Chapter Fifty Two

"What the-?! Ammu went into labor? How? When-?"

"We had just stepped out of the room and just like that, her water broke! She- Jaaneman!"

Aryan dashed over to Shalini, who was sitting in a wheelchair, holding onto her stomach, breathing heavily as a nurse pushed her.

"Jaaneman, are you okay?"

"Just breathing," Shalini replied. "It's been so long since this last happened."

The nurse pushed open the door to the room across from Khushi's and Aryan followed her in. They helped Shalini to lay down and as more nurses came in to do their work, Dr. Fields soon followed in.

"Alright Mrs. Raizada, looks like I'll be taking care of both of you for now."

"What do you mean for now," Aryan asked.

"If both are ready to push at the same time, I won't be able to deliver both babies. If that is the case, we have another doctor on stand-by, she is one of our top doctors, there won't be anything to worry about."

Shalini yelped out and Aryan dashed to her side.

"Jaaneman, are you okay?"

"Fucking contractions," she gritted.

"Dad, are you going to be okay here," Arnav asked.

"We'll be fine Chote, go to Khushi."

Arnav nodded and left the room, dashing over to Khushi, just as Dr. Fields was about to check how far along Shalini was.

Arnav entered Khushi's room and went over to her side. "Hey baby," he said softly, running his fingers through Khushi's hair.

Khushi opened her eyes and smiled at him softly. "Hey. How's Ammu and Papa doing? I'm sure sitting there like that is uncomfortable for Ammu."

"Uh, actually...."

Khushi looked at him curiously.

"Let's just say my little sister is a little too eager to come out early."

"What? Ammu is in labor?"

Arnav nodded. "She's not there yet, but Dr. Fields is taking care of her as well."

"That's good- ah! "

Khushi reached out and gripped Arnav's hand as another contraction came along.

"Wow they're coming in closer than before," Khushi said, biting her lower lip.

Just then, Dr. Fields came into the room. "Another contraction?"

Khushi nodded.

Dr. Fields nodded as well as she out on a pair of gloves. "Let's see how you're doing."

"I hope far enough."

"Well... you're at 6 centimeters," she said, removing her gloves. "It'll take a little bit more time."

Khushi sighed and Arnav ran his thumb over Khushi's hand.

"Don't worry Khushi. You're in good hands."

*~*

Hours passed, Arnav and Aryan notifying the family of anything. They were all excited and couldn't wait to come to the hospital first thing when visiting hours began.

More and more hours passed, when finally, Shalini was ready to deliver.

"Alright Shalini, when I tell you to, push, okay?"

Shalini nodded, gripping onto her husband's hand.

"Okay now... push!"

Shalini did as told and squeezed onto Aryan's hand as she cried out.

"Push!"

Shalini cried out again as she did, curling her body up as she did.

"She's almost here, just one more push."

Shalini pushed one last time, crying out as she did, and her cry was soon joined with another. Shalini plopped back and breathed heavily as Aryan ran his hand over her hair and the nurse dabbed her forehead clean of sweat.

"Mayor Raizada, would you like to cut the cord," Dr. Fields asked.

Aryan nodded and took the scissors from her and cut the cord. A nurse took the scissors from him while the other nurses cleaned up the baby and wrote down her information. Once she was cleaned up, the nurse handed her to Aryan and he couldn't believe his eyes.

His baby girl was here. Their dream of having a little girl had finally come true. All those years of misery, pain, and separation, and now there would be nothing but happiness and love.

Aryan walked over to Shalini. "Would you like to meet our little girl?"

Shalini nodded and the nurse helped her up. With tears in her eyes, Shalini held her arms out and Aryan placed the baby them. Her tears came streaming free as soon as she held her.

"Oh my gosh," Shalini cried as Aryan wrapped his arms around his wife. "I can't believe she's here."

Shalini placed kisses over the little ones face and smiled down at her. "Everything is perfect."

"Well, almost," Dr. Fields said, and the Raizada's looked up at her with confusion.

"Khushi is about to deliver her child."

*~*

Khushi's screams filled up the room and Arnav tried his best to calm his wife. However, it did no help whatsoever.

"I fucking swear Arnav Singh Raizada, I will fucking kill you after this," she growled.

Arnav had never been this scared in his life, but he tried his best to push it aside. It wasn't too hard, since Khushi's grip on him was tight and ready to squeeze the life out of him!

"Push Khushi," Dr. Padmavati told her.

Khushi screamed as she pushed once more, unable to bear it for another second.

"One more time, almost there."

