The Intern

Part 26

This is a mature story. Only read if you are comfortable.

Akshara Goenka:

Akshu went to the garden and saw Kairav sitting there. Kairav got up and hugged Akshu. "How are you, beta? How is Aarav?"
"We are good. Aarav is fine. He's happy." Akshu answered him finally.
Kairav smiled. "He always have loved spending time with his favorite Bua."
"Mother. I'm his mother. He might not know that but even his heart knows, I'm more than his bua." Akshu replied back. "Why are you here, Bhaiya? I'm not giving back my son."
"Akshu. Beta, listen to me first."
"I'm listening but nothing you can say will change my mind."
"Akshu. I want to apologize. I never agreed to take Aarav away from you but I didn't stop that from happening either. Maybe I got selfish. But you know I always tried to make sure you spend time with him, too." Kairav told her.
Akshu let out a bitter laugh. "I had to beg you to let me spend a hour a day with my own son. Literally beg you and cry to you before I was allowed to spend anytime with my own baby! You want me to be grateful for that? Bhaiya, why are you here? It's not to apologize. None of you feel any sympathy for me, so let's not insult me by pretending like you do. If you had any sympathy for me, you would have never separated my son from me." Akshu couldn't believe anyone had the audacity to even pretend they cared about her feelings.
"Akshu...." Kairav started to speak.
"Please Bhaiya. Tell me why you are here?" Akshu interrupted him.
"Akshu, you know both Anisha and I always considered Aarav our son. We love him as our son. Since he was born, we raised him. Even he considers us his parents. Please don't take him away from us. You and Abhimanyu can still have more children but Aarav is our only chance at being parents." Kairav begged him.
"It doesn't matter if Abhi and I go on to have 5 more kids, none of them can be a replacement for Aarav! By that logic, you can go adopt another baby too." Akshu told him angrily. How could her brother even say such a thing? As if she will forget Aarav if she has another kid!
"Akshu, we raised Aarav! You don't need to think of us, but think about your son. It's not fair to Aarav to separate him from who he considers his parents."
"Aarav is happy with me." Akshu assured him.
"For how long, Akshu? He thinks he's having a sleepover with you." Kairav said getting frustrated.
"I'll handle it when that time comes. I don't care what happens! I won't give up my baby!" Akshu said getting up. She knew Kairav was right. Aarav still considered her his Bua. What if he started to ask for Anisha? Akshu had to explain to him that he was going to live with her from now on. He needed to know she was his Mama, not Anisha.
"Akshu, we can still figure this out. You can get visiting rights and Aarav can come stay with you every weekend and school break. I'll make sure of that. I'll get an order from court if you want." Kairav tried to reason with her.
"You want me to agree to have only visiting rights with my own son?" Akshu laughed. "You can't be serious."
"Akshu, I was trying to reason with you but you don't want to listen. You forget Anisha and I have legal custody of Aarav. Anisha already has talked to her brother and have filed a case. If this case goes to court, there is no way you will win and then Anisha will make sure you are never seen near Aarav again!" Kairav warned her. Akshu looked at him horrified. She knew her brother was right. Anisha and Kairav did have legal custody of Aarav and Anisha's brother was one of the best lawyers in the country. He was the one who helped finalize Aarav's adoption.
"I don't care...I..I.." but before she could say anything, she heard Aarav behind her.
"Papa!" Aarav ran to Kairav and hugged him happily. "Where's Mama?"
Kairav looked at Akshu and then picked Aarav up. "Mama is home and misses you very much. Are you having fun here?"
"Yaa! But I miss Mama!" Aarav hugged Kairav's neck. Kairav looked at Akshu. Akshu took a deep breath and put a fake smile on her face.
"Come baby! We will go get ice cream!" She took him from Kairav's arms.
"You can't distract him forever, Akshu."
But Akshu ignored him and walked away with Aarav She didn't care what she had to do but she won't lose her baby. She will talk to Abhi and tell him they needed to go far away from here. So far that Aarav won't have any memory of this place or these people. She won't lose her baby. She will not lose her baby.

