Chapter 10

After a year and a half,

Suman sat on her bed reading a book when there was a knock on the door.

"Sumo!", came the call.

"Pushkar! Andar aaja.. Kya hua?", she called out to him.

Pushkar walked in smiling at his sister in law.

"Sumo.. I'm going to my friend's place. Tum ghar par akeli reh logi?", he asked.

"Pushkar.. Mujhe mall drop karde yaar.", she said.

Pushkar nodded.

"Gimme 10 minutes. I'll be ready!", informed Suman as Pushkar walked out of the room.

Suman quickly got ready in her jeans and white kurti and walked out of her room after applying a little kohl in her eyes. Pushkar rode her to the mall on his bike and carried on to his friend's place.

Suman stood in the book store glancing through the latest arrivals when suddenly she felt a spin in the head. She held onto one of the book racks and seated herself on the stool.

One of the attendants approached her.

"Ma'am, are you okay?", he asked.

"Yeah.. I guess!", she replied holding onto her head before fainting.

The attendant got hold of Suman's purse and got hold of her phone and checked the last called which said Hubby'.

"I suppose it's the lady's husband.", the attendant murmured to himself and called.

The phone rang a couple of rings.

"Hey Sweetheart. I'm in a meeting. Anything urgent?", came Shravan's voice.

"Sir, The lady whose phone this is has fainted here in the Crossword Bookstore at Infiniti Mall. This was the last number called.", informed the attendant.

"What? Please sprinkle some water on her face and get her to sit somewhere. I'll be there in 10 minutes.", Shravan replied hurriedly and disconnected the call.

Shravan dispersed the meeting and rushed to his car driving like a maniac to the mall. Shravan parked the car outside the mall and ran in to the Landmark store. Suman sat on the stool.

"Sumo! Baby! What happened?", asked Shravan gently cupping her cheek.

"The heat is getting on me Shravan. I'm fine. Tum fikr mat karo!", replied Suman was a gentle smile.

"Heat was getting on you? Like really? In the air conditioned book store? Suman?", he asked demanding a justification.

"I was feeling uneasy from morning.", she confessed.

"Couldn't you have told me?", he asked.

Shravan turned to the attendant.

"Thank you so much for helping out.", thanked Shravan and helped Suman stand up.

Shravan smiled and scooped her up in his arms.

"Shravan, chhodo. Sab dekh rahe hain.", she whispered.

"So? Apni biwi ko utthane mein mujhe kyun sharam aayegi?", he asked.

"Phir bhi Shravan!", she gasped.

"Shut up Sumo!", he glared and walked out of the mall and put her down in front of the car.

He unlocked the car and helped her sit and shut the door and went over to the driver's seat.

"How did you come?", asked Shravan.

"Pushkar dropped me on his bike on his way to his friend's place.", said Suman.

Shravan nodded and drove away.

"Where are we going? We had to take the left to go home!", Suman exclaimed.

"And we're not going home. We need to see the doctor!", replied Shravan.

"That's not required Shravan. It was probably out of stress. You don't need to worry.", she said.

"I have to worry! I have all the rights to worry about you!", said Shravan as he pulled over at the hospital in the next ten minutes.

--

Shravan and Suman walked in to find Nirmala watching TV.

"Maa, Chachi.. You both were to return from the NGO Trip tomorrow. How come you're early?", asked Shravan.

"Just like that.", said Nirmala.

"Kyun puttar ji?", asked Kamini.

"Did you both come alone? You could have called me. I would have come to pick you up.", said Shravan.

"Hum hain na.", Lala ji announced as he walked into the living room.

"Lala ji, aap kab aaye?", asked Sumo.

"2 ghante pehle. Maine tujhe aur Pushkar ko ghar se nikalte dekha tha. Ussi time pe aaya tha.", he replied.

"To aapne phone karna chahiye tha na.. Main Pushkar ko bolkar waapas aa jaati.", said Sumo.

"Arey, wo sab chhodo. Tum dono kahan se aa rahe ho?", he asked.

Suman blushed and Shravan's smiled widened.

"Hospital!", mumbled Suman.

"Hospital?", Nirmala yelped in worry and then noticed their expressions and smiled.

Nirmala and Kamini leaped from the sofa and hugged Sumo.

She lovingly cupped her face and dropped a kiss on her forehead when Ramnath walked out of the study room.

"Kya ho raha hai yahan?", he asked.

Shravan nudged Suman to tell Ramnath.

"Papa.. main.. aur Shravan. We're expecting!", Suman informed smiling.

Hain?", asked a surprised Lala ji.

Ramnath smiled and ran his hand over her hair lovingly, blessing her for a healthy future.

