bonus chapter 1
It's been 3 days since Isha's delivery and the triplets were still in NICU. The doctor informed them that their children were now out of the NICU and were ready to be fed.
"Maharaj... Rani sa... The senior doctor and the team of pediatricians gave the go-ahead, your children will be here in a while... The nurse will be here to help Rani sa with the feeding", the assistant doctor to Dr. Mrunalini informed politely and left...
Abhyansh was delighted to hear the news, he wanted to take his princess in his arms for the past 3 days, and Isha's condition was more or less the same, but she was craving to hold all her three children in her arms, unlike her husband who is more excited for his daughter.
"Finally! My children will be here... I couldn't even take them in my arms...", Isha said with tears... She remembered she only saw them from a little distance, while they were in the NICU. After the delivery, Isha was subjected to post-care and was recommended with complete bed rest and put on heavy medication. She was barely conscious in the first 60 hours after her delivery, but every time she came to consciousness, she found her husband beside her, and she asked for her children every time. Finally, after a long wait, the new parents heard the good news about their children's arrival or so they thought.
Within the next hour, the senior doctor and nurse was there and guided Isha regarding feeding. And soon, the concerned pediatricians entered with their sons... Abhyansh gave their elder son to Isha and she adjusted him in her right arm while he helped her hold their second son in her left arm...
"You sure, you could handle ?", Abhyansh asked gently... Isha nodded with an assured smile...
"Where is my daughter ?", Abhyansh asked in his steely tone, he was eagerly waiting to hold his daughter in his arms but the doctors only brought his sons.
"P... Princess has to stay in NICU for a few more days, Maharaj", the doctor tried her level best not to fumble but seeing Abhyansh's angry face and hearing his steely tone, it looked almost unachievable.
"Why ? Is something wrong ?", Isha asked, she tried to keep her tone steady but worry was clearly visible. When it came to their children, both the parents were uncontrollable but Abhyansh still maintained a balanced posture.
"She is fine, Rani sa... But isn't ready for the outside environment... she needs to stay there for a few more days, but yes, you can feed her from tomorrow...", the lady doctor informed, and after giving certain instructions, she escaped taking a breath of relief as she got out of there alive.
The rest of the staff too dispersed quickly, as they could see how upset Abhyansh looked, and it was a conscious decision to leave from there before his anger mounted... Thankfully, Isha asked them to leave, saying she could manage, and handle their children on their own...
After they left, Abhyansh sat beside Isha, while she started feeding her elder son and younger son together.
"I was waiting for my daughter... my princess, I want to hold her badly...", he said, expressing his feelings to his wife...
"Me too... We'll hold her soon... Just be patient... and give some of your attention to your sons, at least till your daughter stops with her attitude and decides to meet her parents", Isha said earning a glare from her husband
"My daughter doesn't have an attitude, she has standards... Maybe we need to upgrade ourselves...", Abhyansh said ruffling his sons who were having their milk, it wasn't a taunt or a statement made out of fun, he said it seriously as if he meant it, Isha rolled her eyes at her husband's love for his princess...
The sight overwhelmed him, his Rani sa feeding his children, handling them with such ease, so naturally. He is grateful and proud that she is the mother of his children. Isha made them burp and gave her younger son to her husband who kept holding her finger... while her elder son clutched her wedding chain and maternity gown strongly in his fist making it hard to loosen his grip on her...
Abhyansh was about to put them in their respective cradles but Isha asked him to lay them down just beside her, and she kept staring at her sons, dropping kisses on their faces, overwhelmed with the feeling that they were finally with her... Abhyansh captured the moments making her first meeting with their kids a beautiful memory.
The Ranawat princes kept staring at their mother as if she were the most beautiful woman, well she was, a mother always is...
"Okay... enough staring, sleep", Abhyansh said sternly and Isha laughed at his tone...
"Your sons are barely 3 days old, they won't understand your hard tone... and Didn't I tell you, I wouldn't want you to use that tone with my children", Isha warned her husband... Abhyansh tried to ignore her words but she didn't let it pass so easily... "Ansh... I'm waiting for your response", Isha asked
"Fine... I'll tone down, happy ?", Abhyansh asked and Isha smiled, nodding her head... "Now sleep... I'll be watching them... You need rest, bacha...", he said kissing her forehead.
