This one's a LONGEST chapter I ever wrote, so brace yourselves for a Saturday night/Sunday morning read!🥰
Also, although I try to ensure I don't miss any medical terms, I am no doctor, so apologies if I miss something. And hope this chapter lives up to your expectations, who all were waiting for twins' birth flashback ❤
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Flashback: January 2020
On their doctor's advice, Khushi was admitted in the hospital 2 days before her expected delivery date to monitor her better. But on the very next day, team of doctors had a discussion with Arnav and Khushi.
"The amniotic fluid level in Mrs. Raizada's uterus is dropping and we are afraid, babies might get suffocated inside if we delay any further, not to mention more risk for mother too. We suggest going for a cesarean birth." they informed the couple and without a second thought both agreed for C-section. Sure it meant anesthesia, injection in the spine, stiches on her stomach and probably lifelong back-ache! But her focus was only on bringing those 2 lives safely in this world, for whom she had fought till now!
She soon was wheeled in O.T. while Arnav along with Akash, Mamiji, and Khushi's family were waiting outside. Payal had stayed home with Nani, Piya and Kavish. Once again in his life, Arnav realized that not everything was in his control, that he couldn't control his destiny because right now his khushi and his babies were on the mercy of destiny!
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Worth fighting for
After 2 hours of waiting, Arnav was informed of the arrival of the first baby, and asked if he would like to come inside to be with them now. The worried doctor then informed him it is a baby girl, but she is too weak, weighed barely 4 pounds, and needed to be put in N.I.C.U. for further observation. Arnav stood there watching helplessly as they showed the baby to him, and then took her away. But Arnav knew in his heart that nothing would happen to his baby! And he decided to be strong for Khushi for now, even if he was falling weak every second, for his baby!
Khushi was sedated, under anesthesia waist down but the nurse held the pale baby in front of her, and she weakly smiled.
After another 10 minutes, a healthy baby girl, weighing 6 pounds, made her presence known with her loud cries! A huge round of congratulations and joyful cheers echoed outside OT hearing the cries. However, when they were told about one baby being kept in NICU, earlier happiness was replaced with worry.
The nurse showed this pink-red crying youngest arnav-khushi-kid to khushi and arnav who was by her side by then, and the baby's cries stopped at once. She opened her hazel eyes for her parents, leaving them spellbound. It was then that khushi finally let her tired eyes drop to some much-needed rest...
After some time, Khushi woke up as her anesthesia wore off. Arnav saw that a visibly tired Khushi was trying to sit. He quickly supported her back, putting pillows on so she could sit properly. He noticed that she was looking for her babies.
"Congratulations sweetheart, we have two beautiful daughters now!" he whispered, kissing her forehead and she tried to smile. But her eyes kept looking for the babies!
"Hum jante the, beti hogi par Devi maiyya ne humein duguni khushi de di (I knew we'll have a girl but Devi Maiyya gave us twice the happiness)." she beamed with motherly pride, and then asked him, "Have you seen them? I didn't even properly look at them. Where are they?" hearing that he panicked. How to tell her about the other baby? She will worry for sure, and her current state was not to take any tension!
"Hey! calm down, they will be here soon, they are being cleaned and checked. I haven't seen them properly either." He said. Although their babies' angelic faces were already imprinted on his mind, he hadn't held them yet!
Soon, the door opened with a nurse coming in,
"Aap uth gayi(you're up)? Very good! Are we ready for the first feed? She is hungry!" nurse came with a crying baby (Aru) and Khushi extended her arms to take her baby girl!
And as Arnav looked at that tiny bundle in Khushi's arms, he realized how wrong was once upon a time to think he didn't believe in love. This tiny human had made him fall in love, just by being there, just by coming in this world, safely!
The baby continued crying as Khushi held her close, her tiny face showed so much distress that Khushi felt her heart break. Khushi adjusted her baby closer to her chest and the moment the baby instinctively latched on, and kept her tiny hand near Khushi's heart, Khushi's eyes filled automatically.
