Song of the Firebird

Thirty Two

'Stop whistling to the song, Jay! It spoils the mood!' Mandhira nudged her brother-in-law's shoulders with her swollen feet.

'Then you both should have seen it without me!' Said man grunted back, curtly, checking his laptop screen often between the scenes on the television.

'One more word, you two are grounded with no coffee from the house, for a whole week!' muttered the eldest of the trio, munching baked peanuts.

The men were seated on the tiled floor, lounged against a three seater beige leather couch, facing a 55 inch television that was playing a melody from the recently released movie. Mandhira rested on the couch and was in the middle of a baby sweater via crocheting. Poorani was sleeping soundly in the guestroom behind the common hall. Since the maids were asleep after their dinner, the owners of the mansion resorted to a family movie time, since they couldn't be sure when the next time they could hang out like that.

Ever since the doctor's advice, Jeeva shifted parts of his room to the ones in the common hall, making it convenient for Mandhira's use. One week after their win, the Kumarans relaxed themselves after a long time. Gaining back a supportive ally, they couldn't ask for more. The field trips were the talk of the city. Jeeva recruited a few men and women to assist Jay, provided any emergency arises. There had not been many incidents recently and the days passed without any nuisance. Jeeva fired all the men and women in their premises who were employed by their uncles. He, instead, asked Deepak to look for people who needed the jobs, irrespective of the gender.

Since the due date for the baby was drawing nearer, Jay decided to leave back for America, a week or two after the birth. He sure was taking his work-from-home orders seriously and was trying to finish his deadlines quite early as possible. He handed over the codes for the current project that he was working on, with much less flaws, taking off his burden from Danny's. On their last chat, he came to know that Danny happened to get back to his ex-wife who was also best friends with Natasha.

Life was good.

'Who needs a banana? Mama bear is going to get some!', Mandhira chirped to the men, who were pretty absorbed in an action scene on the TV screen.

'Papa bear!'

'Uncle bear!'

'Good! If you guys– Argh!' While trying to sit with her legs down, she felt a sharp contraction. Trying to control her pitch, she almost screamed when she felt it. Out of reflex, Jeeva muted the movie and turned to his wife.

'Darling, are you okay? And why are you clutching your belly like that?' Mandhira's both hands swung protectively around her baby bump and her back and head crouched in her bump's direction. She gritted her teeth and huffed. Her eyes watered, unable to contain the pain. Though the contraction was very early and provided her history with a normal delivery a decade ago, she had never felt this much pain even during her first. As she breathed hard, she felt another one and that time, she let out her scream.

'AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!'

Jay was equally confused as Jeeva and he jumped back when he felt his pants drench in water. Panicking, he looked back at Jeeva and Mandhira, and screamed, 'Her water broke!' His eyes almost went out of his sockets due to the shock, since he had never once in his life come across this situation nor hear the men speak about it. Hands shaking, he glared at a calm Jeeva, who was trying to get Mandhira to rest against the couch.

Jeeva dialled up the Ob-Gyn and reported the event. Petrified, Jay did not leave his place. He turned pale and tried to swat away the water from his pants. When Jeeva disconnected the call, he glared at his younger brother for the latter's childish actions. 'I am going to get Mandhira to the hospital. Clean up and wait for my call once we reach there. Take care of Poorani. I will notify Mandhira's family on my way.' Jeeva sighed at his dumbfounded younger brother. 'Relax. It will be fine as soon as you get to see your nephew or niece.' Patting Jay's shoulder, Jeeva placed another call. Five minutes later, grabbing their emergency post-maternity duffel bag, Jeeva left the mansion with his wife in his car.