PART 182
The mothers gathered with flowers and prepared a sweet welcome for the little one, his deserved welcome into the loving home he had.
"Careful Maanvi, after this, you will immediately go and take a rest." Kraanti touched a flower to her head as Maanvi took her blessings.
The little boy seemed unfazed by all the attention around him, but the small smile on his peaceful told everyone how excited he was
to be in the world, and as if he'd known everyone already, all along.
Bharat carried him slowly in his arms upstairs as Maanvi and her sisters walked along.
"Ram," Kraanti said, walking up to him and placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I know, as happy as you are, you are missing Siya and your children today. And it's normal to feel so."
Ram looked down, trying to hide his glassy eyes.
"She will be back soon, but meanwhile, you have to be the best you can be to your brothers and sisters. They look up to you Ram. You are their pillar of guidance. Anything you say or do, they will follow."
"So set an example for them, and make this house the best home that you can, for Siya to come back to."
Ram looked up at her slowly sporting a smile; his unique, strong smile.
"I will do my best Maa,".
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A few months later >>
"My jaan, my dear, please dont trouble Mama anymore!"
Siya held the spoon in front of Lavyas face, but his naughty little self refused to budge as he kept dogding every attempt of hers at trying to get a small ounce of food in.
"I see the little one has become very naughty since the rice ceremony." Sir kept Siyas medicines on her tables, lovingly staring at the comedic scene.
"I swear," she sighed. "Ever since hes tasted solid food, its like he just wants to walk away from it."
"And look at Kshitija," Siya tickled the sleeping girls hair. "So quiet and calm, and loves anything I give her more than anything else now."
"So I guess they are different in a way, atleast, " he chuckled.
"Yes, thankfully so. I really want them to grow up and be their own people. They should be like the branches of a tree, going their own ways, but bounded to one root."
Lavya seemed to make sense of her words, as he fell quiet and began to stare at her with wide eyes.
Siya took the opportunity, slowly feeding him his bite as he chewed on.
The two couldnt help but laugh at his innocence, and pray it remained the same forever.
"Hows your blog going Siya?"
"Its good Sir," she smiled. "I feel very happy having busied myself with these projects. And Im so glad the outlook of the people back home is changing, I can see it through the responses and questions on the blog."
"So, are you ready to return soon, Siya?"
Siya fell silent.
Shed been asking herself the same question, day after day, night after night. But it was the first time in her life, when her mind gave her not an answer, but rather another set of questions to confuse herself with.
"I dont think Im ready, Sir. To meet Ram, to meet my family, I always am. But with Lavya and Kshitija, Im scared. Something has died down, only because I walked away. But what is the guarantee that it wont come all rushing back? And if I am there with them, even with Maanvis son, I cant let any ounce of it come on them."
"I think I need more time Sir."
He nodded, slowly.
"I understand you, my child. But just remember, if at any point you change your mind, let me know immediately. Ill have everything ready for you."
Siya nodded, turning to Lavya, who had begun to play his own games again.
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"Mila, you havent taken your pain relief medicine yet."
Lakshman handed her the pills as Mila gutted them, unwillingly.
"They dont really seem to work anymore," she chuckled. "He or she is clearly planning to destory my nights sleep."
Lakshman let out a smile.
"Dont worry, Ill make sure they dont disturb their mother a lot, atleast not as much as their father will."
"You dont disturb me, Lakshman."
He sighed, switching the lights to the room off.
"Sometimes I feel like I do, but youre too nice to tell me."
Urmila looked at him deeply, forming her words.
"Maybe I cant express always what I feel in words, but my actions have never told you that you disturb me, and I know that for sure."
"Maybe youll understand.." she continued, "what I actually feel for you when Im not around."
Lakshman jerked up at her words.
"What do you mean Mila?"
"I.. Nothing.. but, not all mothers make it out of childbirth, Laksh. I might not make it. I have complications, and you and I both know that well."
Red rushed to Lakshmans eyes, and his throat croacked at the lack of words.
"Mila," he breathed. "Do you even hear what you are saying?"
"If you want to punish me Mila, then punish me. But please, what youre saying.. its death to me. Id rather die than ever think about it, Mila."
She clasped his hand in hers, feeling his cold, scared flesh against her own.
"I didnt mean it in that way Laksh, I.." she whispered, touching her forehead to his.
"I didnt want to hurt you Laksh, but its something somewhere deep down, you have to be prepared for, right?"
"No, I cant, I cant Mila.."
"I pray that you wont have to but... "
Mila stopped mid sentence as her hand went to her stomach.
"Mila.. are you okay?!"
Her eyes pained, her vision began to double as she tried to get words out.
"I.. its hurting a lot Laksh."
Lakshman ran up from his place as his propped a pillow behind her.
"Wait, Ill call an ambulance right now.."
He stumbled and grasped his way to the phone, his words jumbled under the stress. With one hand he clasped her tightly, and with the other caressed her hair as they waited.
"Is everything alright?"
Bharat hurried in with his brothers, hearing the sounds of distress.
"No, I dont know.. shes saying shes feeling a pain unlike never before. And I think her water just broke."
Suddenly, a man came into the room on Bharats call.
"Hi, Im Mrs. Maanvis gynaecologist, Id come on a routine check up of hers. Let me check her please."
Lakshman breathed a sigh of relief as the doctor checked her vitals.
The doctor removed his coat, turning around with a worried expression.
"I see signs of vaginal bleeding. The hospital will take some to reach, but she needs to be admitted immediately."
As they spoke, the paramedics rushed up, the worried mothers following behind.
The doctor ran a set of instructions to them as they put her into the ambulance, Lakshman holding her all the way.
"The doctors are here Mila, its going to be alright. Just keep taking deep breaths like he says, and youll be admitted soon."
"Its paining a lot, Laksh."
"I know, Im so sorry my love," he ran his fingers over her hair, trying to hold back his own fearful tears. "But Im right here, nothing will happen to you. Ill make sure the best doctors work with you. This pain will go away soon Mila, soon."
Every second on the road felt like an hour, but they managed to reach the hospital as the surgeons began to rush her in.
Lakshman followed behind, when a nurse stopped him.
"Im sorry Sir, but its a highly sensitive procedure, so the senior surgeons have asked you to remain outside."
"But shes my wife! She needs me now!" Lakshman tried to push his way in, when Ram took him away slowly.
"Bhaiyya, theyre not letting me in!" His voice broke, and it pained Ram to see his pillar so helpless.
"I know, but its their job, Laksh. Im sure theyre doing their best. They want to maintain maximum safety, right? Dont worry theyll call you in soon."
"Bhaiyya.."
Lakshman took a deep breath, bursting into tears the very next moment in his brothers arms.
"I..I dont need anything else, Bhaiyya. She can scold me, not talk to me ever again.. but I just want her back, safe and sound Bhaiyya. I just want her back."
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<3
P.s. Im keeping my promise!
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