Ragini and Nachiket joined the children at the Hotel Restaurant, after having showered and changed.
The children had already blocked a large table at the corner and were discussing about their orders. Tanya had not come along with Sameer, Ragini noticed. At that very instant, Ranbir looked up and smiled at his Mother. Ragini felt thrilled - she was ecstatic to have been able to start rebuilding that special bond with her firstborn.
She remembered how it was a marathon delivery schedule for Ranbir, with her being in the delivery room for more than 4 hrs. Nachiket had wanted to go in for a C-sec, but she had held on. And finally, when she had held the baby in her arms, all her pain, fatigue, weakness had washed away. And she had known instinctively that he would always be the one.
Not that the other kids were of lesser importance. Nishi was the apple of their eyes when she was born, the first girl born in the Khanna family, after Pam. Nachiket had been super excited, she remembered.
And then the twins. Completely arriving into their lives by surprise, totally unsuspecting of their parents. But they arrived with lots of fanfare, and then their lives had been complete.
Ragini felt Nachiket's hand on her back, guiding her slightly towards the table. She smiled. She loved when Nachiket was this gentlemanly and possessive. As they reached the table, Aarav said
'Sameer Uncle is out in the lobby for a call. We saved a seat for him.'
Nachiket pulled his chair and settled down beside Ragini, the slight smell of her floral perfume assaulting his olfactory senses. The feeling got more intense as she leant in towards him slightly and urged him to go out and where Sameer was.
He went out only to be met with Sameer hurrying back inside. Seeing Nachiket outside the restaurant, Sameer started abruptly
'Dr Neil. That was a call from the Hospital. Am emergency, I have to leave now. Would you please apologise to Ragini on my behalf. I will catch up with you all soon.'
And then, Sameer was gone in a jiffy.
Nachiket went inside and informed the group about Sameer's situation. He sat down once again, pulling his wife's hand surreptitiously in his own and holding it there on his lap, as he started caressing it - a surprised Ragini turned around to look at him, a slight shade of crimson. But Dr Khanna was already involved in the menu, a slight smile playing on his lips.