Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter - 83

The hospital room was a symphony of chaos, filled with laughter, overlapping conversations, and joyful faces. Ritika sat propped up on the bed, her arms cradling baby Ro as though he were the most precious treasure in the world. Rohit sat beside her, holding a phone in his hand. On the screen, a video call brought together Rishabh, Shubman, Virat, Jadeja, and the rest of the gang, their cheerful banter filling the room. They were busy teasing Tilak about who would be the baby's favourite uncle, while Virat silently laughed in the background, his warm smile speaking volumes.

Beside the bed, Anushka held another phone, this one connected to the kids and Athiya, who were watching the commotion with equal delight.

When Harry, Surya, and Meera entered the room, the energy shifted, and the noise seemed to double. Meera stood by the door, momentarily overwhelmed by the scene before her. But Anushka quickly took control, clapping her hands to quiet the room.

"Alright, everyone, settle down," Anushka commanded, and all eyes turned to Meera.

Rohit's face lit up as he saw her, his expression softening. "The hero is back," he said, pulling her into a warm hug. "Are you okay? Is everybody else okay?"

Meera swallowed hard, keeping her emotions tightly locked away. She forced a smile and nodded. "Yes, Bhaiya, I'm okay. We came back from the mission a little while ago. I was here for a checkup when Harry and SKY found me." She managed to keep her voice steady, though the words felt heavy on her tongue. "And congratulations on becoming a dad again!"

From behind, Ritika chimed in with mock indignation. "Arey, nobody is congratulating me!"

Meera laughed softly, the sound barely masking the ache in her heart. "I love you, Ritsy," she said, turning to her sister-in-law. "Congratulations on becoming a mom."

As she reached out to take baby Ro into her arms, a lump formed in her throat. The infant's tiny features reminded her of a promise that would never be fulfilled. Ayan's voice echoed in her mind, "It's we, Meera. We're going to spoil the kids together." She held the baby closer, her grip tightening as the weight of that memory threatened to break her.

But Meera recovered quickly, forcing a playful tone. "Let's just hope he doesn't grow up to forget things like Ro Bhaiya, hai na, Nush?"

The room erupted into laughter, and Anushka shook her head, amused. "True. But can someone please free me from the responsibility of handling two video calls?" She pointed at the phones in her hands.

Rohit took his phone back, grinning mischievously. "Alright, boys," he addressed the group on the call, "Meera's here now. But before you start another 'who's the best chachu' debate, out to practice, all of you! The one who never misses gets the title."

On the other end of the call, the group erupted into laughter. Rishabh and Shubman led the charge, scrambling to end the call with hurried goodbyes. "Challenge accepted!" 

Virat and Rahul stayed on the call, their expressions shifting to something more solemn.

Rohit raised an eyebrow at the two remaining. "What? Don't tell me you're scared of a little competition."

Virat shrugged casually, leaning against the wall. "Why would I compete? I don't need a challenge to prove I'm the best chachu."

Rahul chuckled, checking his watch. "And we still have five minutes before our net session. No rush."

Rohit smirked, shaking his head at their banter. Meanwhile, Meera sat nearby, Baby Ro cradled carefully in her arms. She cooed at him softly, her fingers brushing against his tiny hand.

"Look at her," Virat teased, a playful glint in his eyes. "Who's the real baby here, Ro or Meera?"

"Definitely Meera," Rohit chimed in, grinning as he leaned closer.