I have nothing to do with him

Epilogue

The mansion was alive with the usual hustle and bustle, but today, there was an undercurrent of excitement that made everything feel electric. Annika was in the kitchen, preparing a snack for Arush when she suddenly felt a sharp pang in her abdomen.

"Ugh, not again," she muttered under her breath, clutching the counter for support. She had been experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions for weeks now, but this felt different—more intense.

"Annika?" Shivaay's voice floated in from the living room, and he appeared in the doorway, concern etched on his face. "You okay?"

"Just... a little discomfort," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant. But as another wave of pain hit her, she couldn't hide her grimace.

Shivaay rushed to her side, his protective instincts kicking in. "Let's sit down. You need to rest."

"No, I'm fine," Annika insisted, though her voice wavered. "I need to finish this for Arush."

"Forget about the snacks! You're about to have a baby!" Shivaay exclaimed, his eyes wide with realization. "This is it!"

Panic and excitement surged through him as he helped her to the sofa. "Om! Rudra!" he called out, urgency lacing his voice.

Within moments, Om and Rudra burst into the room, their expressions shifting from casual curiosity to alarm as they took in the scene.

"What's going on?" Om asked, quickly assessing Annika.

"She's in labor!" Shivaay announced, his voice a mix of disbelief and determination. "We need to get her to the hospital."

"Okay, okay! bhabi , just breathe," Rudra said, rushing to her side. "You've got this!"

Annika nodded, though she could feel the contractions intensifying. "I'm trying... but it hurts!"

Shivaay knelt beside her, taking her hand in his. "Look at me, Annika. Focus on my voice. You're stronger than you think. We're going to get through this together."

With each contraction, Annika squeezed Shivaay's hand tightly. "I can't do this without you," she gasped.

"You don't have to," he promised, his eyes locked onto hers with unwavering love. "I'm right here."

Om and Rudra quickly gathered the essentials—hospital bag, car keys—and soon they were ready to leave. As they moved toward the door, Arush came running down the hallway, holding a toy truck in his little hands.

"Mama! What's happening?" he asked, his eyes wide with concern.

"Arush, Mama is going to bring your sister into the world!" Shivaay explained gently.

"Can I come?" Arush asked eagerly.

"Yes, but you need to be brave for Mama," Shivaay replied, ruffling Arush's hair affectionately.

As they made their way out of the mansion and into the car, Annika focused on her breathing while Shivaay kept reassuring her. Om and Rudra sat in the back with Arush, who was buzzing with excitement and curiosity about becoming a big brother.

Once they arrived at the hospital, Shivaay helped Annika out of the car and into the building. The nurses quickly guided them through the process while Om and Rudra entertained Arush with stories about superheroes and how brave his mother was being.

Hours passed in a blur of pain and determination for Annika. With Shivaay by her side, whispering words of encouragement and love, she found strength she didn't know she had. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the moment arrived.

With one final push and a surge of effort, Aditi entered the world with a soft cry that filled the room with joy. Shivaay's heart raced as he held Annika's hand tightly, tears of happiness streaming down his cheeks.