With another push, she let out another cry.

Please come out already, Khushi cried.

When she was asked to push again, she did so with a loud scream and collapsed onto her back as another, louder cry filled the air. The nurses fluttered around in front of her, Khushi's vision still hazy. She heard the doctor speak and Arnav as well, but she paid no attention; she wanted to hold her child.

As soon as the newborn was cleaned and measured, the nurse handed the little bundle over to Arnav. Arnav couldn't believe his own eyes and his eyes flooded with tears. He couldn't believe that after all these months, his little bundle of joy was finally here!

"There's someone who'd like to meet you," he smiled at the babe.

Arnav went over to Khushi and she looked up at him.

"You were right Khushi," he smiled through his tears, and handed the infant over to her.

Khushi reached out eagerly and took hold of the child she had been carrying for so long and eager to meet. More tears streamed down as she gazed at her little baby boy.

"He's so beautiful," she cried, placing kisses all over the baby's face.

Arnav wrapped his arm around his wife as he sat down beside her. He held the child with her and looked at Khushi. "Thank you, Khushi. Thank you so much."

Khushi chuckled through her tears and Arnav placed a kiss on her forehead.

Now everything was perfect.

*~*

Both infants had been transported to their box-like cribs and taken to the nursery. While they were transported there, their mothers were taken to their individual rooms to rest. Both Khushi and Shalini were very much tired out, so they had fallen asleep. Both Arnav and Aryan had waited for the women to fall asleep before going over to the babies, but the nurse advised them to get some rest and get something to eat, as it had been a long night for them, plus it would be better if the babies slept in peace. So both Mr. Raizada's agreed and headed down to the hospital cafeteria, which was open 24 hours.

Surprisingly enough, the food was really good.

It was early into the morning and the Raizada men had eventually gone back to their wives' room to get some rest. They didn't sleep for long, as their excitement was much too high to keep them sleeping. The same could be said for the Mrs. Raizada's as they both woke up early too.

Khushi couldn't help but to smile at her husband. Arnav smiled back at her too before getting up from the chair and going over to her. He placed a soft kiss on her lips and took her hand in his.

"Hi," he smiled.

"Hi," Khushi replied with a raspy voice.

"How are you feeling?"

"Exhausted, but okay."

Arnav smiled and placed a kiss on her forehead. Khushi smiled and glanced around the room.

"Where is he?"

"Probably making new friends as we speak," Arnav smiled.

"Oh? So he's already gone towards his father, hmm?"

Arnav couldn't help his smile. "I can't believe I'm a father."

Khushi reached out and caressed his face. "You are. A very handsome one too," she blushed.

"Is that so," he teased.

Khushi blushed even more and giggled as he nuzzled her cheek. "Stop, someone might come in."

"Like who?"

"Um... a nurse?"

Arnav chuckled and kept his hold on her. Khushi blushed and fussed, trying to get him to release her when the door opened, causing the couple to stop. Both looked up to see Dr. Fields and looked at her with confusion.

Something just didn't seem right.

"Good morning Dr. Fields," Arnav said. "Is everything alright?"

Both watched as the doctor glanced down at the floor, before taking a deep breath. At that moment, something just didn't set for Khushi. She could feel it in her heart, and only the worse could come to her mind.

"Dr. Fields," Khushi breathed.

Dr. Fields pursed her lips and Khushi's lips trembled.

"Please," she begged, her voice breathy.

"I'm so sorry," the doctor began.

Khushi felt a lump grow in her truth and tears came flowing free without her even realizing. "No..."

Arnav looked at the two with confusion. "Can someone please explain what is going on?"

With a gulp, Dr. Fields turned to Arnav, straightening herself. "I'm sorry Mr. Raizada but..."

"But what," Arnav asked, his voice much more fierce.

"But... I'm very sorry to say... your child..."

The world came crashing down for Khushi as she gasped and placed her hands over her mouth. Arnav's eyes widened as the worst came to his mind, but refused to believe.

"What happened to my son," Arnav gritted.

Dr. Fields took a shaky breath. She knew how big this was for first time parents, having their first child. But in her career, only twice had she ever had to give such news, and it was never easy. "He... we were monitoring him all night like with every other baby-"

"What happened. To. My. Son?!"

Dr. Fields recoiled and quickly tried to regain her composure. "He's passed away," she blurted.

As the world gave away for Arnav, his body became numb. Nothing worked, his body beginning to shut down, all except for his hearing, which filled with the screaming and crying of his wife.

In an instant his world had been completed, and in an instant, it had been torn to shreds.