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 The once lively and cheerful 10-year-old had become withdrawn and silent, unable to share the trauma he had experienced at the hands of his stepmother.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.

As time passed, Aarav transitioned into his teenage years, finding solace in the company of his school friends to escape the pain awaiting him at home. Upon his return, he headed straight to his room, seeking refuge in his studies. As he sat down to complete his homework, Sharda, the household caretaker, entered and placed a glass of milk before him. A small smile graced his lips as he thanked her with a gentle "thank you kaki."

Sharda, in her nurturing manner, insisted, "Dudh peelo phir main khana laga deti hun."

Aarav nodded in agreement, acknowledging her care. He drank the milk, and soon after, Sharda returned with dinner. As they shared the meal, Aarav recounted his day to her, finding comfort in her presence.

However, their moment was interrupted by the entry of Sumitra, Aarav's mother. Aarav's heart raced with anxiety at the sight of her, instinctively grasping Sharda's hand tightly for support.

Sumitra calmly addressed him, "Aaru beta."

Aarav's panic escalated, and he tightened his grip on Sharda's hand, seeking reassurance in her presence.

Sumitra approached with a smile, attempting to ease his tension. "Aaj chalo mumma tumhe tumhara homework karwati hai," she suggested warmly, turning her attention to Sharda.

Sharda, feeling conflicted, politely refused, "Ji nahi, malkin..."

However, Sumitra's gaze turned stern as she insisted, "Maine kaha jao yahan se aur darwaza band karna."

With a heavy heart, Sharda complied, her eyes meeting Aarav's with unspoken understanding and sorrow. Aarav reluctantly released her hand as Sharda silently exited the room, closing the door behind her.

Sumitra, wielding a stick, approached Aarav, lifting his face with a stern grip. "Kya baat hai, doston ke saath bahut ghumte rehte ho. Ghar mein mann nahi lagta tumhara," she scolded.

Aarav, trying to explain himself, replied softly, "Jee wo... Bas aise hi."

In response, Sumitra began beating him with the stick, causing him to wince in pain. "Aah, maa," he cried out.

"I am sorry, aaj ke baad main waqt pe ghar aaunga," he promised, hoping to appease her.

Sumitra smiled approvingly, "That's like a good boy. Chalo ab hum hamara game khelenge, hmm?"

"Mujhe koi game nahi khelna hai aapke saath," Aarav firmly refused.

Ignoring his protest, Sumitra reached out to touch his face gently, her smile masking her intentions. "Tumhare papa ki tabiyat bahut kharab rehti hai aajkal! Kahin aisa na ho tum mujhe game khelne se roko aur waha tumhare papa..." she trailed off ominously.

Aarav shook his head in denial, but before he could react, Sumitra forcefully made him stand up and pushed him onto the bed. With a chilling smile, she began to unbutton his shirt, her words taking on a disturbing tone, "Bade ho gaye ho aur utne zyada samajhdar bhi."

In the somber silence of their home, Aarav, found himself the target of his stepmother's cruelty. Sumitra's eyes bore into him with a chilling intensity, her features twisted with malice as she advanced towards him, a looming figure of authority and terror.

With each step, Aarav's heart pounded in his chest, a sinking feeling of dread settling in the pit of his stomach. He braced himself for the onslaught, his breath catching in his throat as Sumitra's shadow fell over him, casting him into a dark abyss of fear and helplessness.

In a moment of sheer brutality, Sumitra's hand lashed out, striking Aarav with a force that left him reeling. The impact reverberated through his body, sending shockwaves of pain coursing through his veins. His cries for mercy went unheard, drowned out by the deafening silence of his tormentor's cruelty.

As the assault continued, Aarav's world blurred into a haze of anguish and despair. Each blow inflicted upon him was a harsh reminder of his vulnerability, a stark testament to the betrayal of trust that had shattered his innocence.

With each passing moment, Aarav's spirit wilted under the weight of Sumitra's violence, his once vibrant soul dimming in the shadow of her malevolence. And as the echoes of his cries faded into the night, he was left alone to confront the aftermath of his stepmother's brutality, a wounded soul adrift in a sea of darkness.

In the aftermath of the horrifying ordeal, Aarav lay on the bed, his body trembling and his mind reeling from the trauma. The room felt suffocating, the silence pressing down on him like a weight. Sumitra had left, her twisted satisfaction evident in her parting smirk, leaving Aarav alone to grapple with his pain.

Sharda, sensing something amiss, reentered the room cautiously. Her heart sank at the sight of Aarav's disheveled state and the haunted look in his eyes. She rushed to his side, her voice trembling with concern, "Aarav, kya hua? Tum theek ho?"

Aarav couldn't bring himself to speak, his throat choked with emotions. Sharda gently embraced him, her tears mingling with his. "Kuch mat bolo, beta. Main tumhare saath hoon," she whispered, her own heart breaking for the boy who had endured so much.

Days later, Aarav and Sharda sat together, discussing the torment inflicted by Sumitra. Aarav's eyes were filled with a mixture of fear and determination as he asked, "Kaki, papa ko yeh sab bataunga toh kya wo meri baat manenge?"

Sharda shook her head, her expression pained. "Nahi, beta. Wo uspe khudse zyada bharosa karte hain. Kitni baari mein unhe batane ki koshish ki, par uss Sumitra ne ulta mujhe hi fasa diya..."

Aarav sighed, the weight of his helplessness bearing down on him. Sumitra's manipulative nature had cast a shadow over their lives. In front of Karan, Sumitra acted sweet, faking her love for Aarav. She played the role of a caring stepmother perfectly, masking her cruelty behind a facade of kindness.

Aarav's hatred for his stepmother grew with each passing day, but he felt trapped. His father, Karan, adored Sumitra, and Aarav couldn't bring himself to shatter his father's heart again after the loss of his mother.

One evening, as they sat at the dinner table, Sumitra served food with a smile, her eyes gleaming with false affection. "Aarav beta, tumhara favorite banaya hai aaj," she cooed.

Aarav forced a smile, his stomach churning with disgust. "Thank you," he muttered, barely able to look at her.

Karan beamed, oblivious to the tension. "Sumitra really takes good care of us, doesn't she, Aarav?"

Aarav nodded, his voice strained. "Haan, papa."

Sharda watched the interaction with a heavy heart, her eyes meeting Aarav's in a silent exchange of shared pain. She knew the truth, and so did Aarav, but for now, they had to endure the charade for the sake of Karan's fragile happiness.

Later that night, Aarav lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing. Sharda entered his room, her presence a comforting balm. She sat beside him, her hand gently stroking his hair. "tum ek baar bade sahab se baat kyun nahi karte beta?"

Aarav looked at her, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Kaki nahi main yeh sab nahi keh sakta kisise.. papa se toh bilkul nahi main nahi chahta main unhe bhi kho dun"

Sharda's eyes were resolute. "bharosa rakho ek din sachai khud sahab ke saamne hogi"

Aarav found solace in her words, a flicker of hope igniting within him. He knew the road ahead would be difficult, but with Sharda by his side, he felt a renewed strength. Together, they would fight through the darkness, holding onto the belief that justice and truth would eventually prevail.