Author

Adwait's parents were arrested, and Adwait was living with his uncle and aunt. They told him that they were his parents and that when he was playing, he fell from the bed and got hurt.

The three of them were then living happily as a family. Adwait used to get nightmares, but he wouldn't remember anything about them in the morning.

Mr. and Mrs. Aggarwal decided to change Adwait's school after he completely recovered.

He was now sent to a big private school, which was famous for its excellent studies. Adwait was even eating properly, which is why he gained some weight, and now he used to look very cute.

He was the sunshine boy, the most kind-hearted. He tredated everyone with love and respect.

His uncle and aunt adopted him after some legal work, and they were happy that all the hardships this kid endured had finally come to an end. They even thanked God for his memory loss, as they believed that if he remembered those things, it would become a trauma for a child.

The guilt Mrs. Aggarwal felt, knowing that even after suspecting something was wrong, she didn't take a stand and allowed the matter to escalate to such an extent, weighed heavily on her.

In Adwait's old room, they found some letters written in broken English:

Help they hit mee.
Adwait die.

In all the letters, Adwait was asking for forgiveness from God for the sin he believed he had committed and wishing to have a happy family like his friends.

Mrs. Aggarwal felt her heart crumble, feeling the pain the child had endured. She decided she would replace that pain with all the love she had within herself.

Adwait grew up with all the love his family gave him. During 11th grade, he met Devisha. They started interacting and slowly fell in love with each other. After graduation, Devisha had to leave India for two years, and those two years were the worst for Adwait.
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Flashback

When Adwait fainted after his interaction with his mother:

Adwait's mom panicked upon seeing Adwait lose consciousness. She held him firmly and patted his cheek, trying to wake him up, but it was of no use. Adwait was not moving.

Adwait's father called for the doctor immediately.

The doctor arrived soon and examined Adwait.
"Mrs. Aggarwal, aapke bete ka BP suddenly shoot up kar gaya because of intense stress. Please unhe aur stress na hone de warna unhe blood pressure ki dawai chalu karni padegi aur unki age abhi young hai to aisa hona acchi baat nahi hai" (Mrs. Aggarwal, your son's blood pressure has suddenly shot up because of intense stress. Please make sure he doesn't undergo more stress; otherwise, we'll need to start him on blood pressure medication, which isn't ideal for someone so young), the doctor informed, his voice professional. He then made his way out, informing them that Adwait would regain consciousness in some time.

"Tum yahaan kyun aayi?" (Why have you come here?) Adwait's mom said, glaring at the lady in front of her.

"Main mere bete se milne aayi thi jisse tumne mujhse achdreen liya." (I came to meet my son, the one you snatched from me.) Akriti [Adwait's real mom] spoke casually, as if she was here to retrieve a book she had lent someone.

"Tum usse beta bolne layak nahi ho. Tumne to uss din usko marne ke liye chhod diya tha!" (You are not worthy of calling him your son. That day, you left him to die!) Adwait's mom retorted, her eyes blazing with anger.

"Haan, thi uss din meri galti. Par ab main mere bete ko wapas lene aayi hoon." (Yes, it was my mistake that day. But now, I've come to take my son back.) Akriti replied, causing Vidhi [Adwait's aunt] to step forward and slap Akriti hard across the face.

"Tum koshish bhi mat karna mere bete ko mujhse door karne ki!" (Don't even try to take my son away from me!) Vidhi shouted. She was on the verge of tears; she didn't want her son to remember anything from his past, as he was happy now, and she didn't want to ruin it.

"Woh tumhara beta nahi hai, Vidhi. Mera beta hai woh, aur yahi sach hai. Usse abhi yaad nahi, par kabhi na kabhi yaad aa hi jayega." (He is not your son, Vidhi. He is my son, and that is the truth. He doesn't remember it now, but someday he will.) Akriti said, smirking.

