

Carefree.

Unburdened.

This is the first time I am watching him

doing something chaotic, like a toddler he is ,the mischievous side of him.

This was all I ever wanted for him.

Just this.

A childhood.

And I knew, with a certainty that ran deeper than anything else-

It is possible only with her, his mumma.

Heyy guysss,

Firstly, how many of you thought something...by reading the title 😁😁

Oh my innocent brain...

Relax guyss, it's just white flour they are talking about.

Well then, coming to the chapter,

This is our Rudransh , who is merciless to the outer world and softer one to hi

s world.

How do you feel about this chapter.

I guess this is the longest chapter till now.

Rudransh's feelings are whirlwind to explain , phhhhhff......

Anyways , gotta hear from you guyss.

Do engage 😉.

See you soon...... whooopppp.