[55]MEET WITH BABY
The winter sun filtered gently through the half-drawn blinds, casting soft golden stripes across the hospital bed.
The room smelled of antiseptic and new life, the quiet broken only by the faint beep of monitors and the soft sounds of a newborn.
Amisha's eyes fluttered open slowly, heavy with exhaustion but warm with something new.
The first thing she saw was him.
Abhiraj.
Freshly showered, changed into a clean white kurta (the one Minakshi Ma had packed), hair still slightly damp, sitting in the chair beside her bed.
In his arms, cradled carefully against his chest, was their baby.
Their son.
Tiny, perfect, wrapped in a soft white blanket.
Abhiraj looked down at the baby with an expression she had never seen on him before-pure, unguarded wonder.
He sensed her stirring and looked up.
Their eyes met.
A slow, tired smile spread across her face.
He stood carefully, walked the two steps to the bed, and gently placed the baby beside her, tucked safely in the crook of her arm.
Amisha's breath caught.
The baby stared up at her with big, curious hazel eyes (just like his father's), wide and unblinking
.
Chubby cheeks, tiny button nose, round rosebud lips.
Perfect.
Before she could speak, Abhiraj's voice came (soft, rough with emotion).
"Eyes like me... hazel.
Big like you.
Nose like mine.
And these round lips..."
He brushed one finger ever so lightly over the baby's mouth.
"...like you."
Amisha smiled (tears instantly filling her eyes, the tired, happy kind).
She touched the baby's cheek with one trembling finger.
"Our baby..."
In Abhiraj's mind, a flash of last night (the blood, the screams, the tearing).
How did this perfect, chubby little human come from her small body?
The memory made him shiver, guilt and awe mixing in his chest.
He would never forgive himself for the pain he had put her through.
But he would spend the rest of his life making it up to her.
The door opened softly.
A nurse stepped in, smiling.
"Sarpanch ji... baby ko khana."
Abhiraj nodded immediately.
He helped Amisha sit up a little more, adjusted the pillows behind her back.
Then, gently, he opened the front of her hospital gown, guiding her as she brought the baby to her breast.
The tiny mouth latched instantly.
The baby's eyes fluttered closed in pure contentment.
Both parents stared (transfixed, breathless).
At the new life they had made.
At the miracle sleeping against her skin.
Abhiraj's hand rested lightly on the baby's back, the other holding Amisha's.
Tears slid silently down her cheeks.
He leaned in, kissed her temple.
"Thank you, meri jaan... for him."
She turned her head, kissed his jaw softly.
"Thank you... for everything."
And in that quiet hospital room,
with their son feeding peacefully,
the world outside ceased to exist.
It was just them.
Their little family.
Finally complete.
The baby had finished feeding, tiny mouth slowing, eyes closed in perfect contentment.
A soft milk bubble formed on his lips as he drifted off, chubby fist curled near his cheek.
Amisha's eyes were heavy, body finally relaxing after the marathon of labour.
Abhiraj watched them both (his wife and his son), chest tight with something too big for words.
Carefully (so carefully), he slid one hand under the baby's head, the other under his bottom, and lifted him from her chest.
The little one didn't stir, just sighed in his sleep.
Abhiraj carried him the two steps to the clear plastic bassinet beside the bed, laid him down on the soft blanket, tucked the tiny hospital cap back over his head, and adjusted the blanket so only his face peeked out.
Then he turned to Amisha.
She was half-asleep, hospital gown still open.
He gently closed the front, buttoned it properly, pulled the blanket higher over her shoulders.
Brushed damp hair from her forehead.
Kissed her temple.
"Rest, meri jaan."
She smiled faintly in her sleep, already gone.
The door opened softly.
The family poured in (quiet, but unable to hide their excitement).
Minakshi Ma first, eyes instantly filling at the sight of Amisha sleeping.
"Beta... kaise hai woh?" she whispered, rushing to the bed, hand hovering over Amisha's hair.
Rajveer Papa behind her, voice thick.
"Meri bahu... kitna kuch seh liya amisha ne."
Dadi shuffled in with her stick, eyes straight on the bassinet.
"Hayee... mera pota..."
Megha, Karishma, Shushila, Mihir, Shatish-all crowded around the bassinet, careful not to wake the baby.
Megha whispered loudly,
"Arre dekho! Kitna handsome hai!"
