Chapter 25 : Ek Dil Hai...Ek Jaan Hai

The transition from the clinical diagnostic brief to the agonizing silence of decision-making hung heavily inside the Multi-Disciplinary Room. The moment Maan stepped out, a suffocating wave of guilt and high-stakes tension washed over those who remained—Rishabh, Preeta, Mayank, Shaira, Ishaan, Maira, Siddharth, and a thoroughly paralyzed Ayush.

Ayush remained frozen in place, his eyes locked onto the stark projector screen where the diagram clearly mapped out the twins positioned in their two separate, fragile dichorionic diamniotic sacs.

Watching him struggle, Maira felt a crushing weight settle onto her own chest. Her hand remained resting protectively over her own baby bump, trembling. Unable to contain the guilt tearing at her soul, she stood up slowly with Shaira immediately stepping in to lend her physical support.

"It's all my fault..." Maira choked out, her voice fracturing as tears slipped down her face. "Nor would I have stepped on the water and lose my balance, and nor would Maysha try to save me and go through the pain caused by spasms during her 6th month and continuously having to wear the maternity support belt. And now, this is putting Ayush's baby at risk—and now along with his, Maan's too."

Ishaan immediately walked over, stepping close to Maira and gently wrapping an arm around her to pull her close. "Maira, please don't put this upon you. What happened during the 6th month of yours and Maysha's pregnancy was just a fatal mishap. But now, the only person to be blamed, it's not just fate—it's Raj Singh Khurana as well, who has not only put Ayush's baby at risk but even his own grandchild as well."

On the other side of the room, Preeta and Rishabh walked toward their son.

Ayush stood like a statue, completely trapped in his own head, terrified to make a move.

Preeta placed a warm, grounding hand on his arm, her eyes pleading. "Ayush, what are you thinking, son? Don't delay in taking the decision. Along with the babies' life, you are even putting Maysha's life at risk for delaying the procedure with your contemplation."

Ayush turned to her, his eyes wild with a profound, breaking despair. "Maa, how can I put Maan's baby at risk just to save mine? When he can have a good life with Maysha? Maa, Maysha chosed him. Not me."

Rishabh stepped forward, his voice a calm, powerful anchor of parental wisdom. "Ayush, Maan is right. Maysha may have impulsively taken the decision. Weren’t you both awaiting for the right time that Maysha could tell her feelings? She wasn't prepared on the Godhbharai to reveal whom she has chosen. She was forced, Ayush, and you know Maan's father has always being against the fact that Maysha is carrying your child. He is just full of himself, his bloodline, his genes, etc. You seen with your eyes Maysha stating that Malvika wasn't accepted by her own father, but while as I, had accepted Palki wholeheartedly as my daughter and never made her feel that she isn't my daughter but of my brother's, Karan's."

Rishabh placed a firm hand on Ayush's shoulder, "Ayush, I know you have taken Maysha's decision at heart right now, but think it cooly. What if Maysha wouldn't have confessed that she has chosen Maan, and this mishap would have happened—then would you still be contemplating like this?"

Ayush stared at his father, the realization hitting him like a wave of cold, clear water. The emotional fog began to lift from his mind. He slowly shook his head in a quiet, humbled "No." He knew his father was right; he had let his own heartbreak cloud his judgment when Maysha and the babies needed him to be absolute iron.

"Maa... Papa... thanks for talking me through this. Will sign the consent forms."

Standing by the door, Siddharth let out a long, profound sigh of relief. Without wasting another second, he turned and hurried downstairs to the mandir to break the news to Maan, Roshni, and Malvika.

*

Inside the operating theater, the air was thick with sterile, high-stakes tension. Dr. Sonal led the procedure with sharp focus as the primary obstetrician-gynecologist, with Dr. Deepika working efficiently alongside her as the assisting surgeon to perform the emergency C-section.

Inside the glass-paneled viewing observation gallery, Ishaan stood entirely alone. As a general pediatrician, he understood every mechanical movement happening below, but as a brother-in-law, he was utterly terrified. His eyes locked onto his own neonatal team—the two NICU specialists and their support staff waiting under the warm resuscitation lights. His hands gripped the metal railing, his knuckles turning white as he prayed for a miracle, hoping against hope that both his nieces or nephews would make it out of this alive.

