as promised....here is the next installment of Sau Dard...you are one step closer to finding out what happened 😉
Part 13
Present –
Prem remembered how ecstatic the family had been when they found out that Heer was expecting a baby. Since Heer had miscarried in the past everyone had been very attentive for all of her needs. Raaji Bhabi was only too happy to look after Aaryan and Sonny so Heer could rest for the baby. Nihaal Bhaia had no problem picking up the slack at work when Prem rushed home early for Heer. He didn't mind it when Prem missed entire days worth of work either due to Heer's doctor appointments or to just spend time at home with his family. After all, Prem had done the same when Raaji had been pregnant. They all looked after Heer with extra special care. They made sure she ate right. They made sure she didn't stay on her feet too long. Prem took Heer out for walks in the evening so that she got some exercise. Often times they strolled hand in had out by their massive garden.
By the time Heer was in her seventh month she had grown round and plump. She was very self conscious about how she looked – she felt fat. Prem on the other hand love it. He thought that he had never seen her look so beautiful. When they say pregnant women glow, they didn't lie. Every time Prem looked at Heer with her round belly, bare feet and chocolate in her hand it made his heart tighten in his chest. He loved that this baby, his flesh and blood, was growing inside the body of the woman whom he lobed more than life itself.
Prem now thought about the first time he had felt the baby move. he had been amazed and left speechless.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Past –
Prem had gotten home after a long day at work. Since he had found out Heer was pregnant he ha gotten home no later than seven in the evening any night. It was usually earlier, but seven was the absolute latest. However, they had begun work on a new project and one of the important meetings had to be held at a later time. Both Nihaal and Prem had to be present because they were equal share holders of their company – there was no way around it. That particular night Prem walked in around eleven at night. The men were greeted by Raaji. Prem asked how Heer was and if everything was alright. Raaji informed him that she had made sure that Heer had eaten and was no sleeping peacefully upstairs.
Prem, needing to see his wife right away, refused dinner and raced up to his room. Walking in he found Heer curled on the bed with Sonny next to her. Her arm was instinctively around their son and held him close. Prem quickly showered and changed into his pajamas with the intent of getting into bed with is family. However, when he came out of the bathroom he noticed the bed was empty on Heer's side. He looked around franticly, just for a second, until his eyes fell on a figure standing by the window. Prem quietly snuck up behind Heer and encircled her waist with has arms as his hands sprawled out on her belly.
"Why are you up babe?" he asked soothingly.
"Oh, just couldn't sleep," Heer answered.
"Why?" Prem asked now on full alert. "What's wrong?"
Heer couldn't help but chuckle at her paranoid husband. "Nothing. Nothing is wrong. I'm just a little restless that's all."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm sure. Now be quite and just hold me like this for a while," she said as she snuggled closer to him.
Heer placed her hands on Prem's and they just stood there admiring the beautiful moonlight night. Neither one of them said a single word, they were just enjoying each others presence and warmth.
That is when Prem felt it. It wasn't anything major or hard or distinctive. He felt a slight movement under his hand. At first he thought that it was Heer. He looked down and saw that her hands were still rested on top of his. And then, there it was again.
"What the…?" Prem pulled back. "Heer what was that?"
Heer turned around to face him and was grinning from ear to ear.
"That my love, was your child acknowledging your presence," she said as she put her arms around his neck.
"What? My child…?" Prem asked confused. Then the light finally went on. "Oh my God! Do you mean that I just felt my baby move?" The excitement in his voice was obvious.
"Yes. Your baby just moved, or kicked is more like it," Heer said as she gently rubbed her belly.
"Oh my God," Prem yelled again. "Oh my God, did you feel that?" he asked as he bent down to his knees.
"Of course I felt it," Heer laughed, "It's happening inside of me you know."
"How long has this been happening for? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Prem accused.
"Relax will ya! Today was the first time it happened," Heer said. "Apparently your baby doesn't like it when I'm resting or sitting still. He or she wants mommy to be active and running around. That's why I knew that if I stood still long enough, your baby would make its presence known."
Prem kissed the soft skin where he had felt his child move, before standing up and crushing Heer with a bear hug. "Oh Heer, you don't know how happy I am."
Prem broke the hug to kiss her. Not a sweet, soft kiss. No, this was one of those kisses that make your toes curl. From that night on Prem had slept with one had protectively over Heer's belly. He anted to feel every possible movement his baby made.