"I'm doing better...", she said, knowing how much he was worried for her...
"You need to do a lot better than this... You have lost a lot of blood, Rani sa...", he said, his voice cracked, imagining his wife's pain...
"Ansh... Come on, it wasn't that bad, stop thinking so much...", she said holding his palm and rubbing it...
"Hm... take some rest", he said and she slowly drifted to sleep holding his arm in hers...
Avyan and Ranveer busted into Isha's ward with balloons, toys and all other kinds of products for the babies...
"Where are my nephews and niece ? I heard they are here", Ranveer asked
"Don't shout, Your sister is sleeping...", Abhyansh warned...
"What else would she do, that's her only job from the past 3 days", Ranveer said and both the Ranawat brothers glared at him as if they would eat him alive...
"You give birth to 3 babies, no just to one baby and then speak... Do you know how much bhabhi ma suffers", Avyan said and Ranveer raised his arms in surrender...
"I was just kidding, chill man... I'm more worried about my sister than anything...", Ranveer said... "I love my nephews and niece, but I wouldn't forgive your brother for giving this pain to my sister... Poor she... had to suffer so much to give birth to this beast's children, that too not one or two but three at a time", Ranveer said and Abhyansh sighed deeply...
"Bhai... Stop it... Rana sa is already in guilt", Isha muttered in sleep...
"Ishu... My bacha... How are you ?", Ranveer said, walking towards his sister, crossing his beast of a brother-in-law who stood as a wall till now, blocking him from seeing his sister and nephews... "My... My... are these my little munchkins... Wait! where is mamu's princess ? My Laddu ?", Ranveer asked, Abhyansh and Avyan cringed at the nick name...
"Your Laddu is still in NICU, for now, play with your Golu-Molu", Isha said and Abhyanhs fisted his palm controlling himself from snapping at his wife for the stupid nicknames but his brother couldn't...
"bhabhi ma... a small request... Could you please not call them with those names... they are absolutely cute but the names doesn't match up to my niece and nephews standards", Avyan pleaded
"Standards! God! you and your bhai sa has gone mad, talking about standards and all", Isha said and Abhyansh shook his head at his brother, warning him to back off and his smart brother got the hint...
"Okay bhabhi ma... I won't say anything...", Avyan said and Isha smiled at him affectionately...
"Come here and take your nephews into your arms...", Isha said forwarding her elder son, while her younger son is in Ranveer's arms, who took him in his arms effortlessly... Abhyansh admired the Rajput siblings effortless handling of days-old babies... He praised his wife openly but couldn't do the same so like always he used a twisted way...
"No bhabhi ma... I'm scared, they are so small, I'm afraid I would hurt them... Ranveer is handling them so naturally", Avyan said, Ranveer is about to make a cocky comment but Abhyansh interrupted...
"Practice makes ma perfect, Rajput developed this skill in one such manner... Starting with that kid Aryan to babysitting a whole bunch of kids, he has got hell lot of practice", Abhyanhs mocked Ranveer who glared at his brother-in-law...
"Ranawat...", Ranveer started but Isha interrupted him...
"Bhai... It's okay, let it go, just because he said something like that, it won't become true right ? He is just irritating you", Isha calmed her brother...
"By stating facts", Abhyansh interrupted
"Rana sa...", Isha warned
"What? It's true... Your brother babysat a whole bunch of kids, ask him ?", Abhyansh said, smirking at Ranveer who looked traumatized at the memory... Isha looked at Ranveer for confirmation...
"I had to, I once went to pick up Aryan from his nursery, but there was an issue with the toilet, so the teacher went to show the plumber, requesting me to babysit the kids for a while... It was years ago... I don't know how your beast of a husband gets the hang of all my life's embarrassing moments", Ranveer said while Isha stifled her laugh at her brother's pissed face.
Avyan came forward to take his eldest nephew in his arms, but was scared...
"Relax! put one palm under their neck supporting the head, and with the other one, support his body", Abhyansh guided his brother, while Isha put him in Avyan's arms who smiled widely when he successfully took his nephew in his arms.
"Where are others ?", Isha asked, as she knew her whole family was excited to meet the triplets, they were eagerly waiting for them to get out of the NICU.
"We didn't let anyone know", Ranveer said, cooing his younger nephew.