The tense silence of the room was suddenly pierced by a sharp, fragile sound.

A baby's cry echoed through the operating theater.

Ishaan let out a shaky, half-broken breath, his heart hammering in his chest as he desperately waited for the second sound. In a high-risk dichorionic diamniotic delivery like this, every second felt like a cruel lifetime.

A couple of minutes later, a second, distinct cry cut through the room.

The dam broke. Ishaan’s legs completely gave out, and he slumped down to the floor of the observation gallery. He brought his hands flat against his face, a raw sob of relief escaping him, before resting his hands on his hips as he drew in his first deep, unobstructed breath in hours.

Down below, the muffled voices of the medical staff drifted up through the intercom. He overheard the lead nurse announcing the news: "Both are boys."

Through the glass, he watched the NICU specialists step in immediately, taking over with practiced precision. They secured the tiny twins, providing immediate oxygen support and critical care before carefully shifting them into the transport incubators to head straight for the NICU. Both his nephews were here, they were breathing, and the first battle had been won.

*

As the heavy doors of the operating theater finally opened, the tension in the corridor reached a breaking point. The transport incubators rolled out, carrying the precious cargo toward the NICU. Maan, Ayush, Siddharth, Preeta, Rishabh, Mayank, Shaira—who was holding tightly onto Maira's arm and Shayaan who came to the hospital, a while back —they all leaned forward, their eyes wide with intense curiosity. Seeing the tiny, fragile lives passing through, the entire family breathed a collective, massive sigh of relief.

A moment later, Ishaan came walking out from the observation deck to meet the waiting family. He took a deep breath, looking around at the anxious faces before speaking.

"Maysha is stable and the babies are here," Ishaan told them, his voice thick with emotion. "The NICU team will run tests now. While Ayush's baby will be runned upon more tests, once the babies are safe for viewing, shall let you all know. And they are both boys."

Hearing the news, Siddharth grinned widely and slapped a hand on Maan’s shoulder, congratulating him heartily. "Haha Yash aur Yuvaan ke 2 chote bhai aagaye Maan, congratulations!" (Haha Yash and Yuvaan have got 2 younger brothers)

Preeta and Rishabh immediately turned to Ayush, warmly congratulating him. Ayush stood there, teary-eyed but smiling brightly, before the parents moved ahead to congratulate Shayaan, Maira, Shaira, and Mayank.

Overwhelmed with relief, Maira threw her arms around Ishaan, hugging him tightly. As she pulled back, she gently caressed her own seven-month baby bump and looked down with a soft smile. "Baby, you have 2 elder brothers now."

Ishaan chuckled, his own eyes growing teary-eyed at the beautiful sight. He leaned down, tenderly caressing Maira's baby bump, and pressed a gentle kiss against it, welcoming the peace that had finally returned to their lives.

*

After a few hours, Maysha slowly regained consciousness, her eyelids fluttering open against the dim, soft lighting of the recovery room. The attending nurse immediately checked the monitors and informed Dr. Sonal, who arrived promptly to examine her vitals, confirming that she was fully stabilized.

Once the medical clearance was given, Mayank and Shaira were the first to enter, carrying a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers. The relief on their faces was palpable. Mayank walked over to the side of the bed, his eyes warm with emotion as he gently caressed Maysha's hair and placed a tender peck on her forehead. Shaira stepped up right beside him, leaning down to press a loving kiss against Maysha's forehead as well.

"Congratulations Maysha... mother of two boys," Shaira said, her voice rich with maternal pride.

Hearing those words, the emotional dam broke, and Maysha began to sob softly. Shaira immediately placed a comforting, grounding hand on her cheek, gently wiping away a stray tear.

"Mom..." Maysha whispered, her voice raspy and trembling. "How are the babies doing?"

"As per what we last heard from Ishaan, they are doing the tests upon the babies," Mayank explained gently, trying to keep her calm. "But they are being given the best possible care, beta."

Just then, Shayaan entered the room, bringing in a fresh bunch of flowers for her. He set them carefully on the side table and walked over to the bedside with a warm grin.

"Hey sis, congratulations are in order," Shayaan said, his voice full of genuine affection.

"Thank you, Shay bhai," she whispered, her face lighting up slightly despite her exhaustion.

