Heyy Baby

Part 36

The soft, sterile glow of hospital lights bathed the room in a gentle warmth as Haseena and Anubhav brought a freshly bathed Karishma back from the washroom. The scent of mild baby soap clung to the little girl’s damp curls, and her rosy cheeks glowed against her caramel skin. Her arm, wrapped securely in a cumbersome cast, looked far too big for her tiny frame. Wrapped in a soft yellow hospital towel, she blinked at her surroundings with a mix of confusion and curiosity. Hm and As had already changed their clothes which amar had brought  for them.
Haseena perched herself on the edge of the hospital bed, carefully setting Karishma down. The baby babbled happily, little legs kicking out as if challenging the world. Despite the cast and a bandage across her forehead, Karishma’s eyes sparkled with uncontained mischief.
Pushpa Ji and Ammi stood a short distance away, watching with tender smiles. They had only met Karishma for the first time today, and it was clear from their expressions that she’d already captured their hearts.
“kitni natkhat hai yeh,” Pushpa Ji—affectionately called Amma by both Haseena and Anubhav—remarked with a smile, eyes crinkling behind her glasses. “Jitni pyari, utni ziddi.”
Ammi chuckled softly, her voice warm. “Aur chanchal bhi. Dekho zara, poora room explore karne ka mann hai isse.”
Karishma had already managed to wriggle free from the sheet , sitting upright with impressive balance. Chubby fingers reached for the IV stand beside the bed. Before she could tug at the dangling tubes, Haseena caught her hand.
“Nahi beta, yeh nahi chhedte,” Haseena chided gently, brushing damp curls away from Karishma’s forehead.
The door opened, and Dr. Maya strode in, clipboard in hand and a reassuring smile on her face. Her presence was calm, exuding the kind of authority that only a well-practiced pediatrician could.
“Ah, my little troublemaker is all freshened up,” she teased, leaning closer to inspect Karishma. The baby promptly frowned at her, untrusting of the white coat.
Dr. Maya chuckled. “Lagta hai koi abhi tak gussa hai maine injection diya isliye.”
“Bachhi samajhdaar hai,” Anubhav muttered with a smirk, but the teasing was affectionate.
Dr. Maya shook her head. “Looks like we’ll have to attach the IV back now.”
Haseena’s face paled slightly. “Do we have to? Can’t she—”
Dr. Maya’s expression softened. “I know it’s uncomfortable, but it’s necessary for her medication. Don’t worry, main dheere se lagaungi.”
Karishma’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. The moment the doctor touched her little arm, she squirmed and whimpered, and her pout turned into a full-blown wail when the cold antiseptic touched her skin. As Dr. Maya gently secured the IV line, Karishma’s cry escalated into an angry scream.
Haseena’s heart lurched. She clutched Karishma’s free hand, whispering soothing words. Anubhav’s jaw tightened, but he stroked Karishma’s back, murmuring comfort. Tears glistened in both parents’ eyes as the baby’s face turned red with the effort of crying.
“Bas, bas, Karu,” Haseena whispered, her own eyes watery. Anubhav’s hand slipped around her shoulder, squeezing gently.
Dr. Maya finished quickly, patting Karishma’s head. “All done, meri jaan. Ab so jao, okay?”
Karishma hiccupped, the angry wails fading to pitiful sobs as Haseena rocked her gently. Anubhav kissed her forehead, murmuring promises of toys and chocolates.
Dr. Maya looked at the frazzled parents. “Try to put her to sleep. She needs rest to heal. Main thodi der mein check karne aungi.”
With a last reassuring smile, she left.
Karishma’s sobs turned to sniffles, but sleep was clearly the last thing on her mind. Haseena looked at the others, visibly at her wits’ end.
Ammi’s maternal instincts kicked in. “Mujhe do, main sulati hoon,” she offered.
Haseena handed Karishma over, trying to hide her relief. Ammi cradled Karishma against her shoulder, patting her back with a practiced hand. She began humming a gentle lullaby—an old tune sung to generations of children.