Karishma: "Bilkul bhaiya pe gaya hai-nose aur jaw toh same!"
Shushila smiled softly. "Par lips aur cheeks... bilkul bhabhi jaise. Round round."
Mihir grinned. "Haan, thoda mera bhi mix hai-future heartbreaker."
Dadi leaned closer, eyes misty.
"Mera pota... aankhein bhi bade bade, jaise Amisha ke."
Rajveer Papa stood tall, proud.
"Nose bilkul Abhiraj jaisa-seedha, sharp.
Par yeh gaal... bilkul meri bahu ke."
Minakshi Ma finally looked away from Amisha to the baby.
"Hayee... kitna pyara hai.
Mummy ka carbon copy banega yeh."
They all cooed and whispered, passing the same compliments around:
"Eyes like papa, cheeks like mummy."
"Nose papa ka, smile mummy ki."
"Bilku daddy ka attitude-dekho kaise so raha hai, jaise king ban ke aaya ho."
Abhiraj stood quietly at the foot of the bed, arms crossed, watching his entire family fall in love with his son.
His chest swelled (pride, relief, love).
Amisha stirred slightly in her sleep, smiled at the voices.
The baby slept on, tiny fist twitching.
The family stayed a little longer (blessings whispered, tears wiped, photos not taken because "nazar lag jayegi").
Then they left quietly, promising to return later with laddoos and more family.
Abhiraj sat back in the chair, reached over, and laced his fingers with Amisha's sleeping ones.
Looked at his son.
His perfect, tiny son.
And for the first time in his life,
the man who had never feared anything
felt his heart so full it might burst.
Their little king had arrived.
And the Shekhawat legacy had just
gained its newest, cutest member.
The family had just finished their first visit to the new mother and child.
Inside the room, they had crowded around the bassinet and Amisha's bed, whispering blessings and cooing over the sleeping baby.
Dadi had touched his tiny hand and declared,
"... bilkul Abhiraj jaisa."
Minakshi Ma had cried happy tears, kissing Amisha's forehead.
Megha had taken at least twenty mental screenshots for future teasing.
Everyone had left with glowing faces and promises to return soon with laddoos and more family.
Now they filed out quietly into the corridor, careful not to wake the exhausted mother or the newborn.
Rajveer Papa was last, closing the door softly behind him.
He looked at Abhiraj, who had followed them out to see them off.
"Beta... tu andar ja.
Amisha aur pota ke paas reh."
Abhiraj nodded, but first turned to the family.
"Sab log ghar jaake araam karo.
Main yahan hoon."
Minakshi Ma touched his arm.
"Tu bhi thaka hua hai.
Khaana kha lena time pe."
Dadi added firmly, "Aur Amisha ko bolna-doodh zyada piye."
Megha grinned.
"Bhaiya, baby ka naam jaldi decide karo!
Main bua banne ke liye excited hoon!"
Mihir and Shatish both gave Abhiraj a quick, brotherly hug.
Shushila and Karishma whispered more blessings.
Then Rajveer Papa spoke, voice steady.
"Chalo... mandir mein jaake prasad chadhaate hain.
Bhagwan ka shukriya ada karna hai."
Abhiraj nodded.
He called one of his men waiting discreetly down the hall.
The man approached immediately.
Abhiraj pulled a thick bundle of notes from his pocket (easily fifty thousand rupees) and handed it over.
"Mandir jaao.
Sarpanch ko pota hua hai-iss khushi mein saare garibon ko khila dena.
Langar lagwa do.
Jo bache, mandir mein daan kar dena."
The man took the money respectfully, touched Abhiraj's feet.
"Badhaai ho, sarpanch ji.
Bhagwan aapko aur khushiyan de."
Abhiraj gave a small nod.
The family smiled proudly (this was their Abhiraj-fierce protector, generous leader).
Rajveer Papa placed a hand on his shoulder once more.
"Hum jaate hain.
Tu un dono ka khayal rakh."
One by one, they left (heading to the temple to give thanks, hearts full).
Abhiraj watched them go, then turned back toward the room.
He paused at the door, hand on the handle.
Inside: his wife.
His son.
His entire world.
He took a deep breath, opened the door quietly, and stepped back in.
The new father's shift had just begun.
And he wouldn't leave their side again.