Mayank shot him a pointed look, though his tone was fond. "Shayaan, just two visitors at a time are allowed inside. Why did you enter now? You could have waited your turn outside."

Shaira shook her head with a soft chuckle, looking at Mayank. "He is like that only. He likes to come in unannounced every single time. Nothing new about him."

"I couldn't contain my happiness to congratulate my sister, Mom-Dad," Shayaan admitted with a sheepish shrug. "That's why I just slipped inside to get a glimpse of her and wish her. But now that I've seen her for myself and wished her, I shall take my leave and follow the hospital protocol. Take care, Mayshu..."

As Shayaan exited the room, Mayank and Shaira stayed back with Maysha for a little while longer, offering her quiet comfort before the door clicked open again. Ishaan and Maira entered the room together, with Ishaan holding a bouquet to congratulate her.

As Shayaan exited the room, Mayank-Shaira stayed back with Maysha for a little bit longer time before Ishaan and Maira entered the room together, with Ishaan holding a bouquet to congratulate her. Understanding the strict hospital regulations and knowing that only two visitors were allowed inside at a time so the room wouldn't be crowded —and because Ishaan had to step back into his doctors shoes, he wanted to pay a quick visit along with Maira.

Mayank and Shaira gave Maysha's hand a final reassuring squeeze before quietly stepping out into the corridor.

Maira walked up to her sister's bedside, her eyes shining with tears of relief. Maysha looked up at her, her breathing catching slightly as she asked the one question that had been weighing heavily on her heart.

"Di... where are they?"

Ishaan immediately understood the unspoken depth behind her question. He stepped forward, offering her a reassuring, brotherly smile. "They are right outside the room, Maysha. You want me to call them in?"

Maysha didn't hesitate; she immediately nodded her head in a quiet, eager yes.

*

As Ishaan stepped outside to call Ayush and Maan inside, Maira and Ishaan left the room to give them privacy. Ayush and Maan stepped inside.

Maysha looked up from the pillows, her eyes instantly filling with fresh tears as she saw both of them standing at the foot of her bed.

Ayush walked slowly toward the bedside, his fingers lightly touching the fresh flowers brought by Ishaan-Maira and Mayank-Shaira. He maintained just enough physical distance, the lingering ache in his chest reminding him of her words at the mansion; he was already bracing himself to step back, preparing to live as a dedicated co-parent rather than the partner-in-waiting he had hoped to be. Maan, however, took a step closer until he was standing right beside her mattress, sitting down gently on the edge of the bed.

"Congratulations Mama Bear, mother of two boys..." Maan said, his voice visibly elated despite the exhaustion etched on his face.

"Congratulations, Maysha," Ayush said softly, his tone careful, laced with deep concern. "How are you doing? Is there any sort of pain you are experiencing now that the anesthesia has worn off?"

Maysha swallowed with difficulty, her voice raspy. "As the anesthesia has worn off, every moment is difficult for me because of the incision pain. But it's okay. I've also developed a bit of a sore throat because of the constant breathing tube." She paused, her eyes shifting between the two of them. "Maan... Ayush... now that you both are here, just brief me up on what exactly happened after I lost my consciousness."

Ayush opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat. He looked down at his shoes, unable to meet her piercing gaze. Maan, however, adjusted his posture on the bedside. He didn't look angry; instead, a profoundly calm, heartbreaking serenity masked his features.

"Maysha, before we give you the gist of what all happened while you were unconscious, I just need to ask you something," Maan said.

Maysha nodded her head quietly.

Ayush looked at him, his brow furrowing. "Maan, is it really necessary right now?"

Maan continued, "Forget about him Maysha, I mean don't... I mean, for a second, just don't pay heed to him right now and listen to me did you really choose me with your heart, Maysha?"

The room froze. Maira and Ishaan stood quietly by the window, holding their breath.

Maysha’s breath hitched. Her gaze instinctively flicked to the left, looking at Ayush, whose knuckles were turning white as he gripped the edge of his jacket. Then, she slowly turned her head back to look up at Maan. She swallowed the lump in her throat, trying to force certainty into her breaking voice.

"Yes... I did," she whispered.

Maan didn't blink. He gently reached down, his voice dropping into a solemn, heavy tone that vibrated through the quiet room. "Then swear over our kids, Maysha. Look me in the eye, and swear over the lives of our two boys that you chose me because your heart genuinely wanted to."

