Sameer parked the car in its parking space in the Sea Queen Society. Slamming his door shut, he rushed to the other side, opening the door and extending his hand forward. Turning and drawing her feet out of the car first, Naina clasped Sameer's hand. Her other hand landed on her belly instinctively and she stood up with Sameer's help, heaving an exhausting exhale right with this small activity.

The sun was overhead, shining in its full glory, bringing sweat beads on their temples even in the month of October. As Naina took the necessary breaths before moving forward, Sameer whisked his handkerchief out of his pocket. He kept his gaze down while wiping her face, gently tapping the handkerchief all across her face.

"Mai thik hu, Sameer..." Naina smiled at him, knowing the sweat on his forehead wasn't of heat but of worry. He only nodded and smiled back, assisting her towards the J wing.

"Aa gaye tum dono?" Rakesh's exasperated question greeted them the moment Sameer and Naina entered the house. He had a suitcase open on his bed.

He dropped the neatly folded t-shirts in his hands in the suitcase, leaving his packing midway and dashing towards the couple.

"Tu thik hai na beta?" He cradled Naina's face in his hands, "kya kaha doctor ne?"

Naina smiled at his worried face. Both these men in her life were in panic mode since yesterday.

"Baith kar baatein karte hai, Papa?" She proposed.

"H.. haan... haannn... baithte hai na..." Rakesh mumbled, letting them take places on the sofa and directing himself to the kitchen to get water for them both.

Meanwhile Sameer made Naina relax on the sofa, extending her feet on the tea-table and supporting them with a cushion below.

"Papa..." Seeing Rakesh's frowning face, Sameer decided to answer after finishing his water, "Ragini Ma'am ne kaha yeh thakaan, pairon me soojan aana, neend na aana... yeh sab pregnancy mein normal hai... Naina ko bass aaram ki zaroorat hai..."

The crease on Rakesh's forehead eased a little, "aur woh jo pet mein dard ho raha tha woh?" He questioned further.

"Woh contractions hote hai Papa," Naina said, "ab woh bhi hone lagenge... bass blood pressure badh gaya hai mera..."

Sameer continued to run his thumb on her knuckles, he hadn't left her hand all this while. Her fingers were slightly swollen too, the long and slender fingers he so loved entwining with. Last night he had to snatch the pen from her while she was being a stubborn woman wanting to write, even though she faced difficulty. He took a deep sigh, wishing all this wreck of thoughts in his mind would stop with it.

"Tu na abse koi kaam nahi karegi..." Rakesh declared, "sirf aur sirf aaram karegi thik hai?"

"Papaaa..." Naina whined, making a face, "woh sab chhodiye na... khana kha lete hai... mujhe bahot bhook lagi hai..."

The two men rose to their feet in no time, taking it as the command of their Queen and dashing to the kitchen. Naina giggled at them, shaking her head in adoration and rounding her hands on her belly.

"Dekha baby?" She whispered, "Papa aur Nanu kaise bhag-daud kar rahe hamare liye..."

And in the moment, she felt the contraction again, the smile on her face getting replaced by a painful grimace immediately.

She looked in the direction of the kitchen, deciding not to panic Sameer and Papa more as she heard them talking. And she took it on herself.

The braxton hicks contractions were sure painful to her, the new medical term she learned today from her Gynaecologist Dr. Ragini. She practiced deep breaths, inhaling through nose and exhaling through mouth.

But having a husband like Sameer, who would keep his vigilant eye on her every now and then, meant she found him beside her in the next few seconds. He sat holding her hand, soothing her and counting deep breaths for her. He drew her feet back down, changing her position for the contractions to subside.

After a minute or so, the pain eased and Naina leaned back with a thud. Sameer caressed her cheek, pushing the hairlocks back behind the ear. He swallowed a lump before he could speak, urging Naina to take rest in the bedroom. But she was stubborn again, saying she would but only after lunch.

Do the partners switch their character traits in the pregnancy? Sameer mused.

After lunch, Sameer took Naina to the bedroom, easing her on the bed and lifting her feet up. He placed two cushions behind her back and one under her legs.

"Yeh lo," he murmured, climbing on her other side. His voice was too low. Naina took the medicine from his palm, gulping it down with water as she kept watching him.

His head was down, taking her free hand in his hands again as if it was the necessity of his life. She freed it from his hold, directing it to his cheek and stroking his stubble with her thumb. His silence was bothering her, so she raised her brows in a question.

He shook his head at first, then slightly indulged. "Mai kal ki meeting postpone kar deta hun... Baad mein kar—"

"Nahi Sameer..." Naina insisted, "hum ja sakte hai na meeting ke liye... tumhe pata hai na hamein script finalise karni hai..."

"Tum abhi kuchh din sirf rest karne wali ho Naina... show ke baare mein hum baad mein bhi soch sakte hai..."

"Tch... tum bhool gaye kya Ma'am ne kya kaha? Mujhe active rehna hai... jitna ho sake utna kaam karna hai..."

"Lekin Naina–"

"Sameer please," this time, she held his hand in hers. "Naya show hai... aur humne lagbhag kahani bana li hai na... kal channel walon ke sath sirf finalize hi toh karna hai... please..."

"Naina apni haalat dekho pehle... thakaan tumhare chehre par dikh rahi hai..."

"Haan toh kal tak thik lagne lagega na? Dekho maine dawai bhi kha li hai..."

His shoulders slumped with a sigh. There was no way he could convince her otherwise. "Agar..." he emphasized, "kal tak tumhari tabiyat aaj se behtar hoti hai... toh...."

Naina nodded like a child, not wanting to annoy Papa Maheshwari more.

