According to the schedule, I had done my mini exercise routine, ate my breakfast, and listened to soothing songs, but there was something missing, and I couldn't remember it no matter how I tried.
Just as I decided to ask Ved about it, he moved the medicines in front of my face and shot me an accusatory look.
"You forgot, didn't you?" he asked.
"If you weren't here then what would I have done?" I kissed his cheek and took the tablets from his hands.
"I am really worried right now, but you don't seem to care at all." He frowned.
"Relax, you are taking too much stress." I made him sit beside me on the sofa. "We have our families to take care of me, so why are you still burdening yourself?"
He let out a huge breath and glanced at my inflated tummy. "I don't want to leave you guys alone."
I put his palm over my stomach, and automatically a huge grin crept up his lips as he felt the movement inside. He kissed my stomach and told me not to jump around the house once he left to board his flight.
"I know, I know. There are still four days left; you can chill," I said.
He still looked conflicted, so I pulled him for a hug. He gave me a side hug, and I caressed his hair. I gave him a small encouragement lecture, just like I did with my students before their classes, and it kind of helped our minds to clear out the distractions and increase the focus.
"Promise me you will take every precaution," he said.
"I promise." I pecked his lips.
He went to get his luggage from our room and called up Veer to tell everyone that he was leaving, so my Mom and mother-in-law should get to our home soon after completing their shopping spree.
He cut the call, and I got up from my spot. I hugged him as much as I could, and he shot me a long glance before kissing my forehead and exiting the home. On his way, he stopped and stared back at me.
"Why do I feel uneasy? Should I just cancel the meeting and stay?"
"Go already! Everything is fine here," I said.
He nodded and continued on his way. I locked the door, and slowly, I reached the balcony. I waved at my husband when he got inside his car and looked up at me. He sent a flying kiss, and I giggled as he still looked like he didn't want to leave.
Somehow, he managed to leave, and Mom, my mother-in-law and Veer arrived too. Since it was an important phase of academic session for 12th graders, my family helped me in setting up the materials for my online classes and fed me before I began the lectures.
They took care of the rest of the stuff, and I was going to begin my third Chemistry class when I felt a pain in my stomach. I got worried, but when the pain subsided, I continued with my work. I took breaks in between and sighed in relief when my lectures got over.
I joined my moms in the living room, while Veer cooked something for us. We began chatting, and I was laughing so hard that Mom scolded me to tone it down. When I told her that I was feeling pain in the pelvic area, they furrowed their eyebrows.
Our doubts were confirmed when I screamed so loudly that Veer tripped himself while coming out of the kitchen with food. He instantly came beside me and called up his father. Without wasting any more time, Mom and mother-in-law helped me up, and we went downstairs.
"Why today?" I complained.
"Don't worry; it could be a false alarm too, but we should not take any risks," Mom said.
"We are here - nothing will go wrong," Veer's mom said.
I thanked them for being there but when my water broke on our way to our car, my face paled. Mom rubbed my back in assurance and got me inside the car. My mother-in-law went back inside the house and helped Veer in getting my stuff.
Few minutes later, we were on our way to the hospital. I knew that after the car ride, everyone was going to suffer hearing damage. My mother-in-law drove like a street racer with full safety, and I was put on the stretcher the second we landed at our destination.
That moment onwards, the only things I remembered were my screams, Dad's crying face, Mom consoling him, my in-laws making urgent calls, and Veer chanting his elder brother's name like a shlok.
I got a short breath of relief when doctors informed me that I had nothing to worry about; everything looked good. As I had opted for normal delivery, I was cursing the hell out when the professionals kept shouting at me to push harder - I was already doing it.
I felt crying as I felt bad for sending Ved away for his business meeting when he didn't want to. As his worried face flashed in front of my eyes, I put all of my strength into the delivery, the pain no less than a hundred bones breaking at the same time.
But when I heard the most beautiful cry in my whole life, and the doctors announced that the baby was safe, my body relaxed - the pain being worth the wait. I got a glimpse of my child, and then it was time for celebration.
While the nurses cleaned my baby and got her covered carefully, doctors took care of me and advised me to rest till I felt better. Finally, after two hours, I got my daughter in my arms and fed her her first milk; she was gorgeous just like her father.
I kept staring at her as she drank the milk and then looked up at me. Her chocolate brown eyes darted over my face as her tiny fingers moved towards me. I took her hand in mine and kissed her palm. In return, she gave me her first smile, and I promised her that I would protect her and love her.
While I was busy conversing with my newborn, I heard a low sob. I turned my head up and saw my parents heading towards us.
"You became grandparents!" I yelled in joy.
I passed my daughter to Mom who gave her to Dad after playing with her. For a whole minute, Dad cried, and then he kissed his granddaughter's forehead. After seeing him with my daughter, I felt a pang in my chest when I remembered that Ved wasn't present there.
"Don't worry, Sandhya Di, Ved bhaiyya is on his return flight and will be here in one-two hours," Veer said and took his niece in his arms.