Time flew by and before they knew it Heer was nearing the end of her seventh month. Raaji had organized a grand baby shower for Heer. The entire Jhuneja Mansion was glowing from the lights, the streamers and balloons – all of which were blue and pink. However, this wasn't your typical baby shower. This time, at Heer's insistence, the men were invited as well. Heer knew that Prem would be heart broken if he missed out on this experience. Prem didn't care that there would be mostly women there; he jumped at the chance to be there. It was boring since it was a ladies function, but Heer was there so Prem enjoyed it nonetheless. He had sent the entire time staring at Heer. She was dressed in a blue and pink saree. She looked like a goddess. Oh who was he kidding? She was HIS goddess.
Once Heer was in her last two months, she had mood swings galore. One minute she as happy and laughing, then the next minute she was weeping – literally weeping. Prem was calm and patient with her. He knew that she was having a hard time. They had been visiting the doctor every two days or so. He thought that it was a bit odd, but Heer assured him that it was normal during the last trimester. Things were just getting harder and harder as the days passed. Heer's feet were swollen, her back ached, she even didn't get much sleep because it hurt when the baby kicked. One night Prem had been scared out of his mind because the baby was kicking so hard that Heer began to cry. The baby kept kicking Heer in the ribs and that hurt too much. He hated to see Heer like this but he knew that there was nothing he could do except be there for her and try to help in any way that he could.
One night Prem was awakened by Heer. He looked at the clock to see that it was nearly three in the morning. He figured that it was just another one of her late night cravings, so he turned to the other side and went back to sleep. He had already been up an hour ago to get her ice – ice, she really craved ice! However, Heer was relentless. She kept nagging him and poking him. Prem peeked at her to see that she was dressed as if she were going out.
"Prem, I'm going to the hospital," Heer announced.
Half asleep Prem didn't register what Heer had said. He waved his hand in the air and said, "Ok, see you later. Have fun." Suddenly, he sat bolt up – it finally dawned on him. Heer was going to the hospital. The HOSTPITAL! This was it. Prem jumped out of bed so fast that he tripped over the sheets. Getting back up to his feet he ran to Heer. Now that he saw her in the light, he could see how pale she was.
"Heer are you okay?" Prem asked franticly. "The baby……"
"Yes, we are both fine," Heer said as she placed a hand on Prem's shoulder. "My contractions are getting closer together so I think we should go to the hospital."
"What?!" Prem yelled as he ran to his closet to grab some clothes. "How long have you been having contractions?"
"Since about late afternoon, I think," Heer confessed.
Prem's one leg was through is pant when he stopped and looked at Heer like she had just lost her mind. "You've been having contractions pretty much all day and you are telling me now!?"
"Yeah but…" Heer began to say but was cut off.
"How can you not tell me?! We should have gone when you had your first contraction!" Prem continued to rant about how careless Heer was being.
"Prem!" Heer yelled to get him to shut up. "First of all, if we went to the hospital then, the doctors would have just sent us home because I wasn't ready yet. Second of all…" Heer suddenly stopped. She held onto her waist and breathed heavily for a few seconds – another contraction was hitting her. Finally she spoke again, "Second of all, do you want to argue about this NOW!?" she asked.
"Oh, right," Prem said as he looked from Heer's belly to Heer's face.
Prem was done in record time. He got dressed and grabbed all of Heer's things. He then took Heer's hand and kissed it. "This is it. It's time for our baby to come into this world. I'm the happiest man on the planet thanks to you Heer. Now let's go have our baby and bring him or her home."
Prem hugged Heer for a split second. He was absolutely delirious with joy. They entered the hospital hand in hand. Prem's other had was resting protectively around her swollen bump. This night was going change everything, Prem just knew it.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Present –
Prem had never anticipated that he wouldn't be going home hand in hand with Heer.
That night, as they had left the house, there were many things that Prem hadn't noticed. He hadn't noticed how a single, solitary tear escaped from Heer's eyes and landed on her had. He hadn't heard Heer's heart and Heer's soul saying "Yes, lest go have your baby so you can bring him or her home."
Everything that happened that night and the following day had left Prem Jhuneja numb. His life ended and somehow began on that day.
JAZ
ps: cant wait to read comments 😛
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Veer Hanuman
Kumkum Bhagya