"Good... chalo, so jao thoda..." Sameer smiled at last, helping her to slide down.

He aided her in turning on her left side, adjusting the cushions now in between her legs and to support her protruding belly of 28 weeks. Kissing her cheek, he lay down beside her, putting her to sleep by gently tapping on her head.

It must have been fifteen minutes later when Sameer found Naina in a deep slumber. He couldn't resist placing a kiss on her forehead before he slid down more, now facing her stomach.

"Kya hua junior?" he mumbled, stroking her belly with his palm, "bahot pareshan kar diya mumma ko... 2 din se mumma so nahi paa rahi hai..."

He took a pause for a moment, imagining himself what his baby would have said in response to him. He loved talking to his little one, especially after learning that the baby had developed its full hearing capacity. He would talk about anything that came to his mind, sometimes he would converse with Naina and the baby together, having chit-chat sessions like a small family of three.

"Dekho... 2 din bahot masti ho gayi..." he continued, "ab mumma ko thoda aaram karne do... aur achchhe se sone do.. Thik hai? I love you..."

He kissed her tummy and pulled the comforter over Naina, making his way out of the room by shutting the door softly.

Seeing Rakesh rinsing the utensils in the kitchen sink, Sameer smiled. His week off from the library had started from today and Sameer was only grateful that Papa was here this morning, when they felt the need to take Naina to the clinic seeing her in pain.

Balcony was his favorite place when he wanted to channelize his thoughts. He spread his hands on the parapet wall, sinking in the quietude of the society. The past two days had been indeed hurtful for Naina and he just couldn't see her in that state. He was almost on the verge of crying when Naina experienced the pain in her stomach for the first time— contractions, he now knew were only practice contractions where the body prepares itself for the labour.

But barring the absolute joy of becoming parents, has this pregnancy journey been smooth for Naina? Absolutely not.

He remembered the day when they had the report in hand showing positive. Overwhelmed with emotions, they had hugged each other tightly, even shedding happy tears. Thanks to Dr. Ragini who had given them privacy and left the cabin. It was Papa who had jumped in joy at home when they informed him. The feeling of becoming Dadu and Nanu had taken his happiness on cloud 9.

But the days later? It was horrible. The first trimester was the most difficult phase for Naina. She was always exhausted and nauseous. She was advised to take necessary naps in between, but her aversion to many food items was beyond his thinking. He could never imagine something as basic as a hot chapati's smell could make her nauseous and vomit.

"Yeh kisko paida kar rahe hai hum, Naina?"

He had once said, panic taking over him when Naina couldn't even finish her meal and ran to vomit.

Sameer had taken the work of writing all upon himself in that period, right from writing down the episodes of 'Tum Dena Sath Mera' and making visits to the office to submit them. Since going to the AK Films' office daily was never a compulsion for them, he limited his own visits too, wanting to spend as much time with Naina. However, being the main writer, Naina was always part of the brainstorming and designing the episodes. The show ended successfully in the last week of June and so did Naina's first trimester.

The second trimester was a relieved one and he was finally seeing Naina enjoying the pregnancy and the emotions of motherhood. And now this third trimester was going to be a test to their patience and varied experiences again.

But while he was becoming more and more worried for Naina due to all the pain she was going through, he couldn't ignore these new emotions building within himself too.

The Fatherly instincts....

The undying love he had started developing for his baby, the feeling of protecting it along with his wife, the emotional exchange with Naina when they heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time, and him trying to push his imagination whenever Dr. Ragini would share the baby's development stages with them.

All those dreams he had seen with Naina about their child... about their tiny bundle of joy... were soon turning into reality...

His heart was torn into two pieces though. He couldn't wait to hold their baby in his arms, but at the same time, he was anxious and nervous for all the pain Naina was supposed to go through in this period.

Damnn!! Why is a woman's life so difficult?

"Sameer??"

Rakesh's voice brought Sameer back to the moment. "Ji Papa..." he said, turning to face Rakesh.

"Mai soch raha tha, mai nahi jata Kanpur... radd* kar deta hun ticket..." Rakesh said.

"Kyun?" Frown took over Sameer's face.

"Arey Naina ki aisi tabiyat hai... mera mann bhi kaise lagega waha pe?"

Only his tone was enough to let Sameer know how concerned he was about Naina's health. His heart filled with contentment and the smile took its place on his lips.

"Papa... Naina thik hai... Dr. Ragini ne khud kaha tha yeh sab normal hai pregnancy mein... aur Mummy bhi aa hi rahi hai na 2 dino mein... toh aap tension kyu le rahe hai?"

Rakesh heaved a sigh, he turned to lean his hips on the wall. "Main na aisi uljhan mein phasa hun ki samajh hi nahi aa raha kya karu..."

"Papa... aap bhi na..." Sameer chuckled, leaning next to Rakesh just like him. "Aapko pota hua hai... aap dadaji bann gaye hai..." his voice reflecting the same happiness of welcoming a baby boy into the family. "aur Arjun yeh khushi aap ke saath baantna chahta hai... woh chahta hai uske bete ki pehli diwali mein uske dada bhi sath ho... aap apne bete ka yeh sapna poora nahi karenge?"

Rakesh huffed, "apne bete ke sapnon ko poora karne ke liye toh kya kuchh nahi kiya hai maine..." his head lowered down and so did his voice.

"Offooo... Papa, idhar dekhiye..." Sameer demanded, turning Rakesh to himself before he started throwing filmy dialogues. He stroked Rakesh's arms, providing him his warmth if he was feeling dejected after recalling the past memories.

