part 4
Later that day, Armaan was in his lunch break when he decided to pay Shilpa another visit. He bought some food for them, hoping that Shilpa hadn't had lunch yet, and headed to the neonatology floor.
Armaan peaked through the window to see Shilpa sleeping. He sighed, a little disappointed, as it appeared that he was going to eat alone. As he made a step back from the door to walk away, Armaan got an idea. He had also bought dessert for their lunch, so he could leave that in her room. Before he walked in, Armaan took out two wrapped muffins and a napkin. Slowly he entered into the room, walking silently to her bed. Armaan put the muffins on her nightstand and turned to walk outside. His hand remained on the doorknob as his eyes wandered around the hospital room. Something didn't look right. That room looked like… a hospital room. It was a hospital room, he admitted, but that was a hospital room from the maternity floor, so it was supposed to be decorated with flowers, balloons and teddy bears. It was supposed to be cheerful. But her room looked like any other room from the hospital.
There was just one flower bouquet on the nightstand beside her bed, probably from Dr. Gupta- Armaan thought. He suddenly felt sad. Was she so lonely? There was nobody else to send her a card or a flower besides her chief? Then he felt guilty. He was her friend now and he hadn't made any nice gesture yet.
Armaan put the food pack on the table beside the door and walked outside.
Armaan returned later to her and smiled. Shilpa was holding her baby in her arms, watching how the nurse was arranging a flower bouquet beside another two. He gave a short knock as he opened the door.
"Hi," she greeted him with a smile and then her eyes shifted back on the flowers.
Armaan smiled discreetly, pleased to see her awe. "Wow," he said, acting surprised.
"Yeah," Shilpa muttered, confused.
The nurse finished with the arrangement and smiled at them as she walked outside.
"Someone sent me flowers," Shilpa said, confused.
"You don't know who?" Armaan asked as he walked over to her bed and leaned down to caress the baby's cheek.
Shilpa looked at all the flowers that were decorating her room now. "No. They don't have a card."
"Secret admire already?" Armaan chuckled.
"I don't know anyone here. Nobody knows me," Shilpa pointed out.
Armaan gave a look to the color variety given by the flowers and chuckled quietly. As his eyes wandered around the room, he saw that his lunch pack wasn't on the table anymore. "Did they throw away my food?" he frowned.
Shilpa looked up at him, biting her lip.
"You ate it?" Armaan laughed.
"I was hungry," Shilpa said defensively. "Besides, why are you leaving your food in my room?" she frowned.
"That was for you actually," Armaan half lied. "I am glad you liked it."
"Anything is better than the hospital food," she said, rolling her eyes. "Do you want to hold her?" she asked him, holding the baby upper.
Armaan grinned, obviously thrilled with the offer. "Oh this is for the … no-name-baby," he laughed and handed her a pink gift bag.
Shilpa stared at him, suspicious for a moment. "You sent me all these," she concluded.
Armaan just smiled and put the bag onto her lap, while he leaned down and picked the baby up from her mother's arms.
"Hello, baby girl," he smiled down at the sleeping baby, slowly rocking her back and forth.
"Why did you do that?" she asked him, frowning.
Armaan wasn't happy to hear the reproach in her voice. "Because I wanted to,"
"No, because you felt sorry for me," Shilpa snapped, making the baby whimper.
"Shh," Armaan rocked the baby to calm her down. "I do feel sorry for you but…"
"Don't," Shilpa cut him off sharply. "I told you I don't deserve anyone's sympathy. I chose this way and now I have to go through it."
"Don't be so harsh on yourself," Armaan frowned. "I don't know exactly what happened, but in case you haven't noticed yet, your book turned a new page," he said and showed her the baby. Shilpa looked away and didn't reply. "Besides, I am your friend now," Armaan said softly. "It would have been rude of me not to send you a flower."
"Or two, or three," Shilpa added and as she looked at him, Armaan saw her smile. "Thank you."
"My pleasure," Armaan smiled. "She's still-no-name?" he asked her, smiling down at the baby.
"Yeah," Shilpa groaned. "There are so many names, but they're so common."
"Maybe you should name her Jane, like Jane Doe," Armaan chuckled.