Arnav panicked, "Are you in pain?" Khushi shook her head in negative. How was she going to explain this feeling in words? Even if for the second time in her life, this moment to hold her baby in her arms, the moment for which she had fought, was worth it!
"Where is our other baby?" she asked soon and Arnav had to tell her. As expected she panicked. the only thing that kept her from bolting to the door of N.I.C.U. was this other baby in her arms! This baby too kept crying a lot, probably because her sister (Pari) was not there, the person who was with her for 9 months in that warm home.
Hamari Pari
After a painful wait of 2 days, the other baby (Pari) was discharged on the 3rd day and as finally Khushi held this missing part of her heart, the emotional stress caught on her and she cried openly clutching her baby,
"hamari Pari (my angel)" Khushi whispered through her tears and kissed the baby's head, her arms and even her feet! After all, she got to hold her baby after 2 long days, only she knew how she survived them! She was NEVER going to let any of her babies away from her now, NEVER! That day, other baby(Aru) too didn't cry much. After all, her womb partner was near her!
But most overwhelmed apart from Khushi, was Arnav! He had been keeping a constant watch on Pari and had prayed and prayed for safety of this child of his. And the moment she was handed to them, and Arnav kissed the baby's forehead to reassure himself of her really being there, he fell in love for the 4th time in his life! Just when he had thought his heart was full of Khushi and Kavish's love, these 2 angels managed to prove their father wrong and make his heart expand to create a huge space for themselves in there!
"Thank you so much Khushi, for not giving up, for having them!" he said as Pari slept in Khushi's protective arms. He indeed owed her a lifetime thanks for these bundles of joy!
Soon, AR made a press release of birth of ASR's twin daughters and media went berserk with bugging everyone associated with AR or Raizadas for an exclusive photo!
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Chiku's sisters!
Both babies and khushi were in the hospital for a week total and during this time, Kavish kept visiting either with Payal or Arnav or with someone. Khushi always looked forward to his visits, after all her son wasn't that big to stay away from his mamma for so long! Neither was she used to keeping him away for so long! Half of her mind was always with him, and she kept instructing Arnav and everyone of Chiku's meal timings, sleep timings and so on.
The first time Chiku saw his sisters sleeping in a cradle, he had awe written on his face. They were so small, even smaller than those dolls Piya had!
And when they came home, amidst a grand welcome with flower petals and aarti, Chiku watched apprehensively from a distance.
Next day, Arnav and Khushi caught him watching from the door, and she lovingly called him near. "Chiku, waha kyun khade ho (why are you standing there)? Come, see they want to meet their bhaiyya" Khushi said as Kavish slowly stood near her but scared to go near their baby cots. But he observed them with curiosity as Arnav and Khushi waited for him to say something,
"mamma, why are the babies taklu (bald)?" he suddenly asked, making them chuckle
"That's because they are newborn. You were also like this when you were this small." Arnav made him understand, smiling still
"I was also this small?" He asked with surprise, finding it hard to believe
"Of course you were. Come on, let's put your sister in her bhaiyya's lap, hmm?" Arnav said, as Kavish sat on the bed folding his legs and Arnav handed aru in his lap while Arnav was already holding her from below. Aru looked at Chiku for a minute but started crying and seeing her cry, he too started crying.
But Arnav didn't lose patience and told him to sing his nursery rhyme for her as he did when she was in khushi's tummy. As Chiku hesitantly started with a rhyme and caressed her cheek, Aru looked curiously. His touch was just like her mummy-papa and his voice, she knew. She held his finger in her fist and Kavish got very happy. Her grip on his small finger shooed his fears away!
Now he didn't feel scared at all and asked to hold his other sister too. As Khushi put Pari in his lap, Pari happily went in her brother's lap, in fact snuggled close to him and Kavish bent to kiss her taklu(bald) head :P
Soon, they saw a very protective Kavish arise who never liked when twins cried! He wouldn't think twice to reprimand whoever it was to do so, in his eyes.