"Papa, mai jaanta hun woh Diwali ka hi din tha jab aap ne Arjun se apna naata toda tha... usse pehle shayad aap dono ne har diwali sath mein hi manayi hongi, lekin uss diwali ki kadwahat Arjun aaj tak nahi bhoola hai..."

Rakesh kept gazing at his son-in-law. The brat boy he had known him as in school days had now become a grown-up matured man... who was also going to be a father soon just like his son. How immature he was himself to instill animosity between them for a mere school competition!!

"Uske saath yeh diwali manakar phirse nayi yaadein banaiye, Papa... aapka beta, aapki bahu, aapka pota... in sabka aap pe itna haq toh banta hai na?"

Rakesh managed to push back the moisture that was clouding his eyes. He gulped, smiling and nodding a yes to Sameer. "Thik hai," he added.

This was a weak moment for Papa, Sameer knew it. He expected a hug from papa in this moment, just a comforting hug that would ease out his dilemma, his vulnerability, all his worry about Naina. He just needed one initiative from him and Sameer could do the rest of the work.

Sameer's heart danced in happiness when Rakesh held Sameer's hands that were on his arms, lowering them.

Oh my god! Was he really going to hug him? Was their first hug finally happening? Sameer thought.

He tried to bring every layer of pretense to act normal, to not do anything stupid that would spoil this moment. But his happiness dropped on the floor when Papa's hand rose to not pull him into a hug, but to tap on his cheek fondly.

Only that? Damnnn.... He cursed the stupid men's conditioning from decades that stopped them from expressing their feelings and putting their heart out.

"Raat ki train hai na aapki?" Sameer cleared his throat before speaking, "mai aau aapko station chhodne?"

"Nahi... Shubham aa raha hai mere sath... uska phone aaya tha jab tum dono clinic mein the... tum dono bass apna khayal rakhna... thik hai?"

"Ji Papa..." Sameer nodded.

***

Shubham entered the house with his key, keeping his office bag and a cotton bag stuffed with items on the dining table. His eyes wandered around noticing the silence in the house, stopping at Dadisa who was lying on her usual place in the living room.

Before he could utter a word, Dadisa hushed him and gestured her thumb towards the kitchen.

"Yahan kya kar rahi ho tum?"

Preeti almost jumped in her place hearing Shubham's voice. She turned towards him, spreading her arms on the kitchen platform behind.

Shubham sniggered on her act, "yeh jo itni si height leke ghum rahi ho na tum... uske liye hathon se chhupane ki zaroorat nahi hai... mujhe yahi se dikh raha hai tum kya kar rahi thi..."

Preeti put her guards down. Of course, her father had to find a six feet tall man for her tiny 5'1"' figure.

"Maine kaha tha na main kar dunga... ya phir maa bana deti..." Shubham said, inspecting the counter, "aur dopahar ka khana abhibhi tum hi bana rahi ho na?"

"Offo Shubhamji..." Preeti voiced, "itni si baat ke liye mujhe mummyji ko pareshan nahi karna tha... aur woh Gauri aunty ke sath bahar gayi hai, toh maine socha mai hi bana leti hu... khair... aap puriyaan lekar aaye na?"

"Haan lekar aaya hun... bahot saari... kuchh baaki hai kaam?"

"Dekhiye, maine aloo chat bana diya hai, khatta paani bhi bana diya... bass ab tikha pani aur bhel banana baki hai..." she completed, swaying the table spoon in her hand.

"Thik hai," Shubham snatched the spoon from her, "mai fresh hokar aata hun... phir tum bass receipe batana, mai bana loonga..."

When Shubham returned to the kitchen after 10 minutes, he brought a chair along with him for Preeti.

Preeti watched her husband preparing the tikha pani for panipuri as she instructed in between about the quantities.

"Shukar hai Naina ko panipuri se koi taqleef nahi hoti..." Preeti said, playing with her mangalsutra and adorning a smile on her face.

Shubham chuckled at her statement, continuing with mixing bhel items now in a steel container. "Tabiyat thik hai abhi uski?"

"Haan, jijaji bata rahe the ab thik hai..." Preeti informed, remembering the chaos that took place this morning.

"Shubhamji, kabhi kabhi mai sochti hu... mujhe pehle teen mahine mein Naina jitni taqleef toh hui nahi... ulta mai toh har cheez khane ko dekhti thi... Ab doosra trimester bhi achchha hi ja raha hai... Lekin..."

"Lekin kya?" Shubham turned slightly, keeping his hand on his waist.

"Darr lag raha hai Shubhamji... pata nahi yeh rakshas tisre trimester mein kya karega?" Preeti slumped back into the chair, pointing at her belly which had now started showing up slightly, being in the 20th week.

"Aye... mere bachche ko rakshas mat bolo..." Shubham frowned, "bhale hi woh tum par kyun na jaye..."

Preeti giggled at his immediate defence, swatting his arm playfully.

"Aapne Rakesh tauji se baat ki ya nahi?"

"Haan subah hi phone kiya tha ki mai unko station chhodne jaunga..." Shubham replied, now closing the lid of the container and shaking it to mix again. "Arjun bahot khush hai unke aane se..."

A bright smile adorned Preeti's face, seeing the happiness on her husband's face which was rather reflective of her brother's happiness, which ultimately became the reason for her happiness too. She was happy that her brother had finally gotten a best friend whom he can share everything with, her husband.

They all were in a tricky situation. There were three pregnancy news in the span of six months, hers being the lastest one. They could do nothing when Arjun invited them all to his new house in Kanpur, and only Rakesh could make it to go for Diwali.

"Ohh... Arjun bhaiya se yaad aaya..." Preeti remarked, "aap unse kuchh loans wagera ke baare mein discuss kar rahe the kya?"

