AnuRaj SS : Saajna - The Soulmates (LAST CHAPTER - PG 91) UPDATED-14/6 - Page 40

CHAPTER - 11 : WOH LAMHE

She reminisced the day , they both had felt their babies moving inside her belly for the first time . The blissful look in his eyes and his tranquil smile , could never escape her memories .

Earlier that day , after she had just finished knitting the woollen cap , she took out the matching socks and admired them affectionately . Blue pair of socks and caps were already completed last week and now this pink one was also done . She caressed the cap with her slender fingers , the babies would look adorable wearing the caps and the socks - she thought .

Rolling the spare wool around the ball of wool she began picking the knitting needles to drop them in the bag. She stretched her hand to get the bag when the ball of wool fell down from her lap. Shaking her head she bent down to pick it when something hit her and she let out a soft cry. Her mother in law , who had just entered the room with a glass of milk for her , panicked and asked ,

" Kya hua ? Tu thik toh hain ? "

She held her belly when she felt the kick again. She pressed her fingers against her baby bump and tried to concentrate on the movements inside her. She couldn't believe what she was feeling , the babies , their babies had started to move! She lifted her surprised lashes and met her mother in law's gaze, a quivering smile adorned her lips as she said,

" Mummyji yeh toh hil rahe hain ."

She took a few seconds to react , before putting the glass on the table and rushing to her daughter in law's side. Lifting her mother in law's hand she placed it on her stomach. Moments later the babies kicked again, and her lips slowly stretched in a smile as her eyes turned watery.

Gulping the lump formed in her throat , she glanced at her daughter in law and then cupped her face . Tears were threatening to roll but she kept her overwhelming emotions in control and pushed back those tears .

" Maa bannke ki ek alag hi khushi hoti hain , par daadi banne ki khushi usse bhi ziada hoti hain ." she spoke softly and kissed on her forehead .

Witnessing the vulnerable side of her mother in law , she hugged her tightly and her mother in law hugged her back .

Breaking the hug , her mother in law told her ,

" Abhi yeh doodh pee le aur aaram kar . "

and she nodded her head like an obedient student , even though she hated to have those glasses of milk everyday .

She then touched her belly one more time and thought of him, how would he react on knowing this ?

She glanced at the hanging wall clock and wished that at this moment he was there with her.

She took her mobile phone and started dialing his number , when she heard her mother in law asking her ,

" Kisse phone laga rahi hain ? "
" Woh mummyji , hum . "

" Phone par maat baata , jab office se ayega tab batana . " her mother in law told her .

And she reluctantly agreed .

Few hours later , as dark had fallen over the city , she stood by the window and glanced at the twinkling stars , when he came and stood behind her . Feeling his presence behind her , she turned around , but due to the sudden movement , she lost her balance . Like always his strong arms were there to catch her, with one arm around her waist and the other one holding her by her shoulders . It took her a moment to steady herself and when he brought his hand back that was placed around her waist he felt some movement near her belly. He looked at her curiously and she simply smiled...the babies had kicked ! He still couldn't figure out what it was but he had definitely felt something . Pressing her lips together she lifted his hand and placed it on her baby bump. A second later the babies kicked again and his eyes grew wide in surprise. He threw her a questioning look and she blinked her eyes in response ... Yes he was thinking and feeling right.

Tears of absolute bliss filled his eyes as a quivering smile danced on his lips. Their babies were breathing , growing inside her, something he only knew but today he could even feel them . The sheer joy was beyond expression and he looked at her with nothing but affection and gratitude .

She thanked her mother in law silently , that she had asked her not to tell him anything on the phone , otherwise she would have missed out on seeing him this unbelievably happy! Her damp eyes were smiling back at him, relishing this beautiful moment with him when all of a sudden he took her in his arms. He closed his moistened eyes, he just needed to feel her there and not say anything to her. The tears that were standing on the edges of her eyes now fell down like a cascade as she slowly brought her hands up to embrace him back.

Her eyes twinkled as she remembered the day , they had taken their little bundles of joy in their arms for the first time , and the ecstasy that she witnessed in his eyes , could not be described in words .

" Ahhh !!! " She screamed in pain .

" Baas ! Ho gaya hain Anu !" Her husband held her hand tightly and urged , although his heart broke into a thousand pieces seeing his wife writhing in pain ,

" Ek aur push !"

" You can do it , Mrs Sareen ! Breathe in !" the lady doctor encouraged her while checking the crowning .

Nurses were busy checking her vital signs and and held cloth as curtain around her legs covering her lower body .

" Rajaaat ! " she screamed again , unable to take the pain anymore .

" Baas Anu . Ho gaya hain . Tum toh meri bahadur Anu ho ! Ek baar aur ! Please ! " her husband Squadron leader Rajat Sareen mopped her eyebrows ,

" Come on Mrs Sareen ! Just one hard push ! " the lady doctor urged her , pushing her belly downwards .