"Mamma! Stop. What are you doing? she is crying, stop making her cry!" as Khushi bathed Pari or "Nani, don't make my sister cry" he would angrily say as he heard Aru's loud cries when her Amma (chiku's nani) massaged baby Aru. And everyone would find it tough to manage this super protective bhaiyya of the twins!
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Bloated tummies and sharp nails!
Within days of twins' arrival, smells of milk, baby powder, and diapers filled their bedroom once again! And if Chiku's cries didn't let them sleep earlier, Aru's cries didn't let their whole locality sleep! Nothing worked for that baby, nothing could pacify her when she was in a mood to throw a fit! Throughout the night, after Khushi fed both the girls, Pari usually didn't take much time to sleep, wrapped in mamma's dupatta but the other baby didn't! Arnav, Khushi's amma, Nani, payal, even mama and mami took turns to make her sleep but in in vain!
As if that wasn't enough, one evening the usual calm baby, Pari started crying a lot! Nothing pacified her and they rushed with her to the doctor,
"I can see her tummy has become hard and bloated due to gas. Must be something you ate Mrs. Raizada. Try to avoid any of these things" he handed a list of further food restrictions!
"I will ensure that, Doctor. Do you think that is the reason for my other baby's distress too? She hardly sleeps at night." Khushi said in a weak tone and doctor observed the mother with sympathetic glance. He had seen many new mothers struggle through this.
"It may be but some babies do that so don't worry. Also, ensure you have calcium rich diet Mrs. Raizada, most of the calcium your body is producing is going to build your babies' bones, through your breastmilk. But your own body needs it too. So, ensure you don't miss out on that." Doctor advised and Khushi nodded. She had adamantly refused using any formula milk for twins unlike most twins' mothers did and continued nursing.
As they got up to leave, doctor asked Arnav to wait behind. He then told Arnav that Khushi might go through postpartum depression and at this time she will be very vulnerable and emotional and will need him and their family the most. Needless to say, Arnav vowed to ensure she didn't feel any impact of it and if at all, he would be with her.
Soon, another thing came up as both girls' nails were always sharply increasing and whoever held them had scratch marks as gifts! Arnav's neck and face had it as he made them sleep, and so did everyone else who held them. Most affected of course was Khushi, as when they were being fed, they would curl their tiny fingers around khushi's breasts and scratch their source of nutrition! Probably as a good entertainment for them while having their lunch or dinner!
Soon the twins own faces started showing scratch marks as they did it to themselves too in sleep and one afternoon, as Arnav stopped Pari from poking her fist in her own eyes he put his fear of cutting their nails, on backseat.. That day, he finally volunteered to cut their nails and the precision with which he did so, made everyone wonder if this was the same CEO of India's biggest fashion house who was known for anything but delicacy!
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Naamakaran (naming ceremony)
After twins turn 1.5 months old, a naamkaran was arranged at home. By that time, like most of the world, Delhi was also suffering from a pandemic. So it was decided to keep a very small function with only family.
Like Chiku, twins too had their own nicknames, Khushi called one baby Pari and the other one Shona while Arnav used Angel or Princess alternately. They were both his angels and princesses! Most funny was buaji as she called the chubby baby "laddu" and other one titali when Arnav pointed out that she already calls laddu to chiku and titali to Khushi. Buaji smiled and replied Chiku is big laddu and this baby girl is choti laddu while other is choti titali!
This time they had decided to name one of the babies from A while the other baby's name was to be kept with an auspicious meaning, on Nani's request. So finally Arnav and Khushi came up with the names for their baby girls, Pari was officially named Shriya (goddess Lakshmi) while the other baby was named Arohi, as a combination of their names (ARnav+khusHI). Arohi was every bit Jr. ASR while Shriya, who would grow up to be known as Shriya Gupta-Raizada!
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Daddy's girls and mommy's world!
