Invisibly Visible (Professor × Student)

Epilogue 1

Hello 😀

Vaanga vaanga story kulla polaa 🚴🏻‍♀️💜🦋

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Aayush

The new sounds of gentle slurping, soft hums, and our quiet breaths were the only things filling the hospital room after delivery.

I watched our newborn daughter-our baby girl-latched onto her mother's nipple, drinking hungrily like a tiny human who had waited too long.

The sight made my eyes well up and my lips stretch into a wide smile.

Meanwhile, the new mom in the room-my wife-looked adorably shy, squirming a little as she fed for the first time.

It made me smile even more, and I kissed the top of her head. She looked up at me, resting her chin on my shoulder, and whispered,

"Romba pasichiruchu pola"

(She's so hungry)

I nodded with a soft smile, and then our gazes fell back onto our little baby.

Our daughter.

Even thinking those words felt overwhelmingly beautiful.

Soon, the nurse and my mother-in-law came in to help both mother and baby-and me, too.

The nurse gently lifted the baby from Seetha's lap and placed her on her shoulder, saying to us, especially to me,

"Rub her back slowly, and pat her bum twice until she burps. Here... try it"

She handed over the baby, and I glanced at Seetha, who was being helped into her nursing top by her mother.

I carefully placed our baby on my shoulder.. her tiny legs ended just above my chest.

I slowly rubbed her soft little back, covered by fresh cotton cloth, and gently patted her tiny bum.

My mother-in-law smiled and said,

"Apdiye setha neram thooki vachu nadanga, maapla. Seekrama thoongeerum paapa"

(Just keep walking with her, son-in-law. She'll fall asleep quickly)

I nodded, carefully stood up, and started pacing slowly from one end of the room to the other, rubbing her back and whispering,

"You're safe, my little baby. Sleep with your appa"

When I finally heard her soft little burp, it felt like the proudest achievement of my entire life.

I turned and saw Seetha smiling at me, and I gave her a thankful smile in return before gently laying our baby in the crib, following the nurse's guidance.

I watched her tiny, bubbly arms stretch out upwards, her curled little fists, her legs slightly bent, her face turned towards my side as I gently rocked the cradle back and forth.

She looked so peaceful-sleeping as if she knew her father would protect her at any cost.

And silently, I promised her that I would.

I moved back to Seetha, standing beside her, and pulled her face gently against my stomach. She wrapped her arms around my waist, holding me tight.

I bent down to kiss the top of her head again and again, unable to forget how scared I had been earlier-scared beyond anything-watching her writhe and cry out in pain.

It was the first time I'd seen her like that, and it had felt like my own heart was being ripped apart until she finally calmed and smiled at me when I placed our daughter on her chest.