"Yeah, we want the triplets all for ourselves...", Avyan said, staring at his eldest nephew, admiring his every feature... "Bhai sa... Did you see his eyes, he has beautiful eyes, just like you", Avyan said excitedly... Abhyansh nodded, Isha's food approved by her nutritionist made its way to her ward and Abhyansh started feeding his wife, while his brother and brother-in-law enjoyed their time with his sons...
Soon Ragini busted inside glaring angrily at Ranveer, who looked here and there understanding his wife's anger...
"RANVEER RAJPUT... Why didn't you tell me about their arrival ?", Ragini asked pointing at the cribs...
"I forgot... I'm so sorry baby, I was so excited to meet my niece and nephews that I completely forgot about informing anyone", Ranveer defended himself and Ragini slowly calmed down understanding her husband's attachment towards the triplets and his sister, but Abhyansh didn't like it, so, he signaled to Avyan who smirked and nodded.
"But Ranveer? When I asked about informing the families, you said you wanted some time alone with the babies, without any disturbance, but I thought you might have informed at least Ragini, I didn't know you considered her as a disturbance as well", Avyan said innocently, Ragini's anger which was calming down, suddenly boiled again, she glared at Ranveer...
"How could you....", she started but Isha glared at her husband and brother-in-law who were enjoying her brother's poor state and came to his rescue...
"Ragini... fight with bhai later, first meet your nephews, baby", Isha said, using the word 'baby' with extra sweetness, in order to irritate her husband who wouldn't leave a single chance to trouble her brother.
Abhyansh glared at his wife, she ignored him but she felt another glare and it was her brother's... She rolled her eyes at her possessive husband and brother... She prayed to God to save Ragini from her brother's possessiveness...
"What's with this 'baby' and all ? Call her by her name, she is your best friend and sister-in-law, not your 'baby' ", Ranveer said and Isha shook her head turning to Ragini...
"You better shut up, or else I would put a plaster on it... I'm already very irritated with the stunt you pulled...", Ragini warned her husband which instantly silenced him... Avyan chuckled at the chickened-out Ranveer while Abhyansh thoroughly enjoyed it.
Isha helped Ragini take the babies one by one and soon the Ranawat family walked inside, glaring at Avyan... Now, it's Ranveer's turn to trap Avyan but unfortunately, BEAST came to his brother's rescue flopping his plans...
A few days passed, and only Isha was allowed inside the NICU to feed her daughter, every time she came out of it, Abhyansh asked her about their daughter, Isha felt bad seeing her husband's condition... She asked the doctors if he could go inside with her, and though they allowed him, Abhyansh knew there were a few minor risks with it, so he controlled his emotions... He would always be his daughter's protector but never a potential risk to her, so he refrained from going with his wife inside the NICU.
Finally! Abhyansh Singh Ranawat's wait to take his daughter in his arms is over... The whole Ranawat and Rajput clan is present in Isha's ward, decorating it grandly to welcome their princess. Isha walked in her ward carrying her daughter... Their sons who were in Abhyansh's and Ranveer's arms were now passed to Devyani Devi and Amruta, the men waited to take the princess in their arms... The triplets were fraternal, so the family has no problem in identifying them...
Abhyansh forwarded his palm toward his daughter who unconsciously put her hand in his and soon held his finger tightly and wouldn't leave it. Abhyansh's eyes welled up at the first touch of his daughter. He took her in his arms gently, lifted her to his face, and kissed her little feet, shocking his whole family with his act.
"Baba is blessed to have you bacha", Abhyansh whispered emotionally, Amruta broke into sobs seeing a glimpse of her 'Abhi' after about 2 decades...
Devyani Devi consoled Amruta, she asked Avyan to hold the baby in her arms but he denied saying he needed to take the princess in his arms, Ranveer did the same, Ragini rolled her eyes at the men's obsession with their princess, and took the baby boy from Devyani Devi's arms.
"Ranawat... Give her to me...", Ranveer asked
"No, I'll hold her first", Avyan said
"I'm her grandfather, give her to me", Pratap said forwarding his hand...
"Bhairav...", Abhyansh called, and he stepped inside the ward... They understood that Abhyansh called Bhairav to silence them but what he did, surprised all of them.