"Who is the most beautiful girl?" he asked and poked her nose.
"I feel really bad that I forcefully sent him," I said.
"It wasn't your fault. The date was four days later - none of us expected it to happen earlier," my mother-in-law said.
"Yes, beta. Don't stress about it, and as for Ved, he is on his way," Father-in-law informed.
Soon, my friends arrived and congratulated my family for the addition of a new member. The youngest Rajput wasn't crying at all and was busy acquainting herself with everyone who came. When she was done meeting them, Veer gave her back to me and told me that he would take care of her just like Ved took care of him.
"Thank you, Veer." I ruffled his hair.
I put my daughter beside me and turned to her side. I began telling her about her father, and she was all ears with a huge grin on her face. I was amazed to see her eyes twinkling whenever Ved's name came up - even though she was so young, I could see the uncanny resemblance.
As I started telling her what her dad looked like, an evil smile spread up my lips. Mom asked me why I was making such a face, and I laughed like a witch. My relatives were confused, and the nurse who came to check on me doubted if I suffered some kind of side-effect of the delivery.
I called the doctors and told them my plan. All of them widened their eyes, but I blackmailed them and told them that I just wanted to have some fun. They gave in after a lot of contemplation, but Mom didn't look convinced. I begged her that I wouldn't hurt her son-in-law, and she gave me a short nod.
"Don't mess up," Mom said.
I shot her a grin, and everyone left the ward room. I glimpsed at my kid. "You ready?"
She moved her feet up and wiggled her hands in excitement. I told her not to make any noise, and she smiled. After caressing her cheek, I gave her to a nurse who took her outside.
A tear rolled down my cheek when I saw my husband arrive hastily, asking for me. I wiped the tear and sported a huge grin when Ved entered the room and reached me. He asked me how I was, and I nodded positively.
"Why do you look so worried?" I asked.
"Of course I would be, Sandy Pandy." He shook his head. "I missed my baby's birth."
"What baby?" I raised my eyebrows, trying hard not to hug him.
He snapped his eyes at me. "Did you suffer memory loss?"
"Nope, but whose baby are you talking about?"
"Come on, stop joking around. I am talking about our baby."
"Why would I joke? I wasn't even pregnant, Ved."
He narrowed his eyes, and I pointed at my stomach. "Shouldn't my tummy be big then?"
Ved glanced at my belly and then at me. He told me to stop fooling around, so I acted like I was the most innocent person and advised him to ask others instead if he didn't believe me. I saw his pupils dilate, but when he saw that I wasn't budging, he stepped back.
"Go and confirm with the doctors," I said.
He stood in one spot for a minute and then rushed out. Meanwhile, I got my daughter back beside me and pulled the bed sheet over her - I kept enough space for her to move, being very careful about her safety. I pecked her chin and made a poker face as soon as Ved re-entered.
"Sandhya, can you please tell me what's going on?" he asked.
"Come here."
He came beside me, and I took his right hand in mine. I kissed his knuckles and told him to relax. His breathing was heavy, and he looked exhausted. He followed my advice and took deep breaths, calming down his heartbeat. I told him to close his eyes, and he did it without much thought.
"Are you ready?" I whispered to my daughter.
When she shook her hand, I told Ved to open his eyes. Just as his eyelids opened slowly, I removed the bedsheet and revealed our daughter.
"Surprise! You are a father now," I squealed.
Ved gulped nervously as his eyes took in the form of his newborn. Very cautiously, he moved his hands forward and stroked her head. He glanced at me, and I smiled at him, ensuring that he wasn't dreaming. He took our baby in his arms, and I sighed deeply when he didn't faint.
Yes, Mr. Ved Jaiwant Rajput had fainted when he had gotten the pregnancy news nine months ago. That time also, he had arrived from the office and couldn't contain his happiness. That's why this time, I decided to decrease the tension because I didn't want him to fall unconscious while holding our daughter - it would have been disastrous.
Tears flowed down freely as Ved admired our baby; he kept looking at her as if he couldn't believe his eyes. When I told him to sit beside me, he smooched me and thanked me for bringing our bundle of love into this world.
"Why are you thanking me?" I laughed.
Ved didn't say anything and kept playing with the new Rajput. His father arrived, and Ved hugged him. Soon, my whole family and friends showered him with best wishes and congratulated us for becoming parents.
The toddler gang demanded to see our baby from close, and Surbhi took her niece in her arms. One by one, everyone got a chance to play with her again, and Ved overlooked them with a hawk-like gaze. Rajeev and Mayank told him to relax, and I pulled him towards me.
He didn't take his eyes off from his newborn child and relaxed only when he got her back. I caressed his cheek as I saw pure joy in his eyes, his face glowing with fatherly love.
"How are you feeling?" I asked.
He kissed my forehead. "Overwhelmed."
We kissed our daughter's hands; she was safely nestled in her father's arms. Ved pecked her nose, and then smothered my face with kisses.
"I love you, Sandy Pandy."
"I love you too, Princess."