Tu hi Meri Zindagi last part pg 45 - Page 32

Part Twenty- Three

It was one am. Khanak had slept barely an hour when her phone rang. She frowned who could be calling her this late. Maybe it was one of Shantanu' friends. He was probably sleeping so did not pick up.

She was surprised whose voice she heard on the other end.

"Khanak come outside,"

"Shantanu aap? Don't tell me you drove home in this heavy rain," she exclaimed.

" Relax yaar. I wanted to surprise you," he hissed.

" Accha theek hai. Main bus abhi aayi," she muttered.

She had fallen asleep wearing her salwaar kameez. She realized it was better that she had not changed. It was still pouring. Shantanu was leaning against the car getting drenched.

" Chalo andar. You'll get sick," she admonished him.

She started to walk back towards the doorway but he grabbed her wrist.

She stopped short and turned slowly towards him.

He pulled her close. ( Imagine Zara Zara playing)

" I have missed you," he whispered.

She tried to refrain coming closer.

"Shantanu I am mad at you," she hissed.

" Ab kya hogaya meri pyaari biwi?," he inquired.

She crossed her arms and turned her head away.

" Khanak tell me what is bothering you?," he asked softly.

"What if something happened to you on the way?," she exclaimed.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her close again.

" I am right here Khanak. I will never go away from you purposely," he promised.

She looked at him solemnly before wrapping her arms around him. He wrapped his arms around her slowly because he was stunned at her reaction.

She pulled back and looked up into his eyes.

" I am sorry I just had a nightmare and I haven't slept all night," she stammered.

He held onto her.

"Khanak I just wanted to surprise you," he said soothingly.

" I am sorry I should be asking about your trip," she said.

The rain continued to pour down. Shantanu leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"I brought some things for us and Akansha. I'll take it out of the car tomorrow. They will get drenched in this rain," he said.

"Then let's go inside before we both get sick. Our anniversary is in few days, we cannot afford to get sick," she insisted.

He pulled her close again.

"Khanak I want us to have a baby," he said.

She looked at him surprised.

"Yes Khanak I am ready if you are," he said.

She simply went back into his arms and hugged him tightly. They shared a rain dance before they finally headed towards the doorway.

They tried not to giggle as they squeezed out their clothes and hair, and wiped their shoes on the door mat before going up the stairs to their room for the rest of the night.

They had a low key celebration for their anniversary this year as Akshay again had to leave for a trip the next day. Khanak was in the kitchen cooking. She was almost done with everything when suddenly she felt unwell.

She asked Harilal to finish up and headed towards the staircase. Shantanu was headed downstairs when he noticed Khanak starting to come up stairs.

"Khanak tum theek to ho na?," he asked noticing her expression.

She suddenly felt dizzy and then suddenly she was going down. She fell down the last three steps. Shantanu raced down to be by her side.

"Khanak!," he yelled. He lifted her up in his arms and carried her to the couch.

He quickly called for Madhavi and Khushboo.

A hour later Khanak regained consciousness as the doctor was examining her.

Shantanu was pacing outside of their room. Khushboo was consoling him as she held Akansha in her arms. Madhavi tried to remain strong for everyone. Sunil arrived as they were waiting for the doctor to finish the examination.

"Did the doctor say anything yet?," Sunil inquired.

"Nahin Sunil abhi intezar kare hain hum sub," Madhavi said.

( No Sunil we all are just waiting.)

The doctor came out of the room. Shantanu stopped pacing.

"Mr. Shantanu Khandlewal congratulations you are going to be a father. However Khanak needs to be on bedrest a few days and next week I want an ultrasound to make sure the unborn baby is doing well."

Shantanu was elated, as was the rest of the family.

" But doctor she fell down, will the baby be all right?," Shantanu inquired.

" We are going to do an in depth examination on Monday along with the ultrasound. If Khanak feels worse before then you all should bring her to the hospital," the doctor instructed them.

" Don't worry doctor we all will take good care of Khanak," Sunil stated firmly.

Shantanu went into the room to see Khanak crying.

"Khanak why are you crying? We have good news," Shantanu said as he sat down beside her.

She grasped his hands.

" What if when I fell something happened to the baby. I am so scared!," she cried.

Shantanu rubbed her back soothingly.

" We are going to see the doctor on Monday. Everything will be fine Khanak. I am with you," he said as he hugged her.

Sunil called his mother and arranged her ticket to come back to Mumbai. It would be a family effort to support Khanak. Everyone prayed in the puja room that weekend. On Monday Khanak took blessings from Daadi and Madhavi. She went into the puja room to pray. Shantanu was beside her when she opened her eyes.

They held hands as they walked into the clinic. They hoped everything would work itself out.

The doctor put the gel on Khanak's stomach. She felt ticklish but didn't really show it as she was tensed.

"Just relax Khanak," Shantanu said as he held her hand.

" There we are. I see one there and oh what is this here?," the doctor exclaimed.

"What happened?," the couple exclaimed together.

"It's hard to tell but there may be a second baby hiding there," the doctor exclaimed.

" Can you be sure?," Shantanu asked.

" No it's quite early still. Maybe it's a shadow," the doctor said.

After a few moments the doctor confirmed that a strong heartbeat was there.

" So was the other part of that picture a shadow?," Shantanu said as he held Khanak's hand.

" We'll keep checking up on that Mr. Khandlewal. Khanak needs to eat well and not take too much stress. The baby and your wife are fine," the doctor assured him.

Shantanu and Khanak exchanged smiles.

That evening Shantanu was sitting on their bed staring lost in thought at the stuffed bear he had bought back from his trip before their anniversary.

Khanak walked in and sat down at her dresser to remove her jewelry. She flashed a smile in his direction.

When she got up to get her nightgown from the cupboard, Shantanu came up and wrapped his arms around her waist.

" I cannot wait to see you getting bigger and glowing more each day," he whispered.

She leaned back against him.

" Will you still love me when I get bigger?," she asked jokingly.

He turned her around to face him.

" I will always love you Khanak. Anyways the bigger you get the more there will be more me to love," he hissed.

She blushed as they stood together cherishing the happiness in their lives now.