Radhika tapped the table in anxiety with her nails in front of her looking forward to his entry. Her eyes constantly gazing at the door. And she's checking the time every two seconds. He was the perfect definition of punctuality and Now Mr Perfect is late, That too, When he going to be a free man after the exact Thirty minutes, Thousand eight hundred seconds. Her mind automatically started to count when he thundered inside and took a seat beside her.
"Sorry for the late." He muttered.
She couldn't process his words, He was saying sorry to her for the first time, That too, Arriving late to the domestic court for a divorce. She smiled at her fate, Automatically it looked like a lopsided smile for the judge who was glancing at both for a while.
"It's Okay, You're just 5 mins late," Radhika replied.
He didn't expect that answer from her. His mind was fully occupied with all the questions regarding the legal mess created by her grandfather. He made him stay in his office and complete all the procedures regarding taking Arush's full custody. Their 7-month-old son became the main feast in this battle. Shyam never had any interest in any of his kids. Neither his 4 years old Naina nor 7 months old Arush. But for leading the business to the next generation, He needed his son. And that's also the main reason for Satyajit Bharathwaj for proceeding all the legal formalities with him. He also wanted Arush, His only grandson to take care of his business in the future. It's not a fight between a mother and a father for their children. But a battle between a businessman to another businessman.
"And again I am asking you both, Did you both want this divorce? Can't you guys reconcile for your kids?" Judge asked them before proceeding legally.
Radhika took this decision thinking about her kids, At least one of them deserves a peaceful life. Naina was an accident, But Arush wasn't. It was Radhika who planned for Arush by going through multiple fertility treatments to get conceive with Arush. Shyam knew none of these. She knew Arush will have everything in his life as his father and as well as Radhika's grandfather fighting with one another for him but Naina? Naina is her responsibility, And as a mom, She's doing everything for Naina. It's all for Naina and only for Naina.
"No, Ma'am. We are sure." Shyam replied calmly, He looked so tired.
"Yeah, Ma'am. We are sure." Radhika replied calmly having no regret or pain in her eyes.
"And you guys already decided, Radhika will have Naina's full custody and Mr Shyam will have Arush's full custody," Judge asked both, Both nodded yes to her.
"And Radhika are you sure with giving the full custody of Arush Sengal to Mr Shyam Sengal," Judge asked her.
Radhika gulped the lump in her throat. For a second, Her whole life in these 5 years, Glanced before her eyes, But when she witnessed Naina's pleading eyes in her mind. She couldn't stop herself from giving her son's custody to Shyam. She consoled herself thinking there are lots of good people in the house, Om, Arjun, his brothers to show him a good path and raising him as a better person neither like his dad.
But those two seconds of silence didn't fail to terrify Shyam, He couldn't go back to his office and undo all the legal procedures. Even though he's not interested in Arush. He was a little bit scared of Radhika's silence.
"Yes, Ma'am. I am sure about giving my son's custody to his father." Radhika said finally thinking only about Naina.
Her heart questioned her what will she say when he asks her in the future for not fighting for him and thinking only about his sister. But soon thinking about the circumstances naina gone through, tears crossed Radhika's eyes. And she convinced herself, That she will make him understand the situation over then, But whether she could see him after today was the huge question mark.
"And Mr Shyam Sengal, Are you sure giving Ms Naina Sengal full custody to Ms Bharathwaj," Judge asked him.
"It's Ms Radhika, Ma'am." Radhika corrected her And heard a sarcastic chuckle from Shyam.
"Sorry, Ms Radhika. And Mr Sengal?" Judge asked him narrowing her eyes for the answer.
"I have no problem in giving Naina Shyam Sengal Custody to Ms Radhika." He said stressing the words which poked her heart but she's used to it. That slight pain didn't bother her.
"And are you even sure about alimony?" Judge asked Radhika.
"I don't need any alimony from him," Radhika assured He cupped his mouth to suppress his chuckle. Radhika didn't turn around to look at him.
"Don't think only about you, Ms Radhika. Think about Naina." Judge asked he. Radhika smiled at her.
"I am just taking every decision thinking about my daughter," Radhika replied.
"And she gave birth only to her daughter in that sense." Shyam bashed right the way. Radhika couldn't take it.
"Yeah, I am the only person available for her from the moment she was born. And who are you to ask when you lost all the rights, Mr Sengal. And I think you're saying her name repeatedly only after I filed for divorce. Please don't play as a good father in front of the public." Radhika busted off looking at him which sparked the ego in his heart.
"Ma'am I need my daughter's custody." He said looking at the judge with a rage of fury.
"Oh really! You need her custody now!" Radhika asked while sighing in disbelief.
"I am not talking to you! I am talking to her." Shyam said coldly.
"In that case, Ma'am, Please ask him, When is her birthday?" Radhika asked the judge.
"My mind is not for storing unwanted stuff." He reverted in an instant.
"Birthday Unwanted Stuff. Okay, You ask him this basic question, What's her skin tone? Leave the skin tone, Ask him about the colour of her eyes, He might have noticed that, After all, He's the father of my daughter." Radhika asked with a sarcastic smile. He stayed in silence. But he couldn't keep up his silence when it reached the peak.
"You are saying I have never been a good father for her, And I just want to ask you only one question. If you hate me this much, Why the hell you sleep with me and gave birth to Arush. I never asked you to do that. Neither I asked you for another child nor." Shyam stopped when the judge asked him to be in his manners.
He had no idea, Why he became so impatient when she refused to take alimony from him. He lost his patience. And those words came out of his control, Radhika held her fist tightly and tried to control her tears but couldn't do that. Tears escaped from her eyes, She didn't turn towards him.
"I didn't. I didn't mean that." He said when he saw the nerves abruptly nearer to her earlobe. It usually happen when she takes too much stress, He saw it once when she was eight-month pregnant with Naina, Next moment, She collapsed on the floor, had fits and then they had to proceed with a c-section and Naina born as a premature baby.
"I understand, Nothing means to you, It's just a compromise. And everything just happened." She replied having tears in her eyes and snapping her fingers away. He couldn't meet her teary eyes when he felt so guilty. He stayed silent when she did it, He sensed the weight of her heart but didn't say anything.
Their divorce was finalized. And Radhika got full custody of Naina and Join custody of Arush till he reaches age five. She didn't expect this. She can visit Arush in his house whenever she wants. But Shyam can't do so. He can visit Naina only in Radhika's presence. Radhika knew it, It never happens.
"I didn't mean it, Radhika. I was angry when you accused me in that way." Shyam said. She smiled at him sarcastically and walked ahead of him. Before he could reach her, She got into the taxi and left, And she made a mental note, That it should be the last time, And she never wanted to see him ever in her life. But Shyam stayed rooted in the same place till her taxi takes the turn from the court.
He never thought of hurting her this much, But he intentionally hurted her also didn't think about the intensity of the pain she went through. He thought he will feel light after untying the knot, But he felt the weight in his heart when she didn't bother to turn back towards him before she left. He got into the car, And the legal papers of Arush from Radhika's grandfather were next to him. He took the papers just to check whether there is a loophole, But he was shocked to see the teardrop in the paper while he was reading her name as Radhika Shyam Sengal.
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