48.
Ekansh woke up and looked at Kiara, she was sleeping while holding her eight months old baby bump, as if someone would snatch the baby away from her.
Recently she became more quiet and reserved, she hated whenever he chose her over the baby, but he loved her more than anything, for him she was the first priority.
The doctor told him to not leave her alone for even a second, he was mostly home but when he wasn't, his maternal grandmother and her mother would look after her.
He sighed and caressed her hairs before walking in the bathroom to grab some water to wipe her body, He was very careful with her.
Kiara Opened her eyes and looked at him as he sat near her legs, "You don't have to do it, I can still walk."
He shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I know you can walk, love," he said gently. "But I want to take care of you."
He continued to gently wipe her body with a warm, damp cloth, his touch careful and tender. "Just let me do this, okay?"
She stared at him, "If I don't make it, please take care of our child."
He stopped for a moment, his heart clenching at her words. He knew they had to accept the possibility that she might not make it, but hearing her say it out loud was a gut-wrenching reminder.
He looked into her eyes, his gaze filled with a mixture of love and worry. "Don't talk like that," he said softly, his voice cracking slightly. "You're going to make it, love. Both of you will."
"You will be a great father," she whispered, He looked at her, his eyes filled with worry and love. "I don't want to be just a father, love. I want to be your husband, your partner, your person," he said softly, his hand lightly touching her bump.
"And I want you to be there with us, always." Kiara stared at him as his mother walked inside with his grandmother, "Have some fruits, Kiara."
His grandmother said and she smiled, as she tried to sit Ekansh helped her. He supported her, his arm wrapped around her waist, carefully lifting her to sit up. He couldn't help but notice how much thinner she'd become, her body struggling with the pregnancy.
His grandmother set down a plate of fresh fruits in front of her, gesturing for her to eat. "Eat up, dear. You need to keep your strength up," she said kindly.
...........
It was midnight when Kiara felt sharp pain in her abdomen, she clutched his arms. "Ekansh." She shouted on top of her lungs.
He jolted awake, his body tense as he took in her panicked tone. He quickly turned to face her, his eyes wide with worry.
"What's wrong? What happened?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. He gently held her shoulder, his touch firm yet soothing, trying to steady her trembling form.
"It hurts." She cried, He immediately jumped out of the bed, his mind in panic mode. He carefully helped her sit up and wrapped a robe around her body, ensuring she was covered.
"We're going to the hospital," he said, his voice firm yet filled with worry. He scooped her up in his arms, cradling her against his chest. He walked quickly but carefully, making sure not to jostle her too much.
He carried her to the car, his grip firm yet gentle. He placed her gently on the passenger seat and rushed around to the driver's side, starting the car with a swift turn of the ignition.
..........
The doctors rushed her into the operation theatre, it was not the due date but she went in labour.
"Mr. Shekhawat, You can come in." The doctor said, he nodded and after wearing hospital clothes he walked inside, he saw her in pain, on the bed with her legs wide open.
The pain she was having was unbearable his own eyes teared up as he held her hands, "I wish I could take your pain."
She held his hands tightly, yelling in pain, "Mr. Shekhwat don't let her sleep, no matter what she can't stop in between." The doctor informed him.
He felt his heart break at the sight of her in so much pain, his own tears streaming down his face. He squeezed her hand tightly, his voice shaky, "I'm here, love. I won't let you sleep. I'm right here with you."
He stood by her side, holding her hand, his other hand occasionally wiping her sweat-drenched forehead. He whispered words of encouragement and reassurance, trying to soothe her and keep her focused.
"Push, push." Kiara pushed with all her power and soon the operation theatre was filled with the voice of the child crying.
Ekansh immediately hugged her, "You did it," he smiled thinking the danger was gone, but she closed her eyes. Her body going limp.
He looked at her in horror and patted her cheeks, he couldn't understand anything. It was like this world was shattering, the nurse took the baby away.
"She is loosing hope," the doctor said trying to stop the bleeding, and monitoring her heart rate. "It's dropping doctor, it's dropping." The nurse said.
The world around his stopped as he kept starring at her form, she looked lifeless. "She is leaving her body." Another doctor said.
His tears couldn't stop, he was continuously crying, "I told you not to do this," he closed his eyes.
His head spinning, he wasn't able to understand anything, "We need more blood, she is continuously bleeding."
"Give her oxygen." The nurse rushed, "Sir please wait outside." The nurse looked at him, but he wasn't Able to hear anything, to understand anything, Nothing mattered to him but her.
He couldn't hear anything as if his ears were filled with water, his head was spinning, his vision blurred with tears. He shook his head, refusing to leave her side.
"No, I'm not leaving her." He rasped out, his voice hoarse from sobbing. He gripped her hand, holding on to a hope that was slipping away.
"You promised you won't do this. You can't leave me, please don't." He pleaded, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Sir, you have to go outside." The nurse pulled him outside and closed the door, he fell on the floor and clutched his head, breaking in tears.
"Bhaiya, everything will be fine." His step brother clutched his shoulder in reassurance. For the first time after loosing his mother he felt so weak and broken.
He immediately hugged chitransh, at first chitransh was surprised but soon he hugged him back, and patted his back, "the doctors are trying."
One of the nurses came out and Richa looked at the nurse, "How is she?", the nurse looked at Richa and shook her head. "We informed her before, she won't make it, her condition has worsen."
Ekansh's world shattered, The words hit him like a ton of bricks, shattering his already shattered heart. He felt as if the world had come crashing down around him, leaving him hollow and desolate.
He pushed himself off his step brother's lap and stumbled to his feet, his legs feeling weak and unstable. "No, no, no," he muttered quietly, his voice hoarse and strangled. "Not her, she can't leave me."
.............