Shubham paused in his work, taking a deep sigh as he placed the container back on the platform. "Haan matlab..." his voice trailed.

"Haan matlab kya?"

"Loans ke barein check kar raha tha main..." he indulged, turning and leaning back on the kitchen counter, "tumhare naye shop ke liye... maine calculate kiya lekin EMI bahot jyada nikal raha hai..."

Preeti sighed, seeing how Shubham still hasn't given up on his follow ups for loans, despite her pregnancy.

After Tanvi and Aditya's wedding in May, Preeti fathomed that it doesn't matter how much you save funds for a particular event, the budget is never enough. But they both did it happily for Tanvi, fulfilling her every wish and making it a memorable day for everyone.

The wedding did cause a hole in Shubham's wallet, disturbing his other funds too, one of them including the one for Preeti's new shop in a shopping complex. But they both weren't thinking of that. It was something else that had grabbed their hearts and minds.

It was a whirlwind of good news coming from Juhi and Naina that took them both into it...

It had stirred something up inside them. The wave of happiness, varied emotions, the talks about welcoming a new member into the family, the glow on Naina's face, the chatter about becoming parents with the two soon to be parents couple— Arjun-Juhi and Sameer-Naina... everything led them into thinking about what they wanted from their lives too.

Shubham opened up about his wish to become a father which he had shoved down in the corner of his heart, while Preeti couldn't deny she felt this strong urge to become a mother herself after her long talks with Naina. And during one random conversation, they decided to conceive.

They were the happiest when the doctor confirmed that Preeti was expecting...

"Zara yahan aaiye toh..." Preeti said, her voice gentle as of smooth breeze. She clasped her hand in Shubham's, pulling him closer.

Shubham crouched on his knees to level his height with his wife, not wanting to strain her neck much as she has to constantly look up while talking to him.

"Shubhamji... ek chhotasa break maine liya hai... ek chhota sa break aap bhi lijiye na..."

"Matlab?"

"Matlab yeh..." she leaned forward, running her fingers from his hair, fixing them, "mai jaanti hun hum dono hi mere naye shop ke liye paise jama kar rahe the... aapne alag se kuchh funds nikaal ke rakhe the aur aaj bhi usi mein lage hai..."

Shubham smiled a little, the glow on her distracting him to focus on her words, but he regained his attention.

"Mai bass itna kehna chahti hu, ki kyun na hum kuchh waqt ke liye ruk jaaye?" she continued, "abhi mujhse jitna kaam hoga utna toh mai karne hi wali hu... hamara yeh wala parlour bhi achchha hi chal raha hai na... aur delivery ke baad mujhe jyada se jyada samay apne bachche ke saath bitana hai... toh tab tak ruk jaate hai na..."

"Lekin... tumhara sapna..."

The smile on Preeti's face widened, "Nahi Shubhamji, agar aap soch yeh soch rahe hai ki mai apne sapne ke saath samjhauta kar rahi hun toh aisa nahi hai... lekin mere sapne ko poora karne ke iss safar mein mai sahi waqt par thoda rukna bhi jaanti hu... Zindagi ke kaunse padaav par kis baat par dhyan dena chahiye, kis sapne ko jyada importance dena chahiye, yeh bhi jaanti hu...

"aur filhaal..." she clasped her hands in his, "mujhe hum dono ne yeh jo maa-baap banne ka sapna dekha hai na, uspar dhyan dena hai...."

Shubham left a throaty chuckle from his mouth. His wife was wise for sure, but she would show it more from her actions than words. Today, seeing her speaking so maturely made him realize that this five feet one inch small woman was going to be a mother soon and she would be a great one to their child.

"Has kyu rahe hai?" Preeti asked, seeing him lost.

"Nahi, soch raha tha... hamara bachcha tumpar gaya toh bhi chalega..."

"Shubhamjiiii...." She swatted him hard this time, inducing a round of laughter of the two in the kitchen.

As the laughter subsided, Shubham placed his palm on her belly on the right side. He stroked it for a moment, as if feeling something underneath it.

"Sun oye chhote Shubham!!" he said, making a dramatic face, "yeh jo tumhari maa hai na, use jyada pareshan mat karna... Kyunki tumhare aane ke baad bhi use bahot kaam karna hai... Apne sapne ke taraf badhna hai... samjhe? Warna tumhari gaanth tumhare baap se hai beta!!"

Preeti kept adoring him as he talked to their baby, her face couldn't bear more happiness than seeing her husband like this. He would sometimes refer to the baby as 'chhote Shubham' and sometimes it would be 'chhoti Preeti'... And she deduced soon that it often depended on his mood.

Whenever they had these discussions as to what they wish to have as their baby, Preeti always said she wanted a baby boy. ...and for reasons exactly opposite to society. She wanted a boy so that she could raise him into a sensitive person, who wouldn't be trapped into the false superiority complex of being a man given by this patriarchal society, who would treat girls respectfully and who wouldn't differentiate between any chore as gender-bias.

She wanted her son to become just like her father... she wanted her son to be like how her husband was turning into...

Shubham looked up and they got lost in one another's eyes. A journey of their relationship travelled through the exchange and they fathomed how they had crossed several hurdles in their marriage together— by fighting, by coaxing, by stepping back, by holding hands, by understanding, by love, by care and by companionship.

Her grumbling stomach became the reason for the moment to break, making them both hurry. Preeti joined her husband in packing the food items into the steel containers. Placing it all in a jute bag, Shubham and Preeti were now ready for a Panipuri and Bhel party at the Maheshwari's.

