The grand halls of the Raichand estate were silent now, the earlier awe at Mukul's presence giving way to a heavier, more intimate tension. Avni Raichand, once the cherished daughter, now the mother who had endured exile, stood before her family. Her hands trembled slightly—not from fear, but from the weight of fifteen years of memory and pain.
Her voice was soft at first, almost a whisper. "I… I have lived a life I never imagined. One that tore me apart every single day. And I need you to hear it… all of it."
The Story Unfolds
Avni told them of the day she had been cast out of the Ahir mansion. She spoke of Savita Ahir, her mother-in-law, whose rigid adherence to status and lineage had deemed her unworthy.
"I was two months pregnant," Avni said, her eyes glistening, "and they—my own in-laws—kicked me out of the house. My husband, Raghav, tried to follow me, but the chaos, the anger, the fear—it was too much. And then… the children were taken from me. I do not even know where they were sent."
She paused, swallowing hard, as the family absorbed the weight of her words. Her brothers, the Malhotras, and Raichands could barely comprehend that the girl they had adored—their sister and niece—had endured such betrayal and separation.
"I wandered," she continued, "through lands I did not know. I had no family, no roots, no one to trust. I survived because I had to—for my child… for Mukul. Every day, I prayed for a miracle, for a sign that my children were alive, that my family remembered me."
Her voice cracked. "And now I know I have survived. Mukul is alive. He is strong. And yet… the others—my children—they are still out there. Lost to me. I have carried this pain silently for fifteen years."
The Vow
Avni's eyes hardened, and the warmth in her voice gave way to a steel resolve. "I have made a vow. Until I find every one of my children… until I know where they are, until I have answers from my mother-in-law and the Ahir family… I will not take a single step inside the Ahir mansion again. Not a single one."
Her brothers and parents exchanged glances, understanding both her pain and her fury. Arjun Raichand's hand clenched at his side. "Avni… you have suffered too long," he said quietly.
Sumitra Malhotra-Raichand, her mother, pressed her fingers to her lips. "We… we had no idea… if only we had known. We would have moved heaven and earth to bring you back sooner."
Avni shook her head. "It is not enough. It will never be enough until my children are with me, and I hear the truth from those who cast me out. That day will come—but not yet."
Emotional Reverberations
Aryan Raichand, her father, knelt beside her, brushing away her tears. "You carried this burden alone, and yet you have kept your heart open. You are braver than anyone I have ever known."
Aaryan Raichand, her elder brother, clenched his fists. "We will find your children, Avni. Every one of them. I swear it."
Devendra Malhotra, military strategist, gritted his teeth. "Those who caused this—justice will come. We will see to it."
Mukul, quietly observing, placed his small hand on her leg. Though young, he understood the gravity of her pain, and the bond between mother and son deepened in that silent moment.
The family stayed together for hours, listening as Avni recounted her struggles—the constant vigilance, the sacrifices, the days and nights of solitude, and the sorrow of never hearing her children's voices.
A Silent Determination
As the night deepened, Avni's words settled over the family like a solemn promise. She would reunite her children. She would uncover every hidden truth. And until the Ahir family could answer for their betrayal, she would not allow herself to step fully back into the life from which she had been cast out.
Her resolve was unwavering. The pain of exile had shaped her, hardened her, yet it had also made her determination unbreakable.
For fifteen years, she had survived. For the next chapter, she would fight—not just for herself, but for all her children, and the truth they deserved.