It wasn’t just family—they were hearing from friends too. The story had spread beyond our immediate circle, reaching people they met through various community activities. Some were sympathetic, offering them a chance to apologize and make amends, but many were appalled at how they treated a child. It became an eye-opening moment for them, a forceful reminder of the consequences of their actions.

Within a week, the calls had turned from a trickle to a flood. My mother was particularly shaken when an old friend from college reached out, someone whose opinion she deeply valued. “I never thought you were capable of something so cruel,” the friend had said.