"Bhairav...", Abhyansh said forwarding his princess... Bhairav looked shaken, with what Abhyansh did... He saw how protective the king is, he expected Abhyansh to be very protective of his daughter, not even allowing anyone else to hold her except for Isha but he was proven wrong for the first time... His king trusted him with his daughter and that feeling overwhelmed Bhairav.
"Hold her, Bhairav... She needed your blessings first", Isha said and Bhairav nodded gratefully.
He took her in his arms and kissed her forehead, Isha clicked a picture of them...
"Now take them in your arms", Abhyansh said showing the two princes. Bhairav understood that Abhyansh and Isha wanted him to take their princess in his arms first, then the princes, but he thought otherwise when they didn't ask him to hold their sons till date. Bhairav looked apologetically at Abhyansh and Isha, he was about to apologize but both shook their hands...
"We know what you thought, trust me, we didn't feel bad, I mean I didn't feel bad, but can't say the same about your 'Hukum', he might have felt bad because you didn't understand him, and this happened for the first time in history", Isha teased looking at Abhyansh. He kept complaining to Isha about how could Bhairav not understand his intentions, but then Isha made him understand Bhairav's extreme love for the triplets which made him misunderstand his 'Hukum'.
"Apologies Hukum", Bhairav said but Abhyansh didn't respond... Isha nudged him with her elbow and then he nodded a bit, relieving Bhairav from the guilt of misunderstanding his 'Hukum', then he went and took the princes in his arms on by one.
Ranveer walked to Abhyansh to hold his princess but he pulled away...
"Ranawat... Don't this now... She is my niece, I'm the first person she met, even before you, give her to me", Ranveer said, indicating how he knew about his sister's pregnancy even before Abhyansh.
"BHAI...", Isha chided her brother for saying such things, she knew it would always hurt her husband, and she cursed herself for not telling him the truth then and there, but if she told him then, she still would be unaware of the truth and the closure everyone got wouldn't be there, so somewhere she knew she did right, the only wrong that happened was it hurt her husband.
Abhyansh held te grudge and passed his princess to everyone except for Ranveer, Isha saw her brother's face which resembled of a crybaby, so she took her daughter from Rajmata and handed the baby to her brother who smiled widely kissing his princess's forehead.
"You will be Mamu's princess always... Ishu... she is just like you... see she is holding my hair like you used to hold when you were months old...", Ranveer said with a wide smile... and Isha's smile broadened seeing her brother's happiness but it was short-lived.
"Okay, enough now, my daughter needs some rest, everyone out", Abhyansh said and Ranveer's face paled...
"I'll stay here, with my niece and nephews", Ranveer said
"If you want you can take both of them away, but not my daughter", Abhyansh made it clear...
"Rana sa ?", Isha's tone held a silent warning 'Dare you say something against my sons' and Abhyansh clearly got it.
"All my three children will stay in the ward, and now they needed some rest so do my wife", Abhyansh said
"He is right, Isha looked very weak... She needs proper rest to recover from this", Pratap said and signaled Amruta, both of them walked away followed by Rajmata. Ranveer wasn't willing to leave...
"Bhai... Just a few days, then I'll come to Rajput palace, for now, go and take some rest, you were here the whole last night and now rushed back to the hospital knowing about your princess's arrival, you need some rest", Isha said and Ranveer nodded happily, hearing his sister say she would come there to live with him for a few days.
Ragini and Ranveer left followed by Avyan...
"What was that ? Why did you lie to your brother ?", Abhyansh asked
"I didn't", she said meekly, she knew if she talked about staying in the Rajput palace for a few weeks, Abhyansh would throw a fit but she had to tell him that...
"You and my children are not going anywhere...", Abhyansh declared...
"You could come and stay there, Rana sa... Please... I wanted to stay for a few weeks with my brother, until I recovered completely... I'm feeling a lot of discomforts right now, the pain and mood swings are too much, I feel unusually sleepy at odd times, and drowsy at all times, at this time, I want to stay with bhai... If I stay in Ranawat palace, I feel compelled to get up and get ready, or do things in a certain way because here, I'm a queen and your wife, no matter how much you say, I can't be at ease, on the other hand, in Rajput palace, I'm just a daughter of that house", Isha said and Abhyansh nodded understanding her views, it's not like he didn't know any of this before, but he thought he could change her view but now he understood that she needed to stay in the Rajput palace to regain her mental and physical strength.
