ᴍɪʜɪᴛʜᴀ-𝓗𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓮𝓵𝔂 𝓸𝓫𝓼𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷

Bonus chapter 1

                      Author's pov

The days leading up to Mihitha’s labor were filled with a quiet anticipation that seemed to hang in the air like the fragrance of fresh blooms in spring. The house was bustling with the same calm joy that had become their constant companion. Nila, now a little older and full of curiosity, would often place her hand on her mother’s growing belly and talk to the baby, her voice soft and full of innocent excitement.

Rudransh, on the other hand, watched his wife with a mixture of awe and concern. Every moment seemed to stretch before him as if time itself were holding its breath. Mihitha was beautiful, glowing with a warmth that only motherhood could bring. But beneath that radiance, he saw the subtle signs of exhaustion. She was tired in ways she never admitted—tired from the weight of carrying another life, tired from the constant worry that followed them after everything they had been through.

But still, she smiled. She always smiled for him. And for Nila.

The day of the birth arrived like a quiet storm—unexpected but inevitable. Mihitha had been feeling the contractions for hours, the pain ebbing and flowing, much like the tides of their lives. At first, she hadn’t said anything, trying to brush it off, but Rudransh could tell. He could always tell when something was wrong.

He had been by her side throughout the entire pregnancy, his love and support constant. He had held her when the pain was too much, whispered words of comfort when her body ached, and shared in the joy of every little moment—every first kick, every new day. But now, seeing the strain in her eyes, he knew this was different.

“Rudransh,” Mihitha breathed, her hand gripping his as she looked at him with a mixture of fear and longing. “It’s time.”

His heart raced at her words. In an instant, everything changed. All the calmness they had built their lives upon seemed to slip away, replaced by the urgency of the moment. He helped her stand, his hands firm and gentle on her body, supporting her as she struggled to catch her breath between contractions.

“Let’s go,” he said softly, his voice low and steady, but his eyes betrayed the fear he was feeling deep inside. He wasn’t sure he was ready for this. Ready for the possibility of losing her, for the chaos of childbirth, for the unknown that lay ahead. But he would never let her know that. Not now.

With Nila in tow, they hurried to the hospital. Rudransh was a rock, calm on the outside but torn apart on the inside. His thoughts were consumed with his wife, his child, and the life that was about to change forever. As they arrived at the hospital, Mihitha was whisked away by the nurses, and Rudransh stood there, waiting—waiting for the moment when he would finally become a father again.

Hours seemed to pass in an endless blur of white walls and sterile smells. Rudransh couldn’t sit still, pacing the hallway, running his hand through his hair, his eyes never leaving the door that separated him from Mihitha. Nila had fallen asleep in his arms, unaware of the storm of emotions swirling around them.

And then, it happened.

A nurse stepped into the hallway, her face bright with a gentle smile. “Mr. Ranawath, the baby is here.”

Rudransh’s heart skipped a beat. It was over. His wife was okay, and their son was finally here. His knees almost buckled with the rush of emotion that hit him all at once. The nurse led him to the room where Mihitha rested, her face pale but smiling, her eyes bright with a tenderness he had never seen before.

“Rudransh,” she whispered, holding out her arms to him. “Look at him.”

And there, cradled in her arms, was their son. Their baby boy. Rudransh felt a lump rise in his throat as he gazed down at the tiny bundle in Mihitha’s arms. His heart swelled with a love so intense, it was almost painful. He had always known he loved Mihitha—had always known she was the center of his world. But now, with their son in her arms, it was as if the universe had expanded, encompassing more than he could ever have imagined.

The baby’s tiny fingers curled around Mihitha’s hand, and Rudransh felt as though his heart had just been rewritten. Nila stirred in his arms, sensing the change in the room, and when she saw her new brother, she gasped in wonder. She reached out with a careful, hesitant hand, as if unsure of what to do with this new life before her.

Mihitha smiled at her daughter, her voice soft with emotion. “Nila, this is your baby brother. His name is Neel.”

Nila’s face lit up with a huge grin, and for a moment, it felt like the world had paused. Time stretched, suspended in this perfect moment of love, joy, and new beginnings. Rudransh leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to Mihitha’s forehead, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder.

“I’m so proud of you,” he whispered. “You’re incredible.”

Mihitha smiled, her heart overflowing with emotion. “We did it, Rudransh,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “We created a family.”

And in that moment, everything they had fought for, everything they had endured, came together in a perfect harmony. The fear, the pain, the uncertainties—everything faded into the background as they sat together, as a family, their hearts beating in unison.

Later that night, after the hospital room had quieted and the only sound was the soft breathing of their newborn son, Mihitha leaned back against the pillows, her body exhausted but content. Rudransh sat beside her, his hand resting gently on her arm, his eyes never leaving Neel as he slept soundly in his mother’s arms.

“I can’t believe he’s here,” Mihitha murmured, her voice filled with awe. “Our son. Neel.”

Rudransh chuckled softly, his fingers brushing the back of her hand. “I know. It feels like a dream, doesn’t it?”

“It is a dream,” she whispered, her eyes filled with tenderness. “A dream come true.”

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Rudransh allowed himself to truly feel the weight of their happiness. He had never known joy like this, never imagined that something so pure, so beautiful, could be his. He had been a man consumed by darkness for so long—haunted by the choices he had made, by the pain he had caused. But this—this was redemption. This was everything he had ever wanted and more.

With Neel in his arms, he felt complete.

And then, in the softest of moments, he whispered something to Mihitha that he had never said aloud before—words that had been buried deep inside his soul.

“I’m sorry, Mihitha,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “For all the pain I caused you. For all the mistakes. I was lost... But you—you're my light. You and our children. Thank you for bringing me back.”

Mihitha looked up at him, her eyes filled with forgiveness and love. “You don’t have to apologize, Rudransh,” she whispered. “We’re here now. Together.”

And together, they were—more than they had ever been. The birth of their son, Neel, was not just the beginning of a new chapter; it was the culmination of everything they had been through, the triumph of love over pain, of life over loss.

As the night stretched on, and the stars twinkled outside the window, Rudransh held his family close. Their happiness was fragile, yes, but it was also stronger than anything they had ever known. The future was uncertain, but with Mihitha by his side, and their children in their arms, Rudransh knew one thing for sure:

They had everything they needed. Together, they were unstoppable.