Page 71 of Right Where I Belong
The words sliced through her. She didn’t need more to piece it together. Of course. Her mother-in-law was prying into her son’s mind, filling it with questions, poisoning him against Aditya. Fury ignited inside her, swift and fierce. Without hesitation, she burst into the room.
Ahaan sat on the corner of his bed, shoulders hunched, his face twisted in distress. The sight of him like that ripped her apart. She hurried to him and pulled him into her arms. He clung to her instantly, hugging her hard.
More anger flooded her chest. Over his head, she lifted her gaze to the older woman. Her mother-in-law stood stiffly by the window, her expression cool, unrepentant. Sabrina’s eyes blazed as she glared at her, silent but scathing. Ajay’s mother didn’t say a word. She simply turned, walked to the door, and stepped out, shutting it firmly behind her.
Sabrina held Ahaan close, her palm rubbing circles on his back until his breathing steadied. She pulled back just enough to look at him.
“Hey,” she whispered gently, “are you alright?”
Ahaan’s eyes were wide and troubled. “She kept asking questions, Mom. About Uncle Aditya. She said… she said he wants to take you away from me.”
Sabrina’s chest clenched. She cupped his face, forcing him to meet her gaze. “Listen to me, sweetheart. No one in this world can ever take me away from you.Ever.You’re my whole world, Ahaan. Everything I do, I do with you in mind. Do you believe that?”
His lip trembled, but he nodded slowly. “Yes.”
She pressed a kiss to his temple. “Good. And as for Aditya… he’s my friend, a very good friend. And he cares about you too. That’s all you need to know right now. If anyone tells you otherwise, you don’t have to listen. You can always come straight to me.”
Ahaan gave a small, shaky smile. “Okay.”
“That’s my boy.” She pulled him back against her, hugging him fiercely. The anger still burned in her veins at her mother-in-law’s interference, but she forced herself to soften for her son. “Now, enough of these heavy talks. How about we get you quickly washed up and brush your teeth? Tomorrow we’ll make pancakes for breakfast. Just you and me.”
That earned her a brighter smile. He finally relaxed and went inside his ensuite bathroom. Left alone, Sabrina paced across his room, her mind a storm of anger. How dare her mother-in-law corner an eleven-year-old like that? How dare she use Ahaan to wage her battles? It was unacceptable. When Ahaan came out, she tucked him into bed.
“Sleep well, sweetheart,” Sabrina whispered, kissing his forehead.
He gave her a soft, sleepy smile as she switched on his night lamp. When she turned to leave, he caught her hand in his.
Worry flickered through her as she glanced back at him.
“I like him… Uncle Aditya. He’s nice and so much fun,” Ahaan whispered. “Maya also likes him.”
For a moment, Sabrina couldn’t breathe. Her throat tightened as warmth spread through her chest, chased quickly by the sting of tears she refused to let fall. She smoothed his hair gently.
“I like him too,” she said softly, her voice barely a whisper.
Ahaan gave her a sleepy smile and shut his eyes. She lingered for a moment, watching his chest rise and fall, before quietly turning off the overhead light. Pulling the door shut behind her, she stepped into the hallway, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. She was so happy that Aditya had managed to win over Ahaan. She was filled with relief that her son liked him. But overshadowing both was the sharp burn of anger. For days, she’d wondered why her mother-in-law hadn’t said a word about Aditya’s sudden presence in their lives. Why she hadn’t confronted her directly. Now she knew. Instead of speaking to her, the woman had gone behind her back and tried to plant doubt in Ahaan’s mind. It was underhanded and cruel.
Ajay’s mother had always been single-minded when she wanted something, but using Ahaan was unacceptable. Sabrina wouldn’t stand for it. She needed to have a talk with her, and it had to happen now.
23
Jaw tight, Sabrina walked down the hall and stopped outside her mother-in-law’s room. The low murmur of the television told her the older woman was awake. She knocked once, then turned the handle and stepped inside, shutting the door behind her.
“We need to talk,” she said, her voice taut with tension.
The older woman muted the television and faced Sabrina, her jaw lifted in defiance. That look—unyielding, unapologetic—made Sabrina’s anger spike higher. Her hands curled into fists at her sides as she stepped closer.
“You crossed a line tonight,” she said, her voice tight with fury. “Using Ahaan like that was not right. He’s eleven. If you have a problem with me, then talk to me about it. Don’t force him into a situation like that ever.”
Her mother-in-law’s eyes flashed, but she didn’t flinch. Instead, she folded her arms across her chest, her chin tilting higher.
“Alright,” the older woman said coolly. “I knew your going to Singapore was a bad decision, and you’ve proved me right. You’ve returned from there, and suddenly a man is visiting myhouse daily. Suddenly, you’re dressing as if you’re eighteen and not thirty-two. That man is a bad influence on you. So, listen to me carefully, Sabrina. I don’t want him coming into my house again.”
There it was, the source of her mother-in-law’s discontent. Sabrina’s jaw tightened, fury rising hot in her chest. For days, she had endured her silence, her disapproving looks, her subtle avoidance of Aditya. Now it all made sense. She didn’t just disapprove, she wanted to control. As always, she wanted to control Sabrina’s life and her decisions.
But Sabrina was done living by her rules.
She took an agitated step forward. “This is my house too. And I will decide who I let in. Aditya is my friend, and I won’t apologize for having friends and a life.”
