Part 21
Raj stormed into Abhimanyu's room. Abhimanyu was sitting and having a drink.
Abhi: Raj, how is Naina? I heard she fell down the stairs. I hope she didn't have a miscarriage.
Raj noticed the hidden smirk on Abhi's face. Raj lunged towards him, held him by the collar and pushed him towards the wall.
Abhi: What's wrong with you Raj?
Raj: Abhi, wrong with me? wrong with me? You scoundrel, you jerk. You convinced Naina that I got a DNA test behind her back.
Abhi: What the hell? You are completely insane.
Raj: i have found the compounder. He clearky said you bribed him.
Abhi knew it was no use pretending.
Abhi: Fine if the truth is out, no point pretending. Yes, I was behind those DNA papers and I am really sorry that Naina did not miscarry. But trust me she will not give birth to your baby. I love her and she loves me and there's no way she'll be a mother to your baby.
Raj: punched abhi across his face and then pushed him on the ground. He kicked Abhi hard, Abhi tried definding himself but was no match for Raj's fury.
Gunny walked in and stopped Raj.
Gunny: Raj stop! Hitting Abhi like that won't get you anywhere! You have never hit any one like this.
Raj: This rascal is behind the DNA papers... papers because of which my Naina and my baby's life were in danger. And he said he'll make sure Naina miscarries.
Gunny: Raj he is a scoundrel. But don't fall to his level. Think about Naina and the baby. Do you really wan to cause Naina more stress?
Raj calmed down on hearing about Naina and the baby. He began walking away. But Abhi couldn't resist himself He wiped the blood from his lips and said to Raj sarcastically
Abhi: Raj, see this blood. It's royal blood. By carrying your baby, Naina's taking forward the lineage of a dirty bloodline. You were abandoned in an orphanage weren't you? Must have been the illegitimate son of someone.
Raj's eyes were blood shot. He clenched his fists. Gunny was almost dragging him outside the room. But Abhi sensed that he had hit a raw nerve.
Abhi: Looks like I hit upon the truth. So you are illegitimate. Do you know who your parents are? Or was your mother a prostitute who doesn't even know who's baby she is carrying because she sleeps with a new man every day.
Gunny gave up. Raj hit Abhi with a vengenace. He then went to the table and picked up a knife.
Raj: I am going to finish this once and for all. You have humiliated the two women I value most. My Naina and my mother,
Gunny held him back.
Gunny: Raj, he deserves to be killed. But where will that get you? And after you kill him, what happens to Naina and your baby?
Raj's phone rang and Gunny picked it up.
Gunny: Raj, Naina has regained consciousness and is asking for you? Don't you see? This is a sign Even God doesn't want you to get your hands dirty with this man's blood.
Raj dropped the knife and walked away. Gunny then turned to Abhi
Gunny: Don't get too excited. I may have stopped Raj from killing you. But you'll soon wish that someone had killed you. I'll make sure your life is worse than death!
Raj reached the hospital and walked inside Naina's room. As Naina saw Raj, she tried sitting up. Raj hurried to her and insisted she lie down.
Naina noticed the bruisues on Raj's face and hands.
Naina: Raj, what happened? Is everything OK? Are you OK?
Raj: Perfectly fine, my darling You gave us such a scare. Don't every do that again
Naina looked down and had tears in her eyes.
Naina; I am sorry. i mistrusted you, AGAIN. Shalini told me everything. I am so sorry!!! I really wanted to believe you. But you know how erratic my mood has been and then i have always felt guilty of cheating on you.. And I...
Naina was weeping genty. Raj wiped away her tears.
Raj: My crazy girl! Stop crying. You are carrying a baby but sometimes you behave like a child.
Now stop crying. Also I want to set the record straight about a few things. I have never, even in my wildest dreams, doubted the paternity of this baby. She is my jaan, my darling, my angel. I love her more than my own life. There's only one person I love more than my daughter and that's her mother.
Naina: I don't deserve you Raj! But some day I'll make myself worthy of you! Some day.
She hugged Raj tightly.
Naina was discharged a few days later but had to be on bed rest for the next week. Raj cooked for her, left books for her to read and movies to watch when he went for classes and spent every spare minute with her. They could now clearly feel the movement of the baby. It gave Raj no greater joy than to place his hands on the bump when the baby was kicking.
On the other hand Gunny had lived true to his words. He had launched an onslaught against Abhi. Managed to find three female officers who he had had affairs with by abusing his power. He also established a paper trail for how Abhi had used his father's influence to avoid postings in the warzone. Byt the end Abhi appeared before several miliatry boards. He was demoted in rank and transferred away from KMA.
Naina was back to taking classes, She was starting her 6th month now and would start her maternity leave by her 7th month. Naina was glad that the Army had such generous policies for the female officers. She loved her work but she wanted to enjoy the last few months of her pregnancy in a relaxed way. After many years she'd have the time to relax and focus on herself. The only thing that bothered her was that her parents wanted her to come and stay with them for the last couple of months. But Naina didn't want that. She knew that Raj didn't want that either. He wanted to be a part of this journey in it's entirety.
Naina suddenly remembered that it would be Raj's birthday next week. Despite knowing each other for over a decade, they had never celebrated Raj's birthday together, In fact she didn't know if Raj had ever celebrated his birthday.
Even this year he had asked her not to plan any part because he didn't want her to get tired. But she was determined to make this birthday extra special.
While Naina was counting down the days to Raj's birthday Raj was dreading it. His birthday was one of the hardest days in the year for him. He didn't see it as a day to celerate rather a day to mourn his mother's death.
Night before Raj's birthday
Naina: RAJ, RAJ... Get up!
Raj: Naina is everything ok? Are you ok?
Naina: Raj I am feeling some uneasineness and pain my stomach.
Raj: Let me call shalini. We'll take you to the hospital.
Naina: No Raj. I am fine. I just forgot to take my medicines. Left them in the living room after dinner.
Raj: Don't worry. I'll just get it.
Raj walked to the living room and fumbled to turn on the lights. He got a huge surprise when the lights came on.
There was a lovely cake on the table and a card next to it.
The cake said "Happy birthday to the best husband in the world" and the card said "Happy Birthday Daddy, I can't wait to see you."
Naina walked up beside him, have a side hug and said
Naina: Happy birthday Raj. Your daughter and I love you so much.
Raj: How did you? This is so special. I love it. It must have taken so much effort.
Naina: Not all all. The two of us loved putting it together. Now if you don't mind, can you cut the cake? Your daughter is too excited to to taste it. She's been kicking since we entered the room.
Raj cut the cake and gave Naina a huge piece. He fed it to her with his own hands
Raj: My princess I hope you are happy now and will stop kicking your mother.
Thank you Naina. I don't know what to say. I really am speechless. Thank you!
Naina: Raj, this is just the beginning...
Raj: What? I told you I don't want any parties.
Naina: I know. But I have a lovely day planned for us.
Raj: Naina but I have to go somewhere during the day.
Naina: But Raj. It's your birthday!
Raj: I know and it's very important. Otheriwse I wouldn't have gone...Please don't be angry. I promise I'll be back in the evening.
Naina: Hmm... ok, But I'll expect extra love and pampering once you are back. Even though it's your birthday.
Raj laughed and hugged Naina and nodded in agreement.
Edited by paradigm - 8 years ago
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