"Okay, I'll take care of the arrangements", Abhyansh said
"Bhai already got the nurseries made for them... He got all the necessary things in my chamber, just crosscheck things... It should be fine", Isha said and Abhyansh nodded... "I got some of your clothes already shifted there...", Isha said and Abhyansh shook his head.
"You were planning this for a long time huh", he said and she smiled sheepishly.
"Well... Bhai and I planned this when I stayed there, though I haven't confirmed it then... I thought I'd be able to manage but now I don't think I can", Isha said, carefully sitting on her bed and taking her daughter in her arms, he quickly helped her to settle comfortably...
"Are the stitches still causing pain?", he asked worriedly
"Rana sa, it's just been more than a week to the delivery, this is normal", Isha said but Abhyansh's frown didn't disappear, instead deepened more...
"We should have gone with a C-section... Vaginal Delivery was too painful huh, that's why I told you earlier, you were adamant to leave the decision on doctors", Abhyansh said
"Because they'll see an option that would cause minimal side effects in the later stage... You see, according to the data, each pregnancy reduces the mother's life span by a few years, I wanted to minimize that, because maybe after a certain age, my children will be able to live without me, my brother, best friends, family, everyone will learn to live without me, everyone but you, so I had to take care of myself for my Rana sa", she said with a smile but his distress was visible on his face...
"We won't have different life spans Jaan, one life and one span... I won't be living even a minute more after you", Abhyansh said, Isha hit him on his mouth...
"Don't say such words...", She warned glaring at him...
"Sorry... Ignore my words, We have many more years to even think about getting old", Abhyansh said smirking at Isha...
"Chi...! Rana sa... Stop thinking so vulgar, at least when kids are around", Isha said and Abhyansh's smirk widened...
"I didn't say a word that seemed vulgar... I can't help if you could read my mind just looking at my face", Abhyansh shrugged, Isha shook her head at her dirty-minded husband.
"Have you spoken to the Kulguru regarding the naming ceremony ?", Isha asked feeding her daughter, rubbing her back...
"Yes... there is a good time in the coming week ? But would you be able to sit for so long if it's going to be next week ?", Abhyansh asked
"Yeah, I think I'll manage, it's just for a day... It's better to name them as early as possible, I can't bear your brooding face, whenever bhai or myself addresses them with their nicknames", Isha said rolling her eyes... But Abhyansh understood she couldn't sit for so long.
"Really ? You call them nicknames? Let it be, I don't want to discuss those names. Regarding the naming ceremony, I don't think you could sit for so long now, I have asked the Kulguru to see for an auspicious time after a few weeks", Abhyansh said, in a decisive tone and Isha knew she couldn't argue with that tone...
Isha nodded, and handed their daughter to Abhyansh before picking up her younger son, who was awake to feed him followed by the elder one...
"Have you thought of any names for them ?", Isha asked
"I have listed a few names for my daughter... We will select the best from those... regarding those two... You can choose", Abhyansh said, pointing towards their sons...
"Rana sa... Now it's becoming too much to bear... You are treating them as if they weren't yo...", Isha started but stopped with Abhyansh's one strong look.
"Don't you dare complete...", Abhyansh warned sharply and Isha quickly apologized, she knew which things triggered her husband and she wasn't allowed to say those things even for fun.
"Okay... You too, don't discriminate among my three kids", Isha said and Abhyansh stayed silent... "Ansh...", Isha called him again but he didn't respond. "Talking to you is such a waste", she chided and laid down shutting her eyes...
"Don't sleep now, it's your meal time, have it and then doze off", he said and she opened her eyes to glare at him but looking at a small smile on his face, her anger disappeared... He was smiling at his daughter who woke up to her father's voice, and kept staring at him... The little princess gave a small smile looking at her father which made Abhyansh smile too...
"Great... Brooding daughter of a brooding father, she never smiled till date, but look at her now", Isha commented...
"Aw... You want Baba to hold you hm ?", Abhyansh asked softly, taking his daughter in his arms who squealed in delight at the contact with her father... "See what mumma is saying... How can she call you brooding when you are such a good baby...", Abhyansh talked to his daughter as if she understood his every word. His daughter moved his hands and legs squealing as if she was excited hearing her father talk. Isha kept staring at the father-daughter with awe, it was such a beautiful sight, to see the softest version of her husband...
