Author's POV

Vaanika had braved the entirety of her pregnancy in silence — a quiet storm within a house full of people who acted like she didn’t exist. Not a single comforting word, not a hand to hold, nor even a curious question about how she felt carrying life within her. Her only true companion in this journey was her son, Viyaan, a little boy who wore innocence like a crown and warmth like armor. He didn’t understand the emotional weight his mother carried, but he knew enough to be excited. His eyes sparkled with joy, counting down the days until he would no longer be the only child — someone to play with, someone to love like he loved his mother.