For one suspended moment...
Damiano forgot how to breathe.
His fingers instinctively tightened against the cold wall beside him as his eyes remained fixed on the tiny gap in the half-open door.
Inside, Alankrita stepped into Lara Thorne's office.
The exhaustion that had shadowed her delicate face throughout the entire day vanished as though someone had lifted a heavy veil from her heart.
Her lips curved into the brightest smile he had ever seen.
Not the polite smile she offered colleagues.
Not the gentle smile she wore before the cameras.
This one...
This one belonged only to someone she loved beyond words.
"Mama's here, pumpkin," she whispered softly.
Her voice melted into pure affection.
Damiano frowned.
Mama?
Before he could understand,
A tiny squeal echoed through the room.
"Mama!"
His heart lurched.
Behind Lara's large oak desk, a little boy struggled to stand on his unsteady feet. His tiny fingers clung to the edge of the table as he wobbled forward, determination shining in his sparkling eyes.
He couldn't have been more than a year old.
Soft curls framed his round little face.
His rosy cheeks were impossibly chubby.
His dark eyes...
Damiano's breath caught painfully.
They were her eyes.
Large.
Warm.
Filled with innocent light.
The little boy laughed, a joyful, bubbling laugh that filled the office with warmth, and stretched both tiny arms toward her.
"Mama!"
Alankrita's eyes shimmered.
"My Raghuveer..."
She hurried forward before he could lose his balance.
The little boy launched himself into her waiting arms with complete trust.
She caught him effortlessly.
As though she had done it a thousand times before.
Because she had.
Raghuveer immediately wrapped his tiny arms around her neck, pressing his soft face against hers.
He planted one wet kiss on her cheek.
Then another.
Then another.
Each kiss was followed by a burst of adorable giggles.
Alankrita laughed through her own tears of happiness.
"Oh, my precious baby..."
She buried her face against his neck, breathing him in as though she had spent an eternity away from him.
"Mama missed you so much."
Raghuveer answered by patting both of her cheeks with his tiny palms before placing another sloppy kiss on her chin.
Everyone in the room laughed.
Damiano remained frozen.
It was such an ordinary moment.
A mother returning home.
A little boy greeting her with unconditional love.
Yet...
It felt as though someone had driven a blade straight through his chest.
His gaze never left them.
Alankrita kissed Raghuveer's forehead.
Then his nose.
Then both cheeks.
"My sweet boy," she murmured. "Were you good today?"
Raghuveer babbled something incomprehensible before pointing excitedly toward a stack of colorful toy blocks scattered across the carpet.
"Oh?"
She gasped dramatically.
"You built all that?"
He clapped enthusiastically.
Everyone laughed again.
Lara smiled from behind her desk, watching the reunion with quiet affection.
"Someone refused to drink his milk until you came," she teased.
"I know..." Alankrita sighed dramatically, gently rocking him. "Mama is late today."
She kissed his forehead again.
"I'm sorry."
The apology was whispered so softly that only those nearest could hear it.
Damiano's throat tightened.
He had never seen her like this.
This wasn't the composed journalism student.
This wasn't the intelligent interviewer who challenged him with thoughtful questions.
This was simply...
A mother.
Young.
Gentle.
Overflowing with love.
It transformed her completely.
There wasn't the slightest trace of pretence.
Only devotion.
Only tenderness.
Only home.
One by one, the others gathered around.
Mei-Ling smiled warmly before taking Alankrita's heavy shoulder bag.
"You must be exhausted."
"I am," Alankrita admitted with a sheepish laugh.
Sam reached over and affectionately tickled Raghuveer's tiny foot.
"Hey, little commander."
Raghuveer burst into delighted laughter.
Another friend ruffled his curls.
The little boy was clearly loved by everyone.
Eventually, Mei-Ling held out her arms.
"Come here, little prince."
For a brief second, Raghuveer tightened his grip around Alankrita's neck.
"No..."
His tiny protest made everyone smile.
Alankrita chuckled softly.
"It's alright, sweetheart."
She kissed his forehead once more.
"I'll change and come right back."
Only then did the little boy reluctantly allow Mei-Ling to carry him.
Even in someone else's arms...
His tiny hands continued reaching toward Alankrita.
"Mama..."
She smiled through misty eyes.
"I'm here."
Those two simple words carried more love than Damiano had ever heard in his life.
He couldn't look away.
He shouldn't have been watching.
Yet he couldn't force himself to leave.
His heart pounded violently against his ribs.
The scene unfolding before him was beautiful.
Painfully beautiful.
And impossibly cruel.
His eyes returned to Raghuveer.
The child looked so much like her that it almost hurt.
Those eyes.
Those cheeks.
That innocent smile.
A tiny piece of Alankrita...
Alive.
Laughing.
Calling her Mama.
The realization struck him with devastating force.
A son.
She...
Had...
A son.
Everything inside him shattered.
Every dream he had unknowingly begun building.
Every fantasy he had secretly cherished.
Every impossible hope.
They crumbled into dust within seconds.
The woman whose innocence had captivated him...
The woman whose untouched purity had become an obsession...
Was already a mother.
His legs suddenly felt too weak to support him.
He staggered back from the door.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
The office faded.
The voices faded.
Even Raghuveer's cheerful laughter disappeared beneath the deafening roar inside his own mind.
No.
This couldn't be true.
It didn't make sense.
Nothing made sense anymore.
Without another glance, Damiano turned away.
His footsteps echoed hollowly through the deserted corridor as he walked toward the exit.
Slowly.
Mechanically.
Like a man who had forgotten where he was going.
Outside, the evening sky glowed with streaks of crimson and gold.
He didn't notice.
He reached his car without remembering how.
His trembling fingers unlocked the door.
He slid into the driver's seat.
Closed the door.
Silence swallowed him.
Then, for the first time in years...
Damiano Moretti lowered his head onto the steering wheel.
And closed his eyes.
Only one image remained.
A little boy...
Laughing in Alankrita's arms.
Calling her,
"Mama."