credit to the image maker
51. The New Mother
Geet had to wait till the next morning to see Shona. She would never forget the first time she saw her baby and the emotions it invoked in her. Though she tried to pester everyone, as much as her weakened state allowed, to let her meet her baby the doctors were not forthcoming. Even the report she o about the baby was so vague, no one seemed to understand her anxiety. They all said she was beautiful and coping fine. Maan had hesitated before adding she was tiny. So she was greatly relieved when the doctors finally permitted her to visit the baby. While they waited in the NICU for Shona to be prepared for their meeting, Maan bend down to her eye level and said holding her hand in his with gentle caressing movement, "Geet 'Shona looks very fragile and has wires attached to her. But she is doing fine. Don't be scared , okay."
Scared! How could she be scared of meeting her daughter. Then the curtain was moved and she saw Shona. She was filled with wonderment...
"Shona..." she whispered in awe. This was Shona, the tiny one she carried inside her body, her child. The one who never failed to express her pleasure on having her father near, the one who loved to dance in her tummy. But she looked so still now...her eyes moved beyond the baby to the wires that connected her to various machines...so many, tubes and wires attached to her tiny body giving out the beeps and buzzes. She wanted to reach out and grab back her baby from the clutches of those machines...but she was scared even to touch her daughter in case it hurt her.
"Maan..."
"It's okay , Mishty. Shona is better now..."
"But why is she poked with so many things... ," her voice broke. She couldn't stand it, her delicate child poked with needles ...
"Sh!! Sh!! Do you want Shona to think her mother was sad to see her?" he admonished in gentle voice.
"No!" she turned back to their child and saw her moving restlessly.
The nurse came to them from beyond the curtain. "Your daughter can hear you, Mrs. Khurana and wondering why she can't feel you," the kind looking nurse said. "Don't you want to feel her?"
"Can I?" Geet asked in desperate hope.
"OF course." She moved towards the bed where Shona was lying. "Don't worry Mrs. Khurana, your daughter was in such a hurry to meet you all, she became tired. We are here to help her gain her strength and see that she doesn't develop any infections. She needs care to adjust herself from being out of her mother's womb." The nurse carefully positioned Shona in Geet's hands.
All the anxieties and frightening thoughts dissolved like magic the moment she held her baby to be replaced with determination and protectiveness. I won't let anything happen to you Shona, she pledged, as she felt a tug of love so powerful that she could feel the sting of tears in her eyes. Maan's hand cupped hers which covered the baby's head adding his strength to hers in silent comfort.
Being the mother to a new born made one lose her inhibitions, Geet thought as she watched Maan entering their bedroom while she was feeding Shona. It would have been so hard to imagine her exposing her breasts before Maan a few months back. Still she had felt embarrassed the first time he had walked in on them while she was feeding Shona.
Shona and she were still new to the process and her daughter, who it seemed had the reverse of her father's patience when her needs were concerned, made a ruckus when she was hungry. Uncaring about everything but the need to calm her she had cuddled her close to feed her. When she was not able to latch properly another round of complaint started, finally they managed to find the right way. Not long into feeding Geet started to feel her back ache, for she had forgotten to place the supporting pillow at the back. She kept herself still enduring the pain rather than adjust herself to a more favourable position which may break the peace that settled over the little one who was busy feeding. Caressing her daughter while she complained about the uproar she created, "Little girls are supposed to be sweet and patient Shona..." she smiled. "But who am I complaining to? You are too grumpy."
She heard the door to the suite opening and assuming it to be Dadi she sighed in relief. With her back to the door she didn't notice it was Maan.
"Dadima, can you please place a pillow behind my back." She leaned forward slightly. "I am not allowed to move. Aap ki parpothi hai na bilkul aapke pothe par gayi he! Kaam mein koi bhi lapravahi bardast nahi kar sakte... yeh bhi nahi maan ne ko thaiyyar nahi ki yeh sab mere liye bhi naya hi hei."Geet made a cute pouting face.
She felt the pillow on her back and adjusted herself with a sigh of relief. She turned to smile her thanks and found Maan , looking at her indulgently.
"Why are you grumbling about my sweet angel?" Maan frowned.
Geet was fazed, wondering how to react. She wanted to cover herself, but didn't want to give the impression that she rejected his presence. She looked down at the baby suckling peacefully at her breast. A slow blush crept up her cheeks, making Maan grin. He tilted her face up with a finger under her chin and brushed her forehead with his lips, "You look beautiful with your blush." He placed his hand over hers which supported the baby's head. "In fact I have seen nothing more enchanting and serene than you with Shona. Thank you for our daughter..."
Now, after being back in KM most of her routine was determined by Shona's activities. Not to mention Maan's too whenever he was at home. It was amazing how the Great MSK adapted himself to being Shona's papa, insisting on learning to change her and burp her .He even woke up at night to hold Shona while Geet prepared herself to feed the baby. If anyone could calm Shona fast, other than Geet, it was her papa. It was like Shona could remember her papa from the times he talked to her and played with her when she was still in her mother's womb.
She looked up to see Maan standing before her, dressed to leave to the office. Maan ran a finger along the baby's cheek. Shona took a moment to leave her mother's breast to frown at the person who dared to interrupt her and then resumed suckling. Maan chuckled, "Sorry baba.." he said touching her crown. His eyes shifted to Geet . The memory of the time when he had asked her to follow the tradition of kissing him bye came to her mind. After the baby that had got lost somewhere...
He cupped her cheek in a gesture filled with tenderness, "Shall I take leave?"
She nodded her head, too overwhelmed by the rush of love she felt for this man.
As he was about to move away, she held him back by holding his hand. Holding the baby secure in the crook of her left arm she pulled his face down towards hers with her right hand. "Bye Maan. We love you." She whispered against the corner of his mouth.
i know..i know rather small update after a long wait... but was not getting the feel of SR maaneet😕😭...yet since i promised and u gals were missing them...😊...here it is before the weekend begins😉...
Purvi i am still waiting for the chocolate😭...
PMs and editing 2morrow🥱
CID
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
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