Handcuffs locked around Raju's wrists, his body clad in execution attire. Two police officers held him firmly as they led him to the courtyard of their house. Raju cried out in a desperate voice, "Mother! Mother!" His voice echoed through the silent day.

Rehana stormed out of the house, her face ablaze with fury. Without hesitation, she slapped Raju hard across the face.

"Why have you come here?" Her voice trembled with rage. "You are not my son! I am not your mother! Never call me 'Mother' again!"

Tears welled up in Raju's eyes as he pleaded, his voice shaking, "Mother, please believe me, I didn't kill Father. No one lies before death, Mother. Just this once, please believe me!"

Rehana's eyes burned with anger. "Believe you? Do you think I didn't see it with my own eyes? You killed my husband with your own hands! I will never acknowledge a murderer like you as my son. The day you killed my husband, you died for me! Get out of my sight!"

Raju collapsed to his knees, sobbing. "Mother, at exactly noon today, I will be hanged. I just wanted to see your face one last time. If you still want to drive me away, I will leave."

The police officer standing beside him spoke in a solemn tone, "Madam, your son will be executed at noon today. When we asked him about his last wish, he said he wanted to see the mother whose testimony sentenced him to death. That is why we brought him to you."

Rehana turned her face away coldly. "Why did you bring him here? I testified in court. I saw with my own eyes that he killed my husband. I do not want to see the face of my husband's murderer alive. Take him away! Take him away!"

Raju clutched his mother's hand tightly, his fingers trembling. "Mother, I came here only to tell you the truth before my final farewell. I have never lied, and I certainly won't lie before my death, Mother. Just once, listen to me. You never listened to me before, but at least today, for the last time, please listen."

Rehana pressed her lips together. "What will you say? What do you have left to say?"

Raju's tear-filled eyes searched for his mother's. "There is so much I need to tell you, Mother. And today, you have to listen..."