****

Sameer opened the door of the car for Naina, holding her hand and assisting her to sit. It was a pleasant evening and kids had started coming to the ground to play.

"Pata hai, baby ne kal se bilkul pareshan nahi kiya mujhe..." Naina said, as the golden esteem maneuvered out of the Sea Queen Society. "Tum na khamakha tension le rahe the..."

"Achchha?" Sameer remarked, raising his brow in his usual style.

But she was telling the truth. He could see Naina in much better state since the last evening, so much so that she had devoured bhel and panipuri till her stomach and heart was full.

And when she was able to do all the normal activities today, Sameer decided to go with today's meeting with the AK Films.

Sameer had wished to take their story to a new producer as they were working on the new script. But since Naina was pregnant, he wanted a flexible work environment for her too. It took them two to three discussions to reach the conclusion that for this project and their situation, AK Films would be the best producers.

Their decision proved to be absolutely worth it when Aruna Irani welcomed Naina with a hug in the office, having seen her after a long time. Naina's pregnancy news didn't bother her like they would see happening with expecting mothers working in the other sectors. Being a woman herself, she was sensitive enough to acknowledge the complications during pregnancy, allowing them a little leniency during Naina's first trimester too.

She had really liked the new story pitched by the Maheshwari duo, and today with mutual discussions in the meeting with Sameer, Naina, Mr. Sujeet, and a channel person, they finalized the script.

Naina had proposed for a finite series this time. With the new additions of the entertainment channels and the satellites permitting them to run for the whole day, it opened new avenues for the channel heads and producers. Multiple shows started in the making, filling the afternoon slots and the prime time slots at night. And this brought along the trend of shows running for years. Though there was a good money return to the channel, to the producers, to the writers, Naina wanted to keep it finite by maximum 120-130 episodes.

"Sir, iss kahani ke liye itne episodes kaafi hai..." Naina opined in reply to the channel person Mr. Ranjan's question, as to why she didn't want to extend much. "Agar hum ad revenues ke utaar-chadhaav ke hisaab se aage kahani likhte jayenge, toh hum darshako ko woh anubhav nahi de payenge jo ek pehle se tay ki gayi kahani se unhe milega... jiski ek shuruwaat rahegi, beech mein uska vistaar rahega aur pehle se tay kiya gaya ant rahega... bataur lekhika, mai audience ko mil rahe anubhav par zyada dhyan dena chahungi..."

The room was quiet for a minute, and while Sameer thought the situation had turned awkward by Naina's bold statement, he braced himself for the counters coming their way if any.

After a long pause, Mr. Ranjan rather applauded Naina for her thinking, allowing a sigh from both Sameer and Naina's mouths. He promised that the channel wouldn't intervene much in the story and follow it as per what the writers want it to. They agreed for a 130 episode format and everyone congratulated Naina and Sameer for locking in their second project.

While returning home, Sameer shared his little disappointment regarding their fees. After his skillful negotiations, they did get a hike in the remuneration yet it was still less as per what Sameer was quoting.

"Thik hai na, Sameer..." Naina said, keeping her palm on his arm as he focused on driving. "Doosra hi toh show hai hamara... abhi toh hamein bahot kuchh saabit karna hai..."

Sameer only nodded, recognizing the truth behind it. They didn't have any control over it. It all belonged majorly to the channel and then the production houses. He wished to have that control in hand, but that was far far away right now.

***

Diwali of '98 was filled with happiness of expanding their family for the Maheshwari's. Vishakha's presence enriched the mood of the festivities as she prepared various dishes for Naina and Sameer, preparing some healthy laddoos for Naina too.

She took utmost care of Naina, helping her doing the exercises prescribed by the doctor, maintaining her diet, sharing the do's and don'ts for the rest of the pregnancy months and the delivery, and having a lot of chatter with her just like a mother.

There was a buzz about this latest Shah Rukh Khan - Kajol movie around the country. The women— Naina, Preeti and Tanvi— jumped, not literally, in front of their husbands to watch the movie. Not risking the mood swings of the two pregnant ladies out of the three, the men planned for the movie date on a Sunday after Diwali.

As the days and weeks passed, Naina's visits to the mirror in their bedroom increased. She loved observing her growing belly in the mirror, posing from side to side, sometimes even measuring the round on the inch tape. She would observe her features, the glow on her face everyone used to talk about, the movements of the baby inside as stroked her belly.

She would talk to herself and the baby in front of the mirror, giving a pep talk to herself as how far she has come till now and how far it is still to go.

It was a night in the December month, and Naina walked to the wall-fixed mirror again. She rounded her palms on her belly, looking at it first and then its reflection in the mirror. For the 'n'th time in these months, she marvelled at this miracle of the universe– a baby growing inside the mother's womb.

She marvelled at how all her organs had made space for the baby by squeezing themselves; which led to her fast breathing, the pressure on her bladder, her increased appetite and what not. Yet she could not complain even the slightest for this inconvenience. She was ready to go through all the pain— the bonecrushing labor pains, literally— only so that she could hold her baby, her and Sameer's baby in her arms soon.

From the moment Sameer and her decided to conceive in the Lonavala resort, till the moment she missed the immediate next cycle of her period and went to the doctor, she questioned her decision... she questioned if she made the decision in haste... She questioned if she really felt it from inside and was it just because she had a long talk with Juhi when she shared her good news.

Holding the positive report in her hand and every moment after that, Naina fathomed how correct her decision was. She felt these butterflies in her stomach knowing that there was a new life growing inside her. A small bundle of joy who would have flesh and blood of her and Sameer... who would inherit maybe Sameer's looks, his hair... who would inherit maybe her intelligence, her eyes... and she laughed at the thought of wishing the baby to have Sameer's looks and her intelligence. A deadly combination...