Shilpa frowned at his joke. "Keep your suggestions for yourself."
"Ok," he laughed. "Is she a good baby?" he asked her while playing the baby's hand.
"She's great," Shilpa smiled, looking at her baby. "She cries only when she's hungry and I changed her diaper just once," she said, smirking.
"Any parent's dream," Armaan said.
"I guess so," she sighed.
"Do you mind if I ask you something personal?" Armaan asked cautiously.
"Do I have any choice?" she grumbled.
"No," Armaan admitted. "It's about your mother. How's Muskaan gupta doing?" he asked her eagerly.
Shilpa sighed and held out her arms to take the baby back. Armaan frowned a little, but put the baby in her mother's arms. "She's teaching," Shilpa answered.
"How come she's not here to see her granddaughter?" Armaan asked then.
"I already told you," she replied, slightly irritated. "One of the people I wanted to piss off by carrying this pregnancy was my mother. She doesn't know I gave birth earlier either."
"So she's not very happy with the idea," Armaan concluded.
Shilpa smiled up at him. "You're so smart."
"Thanks," Armaan laughed.
The baby cut in, crying.
"I think she's hungry," Shilpa said, leaning forward a little to untie her gown. "Are you going already?" she asked Armaan when she saw him standing up.
Armaan looked, confused. "I will give you some privacy."
Shilpa rolled her eyes, smiling. "You already saw the most intimate parts of my body. My breast is not that exciting."
Armaan chuckled. "Are you sure?"
"I could need some company," Shilpa muttered as she brought the baby to suck from her breast.
"I am enjoying your company, Shilpa," Armaan said softly. He pulled a chair and sat down beside her bed.
They stayed in silence and watched the baby eating, both of them smiling broadly at her.
"Can I burp her?" Armaan asked her quickly after the baby finished her meal.
Shilpa giggled and nodded, handing him a towel to put on his shoulder. Armaan carefully took the baby and put her on his chest, rubbing gently onto her back.
"You're a weird man, Armaan," Shilpa said, watching the smile in his eyes as he carefully burped the baby.
"Why?" Armaan asked smiled curiously.
Shilpa shrugged. "Because of this," she said, pointing to him and the baby.
"I love babies, especially this baby. I was her midwife, wasn't I?" he grinned.
Shilpa smiled faintly, but looked carefully at him. "I hope you're not planning on kidnapping my baby," she said quietly.
"Not right away," Armaan laughed, but his laugh died quickly as he met her glare. "I am kidding, Shilpa," he said defensively.
"Not very funny, Armaan," she scolded. "I want her back," she demanded and held out her arms.
Armaan sighed and put the baby in her arms. "I am not a dangerous man," he frowned, offended.
A wave of guilt swept through her. He could have kidnapped her baby by now if that's what he really wanted, she reconsidered her thought. "It's my job to be worried," she muttered, cradling the baby to her chest.
"I know," Armaan smiled kindly. "I didn't mean to scare you. I guess I am a little… annoying, ain't I?"
"You're not annoying. I like your company. I guess I could need a friend," she said, her eyes on her daughter. "But you're also my boss and easy to… fall for. I don't want to make to the same mistake twice."
Armaan didn't understand what exactly she was talking about. "We still can be friends, though I am your boss."
"Yeah," she smiled, but she didn't sound convinced.
"I should go back to work now," Armaan sighed. "Can I visit you later?"
Shilpa smiled and nodded. "Sure."
"Ok," he chuckled and caressed the baby's head. "Find her a name," he smiled as he stood up.
"I have to," she giggled.
Shilpa rocked the baby in her arms until she fell asleep. She stood up and slowly put her in her crib. Then she saw the pink bag from Armaan and remembered his present for her daughter. Shilpa crawled back in the bed and took the bag. She took out a pink teddy bear, soft at touch. She saw then a small piece of paper tucked under the teddy's ribbon.
Shilpa pulled out the paper and unfolded it. "Shona," she read. "P.S. Do not kill the messenger."
Shilpa laughed, shaking her head. She read the name again and looked at the baby. "Shona?"
end part 4.
Current Affairs
Real Estate