Maysha stiffened. The words died on her lips. She opened her mouth to speak, but her gaze fractured, darting toward the floor. Her hand on the bedsheet trembled. She stood there, completely hesitating to swear the oath, her maternal instinct refusing to let her utter a lie over the heads of her newborns.

"Swear on our kids, Maysha? We will be married, right?" Maan pressed softly, his voice devoid of malice, only seeking the absolute truth.

A sad, knowing smile touched Maan's lips. He turned his head slowly, looking over at Ayush, who was watching Maysha with wide, stunned eyes.

"Now, Ayush... you got your answer," Maan said, stepping back with a quiet, dignified sigh. "She didn't swear over our kids. Because she wouldn't wrongly swear. She didn't do it because, indeed... she has chosen you to be her kids' father and her husband."

Tears spilled over Maysha’s cheeks, her defenses completely crumbling under Maan’s selfless clarity. She looked up at Maan, her voice choked with a mix of guilt and utter awe. "Maan... how you....?"

Maan let out a soft, bitter-sweet chuckle, shaking his head gently as he leaned his back against the cold wall.

"Maysha, you have always mentioned Ayush to be your comfort, who makes you feel home," Maan said, his voice dripping with a quiet, heartbreaking admission. "Whether it was your food preferences, or when it came to emotional support... Ayush was always your anchor than compared to me. Though we have bonded over these seven months, there is a different level of comfort I have noticed when you are around Ayush. And I knew them all along."

He paused, looking down at his hands, a wave of defensive pride flashing across his face before settling back into a warm smile.

"But yet... I kept trying to win your heart," Maan admitted, looking back up at her with teary but bright eyes. "But nevertheless, though I didn't win your heart, am being promoted from a roadside romeo to straightaway a single papa. And I highly prefer this title over being a husband and a father."

Ayush’s breath hitched, a tear finally escaping his eye as he looked at the sheer mahaanta Maan was displaying. Maysha could only sob softly into her hands, completely overwhelmed by the beautiful, fierce protection of the two men who had shared her journey.

Maan stood up by the edge of the recovery bed, his gaze dropping to the floor for a brief moment as he swallowed the lump in his throat. He looked up at Ayush, his eyes shimmering with a deep, newfound clarity that went far beyond his usual defensive pride.

Ayush stepped forward, his heart swelling with immense respect. "Maan... we can live as brothers, co-parenting our kids once me and Maysha get hitched in the Luthra Mansion. The Luthra Mansion is quite big enough to pull off with your tantrums." he let out soft laugh.

"I have found a complete family, Ayush..." Maan said, his voice dropping into a quiet, emotionally raw admission. "The only thing missing was a younger brother, and today, I found him too. But please, let this elder brother just remain an elder brother... don't turn me into a saut (rival). Otherwise, a man will never be able to trust another man ever again. This family, and Maysha... they belong only to you. You are the only one who has a right over them. My right belongs only to the memories I gathered in Ishaan’s house and at Wadhwa Mansion. There, I became a son, a fiance... and now, a father to two children. What more could I possibly ask for!"

A bittersweet, peaceful smile touched Maan's lips. He gave Ayush a small, reassuring nod and turned on his heel, fully intending to step out and give them their space.

"Wait, Maan..."

Ayush’s voice cut through the quiet room, halting Maan right at the threshold. Maan paused, looking back over his shoulder.

"You just went on about me, united me and Maysha, but not a word about your brave act?" Ayush asked, his own eyes filling with emotional warmth as he looked at the man he had once considered a rival.

Maysha looked between them, her brows furrowing through her tears. "What brave act?"

"Maysha, you wanted to know what had happened when you were unconscious, right?" Ayush said, turning his attention fully to her.

Maan instantly stepped back into the room, holding his hand up defensively. "Ayush, don't. There's no need to bring all of that up right now—"

"Go on, Ayush, please," Maysha interrupted, her voice gaining a sudden, fierce maternal strength as she locked eyes with Ayush.

Ayush took a deep breath, stepping closer to her bedside. "Maysha, when you were brought to the hospital, Dr. Sonal revealed that due to the 6th-month spasms that occurred when you tried to save Maira, the blood flow had already slowed my baby's growth. But then, due to the stress back at the mansion, it turned around and affected my baby's health even more. His life was deteriorating every second, and the only possible option to save you all was an emergency C-section. But Dr. Sonal warned us that doing it right now could have risked Maan's baby as well."