Isha smiled imagining the bonding this father-daughter would form in the future if this is the case when she is just days old.
-----------------------------------
It was the day of the naming ceremony for the triplets. Kulguru suggested different birth star Pujas(ceremonies) for the triplets for their well-being, and after completing them, Isha and Abhaynsh started with the charity they organized, followed by the naming ceremony.
Abhyansh looked at Isha one last time if she would change her decision but she shook her head to which Abhyansh nodded and whispered the names in their triplets' ears.
"Maharaj... Please announce the names, starting with your first-born", the Kulguru said
"Arhat Rajput Ranawat, Adhyat Rajput Ranawat, Atimya Abhyansh Singh Ranawat", Abhyansh announced, Ranveer frowned at how his beast of a brother-in-law gave both Rajput & Ranawat surnames to his sons but only his name + surname to his daughter and it didn't go well with him who fumed in jealousy, he wanted his surname to be added for his niece as well.
Everyone admired how Abhyansh and Isha named all their three children after Lord Shiva. After the ceremony is concluded, the family sat in the hall with Arhat and Adhyat in their respective cribs while Atimya in her father's arms...
"Ranawat... I expected you to be fair, you named all your children starting with 'A', where is my sister's name, and why did you not give our surname to the princess, she has as much Rajput blood as Ranawat blood", Ranveer whined... Abhyansh looked at Isha, no glared at her...
"I was about to name my Elder son Yashiv and younger one Ishiv, taking after their mother, but she wanted all their names to start with 'A', your sister was adamant about it", Abhyansh answered still glaring at his wife...
"I want their names to start with 'A', just like their father's, uncle's, and aunt's (Avyan and Advaita's)", Isha said...
"What about the surname ?", Ranveer asked
"Rana sa gave only Ranawat surname because she will have a choice to adopt her husband's name in the future, and at that time, if she has two surnames, she would want to drop at least one of the two, so we thought...", Isha started and Abhyansh looked extremely troubled with what his wife said but he couldn't say a word, but the other men got alarmed.
"Wait! Husband ? What the hell... Ishu, have you gone crazy ?", Ranveer exclaimed
"Bhabhi ma... What are you even saying ?", Avyan asked perturbed
"Isha ?", Pratap asked making Isha take deep breaths at the horror-stricken faces of the men...
"Stop arguing about it... she is just weeks old, no one is getting her married now, it's just a thought", Isha said and though the men were very upset with the discussion, they didn't say much...
"So ? he could have given two surnames to Atimya ? She would choose which one to drop when it's time...", Ranveer asked and Abhyansh glared at him...
"She is my daughter, she would choose my name at the end of the day, dropping your surname, so thought of saving you from that trauma", Abhyansh taunted Ranveer...
"You could have added my surname as well Ranawat... We would have known which one would she drop when the time is right...", Ranveer argued
"She is my daughter... my blood...", Abhyansh began but Isha stopped these two men from arguing further...
"Bhai... It's my decision too... and I'm happy that he agreed to add 'Rajput' to Arhat and Adhyat, though he has many complaints against Baba...", Isha said
"That's your right, Rani sa... and theirs as well", Abhyansh said
"What about my niece's right ? BEAST...", Ranveer muttered, Isha didn't hear but Abhyansh did, but ignored...
Everyone got up to freshen up, Isha took both her sons, while Abhyansh picked up his daughter... Isha walked to their chamber first, while Abhyansh walked to his brother-in-law to drop some salt on his wound.
"You were right... The reason I didn't add your surname to my daughter is because I don't want her to have any other surname except for mine...", Abhyansh said and walked away with his daughter, leaving his cursing brother-in-law behind.
Isha ran a bath to her sons first and till then, Abhyansh walked in with his daughter.
"Rana sa... Dress them up, and give her to me", Isha said...
"I'll run a bath to her, you just guide me", Abhyansh said, afraid as his wife gives a deep massage bath to their children which makes his daughter cry a lot...
"No... You wouldn't know how to... Let me handle this, dress them up till then", Isha said passing her sons one by one...
Abhyansh felt bad looking at his sons, their whole body is red matching their face that reddened due to extensive crying...
