ᴍɪʜɪᴛʜᴀ-𝓗𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓮𝓵𝔂 𝓸𝓫𝓼𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷

chapter 40

          Author's pov

The dim lights of the hospital room cast long shadows on the floor, their flicker faintly echoing Rudhransh’s trembling heart. He stood by the bed, gripping the metal frame tightly as if it were the only thing anchoring him to this moment. Mihitha’s pale, sweat-streaked face lay before him, her hands clutching her swollen belly. Every now and then, her body would tense with the sharp contractions, and Rudhransh could feel the tension as if it were his own pain.

His breath quickened as the familiar fear clawed at his chest. Fear, a feeling he wasn’t used to until now. There had always been a sense of control in Rudhransh's life, whether through power or violence. But watching Mihitha in pain, vulnerable and on the brink of bringing their child into the world, he felt utterly powerless. His usual cold demeanor was cracking under the weight of the moment.

“Stay with me, Mihitha,” Rudhransh whispered, almost to himself, as if the plea would somehow ease the pain she was enduring.

Her face twisted with the intensity of the contraction, and a soft groan escaped her lips. “I’m… I’m trying,” she gasped, her eyes fluttering open to meet his for a brief second before another wave of pain overtook her.

He reached for her hand, his fingers brushing hers softly. He had never been one for softness, yet now, it felt like the only thing he could offer. In these moments, Rudhransh was no longer the feared mafia lord. He was just a man terrified of losing the woman who had slipped past his defenses.

Mihitha’s face contorted with another sharp wave of pain, and Rudhransh’s heart clenched as he saw her suffering. Each cry, each labored breath she took felt like a dagger piercing through him. It was unbearable knowing he was the cause of so much of her pain, even if this moment was beyond him.

“Does it hurt too much?” he asked, his voice barely steady.

Mihitha didn’t answer at first, only gripped his hand tighter, her nails digging into his skin as if the pain in her body needed an outlet. He winced but didn’t pull away, his gaze locked on her face, trying to read her emotions between the agony.

The doctors moved about the room, busy but focused, offering words of comfort that did little to ease the tension in the air. They had told him everything was progressing as it should, but Rudhransh wasn’t soothed. He couldn’t shake the overwhelming fear of what could go wrong.

Between contractions, Mihitha’s face softened just slightly, her eyes fluttering open again. She looked at Rudhransh with a kind of vulnerability that tugged at his soul. She knew, deep down, that he was scared scared for her, scared for the baby, scared of the unknown.

“I’m... okay,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. She didn’t want him to worry, even though she was in more pain than she had ever felt in her life.

Rudhransh bit his lip, nodding but unable to form any coherent words. His mind was racing. He wanted to say something comforting, to reassure her that everything would be fine, but the words got stuck in his throat. Instead, he did the only thing he could he stayed by her side, watching, waiting, and hoping.

Hours passed, but to Rudhransh, they felt like lifetimes. Mihitha’s pain ebbed and flowed, and he never left her side. At one point, she dozed off between contractions, and in that brief lull, he found himself whispering to her stomach, his voice soft and tender.

“Hey, little one,” he muttered, his hand resting gently on her belly. “We’re waiting for you, you know? I know your mama’s strong, but you need to hurry. We’re ready to meet you. I don’t know what I’m doing here, but I’m trying. So, please… just come out soon, okay?”

His words were jumbled, spoken with the unease of a man who had never let himself be so vulnerable before. It felt strange, almost foreign, but in that moment, nothing else mattered. He had done terrible things things that haunted him every day but for this, he would be here. He would try to be the father Mihitha deserved to see.

And then, as if responding to his pleas, Mihitha’s breathing hitched. The contractions intensified again, and the room buzzed with the flurry of doctors and nurses preparing for the final stage of labor.

Rudhransh gripped her hand tighter as she began to push. The air grew tense, the atmosphere heavy with the anticipation of what was to come. Mihitha’s cries filled the room, but through the haze of pain, she kept going determined, strong, the fighter he had always known she was.

“You’re doing amazing,” Rudhransh blurted, not even realizing the words had left his mouth. His heart was pounding, each beat echoing in his ears.

Mihitha barely heard him. She was focused, her entire being consumed by the process of bringing their child into the world. But hearing his voice, feeling his hand in hers, gave her a small sense of comfort.

And then, after what felt like an eternity, the piercing cry of a newborn baby filled the room.

For a moment, everything stopped. Time stood still as the doctors placed a tiny, wriggling form in Mihitha’s arms. Her chest heaved with exhaustion, but her eyes brimmed with unshed tears as she gazed down at the baby their baby.

“Nila,” Mihitha whispered softly, her voice barely a breath. “Nila Rudhransh Ranawath.”

Rudhransh stood frozen for a second, unable to process the overwhelming emotions flooding him. Nila his daughter. He had never imagined this moment, never dared to think he would be standing here, looking down at the life they had created together. But now, as he gazed at the tiny, perfect face nestled against Mihitha’s chest, everything seemed real too real.

His heart clenched in his chest, and for the first time in years, he felt tears prickling the corners of his eyes. He blinked them away quickly, not wanting to fall apart, but it was impossible to ignore the wave of emotions that surged through him.

Mihitha looked up at him, her eyes soft and full of love. “Rudhransh… she’s beautiful,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

He nodded, unable to speak. His throat was too tight, and his chest too heavy with feelings he didn’t know how to express. Slowly, he reached out, his hand trembling as he gently touched Nila’s tiny hand. Her fingers curled around his, impossibly small and fragile, and in that moment, Rudhransh felt something in him break free.

A soft laugh escaped him, almost incredulous. “She’s… she’s perfect,” he managed to choke out.

Mihitha smiled through her tears, her exhaustion forgotten as she watched the man she had come to love meet their daughter for the first time. It was a moment she would never forget watching the hardened mafia lord melt in the presence of their newborn child.

For a few moments, the world outside ceased to exist. It was just the three of them Mihitha, Rudhransh, and Nila wrapped in a cocoon of love and joy that felt too precious to disturb.

Rudhransh leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Mihitha’s forehead before brushing his lips against Nila’s tiny cheek. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. He didn’t know if he was speaking to Mihitha, Nila, or some higher power that he never believed in. But in that moment, he was grateful for everything.

Mihitha smiled weakly, resting her head back against the pillow. “We’re parents now,” she murmured, still in disbelief herself.

Rudhransh nodded, his eyes never leaving Nila’s face. “Yeah,” he whispered, a small smile tugging at his lips. “We’re parents.”

In that moment, everything else faded away the past, the pain, the mistakes they had made. All that mattered now was this tiny life in their arms, the future they would build together as a family. And for the first time in a long while, Rudhransh felt something unfamiliar bloom in his chest hope.

             🥀

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My puja holidays is about to over but i promise to continue this story without much delay..
Thankyou for all your love and support
I love you all🥀❤️