~6~

                                    

                                          
Kaveri's anger was a storm brewing within her as she stormed into the study where Madhav and Armaan were discussing their plans. Her footsteps were heavy, each step echoing the tumultuous thoughts in her mind. She couldn't believe what she had overheard, and now, she was determined to put an end to this madness.
"How dare you even think of leaving this family?" Kaveri's voice thundered, her eyes blazing with a mixture of fury and desperation. "You are abandoning your responsibilities, your legacy! And you, Armaan, resigning from the family firm? Do you realize what this means for us?"
Madhav, who had been expecting this confrontation, met his mother's gaze with a steely resolve. "It means we're breaking free from your manipulative control, Ma. We're done being puppets in your game."
Armaan stood beside his father, his resolve solidified by the recent revelations. "I can't stay in a place where I'm constantly judged, controlled, and manipulated. This isn't a family; it's a prison."Kaveri's face twisted in anger. "This is how you repay me? After everything I've done for you? You're turning your back on your family, on me?"
Madhav's voice was steady, but filled with years of pent-up frustration. "Everything you've done for us? You mean the constant manipulation, the control, the way you've driven a wedge between us? You've ruled this family with an iron fist, and it's cost us our happiness."
Armaan's eyes flashed with pain and anger. "You separated me from my mother and father, Dadisa. You made me feel like I wasn't good enough, like I had to earn your approval. I've spent my entire life trying to live up to your impossible standards, and for what? To be a pawn in your twisted game of perfection?"
Kaveri's eyes narrowed, her voice icy. "I did what was best for this family, Armaan. I maintained order and respectability."
"No, you maintained control," Armaan retorted, his voice rising. "You made sure everyone danced to your tune. But we're not your puppets. We're your family, and you've destroyed us with your need to control everything."
Madhav stepped forward, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and determination. "It's over, Ma. We can't live like this anymore. We need to find our own way, free from your manipulations." Kaveri's face contorted with rage, her eyes narrowing into slits as she absorbed Madhav's and Armaan's words. Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she spoke, mocking their resolve. "Oh, so you think you can survive without the Poddar surname? Without the legacy I've built? You think you can just walk away from everything and make it on your own?"
Madhav's expression remained resolute, but Armaan stepped forward, his stance firm and unyielding. "We're more than just the Poddar name, Dadisa. We're capable individuals who don't need to be chained by your manipulations to succeed."
Kaveri's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Is that so? Let's see how far you get without our family's support. I will exile you from our properties, strip you of your inheritance. You'll have nothing. Are you ready to face that?"
Armaan's eyes blazed with defiance. "Did you forget who you're speaking to, Dadisa? My father and your son is a police officer. I'm a lawyer. We know our rights, and we know the law. You can try to exile us, but we'll fight you every step of the way. You won't win."
Kaveri's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. "You're challenging me, Armaan? Do you think you can take me on and win?"
"Yes, I do," Armaan said, his voice unwavering. "I'm done living in fear of you. We all are. Your reign of control ends now. If you want a fight, you'll get one. But remember, we're not the ones who will lose in the end. You will."
Madhav nodded in agreement, his voice steady. "This isn't just about leaving, Ma. It's about reclaiming our lives, our happiness. We won't be your pawns anymore. You've taken enough from us."