AADHYA'SPOV

Its been 3 days and abhimanyu is being handling the court and gathering evidences against jiya.
I am currently in my biology class.
All of sudden , notifications exploded on my phone.
Everyone was sending the same thing.

Leaked photos.
Old photos.
Manipulated photos of Abhimanyu with random models.

All crafted to make him look like an irresponsible father.

My blood boiled so fast I didn't even feel anger—
I felt purpose.

I grabbed my bag, tied my hair up, and stormed out.

Inaaya yelled, "Where the hell are you going?!"

I answered while walking,"To end this bitch."

>TIME SKIPS<

Jiya was at her office, surrounded by her minions.
The moment she saw me, she smirked like she'd already won.
"Look who came running,"she said, crossing her arms.

I stepped closer, boots clicking like gunshots on marble.
My voice was calm.
Too calm.
"One more stunt like this... and I'll bury your reputation so deep, you won't even find it in your next life."

Her mask broke for a second.
She scoffed, "You think you can scare me?"

I leaned in, eyes locked with hers.
" I don't scare you, Jiya.I end you."

She stiffened.
I let out a small smile.
"Touch Dhwani again,
drag her name again,
or make my Manyu cry again...
 and I'll show you what danger actually looks like."

Jiya whispered, "You're getting too bold, Princess."

I tilted my head.
"I'm not too bold.
I'm just in love."
And I left before she could answer.
> AT ABHIMANYU'S OFFICE<

I reached his office with Dhwani's lunch, ready to tell him everything.
But the door was half open.
And I heard his voice.

Not the CEO voice.
Not the cold, confident man.
But a man breaking.

"...yes, I saw the photos," he said, voice low. "What do you mean the case is getting harder?"

A pause.
My heart stopped.

Lawyer:"Sir, the court may question Dhwani's emotional wellbeing without a mother.
Without proving a stable mother figure...Jiya may have the upper hand."

Silence.
Crushing.
Heavy.

Lawyer:"If Dhwani doesn't have a mother... they can argue you're unfit."

I saw his shoulders go rigid.
His hand trembled.
Abhimanyu whispering, almost to himself :"She doesn't need a mother.She has me."

Lawyer:"But sir... without a mother, legally the case becomes—"

"I SAID SHE HAS ME!"
he snapped.

The lawyer went quiet.
Abhimanyu's voice broke—actually broke—as he whispered:"...I don't trust anyone else with her. Anyone.No one deserves to be her mother."

My heart shattered.
The call ended.

He sank onto the sofa, head in his hands.
Shoulders shaking.

I walked in slowly.

"Manyu?" I whispered.

He didn't look up.
He didn't have to.
I saw the tear fall on his wrist.

When I went to him, he finally raised his head.

His voice was hoarse:"They want to take my princess away, Aadhya.They want to take Dhwani from me.And I—I don't know how to protect her anymore."

I knelt in front of him and held his face between my palms."You're doing everything, Manyu. You're the best father she could ever have."

He shook his head, eyes glassy."The lawyer said she needs a mother.Someone stable.Someonewho won't leave.Someone who won't hurt her.Someone I can trust."

He looks at me and whispers" u know how she gets panic attacks and she often gets nightmare"
I  nodded and closed the distance and said " i also know that we will win the case, no matter what"
He leans in.
His forehead touched mine,
his breath fanning my lips,
his fingers sliding up to my jaw.

My heart thudded painfully.

Just one more inch—
and he would've kissed me hard enough to break the world.

But the door burst open.

"DAADAAA!! AADHYAAAAA!!!"
Dhwani ran in, holding the hand of Abhimanyu's assistant, excitement bouncing off her tiny footsteps.
We snapped apart.
She threw herself into manyu's lap and yelled,
"Look! I made a family drawing!!!"

My chest warmed.
She held a paper with three stick figures.
Manyu.
Me.
Dhwani.

I looked at the drawing...then at Abhimanyu.
And said softly,"Maybe she already sees someone as her mother, Manyu."
He swallowed hard.
Looked at Dhwani.
 Then at me and says "But she's a kid...and the one she sees as her mother..."
his gaze softened,"...is way too young... for her dadda."

I looked away to hide tears which glistened my eyes cause..i thought that ..maybe- maybe we were past that problem ...

Dhwani's tapped my shoulder and i turned around and smiled at her and said " yes babybug"

Abhimanyu says " Minx, dont hide those pearls from me ...but u need to understand that we aren't compatible"

I nodded and whispers" But who said we have to be perfect ?...look at us ..how we blend together like - like a family"

Dhwani pouts and mumbles whinely  " Dadda, Dha...dont start these adult talks infront me...i dont understand it please....."

We both laughed and says " awww our little princess" and tickled her from either sides erupting giggles from her.

Dhwani wriggled free and ran to me, wrapping her tiny arms around my waist.
"Dha, Dadda... I love you both so much!" she exclaimed, her voice full of joy.

I hugged her tightly, pressing my cheek to hers.
"We love you too, babybug. So much."

We heard a click and i saw abhimanyu clicking our pic.
Dhwani whispers" daaddaa, u should have let me pose "
Abhimanyu asks " and why so , little  lady "
Dhwani giggles and says " cause i know u are going to put that on ur phone ..i want to look cute"

I look at manyu..and so his ears turning little pink.
Dhwani yelled again " Family hug ,pleaseee"

We smiled and abhimanyu joins us and  kissed our foreheads and we all three shared a hug .

And for that moment, the world outside didn't exist.
It was just us.
Our little, imperfect, beautiful family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey , my sunshines !!
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