Thank you all for the lovely comments you have posted after reading the previous chapter. I am really sorry for not being able to reply to them individually just a bit busy but did not want to stall the final update any further. I hope you people like this last and final chapter of this SS. Thanks for being there and supporting this SS. You guys are great and thanks again
CHAPTER 17
A couple of days passed and the environment was definitely better than before. She was not throwing daggers at him but neither had she spoken with him comfortably. She was taking out her old medical files and handed them over to Raman who had an appointment fixed up or rather a follow up after their first visit with the gynecologist. The kids were sent to school with the driver and the family was getting back in a day or two. Raman wanted to set everything right before their house gets crowded. They were little late for the appointment but the journey was relatively a silent one. Both waited inside the doctor's cabin, and he locked his hands with hers. May be it was her nervousness or what she wanted his hands to comfort her.
The doctor entered her consulting room and welcomed them with a warm smile and the tension on their faces were tightening up. After comparing the old and new reports she looked up, smiled at them again and mouthed "congratulations". And spoke further
"Everything looks fine, how about we go about the treatment in another couple of weeks and she should be on time. I believe you are aware that your help will also be required in this Mr. Bhalla". A hesitant Ishitha spoke up "Are you sure we will be successful?" and the Doctor assured her. She was still nervous but both walked out of the hospital with some confidence and she did not leave his hand this time. He drove down towards a park and ushered her to get down but she got down and instead sat on the rear seat. He could do nothing but follow suit. In no time she leaned her head against his arms. Her voice was pretty low that even he had to strain his ears "Never in my life, I thought I will be able to experience this feeling. Raman, I was angry with you when you suggested for surrogacy and could not get in terms with the fact that I had to share our kid with someone else. I was angry at myself more than you but I could not help but vent it out all on you. You were patient every time and I needed someone as young as Adi to talk to me. You know Raman, I thought I will never be able to share that beautiful moment with you. My heart pounded when Adi entered my cabin all alone saying he is trouble and took me to his school. All he did was drag me to a shady bench, sat next to me and cried. He cried about how he missed carrying his sister, being possessive with her about his parents, compete with his sister for tiny little things and how he missed all the little moments in these 11 years. How he wanted to accept me as his mother but was scared of losing this all again to our fight. I promised to set things straight for him which was to mend our fight then came his little wish but a big one for me "Mom, I really want a tiny sister to play with and cherish the moments which I could not enjoy with Ruhi". I looked at him skeptically when he called me mom. A boy who refused to even acknowledge my presence accepted me as his mom. It was then my resolve to make his wish come true grew stronger. He also told me how he had overheard our fight. My poor kid again assured me that he did not want a sister so that I will agree but he genuinely wanted one to be with. It was then I realized about the need for us to talk. That followed our talk and then the first visit to the doctor who suggested IVF (InVitro fertilization) instead of surrogacy. This time I would not need to share our kid with anyone, it will be ours Raman and looked up at him for the first time in to his eyes with the same love and passion after days. Tears glistened through her eyes and she held on to him tight now. He did not move his hands to shush her or wipe her tears but let her cry her anguish out to make sure she felt better. He felt her calming down and did the most spontaneous thing of kissing her eyes as though taking away all the remaining pain from her heart which clouded their lives over the past one week. Both reached home and definitely the kids felt the visible change in their parent's relationship. They thanked god for letting things to settle down.