"Did I hear that correct? Bhaiya is pregnant?", asked a shocked Pushkar.

"WHAT? NO!", barked Shravan.

"Then why did Sumo say we are expecting?", asked Pushkar rolling his eyes.

Suman giggled.

"That is because, though only the lady is pregnant, both the husband and the wife together go through this period of expecting a baby Pushkar!", she explained.

Pushkar nodded and walked over to his bhabhi and hugged her.

"So I get to be the chachu and maamu in one?", asked Pushkar.

Sumo gently went closer to Pushkar, "Tu mera bhai hua to Preeti ka bhi bhai hi banega.", she whispered.

"NAHI", she yelled as Shravan broke into fits of laughter making the elders confused.

--

It had been a few months down pregnancy and Suman was treated like a princess. Her baby bump had started showing up a little.

Suman walked out of the washroom and saw Shravan who on the couch checking his emails with the laptop kept on the coffee table. Suman looked up to find him concentrating a bit too much on his laptop screen. She walked close to him to make him acknowledge her presence but got no response.

She turned to walk towards the bed but felt him grip her hands. He pulled her lightly making her sit on his lap.

"Agar tum mujhe yun iss tarah dekhti rahogi to main kaam kaise karunga?", asked Shravan smilingly.

Suman caressed his jawline.

"Tum zaroorat se zyada kaam karte ho. Aur apni biwi ke liye time hi nahi hai!", she complained with a prominent pout.

Shravan smiled and pecked on her pout.

"Bilkul ghalat. Mera saara waqt to tumhara hi hai.", he replied caressing her back.

"Achha ji?", she asked.

Shravan nodded while closing the lid of his laptop.

"That's like a good husband!", she complimented and kissed him on his jaw.

He smiled gripping her by her waist. He ran his hand over the bump.

"Aur kya tum meri princess ka bhi khayal rakh rahi ho?", asked Shravan.

"It's my superman. Not tumhari princess!", she replied.

"Jo bhi ho.. Beta ya beti... Tum meri priority rahogi. Humare baby ke liye to hum dono honge..", said Shravan making her get of his lap and then standing up.

She smiled and just then Shravan lifted her up in his arms and walked over to the bed and placed her in the centre.

"And now we'll sleep!", concluded Shravan as he walked over to his side of the bed and got in next to his pregnant wife.

"I'll sleep and you'll watch over me the entire night. Shravan.. why don't you sleep. I know you stay awake all night just watching me. Tumhe pata hai na tumhari tabiyat aise kharab ho jaayegi? Please sleep na.", she said.

"Tumhe sota hua dekh, mere mann ko itna sukoon milta hai.", he replied.

"Aur ye jaankar, ke tum raat bhar jaage hue the, mere dil mein bechaini hoti hai ke tum apna khayal nahi rakhte.", she said.

"Tum rakhti ho na mera khayal.", he said with a smile embracing her into his warmth.

"Phir bhi Shravan. Atleast a 7 hours sleep is necessary for a healthy lifestyle. Mere liye. Main tumhare pass hi to hoon. Tum so jaaya karo please!", she requested.

"Okay biwi.. Ab tum apni aankhein band karo!", he ordered.

"Nahi.. Aaj tum mujhse pehle so jaoge.", she ordered with a raised eye brow.

He chuckled giving up to his pregnant wife and closed his eyes. Suman lovingly ran her fingers through his silky hair till his breathing became steady and he fell asleep. She dropped a kiss on his forehead, switched off the bed lamp and kept her head on chest, snuggled closer and drifted off into slumber in his embrace.

--x--

Suman had completed her 8th month of pregnancy and had had a lot of mood swings and cravings. But with Shravan by her side, there was nothing to worry. He was always at her service along with Pushkar who loved to pamper his bhabhi and extremely loving and caring in laws.

She smiled as she walked out of the bathroom after a long warm shower and saw Shravan sitting on the couch working on his laptop. He looked up at her and rushed to help her walk to the bed.

She was wrapped in an oversized towel with her heavy baby bump making her look cuter than ever. Shravan got out another towel and wiped her damp hair and ruffled it. He then removed a gown from the cupboard and slipped it over her head and untied the towel. The gown lifted from the front and only reached her knees. Shravan smiled at the sight.

There was a knock on the door. Shravan walked over and opened it to find Nirmala and Kamini standing with a bowl of fruits and milkshake. Shravan opened the door fully to let her in. Shravan walked back to the bed and helped Suman sit on the bed with her back on the head board.

They sat next to her as Shravan got back to his work on the laptop. Nirmala forked a piece of apple and brought it to Suman's mouth.

