Note:
This is a bonus chapter that I thought of posting as an epilogue some time back but then decided against it. Since some of you asked me to post the unpublished chapters, I’m publishing it.
This chapter takes place few months after the last chapter.
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Omkara paced back and forth with his hands folded across his chest and eyes glued to the Labour room.
Anika’s eyes followed his trail for some time before giving a sigh. She looked at her watch for the nth time wondering what was taking everyone else so long. Her husband, Tej, Shakti and Harsh must’ve been stuck in traffic, Vasundhra, Jhanvi and Pinky had gone to a far away temple to pray for Gauri’s healthy delivery so there was no doubt that they would take time to reach. And that meant she had to babysit Omkara, Again!
“Omkara.” She called out to him very calmly trying her best not to express her displeasure and maintain her calm demeanour. “Could you please just sit down.”
Omkara turned to look at her in shock, like she had just said the most stupid thing ever. “Sit down!?” He exclaimed in disbelief. “How can I-”
“For Godsake, my eyes are paining from all that going back and forth.” She replied with a straight face.
“Stop looking then.” He shrugged.
“Yeah as if that’s under my control!” She said rolling her eyes.
“Of course your eyes are under your control!” Omkara exclaimed. “And I walk when I’m tensed.”
“Your legs are under your control too! Just sit down!” Anika commanded. “And why are you worrying so much? She’ll be fine in some time!”
As everyone had been away from the house, Anika and Gauri had decided to spend the day together in Oberoi mansion along with Shivani- her and Shivaay’s 6 month old daughter. But by evening, Gauri had got Labour pain and had to be rushed to the hospital. Hopefully, Omkara was there at home. Once Gauri was in the hospital, Anika had gone and given her baby to Shivaay’s mom and then returned to the hospital. She remembered how the car ride to the hospital was…
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“Gauri is it very bad? Oh God what do I do now?!” Omkara panicked seeing pain written all over Gauri’s face.
“Omkara I’m fine, it’s normal in a pregnancy to have such pains.” Gauri comforted him, adjusting herself in the seat for him to close the door.
“But Gauri the doctor said the date was after three days right? Then why is the baby coming this early?” He asked in confusion.
“It happens Omkara, let’s-“
“That doctor is no good! He couldn’t even predict the date right! If he did then you wouldn’t be in this condition now!” Omkara cursed as he got into the driver’s seat.
“Its a biologically process Omkara, it can’t be predicted that accurately!” Anika said shaking her head in disapproval.
“Yes Omkara, besides it’s our baby, you and I are both unpredictable so is our baby.” Gauri said trying to keep her voice straight.
“Gauri, don’t worry we’ll reach there in a few minutes ok? You’ll be fine!” Omkara said as he started the car while Anika sat beside Gauri wondering who was in Labour pain.
*******
“She’ll be in pain.” Omkara mumbled all tensed.
“Every mother will be.” Anika stated in a matter of fact tone.
“But…Gauri…”
“Gauri is a normal human who will have to go through that pain too, there is no exception.” She said rolling her eyes. “If you had so much problem with this, then you should’ve thought about it before getting her pregnant!” The last part she had muttered to herself but he had heard and immediately pondered on it.
“No more babies then!” Omkara declared firmly making Anika look at him in disbelief.
“How does she even manage you!?” Anika wondered out loud making him look at her with a frown.
“I’m just worried for my wife.” He said with a shrug.
“This isn’t worry, this is over thinking!” Anika stated.
“I’m just worried because she has to go through this pain.”
“Then what will you do when the delivery starts and Gauri screams in pain?” She asked in dread unable to imagine her condition trying to console him all by herself.
Omkara blinked for a few seconds before his expression changed to something like fear. “Scream? Oh God..I didn’t even think of it…”
“Listen Omkara, this is very norm-” But before she could complete her sentence, they both turned their heads to the Labour room hearing Gauri’s scream.
“Aaahhhh!!!”
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Anika faced Omkara in dread and found him as white as a ghost, staring at the door to the Labour room. She slowly kept her hand on his shoulder and called him, “Omkara..?”
“Aaaaahhhhh!” Gauri screamed again.
“Gauri!” Omkara called out and Anika mentally facepalmed. This was going to be dramatic! No more dealings with dramatic dudes! She made a mental note to herself.