Arohi was about 3 months-old when one night, as she wasn't sleeping, Arnav took her to poolside. And that worked like a charm as the baby went to sleep within minutes! As if all she needed was being under the stars, the place from where she had come down to earth, the place that was her previous home. From then on, after Khushi was done feeding her, Arnav would take her to poolside and Aru would sleep without a fuss!
"Shh, Dada ki princess. Go to sleep." he would keep saying as she slept.
Soon Arnav started doing that for both his daughters and both loved sleeping under the stars!
Another thing Arnav loved was the sound they made, as they giggled when he kissed their little button noses and that was the most blissful sound he ever heard.
Twins were about 6 months, when Khushi tried to make Pari sit on her own and she fell head-down on the mattress. Khushi anticipated a cry but Pari just held her breath, without making a sound...she wouldn't cry but she wouldn't breathe too, apparently scared of the impact! Khushi panicked and so did Arnav. It finally took nani, mami and Payal to calm them down and make Pari cry. Nani told them this was nothing unusual as babies do hold their breath when scared.
Just how many lessons were there for a baby's parents? Khushi wondered.
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First words
One night, as Arnav was making Aru sleep, an 8-month-old Aru spoke her first word
"Dada?" she said, tapping his cheek, and his eyes widened in surprise!
"What did you say, princess?" he asked and she giggled as she repeated a clear 'Dada'.
She probably got mercy on this guy who was always there at her beck n call, who spent nights making her sleep in the cradle of his arms. She decided to bestow upon him the order of her might! Needless to say, that moment was a priceless one in his entire life!
The whole next day, Aru kept going "dada, dada, dada" as she was enjoying the love Arnav showered on her every time she said it but khushi got little-tiny bit jealous!
"Dada ki chamchi! aao hamare pass bhuk lagegi tab, fir batate hain aapko (come to me when you're hungry, then we'll see)." she said but Aru didn't pay a heed and continued her 'Dada' chanting!
For Pari's words though, they would have to wait longer!!! She finally spoke her first word 'Maa' a couple of weeks before her first birthday, but that was all! And Khushi started sensing, something was probably amiss here! She started speaking more to Pari, in order to bring some words but she pretty much stuck with Maa and Da occasionally!
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Mom and Dad of 3!
Like Chiku, Pari too showed special liking when wrapped in her Maa's dupatta. As she slept peacefully wrapped in that warmest blanket of the world, Khushi used to keep kissing her baby umpteenth times! While Aru had her own way of showing her liking for her mother's dupatta, as kept chewing it, playing with it and loved playing hide n seek or peek-a-boo with it!
Khushi went on to breastfeed the twins until they became 8 months, like she did for Chiku and Arnav only felt more admiration for her selfless act for their kids! Especially as Aru had difficulty weaning off and Khushi nursed her a bit longer, her diet restrictions continuing all those months.
And now, in the hindsight, when he thought of all the times, he heard Khushi give him the best news of his life, he wouldn't have it any other way. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say, if someone asked him today what his biggest achievement was, he won't say AR but it would be making his 3 kids smile! They were his own miracles!
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A/N – And we're done with all 3 pregnancy's flashbacks. Hope you guys liked them! I had so much fun writing and still so many things I couldn't include. Like I briefly touched on postpartum depression to acknowledge this imp topic but didn't include it as such. Or twins' learning to crawl, walk, their first birthday and so on.
Anyway, with this CSD is going on a teeny-tiny, chotu sa break, like a couple-of weeks. I promise, you won't even realize it and I'll be back updating. In the meanwhile, read or re-read chapters until now and vote/comment there if you missed doing that before :) Also, we'll be back to present times in next chapter, so brush off your memories of the present track please. At present, chiku is almost 6-years-old and twins are 2!
Lastly, we've got a bunch of new readers recently, welcome you all! And thanks to each and everyone of you who vote, leave reviews and keep reading, CSD is here because of your love, so keep it up!❤ And Happy Gudi Padwa/Ugadi/Cheti chand/Navreh/New year to all. 🤗