BORN TO RULE

[Eng] Chapter 25: Happily Ever-After?

There was Tia, lying in the stretcher. Her eyes were closed, her face was pale....
She looked lifeless!

This view shocked Arjun. He froze on his spot.

As the wardboys took the stretcher carrying Tia into a cabin, he pushed Praneet aside and ran into that room.

~

He rushed into the room and saw the wardboys shifting her on the bed. He was about to burst into tears when his eyes fell on something beside the bed.

There was a crib. With slow baby steps, he went closer.

It wasn't empty....
It was the best view ever of his life!

There was a little human figure wrapped in a light blue towel, sleeping peacefully. Tears trickled down his cheeks.

"Congratulations, you are now the father of this cute little baby boy," came the voice of the doctor from behind.

It felt like a dream to him. He wanted to take the little human in his arms but didn't know how to. The doctor came forward and put the baby, his baby, in his arms carefully. He couldn't help but stare at the boy sleeping peacefully in his arms.

Carefully, he walked towards the lifeless figure of Tia.

"Rani-sa, how long will you sleep? Wake up. Look, how peacefully our son is sleeping. His nose is just like yours. Wake up quickly, Rani-sa."

He waited for her to reply. But neither she moved nor she said anything. Fear was taking over him again.

"I must say, she's a true queen. Fearless and strong. Don't worry, she's fine. Just a bit weak. We had assumed that we'll be able to save only one. Even you said to save the patient. But she didn't let her baby go. She was unconscious, but she was obstinate. She not only saved herself, but saved her child as well," laughed the doctor.

Arjun laughed along, "Rani-sa is just like that. She is obstinate about everything."

"You don't have to worry, she will gain consciousness very soon. And because the baby is premature, we have to keep the baby in incubator for a few days. After a while, a nurse will come to take the baby. Till then, I will leave you three to enjoy some family moment."

Arjun smiled at her. The doctor waved the baby and left. He put the baby back into the crib and went back to Tia. He caressed her forehead and pressed his lips on her forehead.

"Wake up soon, Rani-sa. Our son is waiting for you...."

He grabbed her left hand with both of his hands and planted a kiss on the back of her hand as well.

Praneet and Priya were standing just outside the door, admiring the whole scene from there with tears of happiness in their eyes and a smile of satisfaction curved on their lips.

~

Narrow ray of light....
Darkness....
Wider ray of light....
Darkness...

Her eyes slowly adjusted in the brightness.

After 36 hours, when she finally gained consciousness. She tried to open her eyes. At first she stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, then she realized her right hand over her stomach but she felt empty. She sensed something missing. She looked to her left and saw the machines attached to her body through some tubes. Then she turned to her right and saw a crib but it was empty.