“Omkara, mere bhai, please control. This is normal -”
“Gauri needs me.”
“Listen Omkara, there are times when I’m extremely happy that you are her husband and then there are times when I wish to slap you senseless and this is definitely the second case.” Anika stated under one breath.
“But Gauri!” He whined like a small child. “I need to go to her!” He declared and went ahead to open the door when Anika caught his hand and pulled him back in shock.
“Gauri is fine! You want the baby to come out or not!?” She asked in disbelief. “Stay right here!”
She was going to go crazy trying to control him!
“But Gauri needs me!”
“She needs some peace right now! So shut up and let her deliver the baby!”
“AHHHHHHHH!” Gauri screamed her again.
“Stop right there!” Anika warned Omkara before he could even stand up and reach out to his wife. “Don’t even think of going inside! And don’t you dare get her pregnant again if this is how you are going to react!”
“Gauri needs me..I should be with her now…what am I even doing here!?” He wondered ro himself as he ran his hand through his hair frantically.
“Just shut up and sit down!” Anika commanded, already feeling herself loose her calm.
“It’s not easy!”
“Did I say it is?!”
“I can’t sit!” He stated.
“Why? Is there something on you that won’t allow you to sit down?”
“You know I love her!”
“Did I ask for any verification?” Anika asked in disbelief.
“Then how can you be so cruel to make me sit here!?” He asked in disbelief.
“Omkara, don’t make me complete my wish of slapping you senseless.” Anika said exasperated.
“But I love her!”
“Listen, it’s not like you’re coming to meet me so that I can agree for the two of yours marriage, you both are already married so you don’t have to keeping verifying that you love her. I’m not some captcha that you have to verify it to me that you’re not a robot.” She said irritated.
“I know that!”
“Then keep quite! Otherwise I may do something I wouldn’t like.”
“Why are you even here? You are restricting me from meeting my wife!” He complained.
Anika stared at him in disbelief, “Even Shivani doesn’t throw tantrums like you! Gauri has truly spoiled you! Arrey leave Shivani, even 5 year old Kabir isn’t this nakrebaaz! I knew it right from the start, ever since we met in bus that you are such a dramebaaz, I had even warned Gauri but what to do? She ended up marrying you!”
“You think she did a mistake?!” He asked in disbelief.
“A grave mistake!” She replied rolling her eyes.
“You’re so cruel!”
“Oh yeah? Then I might as well choke you to death right now, right here and then confess it to police and go to jail!”
“Poor Shivani will suffer without a mother!” He said, “And bechara Shivaay, how does he even manage you!?”
“Bada bechara lag raha hain aapko Shivaay, main batau koun asli bechara hain? Main! Jikse kaan aapne paka diya hain!”
“You are innocent?” Omkara asked rolling his eyes. Then a second later, he became concerned and asked feeling completely lost, “Will something happen to her?”
“Nothing’s going to happen to her. Okay?” Anika asured him with a soft smile. “She doged a bullet bro, this is just a baby.”
Omkara smiled a little at that.
“You both thought of a name right?” She asked trying to change the topic.
“Didn’t Gauri already tell you?” Omkara asked in confusion knowing well that his wife must have already told her best friend everything. Sometimes he couldn’t help but wonder if they even hid things from eachother.
“Well she did, but I thought there’s nothing wrong in seeing your point.” Anika said with a shrug.
“Whether it’s a boy or a girl, I don’t know. But I hope that the bond you and Gauri share with eachother should be the bond between our children as well.” Omkara said with a smile. “It would be lovely to have a friendship that you both share.”
“Well don’t blame if it’s a boy and it turns into something more than just friendship.” Anika said with a chuckle. “I will support them even though Shivani is 6 months older.”
“If it happens I’ll only be happy!” Omkara said with a laugh. “But I don’t know what Shivaay will think of it as he considers Gauri as his sister.”
“Acha ji?” Anika exclaimed raising her eyebrows, “Don’t you think you’re going a little too far?”
Omkara just shrugged with a smile feeling a little relieved. “Barson ka dosti rishtedari mein badal denge hum, Anika!” He said in a deep voice trying to imitate some actor.
She couldn’t help but laugh at his comment, “Really?” She asked as both broke into giggles.
*****
Thanks for reading!
Stay safe!