She had soon discerned that every woman is blessed with motherly instincts, she had experienced it herself many times for Sameer. This feeling wasn't any different for the baby. She had once read in a pregnancy magazine that when a woman gives birth to a child, a hormone called oxytocin is released. This hormone is responsible for emotions, it aids the life long emotional connections. And it's the same hormone that's released when the woman makes love to her man.

Maybe that's why women are deeply connected, rather devoted, to their baby and to their man for the entire life. The love they feel for both of them remains incomparable and unparalleled.

Her conscience would often debate about it, saying her love for Sameer will always be more... no matter what... even more than it will be towards the baby... while her subconscious mind would only laugh in the corner with a popcorn bowl, as if saying 'just wait and watch!!'

Her smile widened seeing Sameer joining her from behind, his big arms embracing her including the baby bump, wrapping them both in his love and warmth. He gave a slight upward push to her belly from her lower abdomen and Naina heaved a sigh, leaning behind on his shoulder feeling relieved. They locked their eyes in the mirror, absorbing the enormous love for one another they were oozing.

"Aaj bahot sundar lag rahi ho tum..." Sameer whispered, kissing her temple.

"Kuchh bhi haan, Sameer..." Naina replied twisting her mouth.

"Arey? Isme kya kuchh bhi?"

"Mujhe pata hai mai kaisi dikh rahi hu... mai moti ho gayi hu... baal jhadne lag gaye hai... chehre par mahinon se dark circles hai... Sundar kaise dikhungi mai?"

Sameer pursed his lips at her statement. He was told by Vishakha that women do feel low at confidence during these days and all they need is love and attention from their husband. Sameer had laughed at that tip from his mother. Because from the moment he had started loving Naina, all his attention, all his pampering, all his care and all the love he had in himself belonged to Naina.

"Tumhe pata hai... aaj se thik 8 saal pehle, hum isi dauran Mt. Abu ki trip par gaye the..." Sameer voiced, quirking his brows.

"Achchha?" Naina played along, not getting the context.

"Haan... Us waqt jab mujhe pehli baar pyaar ka ehsaas hua tha na... woh tumhare chehre se, ya tumhari bahari roop se nahi hua tha... pyaar toh mujhe uss ladki se hua tha jisne mujhe ek bahot bada risk lekar apne room mein bulaya tha... taaki thand mein meri tabiyat kharab na ho...

"pyaar mujhe uss ladki ke dil se hua tha jisne mujhpar kambal odhaya tha, jisne mujhe dawa di, jisne mera khayal rakha... pyaar mujhe uss ladki ki maasoomiyat se hua tha jo mere joote uthakar rakhne mein bhi chhotapan mehsoos nahi karti thi... mujhe pyaar tumhari aatma se hua hai Naina... aur badhte umra ke sath tumhare aur mere bahari roop mein kitna bhi badlaav kyun na aa jaye... mere liye tum tab bhi duniya ki sabse sundar ladki hi rahogi..."

Stop it, Sameer Maheshwari!! Naina's mind warned, who was careful about not getting too overwhelmed with the emotions. But her heart gave zero heed to the warning and started preparing fresh tears in her eyes.

She turned in his hold, circling her arms around his nape, "I love you, Sameer..." she whispered and before Sameer could reply, she pulled him down, capturing his lips into a deep kiss.

Her full-grown belly pressed to his flat abdomen, her toes stretched in pain to provide her some height, and meanwhile their kiss continued to grow more and more passionate. Ahh... their souls seemed to be parched since long...

A sharp pang of pain hit her stomach and Naina jerked back down, hissing.

"Kya hua?" came the immediate reaction from Sameer, holding her belly.

Naina opened her mouth to reply but before that another pang hit her. "Paani..." she could barely whisper.

Sameer made her sit on the bed and picked the jar on the nightstand up to fill the glass. Naina wiped the sweat on her forehead with the sleeve of her kurta. She hadn't even changed as she was waiting for Sameer before, who would help her in changing clothes.

Her heart was beating fast as she took some deep breaths. She plastered the smile on her face, assuring herself that things were going to be fine.

But truth to be told, she was scared from inside. There had been such a situation three weeks ago but that had turned into a false alarm. But now, she had entered her 37th week of the pregnancy, almost completing its full term, so the situation called for her to be rushed to the hospital at any moment.

Daamnn!! Was it the moment?

"Naina... yeh lo..." Sameer rushed back to her, helping her take a sip of water.

"Sameer... lagta hai hospital jaane ka time aa gaya hai..." Naina whispered in between hard breaths, keeping the empty glass on the bed.

"Kya? Sach?" Sameer almost screamed.

"Tumhe kya lag raha hai? Mai mazak kar rahi hun? Ohh haan... yahan comedy show jo chal raha hai..." Sarcasm oozed out of her as the pain in Naina's stomach didn't soothe one bit.

"Papa ko batao... jaldi..." she ordered, "unko bolo Preeti ko phone karke yahan bulaye... aur tum bag bharo... jaldi Sameer..."

"Bag?" Sameer's face contorted, his brain failed to remember anything.

He was pulled down the next moment by someone's hands on his collar... correction, of course Naina's hands on his collar, who had bewitched Durga roop now.

"Kabse pichhe padi thi tumhare, Sameer ek bag bhar ke rakho..." she greeted her teeth through the pain, pulling him more towards her, "lekin nahi... tumhe toh baby se milne ki koi jaldi hi nahi hai, hai na?"

