The courtroom was packed, buzzing with an undercurrent of tension as the final hearing for Ruhi’s custody was about to begin. The large windows cast beams of light across the polished wooden floors, but it felt as though all warmth had been drained from the room, leaving only the heavy weight of anticipation. Akshara and Abhimanyu stood at the center, their hands intertwined, fingers tightly locked, a gesture of solidarity and strength. For them, this day was more than a legal proceeding—it was the culmination of years of heartbreak, guilt, and a fierce determination to rebuild the shattered pieces of their family.
It had been five long years since Aarohi’s tragic deaths. Five years of sleepless nights, restless souls, and a lingering sorrow that had never quite left them. The scars from that day were still fresh, as though etched into the very core of their beings, but today was not a day for mourning. Today, they were here to fight—for Ruhi, for their family, and for the love that had bound them through all the darkness.
Akshara’s mind was a storm of emotions. Guilt, grief, fear—they all swirled together, threatening to overwhelm her, but she held them at bay. She had to stay strong, not only for herself but for Ruhi, for Abhir and Abhira, for Abhimanyu. As her gaze swept across the courtroom, her heart clenched, the weight of her memories pressing down on her like a leaden burden. The faces of those she loved, lost in time, flickered before her eyes. Neil’s infectious smile, Aarohi’s fierce determination… They had been her family, her blood, and she had loved them. But in the end, she had failed them. That truth had haunted her for years.
Her heart pounded in her chest as the judge called her to the stand. With legs that felt like they might give way beneath her, she stood up slowly, her hand gripping Abhimanyu’s for one last moment of reassurance. His eyes met hers, steady and full of understanding. He gave her a small nod, a silent promise that he was with her, no matter what.
She drew in a shaky breath and walked to the front of the courtroom. Every step felt like walking through water, each movement slow and deliberate as if time itself had decided to stretch in these final moments. The weight of a thousand unsaid words pressed against her chest, but she knew this was her moment. She had to speak her truth.
“Your Honor,” she began, her voice trembling as it cut through the heavy silence of the room. She cleared her throat, trying to steady herself. “I stand here today not just to fight for Ruhi, but to take responsibility for the mistakes I made—mistakes that have haunted me for five long years.”
Her voice wavered, emotion creeping in as she paused, her eyes scanning the faces of those in the room. She could feel the eyes of the courtroom on her, feel the weight of their expectations, their judgments. It was as though the walls themselves were listening, waiting for her confession.
“I loved my sister, Aarohi, and Neil was like a brother to me. They were my family, and I would have done anything to protect them. But I failed.” The words slipped out, raw and unfiltered. She felt the sting of tears welling up in her eyes, but she fought them back. “I made decisions back then that I thought were practical, decisions that I believed were best for everyone. I wanted to keep my family together, but in the end, I only drove us further apart. I failed them, and I failed myself.”
The courtroom was deathly silent, every word she spoke filling the room with the weight of unspoken grief. She swallowed hard, her throat tight as the memories of that terrible day came rushing back. The noise, the chaos, the blood—she had replayed it over and over again in her mind, wondering if there had been something—anything—she could have done differently. But there was no turning back time, no erasing the past.
“Their deaths were accidents,” she continued, her voice breaking. “But for years, I blamed myself. I wondered if I could have done something—if maybe I could have prevented it. But I didn’t cause their deaths with intention or malice in my heart. I never wanted this.”