Anushka Sareen tried all her might , screamed and collapsed back on the bed with her husband supporting her head .

The lady doctor came out of the cloth holding a tiny bundle of humanity with a black mop of hair, tiny fists and feet and a scrunched up angelic face.

She smiled. " Badhai ho ! Beta hua hain !"

Anu and Rajat gazed at him in wonder, pride and love.
The doctor handed over the baby to the nurse for cleaning him up.

Suddenly Anu jerked up again and screamed in pain.
"Arggghhh!!"

"Ok ! Ek baar aur !" the lady doctor ordered the rest to get back to work and dived back in to her position near the mother's legs. Nurses held the cloth up again.

Anu was writhing in pain. Rajat held her hand tightly and pushed her hair away from her eyes encouraging her again.

"Baas akhri baar Anu!"

"Come On! Mrs. Sareen . Ek baar aur . Breathe in , breathe out. And PUSH!" the doctor almost shouted.

She gave a loud scream and collapsed again on the bed with her husband supporting her and the doctor came out of the cloth this time holding another newborn .

She gave a broad smile.
" Badhai ho ! Beti hui hain !"

And on cue , she yelled , announcing her arrival on the earth. She started kicking her hands and feet.

Rajat helped Anu to sit upright and kissed her head. They both then gazed at their daughter in adoration.

There were smiles and victorious feeling around till the voice of the nurse cut in the magic.
" Yeh ro kyun nehi raha hain ?" she was looking with a worried expression at the baby in her hands. The First Born .

Suddenly there was total silence in the room punctuated by the cries of the younger child . The lady doctor almost lunged at the baby and grabbed him in her hands and shook his chest.
"Hey! Hey!!" she spoke urgently to the baby.
.
" Come on bachche!" she patted him on his back.
No response.

All the nurses were watching her and the baby without out breathing. A sinking sensation in their hearts. Anu held Rajat's arm in deathly grip. She was watching their child in horror and despair. Rajat was in state of shock unable to blink his eyes. He was watching the scene with almost surreal feeling.

The doctor tried CPR on the baby. Mouth to mouth resuscitations .
No response.

Anu gripped Rajat's arm so tightly that her nails dug into his skin and drew blood. But he didn't notice. He was staring in shock at his son.

"Aap log kis baat ka intezar kar rahe hain ? Start the emergency procedures !"

The doctor yelled at her staff and everyone jumped into action from earlier paralyzed state.
She finally as a last try before the emergency procedures turned the baby upside down and hit his buttocks with her palm. Hard.

AND the child cried.

There was a moment of suspended disbelief and then pandemonium broke in. Everyone started rejoicing .
Anu broke into tears. So did Rajat .

The doctor exhaled loudly through mouth , relieved totally.

She looked at the wailing and screaming baby in her arms , smiled and then looked at the parents who were now openly crying out of happiness as if they had just woken up from a nightmare.

She went to them and handed their baby to them. Anu reached for the child and with utmost care she held him close to her body gazing at the child without blinking , afraid to miss him even for a millisecond. The other nurse cleaned up the younger child , wrapped her in clean towel and brought her to the parents. Rajat reached out and held the baby in his arms with reverence . He took the baby close to her mother and brother. Anu smiled at their daughter .

They were so engrossed in their babies that they did not notice that all the medical personnel had left and they were alone in the room. They would be back for checkups and more but this time is the time for the family to be left alone. To bond.

" Anu ? Iska naam kya rakhna hain ?" Rajat asked her looking towards their son , in her arms .

She cradled the baby in her arms and gazed adoringly at him. She looked at Rajat then back to the child and then spoke

" Anuraj ? Anushka aur Rajat ki pyaar ki nishaani , " She looked up at her husband.

And he gave her an indulgent smile.
" Anuraj ! Bohat achcha hain ! "

" Aur iska naam kya rakhna hain ?" she asked pointing to the baby in the his arms.

Rajat then stared at his daughter for a long moment then looked at Anu .
" Yeh ! Meri beti ! Mere ghar ki Lakshmi "

Nirja ! " he said and kissed his daughter , as a lone tear escaped his eye .

[ The name Nirja means - Goddess Lakshmi 😛 😳 ]

Anu looked at him lovingly and then spoke softly ,
" Humari beti ! "

He grinned.
" Haan humari beti ! "

They then exchanged the babies . Anu coddled their daughter . Rajat held their son up staring at his little angelic face. The baby kicked his hands and feet and yawned.

Rajat smiled and murmured ,
" Tumne toh dara hi diya tha , junior , ohh AnuRaj ! "

He then placed a kiss on Anu's forehead and said ,

" Thank you Anu ! "

" Thank you kyun ? " she asked .

" Thank you mujhe zindagi ka sabse keemti tohfa dene ke liye . " he replied , his voice crackling with emotions .

Their babies , the symbols of their love - the most precious gift to them from God !!

Rajat and Anushka , Anushka and Rajat - the SOULMATES !!!