Chapter 17

I have been busy with life - i thought at least put this part up for now and hopefully update this in a few days. Sometimes you need filler chapters before you can get back to the fun part

The Morning After The Night Before

Chapter 17

Khushi had had a restless night, she tossed and turned. In the end she got out of bed and lay on the recliner.

She watched Arnav in his sleep; he was looking for first he was slowly shifting across the bed not finding her his hand was searching her out. In the end he sat up and called out "Khushi?"

"I'm here"

"Why?"

"I couldn't sleep" and sheepishly replied "I didn't want to disturb you"

"Khushi you tossing and turning doesn't disturb me you not being next to me does! Pleas come back to bed so that I can sleep. Is your back hurting ? Do you want me to rub it or get you a heat pack?"

"No I'll come back to bed so that you can go to work tomorrow"

Finally in the early hours of the morning Khushi fell asleep.

Arnav came over to her and smiled -and shook his head he was tired -"I can't sleep without you -and you can sleep without me!" He gently kissed her and was surprised by her response -"my eyes are closed, but I'm not asleep just exhausted; my back is hurting- would you stay skip work and lie with me to let me go to sleep"

He smiled "One call I'll get Aman t cancel my day. You sleep; I get my breakfast and come back upstairs ok"

"Really Arnav ?"

"Really!"

He came back upstairs and held her in his arms and finally she drifted off to sleep. Arnav was tired and fell asleep as well.

Khushi woke up about midday her back hurt more than ever. She smiled at Arnav working at the table. He smiled at her "feeling any better?"

"Yes and No I've slept so I'm not as tired but my back is a whole different issue- I'm going to take some pain killers and eat something -want anything?"

"A snack would be nice"

"I'm going to have a shower -alone and ask HP to bring us something up"

"You sure you want the shower alone? I could help?"

"Yes you have work to do and HP is coming up he will have heart attack if he finds us both in the shower"

Khushi stood in the shower letting the hot water hit her back, massaging it when suddenly she felt a warm gush trickle down her legs. Stunned for a minute and then panic setting in for a few seconds she felt a serene calmness -there was no stopping them today they were coming. She had made it past her eight and half months, and by the grace of god her three babies would be OK. Not once did Khushi even think about herself. She dried herself and popped her head out of the bathroom.

"Has HP been?"

"Yes"

"Back feeling better ?"

"Lots !"

Khushi came out wrapped in a towel and chose to wear a long maternity dress. She came across to Arnav and asked "When did you last eat?"

"Breakfast- stop worrying about me"

She sat across from him and started to feed him. Once finished "Arnav I don't want you to worry but ..."

"Whats wrong Khushi?" -worry written across his head.

"These babies have decided that it's time to greet their mum and dad"

"And you're sitting here feeding me lets go now can you walk?"

"Arnav I'm having a baby!"

"Three!"

Khushi found herself surrounded by machines and wires. The pain steadily increased coming in waves each successive one arriving sooner than the last.

Arnav felt useless all he did was sit there saying breath, relax, did anyone ever think when your body was being pulled apart how were you meant to relax. Time seemed to take on a whole new meaning moving very slowly.

Arnav was normally good at playing the waiting game but not today.

"Sheenu how long ?"

"As long as it takes"

After eighteen hours and no news worry was etched into Arnav's face , pain in Khushi's.

How much more could she take and for how much longer. Arnav noticed Sheenu read one of the monitors looking only at one not paying the others as much attention.

She popped out and then returned a few minutes later. "Arnav may I have a word"

Khushi grabbed his hand "don't leave me -whats wrong?"

"Sheenu whatever it is we are in this together tell us together"

"One of the babies is starting to show signs of weakening -its not distress yet but I'm not happy with its signs any deterioration and Khushi will be rushed in for a caesarean. I'm not sure I could have you there. I need three teams in there"

"Forget about me Sheenu you do whats best for Khushi and the babies"

Fifteen minutes later Arnav found himself pacing the corridor with Shashi and Akaash.

An hour later Sheenu arrived smiling. Arnav let tears fall from his eyes. Relief coursed through his body he looked at Shashi the stress had vanished from him too. They looked at Sheenu expectantly.

"Uncle, Arnav firstly Khushi is fine, heavily sedated at the moment and let me take you to meet your three boys. Ok things are not brilliant with them but they are also not that bad either- as expected they are all small about 3 pounds each and in incubators and tubed up due to their size. They will not be going anywhere soon till their weight goes up and I have seen enough evidence that they are all flourishing. If you want to meet them gown up and I'll introduce you each baby has been assigned a nurse - I knew you wouldn't have it any other way"

Arnav and Shashi gowned up and went into the sterile room -everything was clinical nothing to identify the babies as theirs. Little scraps in glass boxes, tubes down their noses and little disc covering their fragile bodies, cannulae taped to their precious little hands. They were tiny barely any bigger than a little bag of sugar. As he put his hands into the box a multitude of emotions flooded his brain. How could he love someone so much he had just met them an instant ago. He looked down at his son and the label round his wrist and foot Raizada 1.

He looked up at the nurse questioningly. "Sir he was first born hence the 1, the second has a two and the third has a 3.

Slowly one by one he met his children each one looked the same but different, the last of the trio was the smallest. How could he be the smallest they were all tiny to start with.

Finally they had arrived each one tiny and yet perfect. Then panic began to set in as reality dawned in Arnavs head. He was responsible for three new lives -he had to protect them , keep them safe look after then -here he couldn't even hold them. They were fragile would he break them if he held them? He couldn't hold them anyway. He wasn't sure if that was a bad thing. The youngest would literally fit in his hand. How would he manage them three - he remembered the casual conversation with Khushi three times the love and hugs -but what about three times the worry. He was a strong and powerful man but now he felt just as helpless as anyone else there were so many things wrong with this world, how would he negotiate all the hurdles and obstacles and get his children safely through.

He looked at Shashi who saw his face .

"Whats wrong Arnav ? Imagining all the woes in the world and how you're goingto make it ? How are you goingto cope with three children? How is it possible to love three new lives so much? And find more love in your heart for the next child? How can someone who has not been around for such a short time come to mean so much to you?"

"Dad how do you manage to read my thoughts so well ?"

"I had the same thoughts when Payal was born and then Khushi and now one, two and three. I don't know is the answer but I managed and so will you."

"Thank you for the vote of confidence"

"Arnav it's not an easy road that you are travelling down but remember you are not alone in this there is Khushi and you both have all of us. Only piece of advice I am going to give you regarding these three children is make time for yourselves leave them occasionally with us and spend time alone with Khushi away from the kids. The first time is the hardest but you will need that time alone for you both to grow and rediscover yourselves and recuperate and re -energise. If you have three boys and any turn out like Khushi you will be grey before your time and I will be bald"

Sheenu came into the room, Arnav Khushi will be coming round soon would you like to be there?

"What do you think Sheenu ? The only time I have left her is when you told me to get out- just for the record you're the only one I have listened to when told to separate myself from Khushi"

"Arnav I don't know how she found you but I am glad"