"Reyan! Come down! It's time for to get ready for school! "Samaira's loving call cut through the air.
An eight year old Reyan who had ran up the stairs with his toy helicopter frowned. He would have landed it on a table which happened to be his helipad in one of the rooms upstairs. Only if his voice was not interuppted her. He had promised himself that he'd do it in one run.
"Reyan! You still haven't even eaten anything! I've told you many times not to go up like that. You'll slip and fall! "Samaira yelled, coming out of her bedroom after ironing his uniform.She was on a leave today and hence could help the children in getting ready.Kevin had already eaten his breakfast and insisted on dressing up himself, stating that he's a big eleven year old boy. A five Prarthana  was all ready and now watching television, waiting for her siblings.
Samaira sighed as Reyan did not come down yet and made her way to the living room where the staircase starts.
On her way, she heard a scream and she instantly recognized the person. Reyan!
She automatically shouted his name and ran to the stairs.
She reached there and she felt the air she breathed in being stuck in her throat. There he he was! In a small pool of blood.

Samaira woke up from the dream with a jolt. The one year old memory had been hunting down her sleep since the day it happened. In the initial days, it was regular but now it had lessened to once or twice within a long span of days.

Samaira's pov
After catching sight of Reyan in such a state, everything was a daze. All I could remember was picking him up and rushing to the hospital with my kids tagging along. I had also dialled Ayush who was at the hospital on the way.
I was allowed beside Reyan when he was being treated since I was a doctor and by then the fact that he was only very minutely injured started sinking in. He was even conscious all the while and the wound was stitched within a short span. After that Reyan and me was all cool but there was one person who was worrying his guts out.
Yes! Ayush the great!
That day I saw the same vulnerable Ayush who was praying restlessly for Praniti's well being. Only difference being, he had his arms around me, whispering words of consolation into my ears when I approached him.
He was sweating and maybe shivering too when he saw Reyan with some blood on his head and started yelling at the nurses and the doctor rushing to treat him, as if his son was bleeding buckets. He forgets the existence of logic and brains when a loved one's in danger.
Okay, now I won't say I was not afraid but the despair was replaced by hope the moment I realized the injury is small and curable. More than fright, I had found agony stinging my senses knowing that my baby boy was going through pain. Won't he feel hurt, no matter how small the cut is? Won't he be scared seeing blood coming from his own body? Those thoughts were what made my eyes well up. Reyan was also crying on the way and I felt my insides being scraped savagely.
I think this feeling is the reason I still get nightmares.
Talking about this, I should speak about Ayush too. He has this sharp skill to read through me irrespective of the circumstances he's in.Before entering the OT, his fingers had grasped my arm and his lips had gently whispered, "He's our strong boy! It's not going to hurt him that much. "
My heart had melted that very instant and flowed down my ribs. If sensibility was an art, then he would have been a world famous artist by now.
I feel blessed every moment I feel his presence. I smile like I'm suffering from Angleman syndrome. That day standing under the falling raindrops with him after returning to India,I thought our minds cannot get any more closer. But this man here proved me wrong. He kept on trudging closer   and I'm sure that he must have measured the depth of my soul.
I get up from the bed, feeling an urge to see Kevin, Reyan and Prarthana who are sleeping with their favorite person, my mother, their grandma. I slowly walk out of our bedroom and reach the room where they are dozing off, cuddling mom like their soft toy. I peek through the slightly ajar door and catch a small glance of them, just the way I assumed.
Suddenly, I feel a movement behind me. Of course!
I cross my arms across my chest and say, "How many times I've told you Samaira to not wander off at night? It's not good for -"before I could complete imitating the person behind me in a low voice, I feel an arm being lovingly wrapped around my waist. It slowly touches my bulged belly and then I feel his lips on my hair.

