Part LXIX
Just as they were finishing their lunch, Maan's cell
rang. He checked the caller and seeing that it was Adi, he quickly answered the
call, anxiety gripping his heart for he knew Pinky was expecting to deliver any
time shortly. Just as he expected Adi had called to inform him that his
wife has gone into labour and he was taking her to the hospital. Maan
assured him that he will join him soon and turning around he passed on the
news. Geet wanted to go along with Maan. Although Anwesha too wanted to join
them, she was apprehensive that her presence at the hospital at a time like
this would bring back painful memories of how she lost her own son. Rano
seemed to read her thoughts, for she volunteered to go with Anwesha to the
chawl to take care of Pinky's father and Adi's mother and asked Maan and Geet
to proceed to the hospital. Maan nodded and the two of them left
immediately.
Soon Maan and
Geet were at the hospital, pacing restlessly
outside the labour ward, praying that everything was well inside. As the
minutes ticked by, Geet got anxious. Seeing her tensed, Maan made her sit on
the nearby bench and asked her to take it easy. He reminded her that Pinky had
a relatively hassle free pregnancy and hence there was no reason why the
delivery should not be smooth. He also pointed out that Adi was with her, which
itself should be comforting for her. Geet folded her hands in prayer and closed
her eyes. Maan kissed the top of his wife's head and marvelled at the immense
love she has for everyone. Soon the doctor came out of the labour ward.
Maan rushed to her and asked her how was his sister. The doctor assured him she
was fine and congratulated him on becoming an uncle to a beautiful baby girl.
She also told him how lucky his sister was in having a loving and caring
husband like Adi who helped her through her labour.
"Men like him are hard to come by," she
smiled and hurried to attend her other calls.
Maan and Geet rushed in to see a picture perfect
little family - Adi and Pinky were bent over their tiny bundle of joy lying
in Pinky's arms. Adi and Pinky looked up at them and smiled in happiness.
Sitting in front of Pinky, Geet asked her if she can hold the baby. Pinky
smiled and handed over her daughter to her. Geet carefully held the baby
in her arms and cooed to her. Maan slapped Adi on the back and congratulated
him. Adi smiled bashfully. Maan also thanked him for being there for his
sister.
"I don't know what I did to deserve such a
brother-in-law," he said emotionally, his eyes filling with tears.
"Hey, what did I do? I was merely taking care of
my wife and helping in welcoming our daughter into this world. They are both my
responsibility. By the way when are you going to return the favour
and make me an uncle?"
Maan then proudly announced that he will soon have his
wish fulfilled as Geet was in the family way. Pinky looked at
Geet quizzically and she bent her head shyly.
"Congratulations!" Pinky and Adi exclaimed
in unison. Just then the baby started wailing. The nurse who had come in said
that she was hungry and needs to be fed. Geet handed the baby back to Pinky. As
Pinky got ready to give her daughter her first feed, Maan and Geet wished them
good bye and left them to their privacy.
The nurse showed Pinky how to feed her baby. Adi sat
by his wife's side and watched her lovingly as she nourished his
daughter.
As they were returning home, Geet felt nauseous again
and asked Maan to stop the car. Seeing her contorted face, he immediately
stopped the car by the side of the road. Geet unbuckled her seat belt and
rushed out to throw up again. Maan quickly reached her side and held her
forehead as she puked. Once she was through, he took a bottle of water from the
car and made her drink some water. He then helped her rinse her mouth and wiped
her mouth with his handkerchief. He made her to sit back in the car. Sitting on
his haunches on the road by her side, he took her hands in his and asked her if
she was feeling alright. When she nodded her head, he returned to his seat.
Buckling up, he was about to start the ignition when he felt her hand on his
arm. He looked up at her enquiringly and was alarmed to see tears in her
eyes.
"Maan, I am sorry," she said.
"For what?" he asked puzzled.
"For not telling you about that video
earlier. Actually..."
Before she could complete the sentence, he put his
finger on her lips and said shamefacedly, "Sweety, I should be the one to
apologise to you for suspecting your love. I got scared of losing you
darling. Your indifference and sometimes rude behaviour of the past few weeks
coupled with that stupid video led me to think that you did not love me
anymore. When you puked right after I kissed you, I thought that I
disgusted you so much that you could not stand me any longer."
Geet looked at him in surprise. Although she was
startled by his overtly possessive behaviour earlier that day she did not know
that it was triggered by such doubts and apprehensions in him.
"Oh, my poor baby!" she exclaimed and
holding his face she looked deeply into his eyes. "How can I stop loving
you? How can you ever disgust me? I love everything about you darling. I'll
never tire of you for I simply can't have enough of your love. I think my
appalling behaviour of the last few weeks was the combined result of hormonal
changes brought on by the pregnancy and overwork. I pushed you away after your
kiss and ran out because I did not want to vomit all over you."
He was unable to meet her gaze. Looking down he said
in a small voice, "Yes, I understood it much later but I can only plead
temporary insanity when I saw that idiot kiss you."
"What?" asked Geet shocked to learn that the
video her husband watched had that shot in it. She was under the impression he
was angry with her for wearing the short dress. No wonder the guy was so
furious. "The director assured me that the shot had been removed from the
video. Did you not see me slap Kunal after he kissed me?"
"You slapped him?" he asked amazed.
"What did you think? That I would let him get
away after that shameful act? I gave him a tight slap after that and ran out of
the place. I tried telling you everything last night but you slept right
through it. In the morning, seeing your menacing look and your abhorrence of
the guy I decided to hold my tongue since I feared you will bash him up and
land up in jail. Please don't get violent with him. I want you around
especially now that we are having the baby," she pleaded.
"Don't worry, I'll not do anything foolish to
jeopardise my safety and yours. I will slam a legal notice on the recording
company for taking advantage of you and including shots in the video you had
not agreed to do. I'll stop them from marketing the video."
He called up his lawyer and asked him to examine the
terms of Geet's contract and ensure the company does not get away with
anything. He then started the car and they reached their home to give Baba the
two good news. Baba was excited to hear that Pinky has safely delivered a baby
girl and he was even more thrilled to hear that he was going to be a grandpa
finally. Geet knelt before him seeking his blessings. When he gave his
blessings, both Geet and Maan was surprised to note that his speech was quite
distinct and clear unlike the slurred, muffled words he was uttering before. In
fact Baba himself was surprised by it and said that his grandchild has got back
his speech. He promised them that soon he will be up on his feet too so that he
can run behind his grandchild. Maan and Geet smiled at him.
Geet called up Rano and Anwesha to inform them about
Pinky's baby. Anwesha was very eager to see her niece. Maan
volunteered to drive his uncle and Adi's mother to the hospital and asked
Rano to take Anwesha in her car. Late that evening they all returned to
Maan's house. Maan insisted that his uncle and Adi's mother should stay with
them till Adi brings his wife and baby back from the hospital. Wishing them
good night, Rano and Anwesha then left for their place.
Continued here:
Edited by Opti - 13 years ago
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