Fear & Love

Sixty Six

Double update!

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The pacing in the room and the prayers stopped when the OT light went off. Their heartbeat skipped when the doctors came out, all awaiting a positive result.

The doctor came towards them and said, "It's a boy!"

The sigh of relief was heard and thank god's were muttered but they waited for the doctor to continue. "But the baby will be kept in NICU for some time..." the doctor explained the complications of baby's health. He had a lower heart rate, his vitals were yet to be stabilised and he had respiratory issues. The baby at birth, had to fight so much.

Anand spoke for the first time in hours when he inquired about Gitanjali to the doctors. Gita was unconscious. Her spinal injury and leg fracture took a toll on her. She was hardly able to move due to her injury on lower back and leg.

There were tears of joy and relief in the corridor. The baby had survived despite the accident. It was not less than a miracle.

Anand, who had not shed a tear, cried for the first time when he saw his baby. The little one had tubes on his body and mask for his breathing. The image shook Anand. His baby was struggling to breathe. Anand's eyes were red and his tears flowed not able to see his baby in this condition. Anand's father hugged him."Dad, he is so tiny. The tubes and the mask must outweigh him." Anand said in a low voice.

"Anand, he is here, with us. That's a blessing, dear. Soon, he will be all healthy." His father made him understand.

Overjoyed by the arrival of the baby, the new grandparents and aunties hugged each other and were already talking about the things they would once Gita became fit. Daddu also called Anand's father to congratulate and wanted to talk to Anand who refused every call from the family members.

Priti and Prakash who had arrived listening to the news of the birth of the little one hesitated a bit to go near their boss but Anand's father eased them and told them to distribute sweets in the office. Anand shook his head, he wanted the baby to be fine first and then the announcement but his father wouldn't listen to him. "Beta, every celebration has a time and our bundle of joy deserves to be celebrated today! Don't delay this. Priti and Prakash, you are going to give the good news to the office today."

Anand's heart pained seeing his baby in this unit. He was scared to hold him or even touch him, fearing he would hurt his delicate baby. But he gathered courage and touched him lightly. Everything about this tiny human made him fall in love with him. His features were not developed.

"Hey! Little human," he said softly holding his baby's fingers. Softer than he had ever talked to anyone else. No one would recognise this soft tone on him. "Well, aren't you a cute potato?" This was a classic Anand who can't keep a cute conversation for a long time.

"Baby, get well soon. I want to take you home, this is not our home. Let's go home, Papa is waiting." Anand's tears flowed again.

***

Gita was not conscious for more than a few minutes, so none of the family members met her or had talked with her although they were allowed to see her. Anand sat in the room on the couch, immersed himself in work. This was his coping mechanism from all the chaos around him.

On the third day, she woke up and was in better situation. Anand called the nurse. He hoped she didn't loose conscious this time. The nurse asked basic questions to her to check her health and Gita answered in nods and shakes of her head. She had immense pain in the entire lower part of her body due to her delivery, the spinal injury and the fracture.