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"What?" he asked her, still reeling from the shock, and she had repeated, shyly, with her gaze on the floor, in a soft tone, "Yeah, I'm pregnant!" Omkara was frozen, unable to react to this joyful news. Tiny tears of happiness had slowly made its way down his cheeks and even before he could say anything to her, the entire Oberoi clan had barged into their room, congratulating them on the news of becoming parents for the very first time. And even though Gauri had wanted nothing but to spend a few good minutes in the arms of her man, the entire family had insisted on spending time with the Mommy-to-be, and took her along with them to the living room. Daadi had immediately resorted to feeding her laddoos loaded with desi ghee, much to Rudra's annoyance on calling it unhealthy and fattening, thus erupting an argument between the oldest and the currently-youngest persons of the family: life-experience versus health-consciousness. Then, it was Jhanvi's turn to pamper her daughter-in-law for making her a grandmother; a few transgender persons had come over to bless Gauri, and Jhanvi had gifted them loads of cash and sweets so they could bless the unborn child as well.
Tej had also congratulated and blessed Gauri, but chose not to express his joy on becoming a grandfather; yet in his mind, he had already imagined giving piggy-back rides to the baby, like the ones he used to give Omkara and Rudra when they were little. Pinky couldn't help but begin planning as to what the colors of the baby room's walls would be. Annika and Bhavya had already hugged Gauri, overwhelmed with joy, and were now trying to video-call Shivaay, who was in London for a conference, so he could wish his little sister, and also bring home a small gift for the yet-to-be-born baby. But while Gauri was preoccupied with the whole family's attention, she terribly missed his presence, and longed to go back to the room, back into his arms.
Omkara Singh Oberoi, the man of words, was at a total loss for any words tonight, while he stared at the black night sky which was devoid of the moon and any twinkling stars. The dark clouds of rain blanketed the sky, much like those million thoughts which had blanketed his cognitive capacity. With his hands shoved in his pockets, he stared at nothing in particular, his mind still stuck on the news that his wife had delivered to him a few minutes back. Omkara involuntarily smiled to himself when he heard the whole family cheer and laugh out loudly on Rudra's silly joke. But the smile vanished as something else plagued Omkara's mind.
He felt a pair of tiny hands wrap around him from behind and he didn't even need to guess who it was. "Kya soch rahe hain aap?" she asked in a soft voice, as she pressed her cheek against his back. Omkara shook his head, too hesitant to speak out, and scared to explain what exactly was going on in his mind. He felt her arms go tighter around him, and this time, he placed his hands on top of hers. They stayed this way in silence; he, while being lost in his thoughts, and she, allowing him to continue to be absorbed in his thoughts.
Omkara was hurting from within. He was now going to be a father. And while he was overjoyed at the news of the arrival of his child, he was also scared. Would he be capable of being a good father to his child? Would he be able to pass on the right values, to his little one, that he received? Would he be able to keep his little family happy? Would he be able to protect his family? Most of all, would he be able to forget his turbulent childhood and his dysfunctional relationship with his own father, and never allow his own baby to have even something close to that disturbing childhood as he once had.
A tiny whimper from her brought him to realize that he had gripped Gauri's fingers a bit too hard. Leaving her hands suddenly like it scorched him, he turned around and held her gently by her arms. "I'm sorry, mera dhyaan kahin aur tha. Tumhe lagi toh nahi? Zyada dard toh nahi hua?" Before she could actually reply, he hugged her tightly. "Maine hamesha tumhe chot hi pahunchayi hai na? Pata nahi tum mujhse pyaar bhi kyun karti ho?"
She smiled as she felt his hands envelope her in his embrace. Drawing a deep breath, she inhaled his very essence; a heady combination of dampened earth, open fields and his very own masculinity. Pregnancy hormones were already working, she thought and suppressed a chuckle. She wiggled out of his embrace and smiled at him as she cupped his face in her tiny hands. "Omkara ji, aapko pyaar karne ke liye humein kisi wajah ki zaroorat nahi hai. Hum bass yeh jaante hain ke hum aapse bahut zyada pyaar karte hain, aur humein aap par poora bharosa hai..." she raised herself on her toes and kissed his forehead. Then leaning back, she whispered, "Aur rahi baat iski," she said as she took his hand in hers and placed it on her flat belly, "Humein poora bharosa hai ke aap duniya ke sabse accha papa banke dikhayenge." He seemed to be at loss, again. "Tumhe kaise pata chala..."
