Chapter 1

MISTAKEN

Prologue:

And two...three...four...five...come on Naomi push...eight...nine...ten...okay breathe for ten and then you need to push again..."

The laboring mother shook her head. Covered in perspiration, her strength was rapidly waning. The blood loss was taking its toll, and Sareena feared that she would go into shock before her work was done. But there just was no other choice. The child was too far down in the birth canal and only with its delivery would there be the chance to save its life and provide Sareena any opportunity to address the severity of Naomi's complication.

A suspected placental abruption, Sareena had reported when she had called in the emergency; and something she was even more certain of now.  An ambulance had been dispatched, but was taking far too long though. The baby had to be delivered immediately.

"I-I can't Sareena," Naomi panted "It's too much, I can't..."

"Bas! You are stronger than this Naomi; you have two beautiful daughters that prove that you are more than capable of this. You know you need to work with your body; you need to focus. Focus on how happy your family will be to meet this little one and do what you have to do. Now take a deep breath and give me a ten count push!  And one...two...three...four...five..."

*****

"I still can't believe that you and Bhabhi are moving home, bhaiyya; I never would have thought you would leave that love nest of yours. The only thing that would be more shocking now, is if you tell me that you have put your flat on the market."

Rajeev grinned at his brother from the driver's seat on the way back from the airport.

"Aacha, you're selling it bhai. Shit you could have at least given me first right of refusal," Vihaan moaned. "I may need some place of refuge from your ever growing brood that will be taking over Agarwal mansion. How is Bhabhi holding out this time anyway; she must be counting down these last weeks...and praying for a boy so she won't have to go through this again," he joked.

A son.

A son would be nice, Rajeev thought with a smile, but truthfully that hadn't been a preference this time around either: to him at least. His parents on the other hand would be over the moon with a boy to carry on the family name. For him though, another green-eyed princess to join their almost 3 year old twin girls would be ideal. Whichever they were blessed with, this would probably be their last though.

"Nahi Vihaan, boy or girl, this will be it for us. We've collectively decided that it will be good for you to do your part for the family now."

"Yeah right," Vihaan scoffed. He thought how far removed he was from that ever occurring. That would mean making a commitment to someone, and there was no chance he could do that when he couldn't rid his thoughts of her: the one - well almost the one, had fate not chosen her for someone else. He blinked suddenly as his brother's words dawned on him. "Wait a minute... this isn't what the summons home is all about is it? Maa isn't planning on having a parade of Aunties come through the house with their idea of a suitable match for me, is she? Dammit bhai, the least you could have done is give me a head's up. Shit! That's it; I'm not staying for that. Seriously, are you selling your flat or not; I'll take it at 5% over any asking price...I'll even keep the mural in the nursery for the princesses. Bhai you have to save me!"

That infamous lopsided grin appeared on Rajeev's face, doing little to ease Vihaan's newfound misgivings over his trip back to Banaras.

"Well if it helps, we haven't sold it, but we've have actually just arranged a short term lease with a tenant. Perhaps if you ask nicely, they will let you stay on as a roommate."

"Go to hell, bhai," Vihaan grumbled. He shook his head. "Well at least some good can come out of you being home. My Bhabhi won't let things get too out of hand; she'll protect me."

Rajeev laughed, as he turned on to the development road and towards what was now their former home. Naomi was just meeting their new renter, to hand over the keys and go over some final things. Then finally, she would settle down and get the rest she needed. She had been pushing herself too much this time around in his opinion between their family and her work commitments, but had agreed to take the last seven weeks of her pregnancy to rest now that their house move was complete. And now that he had backup in the form of Vihaan; Rajeev knew that she would definitely keep her word. This would be a wonderful time for their entire family; without question, life didn't get much better than this, he thought.  Moments later his heart would leap into his throat when he first saw the ambulance parked outside their building, and then noticed his next door neighbor desperately flagging him down. A sick sense of dread replaced any contentment he had felt.

"Oh God no..."

********

The voice was clipped and authoritative as she gave her assessment and instructed the emergency responders, and Vihaan was so astounded to hear it after so long, that it took a moment before he understood what they had rushed into when he had followed bhai and his neighbour up the stairs and into the flat.

"...Stage 3 Shock...uncontrolled hemorrhaging...start an IV for the mother... oxygen needed for both mother and infant. Radio in to ensure an operating theatre is prepped and ready..."

It hadn't mattered that she wasn't one of their own; the EMT leader immediately responded to the seniority of the physician, easily recognizing that her Acute Care experience vastly surpassed theirs. They sprang into action to succor their now two patients.

Rajeev took in the scene and bellowed in anguish and totally lost it, adding to the chaos, as he fought through the emergency personnel to get to his wife's side. It took both men who had come with Rajeev  to restrain him, and allow them to work on Bhabi and the premature newborn.

Life had literally become a nightmare right in front of their eyes.

*********

 Minutes later they loaded the gurney holding the barely conscious woman into the back of the ambulance, allowing her husband in as well. However it was only while attending to the swathed infant that Sareena, in one of the last spaces left in the emergency vehicle, actually come to realize who had accompanied Rajeev.

"The girls..." Rajeev asked suddenly.

Vihaan held the ambulance door, ready to close it. "Next door with Aasha, bhaiya...I'll collect them and bring them."

His voice.

Sareena looked up from where she regulated the newborn's oxygen. Vihaan...Here...  Hastily, she swallowed her emotions. "Nahi Vihaan, leave them where they are for now if you can; you should come, but do not think to bring those girls right now... this...it's not a good time."

After almost four years their eyes met, and in hers, Vihaan saw the grave concern for a woman the young doctor considered a friend: one that held the knowledge garnered by her profession. He stole a look past her to his brother who distraughtly held Bhabhi's limp hand and then back at Sareena, and nodded.

"Bhaiya, I will check on them and then be right behind you."

crtkelly2016-09-10 18:20:38