________

Akshu sat on her bed with Aarav helping him build the new Lego set she had gotten him that day. After Kairav left, Akshu ran to Abhi and asked him to take her shopping where she bought Aarav everything he asked for: legos, superhero toys, a new Xbox, games, cars, balls. Abhi thankfully had no problem paying for anything as long as it made Akshu happy though he did tell her they shouldn't bribe Aarav. But she didn't care if this was considered bribing. She would do whatever she had to make Aarav stay with her and forget Anisha and Kairav.
"Chanda, I am your best friend na?" Akshu asked her son.
"Ya! Forever!" Aarav said not looking up from building his legos.
Akshu smiled. "And you like staying with me, right?"
Aarav nodded.
"But Bua, when will I go to my house? I miss Mama!"
Akshu pulled Aarav to her lap. "Chanda, this is your house and baby, I'm not Bua. I'm your Mama." Akshu said to him softly. Aarav looked at her confused.
"No, you are Bua!"
"No baby! I'm your real Mama and Abhi is your Papa and we love you so much." Akshu kissed his head. Aarav got up and stood on the bed.
"Bua it's bad to lie! You are not Mama!" He said and started to cry.
"Aarav, please. Don't cry!" Akshu tried to hug him but he backed away.
"I want to go home! I want my Mama!" He cried loudly. Akshu went to him and pulled him in a hug, holding him tightly.
"Baby, please listen to me. I am your Mama!" Akshu started to cry as well. "Please Aarav. I'm your Mama! Please call me Mama!"
"Noooooo! I want my Mama! Let me go! I want my Mama!" Aarav tried wiggle out of Akshu's arms.
"Chanda, please!" Akshu begged him. He finally managed to get out of Akshu's arms and ran toward the door. Akshu followed him but tripped on one of his toy cars on floor, falling and hitting her head on the side of the bed.
"Akshu!" Abhi came right at that moment and ran to Akshu. Akshu held her head with her hand, feeling wetness knowing she was bleeding but she didn't care. She opened her eyes looking for Aarav.
"Baby! You are bleeding! Are you okay?" Abhi pulled Akshu in his arms, examining her wound. Akshu looked around for Aarav.
"Aarav! Where's Aarav? Aarav!" Akshu screamed trying to get up. What if he ran out of the house trying to get to Anisha? What if he goes on the road? "Aarav!" Akshu tried to get up but felt dizzy.
"Akshu, baby! Sit down. You are hurt!"
"Where's my baby?" Akshu started to get hysterical. "Find my baby, Abhi! Where is my baby?" Akshu tried to get up but saw movement behind the door. "Aarav? Baby, please come here!" Aarav slowly came from behind the door shaking.
"Aarav! Look what you have done! Look at how hurt Akshu is!" Abhi yelled at him which made Aarav cry loudly.
"No! Aarav didn't do anything. Please come here, baby!" Akshu begged him and he ran to her arms.
"Akshu, you are bleeding. Leave Aarav. We need to go to the hospital."
Akshu ignored Abhi. "You don't want to call me Mama? It's okay. You don't have to. But please don't leave me, baby!" Akshu hugged her little boy. "Please never leave me!"
"Akshu leave him. Let's go!"
"I'm never leaving him! Do you understand? I am not giving my baby to anyone!" Akshu pushed Abhi away. "I'm not giving my baby to anyone! Go to court if you want to! I'm not giving my baby to anyone!" Akshu screamed, holding on to her little boy. She will hold on to him forever and take him away and not let anyone ever come near him. He was her baby. Her baby only. Nobody could come near him. Not Kairav. Not Anisha. Not Bade Papa. Not Abhimanyu. She will fight off everyone. She will fight the whole world. But now she has to close her eyes and rest because she was so tired but when she wakes up she will fight them all. She looked at Abhi who was moving his mouth and not making any sound. She looked down at Aarav who looked like he was crying but he too wasn't making any sound. Father and son are exactly the same. Akshu smiled before closing her eyes and letting darkness take over.

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