"Tumhari mamta kahaan se jaag gayi itne saalon baad? Jitna mujhe pata hai, tum jail se kai saal pehle chhoot chuki thi. Toh ab yeh mamta kahaan se?" (Where did this motherly love suddenly arise after so many years? From what I know, you were released from jail years ago. So where is this motherly love coming from now?) Vidhi asked enraged.

Akriti was about to respond when Adwait's dad came out.

"Adwait is up and Akriti, I want to talk to you," Akshay [Adwait's father] said and walked towards a silent corridor in the office.

All the employees were watching the drama unfold with curious eyes.

"You all are dismissed. Leave the office in 10 minutes," Akshay's voice cut through the anticipation, dimming the excitement in the room. Everyone left the office immediately.

"Tum yahaan kyun aayi ho?" (Why have you come here?) Akshay asked angrily.

"Apne bete ko wapas lene." (To take my son back.) Akriti replied.

"Pehli baat, ab woh tumhara beta nahi hai. Legally, hum usse adopt kar chuke hain." (First of all, he is no longer your son. Legally, we have adopted him.) Akshay said, trying to control his anger.

"Par khoon toh mera hai." (But he's my blood.) Akriti said, smirking.

"Kyun na hum Adwait ko sach bata de aur phir usse hi decide karne de ki kya karna chahiye?" (Why don't we tell Adwait the truth and let him decide what he wants?) Akriti suggested.

"Nahi! Bilkul nahi! Uss bachhe ne already bohot kuch jhela hai. Yeh nahi!" (No! Absolutely not! That child has already endured so much. Not this!) Akshay said, not wanting his son to endure further pain.

Meanwhile, in Adwait's cabin, Adwait was sitting on his chair, and his mom was beside him.

"Ma, yeh sab kya keh rahi thi? Woh meri ma nahi hai, aap meri ma ho!" (Mom, what was she saying? She's not my mom; you are my mom!) Adwait said and hugged his mother tightly for comfort.

"Shh, bacha. Shaant. Mai hi tumhari ma hoon. Koi kuch bhi bole." (Shh, child. Calm down. I am your mother. No matter what anyone says.) Vidhi said, her eyes filled with unshed tears.e

After that day, Akshay made sure that Akriti stayed far away from Adwait and even asked Adwait to take some rest while he handled the business.

Adwait had been at home for two days, but he was getting nightmares again. The difference this time was that now he remembered them.
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Adwait

I was sitting in my room, drawing a picture of a happy family where my mom, dad, and I would be happy. My parents would treat me like my friends' parents treat them. But then, a thought struck me-are their parents also faking things for the world just to get money, like mine?

I was lost in my thoughts when my mom entered my room.

With a rolling pin in her hand, she threw it in my direction, and it hit me on my shoulder. I knew what was coming. She would hit me like she always did because I am a bad child.

She started hitting me with the rolling pin, not showing any mercy. She kept hitting me until she was satisfied, then threw me away and left.

I started crying as soon as she left. My sobs grew heavier and heavier. I am not able to breath.

I suddenly jerked upright from my sleep, my chest rising and falling in rapid, uneven breaths. My heart pounded violently against my ribcage, as if trying to escape, and a cold sweat clung to my skin. The darkness of the room pressed in on me, oppressive and stifling, making it hard to tell where the nightmare ended and reality began. My hands gripped the sheets tightly, trembling as I tried to steady myself, the vivid fragments of the dream still flashing behind my eyes. The silence around me was deafening, broken only by the sound of my own ragged breathing.

I am missing Devisha so much. I wanted to tell her all the mess that lady had created and how she had even started appearing in my dreams. I needed to hug Devisha and tell her everything. But I couldn't. She was busy with her life, and I knew how much her career meant to her. I didn't want to burden her with my demons.

About that lady, I hate her. She claimed to be my mother. But no, even if she was my birth mother, I didn't care. My real mother would always be Ma for me. And from the nightmares I am having, I am sure she is a bad lady.

But... was she really my birth mother?