She wound her hands around his waist and leaned against his chest, closing her eyes while listening to his heartbeat. "Omkara ji, aapko samajhne ke liye humein na kabhi lafzon ki zaroorat padi hai, aur na hi padegi. Hum aapko jaante hain, samajhte hain; aur ab, shaadi ke itne mahine baad, hum aapko aapse zyada jaante hain." Pausing for a moment, she drew a long breath, and caressing his back in a soothing manner, she continued, "Hum jaante hain ke aapko darr lag raha hai; ke kahin aap apne bachpan ke saaye hamare bacche par aane dein. Lekin hum ek baat kahein?" He hummed, asking her to go on. "Omkara ji, agar aap apne parivaar se, humse itna pyaar kar sakte hain, toh aap yeh kaise soch sakte hain ke aap ek acche pitah banenge ya nahi?"
After a meaningful pause, she heard him ask, "Lekin agar, aage jaa kar hamare bacche ne muhjse pyaar nahi kiya toh?" She knew that it was his irrational fear speaking, a reflection of what his own past was; a mirror of his own relationship with his father. "Omkara ji, aage ka kisne dekha hai? Aap yeh sab kyun soch rahein hain? Aur aap chinta mat kijiye. Aisa kuch bhi nahi hoga. Hum dono milke hamare bacche se bahut zyada pyaar karenge..." And then, after moment's pause, she said, "Aur agar woh zyada sharartein kare, toh hum usey daantenge bhi..." Omkara pulled away with a slight frown, "Nahi. Tum mere baby ko nahi daantogi. Jo bhi samjhaana hai, pyaar se samjhaayenge..." She pouted in mock anger, "Lo, baccha abhi aaya nahi, aur mummy ko akela chodke, papa ne tarafdaari karna bhi shuru kar diya..."
With a laugh, he pulled her cheeks and kissed her forehead in the most adorable way. "Papa toh baby ki side hi lenge..." Her lips formed an O, but before she could say anything, he pulled her closer, and whispered, "Lekin tumhara pati, tumhare Omkara ji toh sirf tumhare side pe hain..." She grinned and hugged him, hiding her face in his chest.
After a prolonged and a contented silence, he spoke. "So, Gauri Kumari Sharma se Mummy Kumari Sharma?" he asked. She shook her head, "Mummy Kumari Sharma nahi... Mummy Singh Oberoi!" He grinned, "Aur main, Papa Singh Oberoi!" She noted the pride in the tone of his voice. She shook her head again, "Papa Singh Oberoi nahi..." He frowned in confusion. She looked into his eyes and said, "Duniya-Ke-Sabse-Acche-Papa Singh Oberoi..."
Tears welled up in his eyes at the utmost faith in her words. Placing a soft kiss on her lips, he pulled her into a hug. While they both rejoiced in the news about the coming of their little one, he looked up at the dark night sky again and smiled. He not only had a wonderful life-partner, who loved him beyond limits and conditions, but he now had a baby; his own baby; his own flesh and blood; a part of his own; a part of him and a part of his wife; a symbol of their love, faith and hope in each other; a gift from the sacred union of their marriage. What more could he ask for? "I love you..." he whispered at her temple, and closed his eyes with a smile when he heard her mumble a reply to it while hiding her face in his chest. He was now sure that somewhere, even if his steps faltered while embarking this new chapter of life, his wife would always be there by his side to hold him and guide him by his hand. He smiled, savouring that overwhelming joy, as if his chest would explode. Now, he couldn't wait to hold his child in his arms; he couldn't wait to cradle his baby; he couldn't wait to be a Dad!
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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