"Haaan... okay okay... bharta hun..." Sameer replied, freeing himself before he got killed by her and sprinting to the living room. He needed to stay alive to meet their baby....

Within 10 minutes, Preeti and Shubham were present in the house, Preeti and Sameer holding Naina as they walked.

"Lift se chalo please..." Naina pleaded, heaving out from her mouth as her condition was worsening.

Hearing the commotion in the lobby and Naina's screams, the whole Gadkari family gathered there too. Sameer banged the lift's button for the fifth time but the lift failed to respond. He was now slipping into panic mode listening to Naina's painful cries, who had held his shirt for her dear life. Her kurta had become wet due to the sweat, while her backside showed her water had broken too.

He handed her to Preeti and Papa, and pulled the lift's door with all his might. The door didn't budge. He tried it for a while, exasperated,  and fearing he might detach the handle itself.

"Sameerrrrr....!"

One more shriek from Naina, and Sameer started kicking the door out of frustration. One... two... three.... His kicks didn't stop.

Why wasn't the lift working? There wasn't even any power cut.

Aditya and Shubham had to hold him and pull back before he could destroy any chance of the lift working. The situation in the lobby had turned into utter chaos. Sameer was difficult to control but Papa's loud voice made him stop. His throat was heavy with lumps while tears had pooled to the brim seeing Naina in this state.

"Hum lift se kyun ja rahe hai?" He managed to say, "mai Naina ko utha kar seediyon se hi le jata hun na..."

"Nahi Sameer..." Mrs. Gadkari stopped him, "bachche ki position bigad jayegi... Hamein Naina ko aisehi le jana padega..."

He huffed, hurling a last kick on the door.

Meanwhile Aditya ran upstairs to check if there was any issue and he noticed that someone on the fourth floor had failed to shut the grill properly, stranding the lift on the floor. Pressing the 1st floor button, he shut the grill and the door properly, sending the lift down.

Rakesh threw the labor kitbag in the dicky of the car and kept all the doors open. Sameer accommodated Naina carefully in the backseat, him and Preeti taking the seats on either side of Naina. Shubham sat on the passenger seat while Rakesh took the charge of driving himself.

Naina was taken to the labor ward immediately in the hospital, her screams making rounds in the hospital at 11pm at night.

Dr. Ragini informed there was still some time for the delivery as they were checking Naina's vitals first, and Sameer only grew worried imagining the pain Naina must be going through. He strolled to the Lord Ganesh idol at the end of the lobby, joining his hands in prayer for Naina's safety as tears made their way down his eyes.

He knew all the bullsh*t of biology and science and all those things– that a woman is supposed to go through this pain to give birth to a new life. Yes, he was going to meet his baby soon after this, but his heart didn't warrant all this pain for Naina for that.

A comforting palm was placed on his shoulder, making him turn back. He wiped his wet cheeks seeing Papa in front of him. Taking deep breaths, he tried to calm himself down, his eyes fixed on the ground.

He saw the palm on his shoulder fall down to his arm, only to pull him into the embrace of Mr. Rakesh Agarwal. Rakesh hugged Sameer tightly, finally breaking his walls, stroking his back and providing his son with warmth and affection.

Sameer wrapped his arms around his Papa, resting his cheek on his shoulder and letting all the emotions free in the form of tears. Rakesh tried to soothe Sameer with words as much as possible, giving him the courage to pass this time and rather be there for Naina who was probably going through something they couldn't even imagine.

Sameer reverted the same to Papa, sensing he needed as much courage as him to face all this. After all, it was his daughter who had awakened this hospital with her bawls.

"Mr. Maheshwari?"

The duo got separated with a voice calling them, it was a nurse who was holding a paper for Sameer to sign.

As Sameer saw Dr. Ragini passing nearby, he called her, taking two strides to reach towards her. "Kya mai delivery ke waqt Naina ke sath reh sakta hun?" he proposed, taking every person in the hearing capacity into surprise.

Dr. Ragini stood agape for a moment, composing herself soon knowing the history of this couple since the time they have been coming to her. The first husband demanding to be present during the wife's delivery in her career till now, and she wasn't surprised at all that he was Sameer Maheshwari.

"I'll let you know..." she said, patting his arm with a smile.

The pain was indescribable for Naina now. She was transferred into a bigger room, which she assumed to be a delivery room, after changing her clothes. The labor didn't stop, the tears didn't stop either and she was a complete mess in the pain.

"Chillao mat Naina... bachcha darr raha tha..." Dr. Ragini's soothing voice calmed her down, letting her realize that her baby might get worried listening to her cries.

Seeing Sameer entering the room covered in a light blue hospital apron was like a shock to her. She forgot her pain for a moment, wondering how this man was here, inside the delivery room.

She held his hand hastily, pulling him closer quicker as he was taking too much time to reach her.

"Maine ma'am se permission li hai yahan rukne ke liye..." Sameer informed her, kissing her hand. "Tumhe koi problem nahi na?"

A small laughter left her mouth amidst the tears. "Pagal ho kya? Mujhe toh tum chahiye hi hote mere paas..." she said, kissing his hand too.

Dr. Ragini asked Naina to relax and soon a partition was placed on Naina's belly, blocking the view for both of them. Sameer grabbed a stool for him to sit, not leaving Naina's hand even for a second and he kept comforting and relaxing Naina in whichever way possible.

Their holding hands were almost symbolic to their promise of togetherness. The promise they made to each other even before they took the seven vows of marriage. They didn't leave these hands when destiny tested their love at multiple stages... they didn't leave these hands when their families tried to separate them... they didn't leave these hands when they were greeted with a financial crisis... they didn't leave these hands when Mumbai challenged them to prove their worth...

