The birth of a warrior

Devasena sat with a basket of flowers in her hand and was threading each flower into the garland with a smile. She was making this garland for mother Gauri as she would do everyday praying for her child's health and prosperity when suddenly she jerked with a sharp pain in the womb. She felt as if something had ruptured. It was the water  that covered her child
"Baahu" she screamed out to him in the loudest voice she could.

She almost stumbled while getting up and going into the cottage, which was a few paces away. She tried to walk her way to the cottage when Baahubali held her. He was almost going to chastise her for not calling him immediately and trying to do all this alone when his eyes met hers.

Her eyes had a spark of courage and confidence yet were filled with innocence. "Hold my hand" he said. She clutched his hand and held them tight while he supported her. As they made way into the cottage, a few women had arrived with a few towels and a tumbler of warm water. He left her as she lay down on the bed.

She winced in pain, he closed his eyes and clenched his fists. "Baahu, I need you" she said in a weak voice. Wiping the beads of sweat on her temples and said, *"I have fought many gruesome battles, and endured a number of challenges; but I lack the courage to see you in such excruciating pain"

He pondered over his presence in her most needed hour. He sat by her side and rubbing her hands said, "Courage and endurance runs through your veins. You are a warrior and won't give up. In your womb is the warrior of Mahishmathi. You are giving birth to a warrior. It will pain."
She gave a faint smile and bit her lip controlling the pain.

She yelled in pain and pushed to the utmost of her capacity. For a moment, all that was heard was her faint  heartbeat and her slow breaths.
All was still when the tense atmosphere was broken with the crying of the child.

It was that very moment when the clouds started to shower the first rains of the year. Baahubali looked at his son and looked outside at that rain that had freshened the atmosphere.
His son had brought a wave of happiness in his life just as the rains did to the crops in the farms.

He turned to Devasena who was half conscious and gave him a faint yet convincing smile which gave Baahubali a feeling that he had experienced never before.

"Māmā!" he called.
Katappa entered the room with mixed emotions, which burst into a proud smile as he was the first to hold the child.

He held the infant high in the air and looked towards the couple with a sense of belonging and bliss.

She looked at Baahu and whispered "Mahendra" when he agreed with a smile.

"Mahendra Baahubali !"
Katappa held the infant in his hands and his eyes filled with tears looking at the child's smile. With one smile, all of his tension had vanished.

Katappa handed over Mahendra to his proud father who was at loss of words at how satisfied he felt at this moment.

Baahubali personally thanked all the ladies who helped them, asking for blessings to give the child.
In tears, they held him in their hands and looked at him affectionately.

One by one, people left their room leaving the couple with their newborn in the room

He held Devasena by her shoulder giving her support while he held his son in the other.
"My world is complete" he said in a satisfactory smile looking at them. As he handed over the infant to Devasena, she exclaimed over the infant having her eyes and having his nose. 
He admired the two of them, pondering for a minute. "Just if Maa were here" he said while wiping off a tear in his eye.