𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆- 𝑾𝒂𝒓 𝑶𝒇 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

𝟓𝟓. 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃

Author's Pov

Everyone waited outside the OT, silent and small, praying for Vidya and the baby. Mrityunjay's legs trembled as he made his way to the hospital temple - the only place he always went when the world felt like it was slipping from his hands.

He sank to his knees before the Shiv-Parvati idols, bowing his head until his forehead touched the marble. The temple smelled of incense and antiseptic; the hush of the waiting room seemed to fall away.

"Bholebaba..." he whispered, voice breaking, hands clenched together. "Agar hamare bache ko kuch hua toh wo tut jayegi... aur agar usko kuch hua toh hum mar jayenge. Aise mein hum kaise kisi ek ko chunenge, Bholenath? Please... un dono ko bacha lijiye."

He kept his head bowed, lips moving in a silent, desperate litany. Around him, others murmured prayers too - but his plea hung heavy in the small temple: raw and unguarded.

Mrityunjay felt a soft knock on his shoulder. When he tilted his head up, he was surprised to see Akshita standing there.

"Himmat aur bharosa rakhiye, sab thik ho jayega," she said gently, sitting beside him.

"Sab thik nahi hua toh?" he asked blankly, his voice barely a whisper.

"Jinke aage aapka sir jhuka hai, wo kabhi kuch galat nahi karte," she replied, closing her eyes. Her fingers intertwined, lips moving in a quiet prayer.
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An hour later, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence. Randhir rushed into the temple, breathless. "Bhai sa, jaldi chaliye!"

Without wasting a second, Mrityunjay found himself running towards the OT. His heart thudded painfully - torn between the fear of loss and the hope of life.

Outside the OT, everything stood still. The doctor was there, his face unreadable. For a moment, Mrityunjay forgot what to ask first - Vidya... ya bachha?

"Rathore sahab," the doctor finally said, "operation succesful raha. Maa aur bachi dono safe hain."

The words brushed away every haunting thought. Relief flooded the corridor like light after storm.

"Beti hui hai humari?" Mrityunjay asked, a tear escaping his eye.

The doctor nodded with a warm smile.

"Maa Jagdamba aayi hai humare ghar..." he murmured, voice trembling with joy.

He folded his hands before the doctor. "Thank you... humara sab kuch bachane ke liye."

"Please, humne wahi kiya jo humara dharam hai, Rathore saheb. Aap log kuch der mein unse mil sakte hain," the doctor replied, smiling before leaving.

Mridha hugged him tightly, eyes glistening. Randhir and Anirudh beamed with joy while Akshita wiped her tears, holding little Ivaan and Ivaana in her arms.

The twins, sensing the happiness around, clapped their tiny hands and giggled - their innocent laughter filling the corridor like a blessing.

Akshita smiled through tears, "Ab Mahadev ko thank you keh dijiye."

Mrityunjay nodded and rushed back to the temple, tears streaming down his face - laughing, crying, whispering to the idol,
"Humare ghar jagdamba aayi hai, bholebaba."
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Vidya was still under anesthesia. Her face was pale, yet peaceful - a quiet relief washing over her features.

Mrityunjay's eyes brimmed with tears at the sight. He could take a bullet to his chest and not flinch, but seeing his wife like this made breathing impossible.