"Run a normal bath, why are you going with such deep cleansing? Look at how badly they are crying ?", Abhyansh said.
"I am following the doctor's as well as daima's advice, they knew better than us, Rana sa... They need a deep cleansing bath at least once a day till they turn 2- years old at least. It's good for their body... Keep your fatherly insticts aside for a while and pass your daughter fast... We are getting late for dinner", Isha asked sternly.
"We are getting late, so make it fast, no need of deep massage... And why are you staying in the water for so long? Doctor asked you to take care, right? Why don't you listen to me?", Abhyansh said
"Rana sa, stop with your games and pass me your daughter right away... That is if you really care for me, I can't sit on this stool for so long, only I know what I am going through, yet I am trying to do the best for our kids, but among all these, your overprotectiveness has been a constant hindrance...", Isha said getting upset with her husband's behavior.
He quickly passed their daughter and went to dress up their sons understanding his wife's pain, while Isha gave a bath to their daughter, Abhyansh tried to ignore her loud cries of his daughter but couldn't... Isha dressed up their daughter, and then freshened up herself, all the time Abhyansh had a cold face. All 5 moved downstairs, and joined everyone for dinner.
Abhyansh's appetite is long gone hearing his daughter's cries though Atimya now became calm and is enjoying her mandatory night walk Bhairav gives the triplets every day.
"Abhyansh... Why aren't you eating properly? Is the food not up to the mark, should I make something else ?", Amruta asked
"I don't have an appetite", he answered, Isha sighed at her husband's antics.
"Rana sa... Please have your food... Atimya is fine...", Isha said
"What happened to her? Is she okay ?", Pratap asked
"Bhabhi ma... I just met her, she looked fine... What's wrong? Should I call her doctor ?", Avyan asked Isha who shook her head...
"Ishu... What happened...", Ranveer started but Isha interrupted him.
"Atimya is fine... Absolutely fine... I gave her a bath, deep cleansing, and massage since I didn't have time this morning to run a proper bath due to all the puja, so had to do it now...", Isha said and everyone knew the story of Isha's bath and how loud the triplets cry unable to bear it.
"Ishu... You need to stop being so hard, they are just weeks old, Bache...", Ranveer said, Isha rolled her eyes...
"Bhabhi ma, maybe you can reduce the frequency...", Avyan suggested but thankfully Pratap didn't say anything knowing his daughter-in-law.
"Avyan... it's important for the kids, their bones strengthen with it", Amruta told Avyan and Abhyansh sighed getting up...
"I'm done", Abhyansh said and walked away from there... He saw Bhairav strolling in with the triplets... He picked up his daughter and left to his chamber asking Bhairav to follow with the twin boys...
"Ma... What should I do ?", Isha said holding her head, now it has become an everyday thing and she is fed up.
"It's okay, he will come around", Amruta said, trying to console Isha but everyone knew she was lying. Abhyansh is not someone to come around.
"Or you'll learn to handle the possessive father in him", Rajmata Devyani Devi said, and Isha's face was worth watching, at her comment.
Isha shook her head, quickly finished her food, and walked to her children who were with her husband.
"Rana sa... have this...", Isha walked inside their chamber, with juice for her husband...
"You haven't recovered completely... Why do you do such things ? Have you decided not to listen to me ever ?", Abhyansh asked, taking the tray from her...
"Now why are you upset ? It's such a petty thing Abhyansh... You wanted to make your children strong, especially your daughter, Is this how you are gonna do it ?", Isha asked
"They are just weeks old, Isha", Abhyansh argued but Isha's words did strike a chord... She looked at him with raised eyebrows...
"Ansh... Remember, you once said, Your children doesn't want parents who prevent them from all the pain in the world, instead they deserve parents who could give the strength to handle any problem or pain in the world...", Isha reminded his own words and Abhyansh sat on the floor near his babies' cradle, staring at them, the more he looked at their innocent faces, the more determined he became, he needs to make his children strong, not just for themselves, but for the people around them...
"I'm sorry... I hurt you again...", Abhyansh said, holding his wife's palm...
"You didn't...", she said kissing his cheek...
"You won't give them bath twice a day, let Daima take over for once a day, and take help from Ma if I'm not there when you give them... You still haven't recovered, Don't forget your condition...", Abhyansh warned...