"Maa!", she whined.

"Khao!", ordered Nirmala.

"Chachi!", she tried again.

"Na ji na puttar ji.. Tumhe fruits bhi khana hoga aur uske baad milkshake bhi khatam karna hoga.", warned Kamini.

Suman pouted and took in the piece of apple and chewed on it making Shravan chuckle.

"Tum haso mat!", she complained.

Shravan chuckled again and shut his laptop.

"Kya hua? Mood kharab hai?", he asked as he got into bed next to her.

"Maa.. Shravan mujhe kahin baahir nahi leke jaate. Movies mein maine dekha hai ke raat ko baarah baje husband aur wife baahir jaate hain ice cream khaane!", complained Suman.

Nirmala smiled and caressed her cheek.

"Shravan! Aaj Suman ko tum baahir lekar jaoge okay?", ordered Nirmala making Suman smile. Shravan nodded.

"Sumo.. Ye le itne saare books, jitney tu ne mangaye the!", announced Pushkar as he entered their room.

Suman smiled and took the cup from his hand.

"When's the due date Bhaiya?", he asked.

"28th!", informed Shravan.

"Waise Sumo.. Tujhe ye naainsaafi nahi lagti ke tu moti ho rahi hai aur Bhaiya fit hain. Pregnancy mein husbands ko bhi mota hona chahiye haina?", asked Pushkar.

"Aaj meri side le raha hai. Teri shaadi ke baad dekhenge ke kya tere khayaalaat tab bhi yahi rahenge?", giggled Suman.

Shravan laughed.

"Aur Suman moti nahi ho rahi. Humari princess badi ho rahi hai.", said Shravan.

"It's superman. Not princess. Aur maine to naam bhi soch liya hai!", announced Suman.

"Kya naam socha hai Suman?", asked Nirmala.

"Armaan Malhotra!", she concluded.

"Bohot hi pyaara naam hai.", said Nirmala.

"But ye to ladke ka naam hai!", exclaimed Shravan.

"Haan to superman ladka hota hai.. ladki nahi!", taunted Suman.

Pushkar chuckled.

"Main baahir ja raha hoon. Shaam ko milenge!", said Pushkar walking out.

During the entire conversation, Nirmala managed to feed the entire bowl of fruits to Suman and Kamini got her to finish the milkshake without her knowing it. Both the ladies smiled and got up flashing the empty bowl and glass to Suman.

"Lagta hai humare Armaan ko bohot bhook lagi thi.", chuckled Nirmala. Suman flushed.

--

"You're doing great Mrs. Malhotra, keep pushing!", said Dr. Riddhima.

Shravan stood in with sweat buds on his forehead.

"Mr. Malhotra, just relax. She is fine.", Dr. Riddhima consoled Shravan.

Shravan nodded nervously.

"Come on Sumo! Push!", said Shravan holding onto her hands as her nails dug in his skin making marks.

"Urrrggghhh!!!", Suman pushed harder and finally the room echoed with the cry of the child and Suman went unconscious due to fatigue.

Riddhima quickly clipped the umbilical cord and cut it off. She gave the baby to the nurse to wash and sanitize. Soon the baby was brought out by the nurse wrapped in a blue cloth and gave it back to Riddhima.

"Congratulations Mr. Malhotra. It's a boy.", she said handing over the baby to Shravan.

Shravan smiled and held onto the baby carefully.

"Doctor, Is Suman okay?", he asked.

"She is fine, just unconscious due to fatigue. She will be washed up and then transferred to the private room in a while. You can wait there.", Riddhima informed and walked out.

Shravan looked at the baby who looked calm, his eyes were closed, hus button like nose.. just like Suman's and his lips just like his own. Shravan smiled down at the bundle of joy.

"Armaan Malhotra!", he announced and dropped a kiss on his forehead and walked out of the delivery room.

--

Shravan gently opened the door of the private room making sure he doesn't make any noise. Suman who was breastfeeding the baby flashed a dimpled smile. He paced as quickly as he could and sat on the bed beside her and kissed her hair.

"Are you feeling okay?", he asked.

"Yes I'm fine. When can we go home?", she asked.

"Dr. Riddhima just met me outside. She said you'll be discharged tomorrow evening.", informed Shravan earning a wider smile from her than before.

Shravan looked over at Armaan who was hidden with a shawl and smiled. He sat next to her on the bed.

"So, Mrs Malhotra... You've got your superman!", he said.

She smiled widely.

"Armaan.", she whispered.

"I love you Sumo.", he said.

"I love you too Shravan!", she said and snuggled into his embrace.

THE END!

Please read the next post for the Author's Note 😊