"You're not scolding me for not sleeping? "I ask,showing a very subtle trace of surprise.
"Nope! "he murmurs and rests both his hands on my tummy and his chin on my shoulder.
"See baby! You're mother is so careless despite being a 'GYNAECOLOGIST'."he complains,stressing the word gynaecologist to our seven months old little one inside my stomach.
"Ayush! It's just twelve. It's not that late you know!"I chide him, placing a smack on his shoulder.I would have gone for his head but I don't want my man's handsome face smashed.
"Stop abusing me, will you? "he acts like pleading in a sad tortured voice.
"No, I won't! "I answer back.My nose has gone red now. I'm getting angry!!!Ughhh!!
"Ayush!! I'm hungry! "I whisperyell and he keeps an amused face, then makes his way to the kitchen.
"South Indian or North Indian?"he asks while switching on the lights of the kitchen, as if my demand was the most predictable thing on earth. Sam! Pregnancy have made you a bit too predictable, especially for him. Fine, but I'm not giving up either.
"Chinese. "I retort, smirking. Now let's see what he's gonna do.
Without a word, he starts pulling out things from the cupboards and refrigerator. Within forty five minutes, I have noodles prepared with my favorite sauces infront of me to dig in.

Okay! I give up and  now I feel bad for putting him through this.
"Ayush! Why don't you deny things when I ask you? I feel like I'm a spoilt brat.I'm bad. "I utter, showing displeasure on myself. These days I'm pestering him too much and then I start regretting. All he wanted me to do was sleep and what all did I make him do?
I've to say sorry to him.
"Ayush! I'm sorry. "I say bitterly and his signature cheesy smile blooms on his lips.
"You're my queen and your wish is my command. I can never deny you."he voices out like a lovesick puppy and I facepalms mentally. He's a gone case.
"Okay that was too lame,I know. But you don't deserve to be denied. You've never asked me anything else other than this little things and I'm happy to do it for you."he says, setting his eyes on mine.As usual, I feel a tingle race down my spine. He's magic!
Pov ends
.....
Ayush's pov
I stand up slowly and sit next to her, pulling her a bit closer. My hands wander off to her stomach. I don't know. I can't help it. I want to feel my baby all the time. I slowly remember how she told me she's expecting.
Flashback
It was raining and I was late to home.I searched for her in the house but couldn't find her. The children were put to sleep. Then I went to the garden, considering her love for getting wet there. As I guessed, she was there,drenching of course. I had sighed and tapped her shoulders harshly and she had turned around with dewy eyes. I still remember how the rain had stopped by then and the moon had come out. It's silken light had fell on her pupils,making them glimmer like exquisite diamonds. Then I had cradled her face in my palms and asked her what's the matter. All of sudden, she had hugged me and whispered, "I.. am...we're going to be parents again! ".
The goosebumps that I felt the moment was inexplicable.I was so excited and took her into a bone crushing hug. I thought I couldn't be anymore happier but I was wrong.
End of Flashback
....
I sense Samaira's warm palms over mine.I can feel her slow breathes. She thinks she's disturbing me, asking for strange things at odd times. Only I know how much I love doing them for her. She's trying to control her mood swings, deep down doubting lightly, very lightly that I'd leave her like that jerk did. But she herself knows that I wouldn't do that even if I want to. I've been attached to her heart in a way that, separating from it would stop mine from beating.
She never had big and expensive desires. Chilling with family on weekends with some coffee and open conversation, I figured out, is one of her greatest desires. Drenching in the rain to her heart's content, helping the needy and excelling in her career were her other wishes.
Now, how can I say no to such a lady who has an extremely beautiful heart which belongs to me to hold onto?I simply can't.
I look down to find her head on my chest, her eyes set on the food. HOWWW CUTE CANNN SHHEE BEE????
"You're not eating? "I ask ,chuckling inwardly.
"Yes yes! "she answers and gets her hands on the bowl.She then gulps down the noodles quickly. Before taking the last bite, she spares me a glance and I raise my eyebrows. She extends the spoon to me, asking me to eat it. When I shake my head, turning down the offer, she pouts. Well, she knows the right spot.
I slowly eat the food from her hands and she smiles. That damned smile!
I pull her into a tight hug, taking care of her bump of course and feels her hands around me. Everytime I hug her,I find my definition of home.
"I'm not leaving you, you know! "I say.I know she does not need the assurance but still it will feel good when you hear that from the person you love.
"I know you won't. "she replies in her honeyed voice and shifts closer.
             ............................
Are you all alive??? 😭😭😭😭
I miss you all so much. Hopefully I'll be back by June ❤
And yeah, this chap was written last year but I couldn't publish.. Hehe.. I hope you like the small sneak peek into Ayush's and Samaira's life. Do leave ur votes and comments❤
Stay Safe and Blessed 😘

Love,
Chris