Karishma’s eyes fluttered, but instead of relaxing, she curiously lifted her head to peer at Ammi’s face, a fascinated expression replacing the lingering tears. She babbled something incoherent and poked Ammi’s cheek with her tiny finger.
Ammi chuckled. “Arre, yeh toh sone ke wajay mere hi sath khel rahi hai aur mujhe dekh rahi hai. Kya hua beta, pehli baar mile hai isliye apko curiosity ho rahi hai?? Hum toh apse kabse milna chahte the, lekin aab Jake wo muhurat nikla hai ”
Haseena sighed. “Woh pehli baar mili hai aapko. Pehchaan gayi hai shayad jab bhi video call karte the, uss calls se. But aab aap samne hai na, mobile pe nhi, toh confuse ho rahi hogi.”
Ammi hummed some more, rocking her, but Karishma was now fully alert, poking and patting Ammi’s face with insistent curiosity. The soft humming quickly turned into a game as Karishma squealed with delight every time Ammi squinted dramatically.
Pushpa Ji raised an eyebrow. “Lagne se zyada chalu hai yeh. Main try karti hoon.”
She held out her arms, and Ammi handed Karishma over. Dadi took a deep breath and began narrating a story—one of prince and princess soft and soothing. Her hand gently traced circles on Karishma’s back.
But Karishma wasn’t interested. With a sudden, fierce determination, she reached for Pushpa Ji’s glasses, gripping the thin frames. The old lady gasped.
“Arre, mera chashma, chhodo!”
Karishma tugged harder, delighted by the resistance. Pushpa Ji freed her glasses, eyes narrowing as Karishma grinned impishly.
Anubhav shook his head, arms outstretched. “Meri beti ko main sulata hoon.”
Pushpa Ji passed Karishma over, chuckling. “Haan, dekhte hain.”
Anubhav lifted Karishma high in the air, making airplane noises. Karishma’s delighted squeal was music to his ears, but it was clear she was far from sleepy. He cradled her against his chest and began patting her back, murmuring nonsense. But Karishma, clever as always, spotted the IV tube and decided it was a perfect toy.
Her little fingers tugged sharply. The tube slipped, and a thin trickle of blood appeared at the insertion point. Karishma gasped, startled by the sting, then wailed at the top of her lungs.
Haseena’s heart leaped. “Karu!”
Anubhav hastily lifted her, eyes wide. Tears streaked Karishma’s cheeks, and she hiccuped pathetically. Haseena rushed forward, hands trembling as she checked the wound. It was minor, but her heart ached to see her daughter in pain.
She gathered Karishma close, whispering soothing words, but tears pricked her own eyes. Anubhav placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“Main try karti hoon,” Haseena said, desperately clutching her daughter.
Haseena kept karu on her chest, and asked everyone to keep quite, humming softly to her. Ks mellowed down and stopped crying. After some time, when everyone thought she might be sleeping, she pulled her head back up, making everyone groan loudly and making her laugh at that.
Anubhav came near her, and kissing her forehead, said, “kitni masti sujh rahi hai aaj apko, sona nhi hai na bilkul bhi?”
Ks shook her head sideways, saying “Nono”
Ammi, curiously asked, “Yeh ek saal ki hai na beta, toh itna sab bolna aur samajna?”
As looked at her, and said again, “eidetic memory hai shayad uski, and bohot hi jyada fast learn karti hai sab kuch. Galat sahi, kuch bhi ho, ekdum fatafat grab kr leti hai. Hume doctor ne kaha hai ki kuch basic cheeze sikha de isse and phir tests bhi kara le, to gage her IQ level.”
Ammi was impressed, “ohoo… meri gudiya toh bohot smart hai, hai na?”
Ks smiled at her. Hm looked at the non sleepy ks. Haseena’s eyes twinkled as an idea struck her. She leaned closer to Anubhav and whispered, “Mujhe ek plan soojha hai.”

Anubhav raised an eyebrow. “Plan? Karu ko sulaane ka?”

“Bilkul,” Haseena replied confidently. She glanced at Karishma, who was busy poking at her cast. Then she turned back to Anubhav and smirked. “Aur demonstration tum pe hoga.”

Anubhav blinked. “Mujh pe?”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!