New Delhi:
''He misses his friends and his school. He wants to come home,'' pleads Malini Byanna on behalf of her 9-year-old son Tejas, who she saw last in Hyderbad in October 2009.
Five months later, the Supreme Court of India will decide if she can get him back.
Malini, a Chicago-based Indian-American had brought Tejas to Hyderabad to visit his father Vikram Akula, a multibillionaire entrepreneur. Vikram and Malini had separated in 2001.
During this visit in Hyderabad, Malini alleges, Vikram abducted Tejas.
Now both Malini and Vikram are fighting a duel custody battle. One in the Illinois Court that has favoured Malini's custody plea. And the other in a Hyderabad Court that has granted the custody to Vikram.
On Friday, the Supreme Court of India will decide which judgement should prevail.
''I'm waiting for a judgement on jurisdiction from Illinois. And now the Supreme Court will also be deciding on jurisdiction,'' says Malini.
It's a complicated case which not only pits a parent against a parent, but also the court of one nation against another. We hope in this cross-continental battle, Tejas receives justice.