"I know... I'll take care... Now that you understood, I have one less headache", Isha said, Abhyansh pulled her into a hug and his hold tightened gradually...
"Ansh... Are you okay ?", Isha asked as she didn't feel he was okay...
"Hm...", he said but his tone croaked making her doubts stronger...
"Ansh... Tell me what's wrong... You don't seem fine", she said and soon she felt the wetness on her neck... "Ansh... what happened ? Is something hurting you...", she said slowly ruffling his hair... She was hell worried as she never saw him shedding more than 3 tears... She was surprised he didn't cry during the time of their triplets birth, she thought he would tear up seeing her in so much pain, but looks like he held himself well, she thought but she was proven wrong the next minute.
"I was so scared... I thought I'll lose you... For a second, I started hating my own blood for causing you so much pain...", Abhyansh said, his tone extremely calm but cold. She could hear the pain in it.
She broke the hug and wiped the very few drops at the corner of his eyes... Her heart broke looking at her husband, it took him these many weeks to finally express his pain... So, this is what is hurting him all these days...
"I'm doing fine... stop thinking so much... I will stay fit and fine for decades to come...", she said cupping his face.
"You will be", Abhyansh said with a smile...
"Don't hide so much pain inside you... Share it with me...", Isha said
"It's not the pain that made me break in front of you, it's the fear, fear of losing you", he said and his eyes told her, it was the most dreadful thing for him... She cupped his face and kissed his forehead... Abhyansh gently pulled her forward but before he placed his lips on hers, they heard a loud cry of their eldest child, followed by the middle one... Isha is about to move towards them, but Abhyansh pulled her to him, taking her lips into a passionate kiss... But he instantly left his wife's lips when he heard his daughter's cries... Isha pulled him closer and gave a quick kiss on his lips before tending to their children...
As soon as Atimya saw her father, her sobs stopped, Isha smiled at their bond, picking up both her sons, and walked to their room to get them ready for bed after feeding them.
Isha started feeding both her sons at a time as they both can't stay even a second when they are hungry, Atimya is a bit controllable in that manner, she would resist hunger for a few minutes when in her father's arms but Arhat and Adhyat are inconsolable when hungry, only their mother's milk can calm them down... Both of them clutched Isha's maternity gown tightly while having some milk...
"Leave some for your sister, idiots", Abhyansh said looking at their sons sucking...
"Rana sa...", Isha chided
"They should think about their sister first", Abhyansh made his point
"Think ? Really ? They are just a few weeks old, and you expect them to think ?", Isha asked looking at her husband incredulously...
"Fine... When shall we take them to Sharah and Veera ?", Abhyansh asked after she started feeding their daughter...
"Give them a few months, let them start recognizing the family first, then we can take them to Sharah and Veera... I feel it's too early for them now", Isha said and Abhyansh nodded. He did tell them about the triplets but they would understand better when they see the babies directly.
Abhyansh and Isha settled their children in their bassinets and laid on the bed, Abhyansh gently pulled his wife in his arms and gave her a back massage with her lying in his arms...
"I feel so sleepy... Um... yes, just like that... Rana sa, your hands work like magic", Isha said making him smile...
"Good... My rough hands came to use at least this way...", he smirked
"Your rough hands came to use many times in many ways... Now stop giving me those looks and continue with your work, I want to sleep peacefully, I just hope they sleep at least for a few hours, I'm sleep-deprived Rana sa", Isha said and he kissed her forehead.
"This is why I tell you to sleep properly, but no, you would just wake up as soon as you hear your children's cries... Tonight you will just sleep, I'll take care of them", Abhyansh sternly said...
"Fine... For now, let us sleep, they are still not awake", Isha said with her head on his chest...
Isha just fell asleep and Abhyansh too was about to shut his eyes to take a few minutes of nap when they heard their triplets cry...
"One more sleepless night", Isha muttered groaning...
"Just for me... Sleep", Abhyansh said kissing her forehead... Isha pecked his lips before shutting her eyes as she is too tired to argue... She just slept while Abhyansh took care of his triplets. The boys slept again as soon as they were fed, but Atimya kept staring at her father even after getting fed, so Abhyansh talked to her for a while, then put her on his chest slowly patting her to sleep, which worked.
--------------------------------------------