As advised by the doctor, both found themselves again waiting at the consultation cabin with the doctor briefing about the procedure from the beginning and also explained the success and failure factors along. She felt nervous again but then having near him made her forget all this. The initial step of withdrawing the egg and sperms with his help was carried out. Both made repeated trips to the hospital as per the advice they received from the doctor. Meanwhile, the Bhallas were back from native along with the Iyers who had accompanied them. The elders were informed about how Adi had changed for the good and also their decision to have a baby by IVF. It took a lot from Ishitha's side to explain things to Amma and Mrs. Bhalla. Both were supportive of the decision and helped her in whatever way she required. It was the day they received the call from doctor again which was more like a make or break but both decided to face the situation together. The technique was carried out and there she was asked to remain under observation for a couple of days. They again visited the doctor in a couple of weeks who gave them the good news that the transfer was successful and they were expecting a beautiful baby in 9 months and the embryo was couple of weeks old inside her uterus. The happy parents who thought this was distant dream in their life did not shy to even day dream of carrying their tiny little bud in their hands in few months' time. The happiest person was Adi in all this. He had thanked his mom separately for paying heed to his huge wish. Bhallas and Iyers celebrated this news and pampered her. She did crave for unusual food, even the smell of cooked rice troubled her but he stood with her and encouraged all her crazy acts. He wanted her to enjoy this 9 months and relish her motherhood to the fullest. He was there for her while she suffered from morning sickness, to massage her legs when she complained of pains, carrying buckets of ice creams and in full filling her tiniest of craving.
Six months flew in a jiffy and arrangements for her godbharai were carried out in full swing. How could he be too good with her? It was one such morning she was tying her saree while he sat on the bed watching her struggle with a saree huffing and puffing. He then shouted looking at his laptop screen "Madrasan, har function mein yeh than lapetna zaroori hai kya?. She was struggling in spite of the Air conditioner. His taunts were killing her today and she dropped the edge of the saree she was holding on to and glared at him with all her might. He controlled laughing and stood in front of her and passed on the edges of the saree to her while he kneeled in front of her holding the bottom. He kept creasing the pleat as she made them and looked up at her asking her to tuck it in. He held on to her bulged stomach and stood up as though applying pressure on but did not apply even a tiny little force and kissed her stomach after moving the pallu which was covering by then her eyes were tightly shut which failed to open even after he was done with his little romance. He went close to her ears and whispered "Jhansi ki Rani hogaya, abh bahaar chalein pura khandan wahaan bahaar kada hai?" The function got over and the wait continued.
She was in her last week and it was a busy weekday morning. He had few meetings which had to be handled and all of a sudden she tugged his shirt while he was sorting out his files on the bed. He was casual about it initially but later on turned to find her struggling to breathe while her hand tightly holding on to her stomach crumpling the dress she was wearing. She managed to reach downstairs with his help and he rushed to the hospital with her and their parents tagging behind. He entered the labor room with her and stayed with her just mouthing she would be fine. The doctor informed him that a C section was required as there could be some complications and would like to avoid all of them considering the patients history. He signed all the forms and the doctor started on the procedure. In some time the doctor placed a tiny little girl in his hands neatly wrapped. While Ishitha was getting dressed, he walked out showing his new born angel to all. All cooed with her for a few minutes and he entered the room with the baby in his hands delicately and saw her sitting up anxiously to get a glimpse of their daughter. He placed her carefully on Ishitha's lap. She tried taking in the miracle that lay on her lap and then turned towards him. What shall we name her Raman? She is ours Ishitha and it should be the best he beamed proudly. They both thought for a while when the doors of the room flung open only to find Adi and Ruhi entering excited to take a look at their new born sister. It was at that moment when Raman spoke "Raika, will be the name" and she replied "Born out of request and looked at Adi". The boy couldn't erase the smile of his face when he thought about the day when he first addressed his step mother as mom, the person whom he loathed is and will be the reason behind his happier present and a merrier future. Ruhi couldn't be happier as she had someone and indeed won the challenge which she had with shravan and spoke about it nonstop to both her parents. It was Ruhi who spoke the first after playing with the baby for few minutes "What are we going to name her Ishima ?", Raman made her sit on his lap and said we will call her Raika. And the little girl called out for her sister a couple of times when Adi asked what does it mean? Ishitha carried the crying baby in her hands and placed her against her chest and replied "Born out of request" and he couldn't help but thank her again.
The boy was indeed happy and made a silent promise that he will stand by her as the prefect elder brother to protect her pamper her and fight with her but cherish all of them which he lost with Ruhi. For the first time he thanked the gods for agreeing with his biological mother's and entering the Bhallas house all over again after 6 years. He was given a divine chance to experience love warmth and comfort in the name of family which all came as a disguise in the form of his mother "Ishitha Raman Bhalla"
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