Posted:
Dedicated to my dear dear Rachana š³
It was the day they had come home from the hospital after Nishi's birth and she could not wait to take her Ranbir in her arms again and introduce him properly to his sister. He would surely have to wait for two things - for her to get a little bigger so he could hold her in his own arms and the second one was a bigger problem - he would have to wait for Nachiket to stop gushing over his Nishi and actually let Ranbir take in her sight as well.
She had no other word for this.
Nachiket was smitten. Smitten by Nishi from the moment he lay his eyes on her. When Ranbir was born, Nachiket was just overwhelmed - they had just been there in her ward, crying out of sheer happiness and euphoria and gratitude that everything had gone well and they had a healthy newborn. They were parents, and they could not believe the fact. She still remembered the wet patch on his shirt from all her sobbing and him looking back at her, eyes brimming with tears and happiness. Ranbir was the apple of his eyes.
But this time it was different. With Nishi it was different. This time, it was like Nachiket knew exactly what to expect. The transformation that she saw in him as a husband when they went through the entire process the second time was nothing short of magical. He had arranged for everything before hand, planned around the dates, been there with her for all her last 5 days before the delivery and had confidently even told her that they were going to have a baby girl. Secretly, even Ragini wanted a princess to complete their family and was anxious and nervous as to how Nachiket would react if it were to be a boy instead. She chuckled at the thought now as she looked at the sight before her.
They were in their room as Ranbir had dozed off in her lap, tired to waiting for his chance to see Nishi properly. Ragini was leafing through the book she always wanted to finish and had to leave midway because of the nausea. But now, the book was kept aside as she saw her husband with their daughter standing near the huge French window as the soft wind played with his hair. He held Nishi close to him in her mauve baby wrap, humming a familiar tune that Ragini could hear as well, right across the room. He held her snugly to his chest, her little palms reaching towards his ear and playing along.
Intermittently, he would try to wrap her hands in the wrap in a bid to get her to sleep but she'd just gurgle and look at him and he'd widen his eyes and make a face, eliciting a smile from Nishi in return. After a good half an hour, Nishi finally fell asleep and Nachiket inhaled her scent deeply as he placed a soft kiss on her baby hair. He loved the scent of baby powder, so did she.. but he took up the powdering activities of the baby with avid interest. Ragini thought that would be the end of his little game with Nishi now that she was asleep but no..
He continued to look at her and examine her features.. his gaze traveling from her soft golden brown hair to her closed eyes to her tiny delicate nose and then her flat ears and lovely red lips. And at that exact moment, Ragini resigned to the fact that she was no longer the most beautiful girl in the room. She sighed, and as if on cue, he turned to look at her and quirked an eyebrow, his non verbal way of asking her if everything was alright... she smiled weakly and gestured towards Ranbir asleep on her lap and how he did not let Ranbir look at Nishi properly.. Nachiket just shrugged and hugged Nishi more to himself...
Slowly walking towards the bed, Nachiket safely kept Nishi in the cot, taking extra care not to disturb her. As he trailed his fingers on her hair again, he came and sat besides Ragini and played with her bangle as she continued reading the book. Ranbir was soon carried up by Nachiket in his arms who planted a huge wet kiss on his cheek as he stirred - Sorry baby, Nishi needed to sleep na.. we'll see her at dinner time. Promise.
And Ranbir had snaked his arms around his father tighter as Nachiket carried him to his room and returned. Ragini was waiting for him to return and climbed into his lap reflexively as he settled on the bed. He let his hands roam on her bare back below the loose shirt and pulled her close with a big sigh. She was tired, so tired. The sleepless nights had only begun with their new darling but even with those light circles under her eyes, they shone like diamonds and casting a spell on him as he looked deep into them, like he always loved to.
Her lips were dry, a testament of not taking good care of herself and he reminded himself to make her drink lots of water.. but the way they now parted as his gaze lowered to them was just another reason he lived for.. She had always been the most beautiful mother, the gentlest.. the most loving and affectionate.. never once complaining of her age or missed opportunities, which he knew were reasons valid enough. She was beautiful, inside out.. and he was determined to tell her that..
Pressing his lips to her ears, he hoarsely whispered 'You are the most beautiful woman on this planet" and Ragini just melted in a puddle of tears. Grabbing the nape of his hair, she wrapped herself around him, willing him to just gather her in his arms as she tried hard to contain her sobs. Rubbing her back with his hand, he realised she was going through a whirlwind of emotions and he just needed to let her be.. kissing her ear and neck repeatedly, he let each kiss linger for more and more.. as if speaking through those kisses..
Looking back at him after a while, she grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled him in for a passionate kiss, something she had missed for quite some days now. His hands roamed her body at will as they moaned and groaned against each other till they left each other breathless, their hearts pounding against their chests..
And it was as easy as that..
She may no longer be the most beautiful girl in his life, but she would always be the woman he worshipped. And she knew that.
Members Lounge
Book Talk