Maysha’s breath hitched, her hand flying to her mouth as her heart hammered in terror.

"But Maan was the first to sign," Ayush continued, his voice trembling with deep gratitude. "He signed without even thinking that it could jeopardize his own child, because he wanted to save both the babies together. While he did that... I was still frozen in time, Maysha. I was thinking about your decision back at the mansion. I was stupidly thinking it would be best if my baby didn't see the light of day, if it meant that you and Maan could lead a happy life with his child."

Maysha stared at him, tears streaming down her face, completely overwhelmed by the raw honesty of his confession.

"But then, Maan and my parents made me think not emotionally, but practically," Ayush said, looking over at Maan with immense respect. "And now, both the babies are doing good only because of his quick thinking."

A heavy, beautiful silence enveloped the room. Maysha turned her head slowly toward Maan, her chest heaving as the sheer magnitude of his selflessness washed over her.

"Maan...." she choked out, her voice broken with an unpayable debt of love and gratitude.

She looked back at Ayush, and then back to Maan, her maternal instinct completely taking over as she gripped the hospital sheets.

"Ayush... Maan... please ask Jeeju if it's possible. I want to see my babies."

*

The faint, rhythmic beeping of the monitors filled the pressurized quiet of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).With Ishaan seeking approval from neonatal to permit Maysha inside the NICU, Maysha was taken by a wheel chair inside the NICU with her IV drips still on.Ayush is strolling her on the wheelchair and while Maan dragged the saline hanger following behind them.A neonatal nurse guided them to the 2 cubicle, one baby has a yellow patch stuck to the cube and one baby's cubicle has a blue patch stuck.The nurse then said to Maysha

"Since the babies don't have a name yet, we have stuck these labels for idenitification so that the nesscary treatment can be done accordingly.The yellow baby patch is the one which was deteorating.You can slide your hand through the circular portholes of the incubators."

As the nurse leaves the trio for privacy with their kids while standing outside along with Ishaan who is watching them through the glass.

Ishaan signs the visit form on behalf of them which the nurse hands out to him.

Ayush stood by the glass, his gaze locked onto the tiny form of Maan’s biological child. The weight of everything they had survived hung heavy in the air, but the despair had finally given way to a quiet, reverent peace.

Slowly, Ayush turned his head toward Maysha, his voice dropping into a soft, emotional whisper. "Maysha... what will you name Maan’s baby?"

Maysha looked up, her lashes still wet, her eyes shimmering with a mixture of raw exhaustion and overwhelming love. A tear spilled over her cheek as she looked at the tiny life as she slipped her hands inside the incubator.

Maysha choked out out gently, her voice vibrating with a mother's deepest devotion with a soft smile playing on her lips. "Hum teeno ka Ansh (Our heir)...Ansh."

"Ansh", both the men said in perfect unison.

Then Ayush continued softly , "Mera "A", Maan ka "N" aur Maysha ka "Sh"...perfect "

"Beautiful amalgamation", Maan said who was standing on the other side of Maysha, felt his heart swell. He then reached out, his eyes drifting away from his own flesh and blood to settle entirely on the second incubator—on the little fighter who belonged biologically to the man who had been ready to sacrifice everything.

Looking at Ayush’s baby, Maan smiled through his own blurred vision. "And Ayush’s baby?"

Maysha’s smiling through her tears. She gently wiped the tears from her face, her gaze moving back and forth between the two men who had stood like pillars on either side of her life.

"Hum teeno ka Ayushmaan (The long life of ours) ...Ayushmaan" she whispered, the name carrying the very souls of the two fathers wrapped into one magnificent blessing. 'Ayush aur Maan...Ayushmaan'

The word hung in the air, sacred and perfect.

Ayush and Maan looked across the room at each other. In that singular glance, every ounce of past jealousy, friction, and uncertainty completely evaporated. Unified by the love of the woman between them and the miracle of the two lives before them, they spoke together.

With teary eyes and smiles that came straight from their souls, they looked at the twins and whispered in perfect unison:

"Ayushmaan bhava." (May they be blessed with long lifes)