Posted:
This idea struck me while I was returning back home from college. Also I remembered a line I had read in Chicken Soup for Parent's Soul long time which I incorporated in this.[marked with *]
Sorry if I ruin your weekend with this but, I had to write this down.
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"It shouldnt be a girl." He said.
"How can you..."
"It shouldnt be a girl." He said with an emotion nobody could decipher except her.
She knew. She understood. But she was helpless.
He briefly glanced at the bulging stomach studiously avoiding her gaze and rushed out.
She knew it was very hard for him. But it was hard for her too. She too was an equal in the pain that had been inflicted n injured him so deep.
She could no longer keep her tears in check. They flowed. Along with her, her husband too cried.
"How can he say that? Is he out of his mind? Doesnt he know children's are God's gifts? How can he..."
"I'm sorry bhabhi for whatever he said." Her sister-in-law apologized fervently.
She tried to reassure her. But she couldnt as she wanted to comfort her husband, who she knew, must be berating n hurting himself for having said that.
No words came out. Instead it opened a floodgate of memories.
*Flashback*
"Hamari beti hui thi na? Batao na, tumne dekha tha na? Hamari beti hui thi na?" [It was a girl right? You had seen her right, tell me..I had a daughter right?]
He couldnt answer his di.
What would he answer her?
How could he answer her n break her, shatter he into pieces yet again?
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
"I'm very sorry. But we couldnt save the baby. The placenta had detached and the baby couldnt hold it. I'm really sorry."
He fell on his knees n his world crumbled. What kind of a father was he? He couldnt save his own baby? Everyone, his wife most of all always trusted him to make things right.
He could no nothing here to make things right.
What would he say to her?
How would he face his child when they bring it to him.
He had always secretly wanted a daughter. He would talk silently, discreetly n late at night to the bulging stomach that nestled his bundle of joy every night since he had come to know of its existence.
How could he face it?
What if it was a girl?
He had promised his joy he would protect her.
He had failed.
All his worst dreams came true when he was taken to his stillborn daughter.
He had broken down. He couldnt bear looking at her knowing she wouldnt open her eyes. Knowing she wouldnt breathe.
*Flashback ends*
Since that day she had seen her husband change diametrically. And he had been on an edge ever since they found out that they were pregnant again.
He had managed to stay strong for his di during her miscarriage, he had tried to hold on to his sanity after he lost his daughter but she knew he wouldnt be able to stand another.
He would always, dutifully accompany her to the doctor's ,but he could never look into the screen to see the sonography.
She never forced him either.
She only prayed everything would be alright.
She caressed her stomach n suddenly she felt it.
"Arnavjiii!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He rushed to the hospital as soon as he got the call from his brother that they were taking his wife to the hospital.
Dear God.
If anything, anything happened wrong he wasnt sure he would be able to live.
"Khushi!"
He lunged forward just as they were about to wheel her in the labour room.
She weakly smiled at him through her pain.
His heart flipped at that.
She clutched his arm n he supported her.
"Its a normal delivery. Would you like to stand n witness your bundle of joys arrival?" The doctor asked cheerily.
He only nodded.
"Alright then. Everything check? Sister?"
"Yes doctor. Everything good."
"Alright then. Ready Mrs. Raizada?"
He kept patting her hair n squeezing her arm until the doctor said
"Yes. Here's your son."
*He didnt breathe until his son took one of his own.
She smiled and gestured him to take the baby.
He, for the first time in his life was numb. He didnt know what to do. With unsure hands he took his newborn in his arms and tried to shush him as he cried taking the first breathe of world. He felt pure bliss.
"Alright then, ready for the second?"
"Hunh?"
"They are twins sir. You didnt know?" he doctor asked smiling.
He looked at his wife. She was trying to concentrate on what the doctor was saying. He wasnt filled in with that.
The nurse took the baby for cleansing while the new mother concentrated on bringing her second born in the world.
"There! Your princess sir."
He froze. Princess. Daughter. Girl.
He looked at the doctor who was patting the baby and she cried.
He kept looking at her for a long time before his legs automatically took him to his daughter n tried shushing her.
He held her and tried to control his own tears which had threatened to flow during the birth of his son but now flowed freely.
The nurse took the baby for cleansing while the other brought their son to them. He wasnt ready to let go off his daughter n relented only when the nurse assured him she would cleanse the baby infront of him in the room.
His wife had been observing him from a long time.
When she held her son n her husband their daughter she saw the first genuine smile on his face after a long time.
He smiled. So did she.
His kids were safe. Alive. Breathing. In his arms.
"What name have you thought for the him?" He asked.
"Ashar."
"What did you think for her?"
"Asmara."
She chuckled lightly.
"Two more ASRs in my life. I'm loooving it." She tried saying it in the McDonald's style.
He too chuckled.
Their family was finally complete.
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How was it? Comments/criticism welcome.
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