Nor did they leave these hands now... till they heard the cry of a little one, making their hold even stronger. Resting their foreheads on one another, they lay there for some time, basking in the happiness of becoming parents. Wiping the tears of joy from Naina's face, Sameer fixed her hair by running his fingers into them. He placed a long kiss on both her cheeks after he was told to leave and wait till he was called again.

"Beti hui hai, Papa..." Sameer informed as he got out of the room, keeping his apron on a table.

A wave of joy spread among the newly become Nanu, Maasi and Mausaji...

"Mai maasi bann gayi Shubhamji..." Preeti cheered, not able to control her voice as she leaped into her husband's arms.

"Mai nana ban gaya...." Rakesh mumbled more to himself, wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes after he saw Sameer rushing to him and pushing him almost back with a crashing hug.

The duo rejoiced in the hug again, this time in a joyous one. "Mai papa ban gaya, papa...." Sameer voiced, squeezing the fifty-two year old man in his arms.

Rakesh ruffled Sameer's hair affectionately— his awara, mawali, baalon ki dukaan damaad had become a father... he was now a man with more responsibilities and he knew he was going to be a superdad to his daughter... showering her all the love of the universe on her...

By that time, Preeti and Shubham took the responsibility of informing everyone as they spotted telephones kept in the reception. Shubham called Arjun from a cordless, while Preeti dialed Anand and Bela from landline to share the good news. Sameer joined them soon and he called Vishakha from his mobile phone, congratulating her for becoming a dadi now.

After half an hour or so, Naina was shifted back to the room and she was desperate to meet the baby now. After Sameer had left, she was shown the baby from a distance, covered fully in white coating like some kind of a powder. But now, her heart craved to hold her.

A nurse entered the room with a baby covered in a cloth and Naina almost extended her arms to get her. The nurse placed the baby on Naina's chest, sliding her light blue hospital gown aside to make the skin-to-skin contact.

A look at the tiny little girl in her arms and Naina released all her pent up emotions as she cried. As she always kept telling herself, all this inconvenience of nine months, the anxiety, the fear, the underconfidence, the pain— it was all worth it.

She touched her tiny pink hands, even tinier fingers, her tiny feet that kicked the air, her small nose and the chubby cheeks. Bringing her little feet to her mouth, Naina kissed it, rubbing it to her own cheeks and whispering sweet nothings as she talked to the baby.

A click on the door forced her to look up and she smiled amidst tears seeing Sameer, whose eyes were only on her. He walked to her without breaking the contact, reaching straight to her head and putting a soft kiss on it.

"Congratulations Mr. Maheshwari!!" Naina whispered, "hamari zindagi mein pari aayi hai..."

Sameer smiled at her, "congratulations to you too, Mrs. Maheshwari!!! And I love you!!" he said, kissing her lips now, something that had remained incomplete before, and finally shifting his gaze to his daughter.

His daughter.... His little world... his princess...

He blinked his eyes to stop blurring his vision. He wanted to absorb the beauty of his tiny bundle into his soul. She was absolutely gorgeous, he mused, just like his Naina. He touched her feet and kissed it, a belief of society restoring in his mind that daughters are the form of Goddess Lakshmi.

As the nurse was observing everything from a corner, she asked Sameer if he wanted to hold the baby. Sameer agreed quickly, half nervous and half emotional. Losing the contact from the mother's body made the baby cry, and the nurse suggested Sameer to open his shirt's buttons.

He was astonished to hear that first, looking at Naina who was stifling her laughter. He followed anyway and opened two buttons. The nurse took the baby to him, guiding him how to hold it. Though he was informed the baby girl weighed 2.3kgs, Sameer felt it was nothing. He felt it as there were a bunch of softest feathers in his hands.

With a push on his hands, the nurse encouraged him to hold the baby at his chest and he took a deep breath at the skin-to-skin contact with his daughter. He hushed her by holding her head, rocking side to side slightly as he talked to her.

When the baby stopped crying and actually responded to Sameer's talks, Naina realized for the first time how their daughter recognized not just hers but Sameer's voice too.

Taking the baby back to Naina's arms, Sameer sat beside her. He held Naina's shoulder and pulled her closer to him, bringing their family closer now.

"Welcome to the world!!!" he said looking at his sources of happiness, first at the tiny one and then at the one to his left... his wife...

An exchange of smiles and they voiced in unison—

"Suhani Maheshwari....."

********

*radd = cancel

Ufff... so much things to pack in a chapter... couldn't help from becoming long.

How was the chapter guys? Congratulations for becoming... ummm, whatever relation you share with our Suhani Maheshwari...😀 

How did you like the name Suhani?

How was Naina-Sameer and Preeti-Shubham's journey so far?

After this chapter, we have only TWO chapters left in the story. The next one would be last one and followed by the epilogue.

My gratitude towards you all for staying with me till here.

I wished to do a Q&A with you all, but not sure how many questions will come my way. Many authors do character interviews. Like the readers ask questions to the characters, and authors answer them on their behalf.

I don't know how much of that applies here, but if you have annnyyyyyy kind of question... regarding writing, regarding characters, regarding my thoughts behind showing something... anything related to Sapno Ka Shaher, I would be really really happy to answer them.

So if you have questions, drop them here, OR in the next chapter OR in the epilogue. I would answer them in the author's note which I generally post after a story ends.

Pleeasse vootteeee and commmeennttt in heavy numbers on this chapter as I wish to finish it soon and I need lots of motivation for that.

So it's a request to all the silent readers and only voters, please be a little active and engage with the story.

See you soon,

Love, Mugs ♥️