Chapter 153:
It was the time of the morning, the birds were hovering over the hospital. Inside it, Neil, the Khanna family, Ashish and Neela maa and Sonia were standing there. Neil, Prakash and Shweta were standing together because Neil's parents were consoling him.
Shweta: Tillu, come. Come, sit here.
Neil looked at Shweta.
Neil: mom, my child.
Neil turned his face and looked straight.
Prakash: Aman and Arnav have gone behind the nurse. You just calm down.
Shweta: come and sit.
Shweta literally dragged Neil to the bench. Neil was looking in the direction where the nurse goes. Shweta was taking Neil to the bench and Neil turned his face to see the nurse. Shweta made him sit.
Neil looked in the direction where the nurse went. Neil got up.
Neil: I have to go there.
Shweta was about to say. Neil looked at her.
Neil: Mom, my baby is there. I have to go. I want to see my baby.
Shweta: Tillu...
Neil was about to go. The doctor came out and Neil stopped to see her. Neil's heart skipped a heartbeat. Neil and others ran to her.
Neil: Doctor, Avni?
The doctor looked at Neil.
Doctor: Relax, Doctor Neil, Avni is alright.
Neil and others took a breath of relief. Neil remembered about his child.
Neil: and, and my baby?
The doctor was looking at him.
Doctor: baby is also fine but we have to keep him under observation, in the incubator. As you know, it is a premature delivery so, the baby should be under observation.
Neil understood.
Neil: is there any serious, Doctor?
Doctor: Doctor Neil, it is premature delivery. The baby is weak but let's hope for the best.
Neil nods but was worried also.
Neil: thank you, Doctor. I, I don't know what to say. I...
Doctor smiled.
Doctor: I understand your condition. No need to say anything. Just celebrate the joy of a newborn baby. He is just like Avni.
Neil smiled with teary eyes. Everyone was happy.
Shweta: He?
Neil looked at Shweta and smiled. Shweta and others looked at Neil. Neil nods. He already knew that but did not reveal as the law is equal for all according to him.
Doctor: yes, he. Avni gave birth to a baby boy.
Neil smiled. Everyone was happy. Neil looked at the doctor.
Neil: Doctor, Avni? I mean, she...
Doctor: she is unconscious but soon, she will retrieve her sense and it is your hospital, you know the rules better than me.
They smiled.
Doctor: now, I am going. Take care.
Neil nods.
Neil: thank you and take care. You can rest in my cabin.
The doctor nods and then she goes. Neil signed a man who nods and goes.
Shweta: congratulations.
Neil smiled.
Shweta spreads her arms and hugs Neil. They got emotional and smiled with teary eyes. Prakash and others congratulate Neil. Neela maa cupped Neil's face and wiped Neil's tears and her tears too. Neil smiled and wipes his eyes. Neela maa hugged him. Neil smiled. They broke the hug and wiped their eyes. An impossible thing happened. Neil almost lost hope that he will ever have a baby and today he is a father of a cute prince.
Aman and Arnav came back. Arnav understood by seeing the smiling faces that everything is alright but Aman was excited.
Aman: Baby is fine. The nurse said it is a premature delivery that's why they have to keep the baby under observation.
Neil and others smiled.
Aman: and you know, it's a baby boy.
Arnav kept his hand on Aman's shoulder.
Arnav: look at their faces. They already know that.
Aman looked at the family. Everyone was smiling.
Aman: really?
They said together except Neil: yes.
Neil chuckles and others laughed.
Neil looked at Shweta.
Neil: mom, I.
Neil points in the direction and nods. Shweta nods and kept her hand on Neil’s arm.
Neil goes.
Neil was passing by the corridor and he saw a glass wall and goes there. It was a room where babies were kept in the glasses. Neil looked at the babies and was trying to see his baby. A nurse came out who was wearing a mask, a head and a gown. Neil looked at her then she talked to Neil and pointed at the baby. Neil looked there and asked her that one. The nurse replied to him. Neil got emotional to see the baby. The nurse looked at Neil and goes. Neil wanted to carry his baby in his arms as he forwards his hand, and his hand touched the glass. Neil frowns then he realised it is a glass. Neil looked at the baby and a tear falls from Neil's eyes because he was overwhelmed and an unexpected thing had happened. Neil caressed the glass.
Neil: my baby.
Neil was getting emotional. He suppressed his lips and cried. He was feeling helpless.
The nurse came to him carrying some things.
Nurse: Doctor Neil.
Neil came back to reality and looked at the nurse. Neil wiped his tears.
Nurse: you can come inside by wearing these things.
Neil looked at the things.
Nurse: it is for safety. You know...
Neil nods.
The door opened and Neil came into the room. He was wearing the doctor's gown, mask and head. Neil looked at his baby who was in the glass. Neil goes there and got emotional to see the baby. Neil touched the glass and smiled with teary eyes.
Neil: my baby. My tiger.
Neil was adoring his baby.
Neil: papa wants to pick you in his arms. Please come to papa soon.
Neil thinks.
Neil: I am sorry, baby. I failed as a father. I didn't choose you. I am a bad papa. Papa loves you a lot but papa was helpless. He had to choose one. Papa loves you and mamma, both. Please forgive papa.
Neil cried. He sobs.
On the other side, Avni was laying on the bed and was unconscious. She was shifted to the room. Neil entered the room and looked up at Avni. Neil came to Avni and he bent to her. Neil caressed Avni's hair and kissed her forehead.
Neil: thank you, wifey. Thank you for giving me a beautiful gift. Our son.
Neil smiled.
Neil: now wake up soon, I want to share this good news with you.
Neil smiled.
Later, Neil was sitting on the bench resting his back and was feeling tired so his eyes were closed.
On the other side, Avni was laying on the bed and she stirs. Avni slightly open her eyes then she again closed her eyes. Avni again tried to open her eyes and frowns to see the room. She looked around and realised that she is in hospital. Avni thinks and recalled her labour pain and all. Avni touched her womb and was shocked to see it.
Avni: m, my baby.
Avni looked at both sides and saw the cradle empty. Avni was shocked.
Avni: my baby.
Avni's eyes filled with tears and the fear engulfed her. She tried to get up but again fell back because of pain. Avni winces because of the pain and she squeezed her eyes. Avni was in severe pain.