Mother of Me

Chapter 31: The Breaking Point

The tension in Satyamoorthy Residence had reached its boiling point.

That morning, the new Prakash (real Sangeetha) had received a urgent call from Dr. Meera. They had finally gathered enough solid evidence, encrypted messages recovered from Selvam’s old phone, bank transfers linked to known terrorist sympathizers, voice recordings from drunken nights where he had boasted about his crimes, and even a few photographs hidden in a secret folder. It wasn’t enough for an immediate international case, but it was more than sufficient for local police to arrest him on serious charges.

“We have it,” Meera had said. “I’ve already contacted a trusted officer. We can move today.”

The new Sangeetha received the news while she was at home. A small flicker of hope bloomed in her chest, but it was quickly smothered by fear. Selvam and Pattamma were both at home today. The atmosphere was thick and oppressive.

In the hall, Pattamma sat like a judge on the sofa, her white saree spotless and her face stern. Selvam paced slowly, a dangerous glint in his eyes. The new Sangeetha stood near the kitchen door in a simple maroon saree, her pallu clutched tightly over her chest. Her body still carried the bruises from previous nights.

Selvam suddenly stopped pacing and looked at his wife with dark hunger.

“Enough of this waiting,” he said, his voice low. “We are a family. It’s time we complete it. Today… we are going to make a child. A proper heir.”

Pattamma nodded approvingly. “Yes. A child will bind you properly. You’ve been too cold lately, Sangeetha. A woman’s duty is to give her husband sons.”

The new Sangeetha’s blood ran cold. “No… please… I’m not ready…”

Selvam stepped forward and grabbed her wrist roughly, yanking her closer. “You don’t get to say no. You are my wife. Your body belongs to me.”

He began pulling her towards the bedroom. The new Sangeetha resisted, digging her heels into the floor, her anklets jingling wildly.

“No! Let me go!” she cried, trying to pull away. Her heavy breasts heaved with panic under her blouse. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled.

Pattamma stood up, her voice sharp. “Stop acting like a shameless woman! This is your duty!”

Selvam slapped her hard across the face, then grabbed her by the hair, dragging her towards the bedroom. The new Sangeetha screamed, fighting desperately, her saree pallu slipping off her shoulder, exposing her cleavage and the black blouse straining over her breasts.

Just as Selvam pushed her onto the sofa and started pulling up her saree, violently yanking at her petticoat

BANG!

The front door burst open.

Ratish stood there, breathing heavily, eyes blazing with fury. He had come to check on Sangeetha after she hadn’t replied to his messages all morning.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Ratish shouted, rushing forward.

Selvam turned, eyes wild with rage. “Who the fuck are you?!”

He shoved the new Sangeetha aside and reached into his bag, pulling out the black pistol. Without hesitation, he pointed it straight at his “wife.”

“You bitch! You called your lover here?!”

Ratish didn’t think twice. He lunged forward, throwing himself between Selvam and the new Sangeetha just as the gun went off.

BANG!

The gunshot echoed deafeningly in the small hall.

Ratish cried out in pain as the bullet tore through his shoulder. Blood immediately soaked his white shirt. He collapsed to the floor, clutching his wound, but still trying to shield Sangeetha with his body.

The new Sangeetha screamed in horror, dropping to her knees beside him. “Ratish anna! No!”

At that exact moment, the front door burst open again.

A team of police officers, led by the officer Meera had contacted, rushed in with guns drawn.

“Drop the weapon! Hands up!”

Selvam looked stunned for a second, then tried to aim again. The police tackled him to the ground. Handcuffs clicked around his wrists as he shouted curses and threats. Pattamma stood frozen, her face twisted in shock and hatred.

As Selvam was dragged away, Pattamma turned her venomous gaze on the new Sangeetha, who was crying while pressing her pallu against Ratish’s bleeding shoulder.

“You disloyal whore!” Pattamma spat, her voice dripping with poison. “After everything my son did for you, you bring another man into this house? You have shamed this family! Curse you! May you never find peace! You are no longer my daughter-in-law. You are nothing but a street prostitute!”

The old woman continued cursing loudly as the police escorted her out as well for questioning.

Ratish lay on the floor, breathing heavily, blood pooling beneath him. The new Sangeetha held his head in her lap, tears falling onto his face.

“Why did you come… why did you risk your life?” she sobbed.

Ratish smiled weakly through the pain, his gentle eyes full of affection. “Because… I couldn’t let anything happen to you… Sangeetha…”

Sirens wailed outside as more police and an ambulance arrived.

In the middle of the chaos, the new Sangeetha looked up and saw the new Prakash standing at the doorway, having rushed back after receiving Meera’s message. Their eyes met mother and son, still swapped, but united in this moment of victory and pain.

The long nightmare had finally cracked open.

But the wounds ran deep.

And healing would take far longer than anyone imagined.