Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh (Completed)

Chapter 46: His Step Mother

Sharda noticed a change in Aarav's demeanor since the day he slept in Sumitra's room. The once lively and cheerful 10-year-old had become withdrawn and silent, unable to share the trauma he had experienced at the hands of his stepmother.

Concern etched on her face, Sharda gently touched Aarav's cheek, but he flinched away, his eyes reflecting fear and sadness. "Beta, kya hua? Kaki ko batao," she urged softly, her heart aching for the boy she had come to love as her own.

Unable to contain his pain any longer, Aarav broke down in tears, his small frame shaking with emotion. "Bahut dard ho raha hai kaki... ye mumma achi nahi hai," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper, but heavy with the weight of his suffering.

Shocked and devastated by Aarav's words, Sharda struggled to comprehend the depth of his anguish. Her heart shattered into a million pieces, knowing that the innocent child had endured such cruelty in silence.

In that moment, Sharda made a silent vow to protect Aarav at all costs, to be his pillar of strength and support in the face of adversity. With tears in her eyes, she pulled him into a tender embrace, silently promising to never let him face his pain alone.

After Karan's return, Sharda wasted no time in addressing the urgent matter at hand. Approaching him with a grave expression, she began, "Sahab, wo... bahut zaroori baat karni thi aapse."

Karan, already informed by Sumitra of Sharda's supposed desire to leave her son, anticipated her concern. "Haan Sharda, mujhe Sumitra ne bataya tumhe apne bete ke paas jaana hai, toh tum Aarav ka khayal nahi rakh paogi," he interjected, assuming he understood the situation.

Shocked by Karan's misconception, Sharda quickly corrected him. "Nahi sahab... Aisa nahi hai. Sumitra Memsaab hamare Aarav baba ke saath galat kar rhi hai, unhe pareshan kar rahi hai," she explained, her voice trembling with urgency.

Karan was taken aback by her revelation. "Kya?" he exclaimed, disbelief clouding his features.

Sumitra, seizing the opportunity, feigned tears. "Itna bada ilzam mujhpe? Main use apne sage bete se zyada pyaar karti hun," she protested, her voice quivering with emotion.

Karan, unable to witness Sumitra's distress, attempted to defuse the situation. "Sumitra, shant ho jao," he urged, his voice tinged with concern.

But Sumitra refused to back down. "Kaise shant ho jao? Sauteli hun toh kya hua, maa toh hun main... Aap puchiye Aarav se zara sa bhi maine tang kia ho toh," she retorted defiantly, her facade of innocence crumbling.

Karan, torn between his wife's accusations and his son's welfare, called Aarav to join them. "Beta, mumma ne kuch kia aapke saath?" he inquired, his eyes searching for the truth.

Aarav, caught in the middle of the tense exchange and recalling Sumitra's threats, shook his head in denial. Sumitra smirked triumphantly, while Sharda sighed in disappointment.

Karan gave Sumitra a stern look. "Ainda meri patni par aisa ilzam mat lagana," he scolded her firmly, unwilling to entertain baseless accusations.

Sharda, disheartened by the turn of events, shook her head in resignation as Karan retreated to his room. Sumitra, wiping away her fake tears, gloated, "Sharda, maine dekh liya tha Aarav ko tumhe sab batate hue aur phir chali maine apni chaal."

Glaring at Sumitra, Sharda couldn't contain her disgust. "Aapko sharam aani chahiye, ek bache ke saath aisi harkat karte hue," she rebuked, her voice filled with contempt.

But Sumitra only laughed cruelly in response. "Sharam aur mujhe? Maa hun iski. Jo chahe karungi iske saath... Usey maaru peeti ya maar dun, tum naukrani ho wahi raho, samjhi?" she threatened, before whisking Aarav away from the scene, leaving Sharda feeling powerless in the face of such malevolence.