Rohit ran across the parking lot, his heart pounding so loudly, that he could hear it.

Oh, God! Let Sona be alright!

He had just come to his dressing room after a shot, when Tanya had called him. Wondering why she would be calling him, he had picked up the phone.
But as soon as he heard her panicked voice, he knew something was wrong.

'Rohit Bhai! Woh, Sona Bhabi..'

Her saying that was enough to create a panic within him. He had heard her say something, and rushed out, calling his director on the way.
He had almost broken two traffic signals to reach the hospital in such a hurry.

He now ran across the corridors towards Dr. Asha's clinic, where Tanya had messaged him they had come.

'Sir..ma'am yahan nahin..'
He faintly heard the staff call to him, but he crashed open the door of Dr. Asha's cabin. It was empty.

'What the?'

'Sir! Ma'am yahan nahin hain..woh madam OT mein..'

'OT? OPERATION THEATRE?'
He shouted.

The nurse looked a bit frightened of Rohit, and flinched.
Rohit blinked, knowing shouting wouldn't help right now.

'I'm sorry! Ma'am theatre kyun gayi hain?'
He tried controlling his voice, even though he was freaking out inside.

'Woh emergency case aaya tha, to unhe jaana parra..aap ko..'

'Gynae and Obs ka theatre kahan hain?'
His voice was again picking up pitch, despite his attempt to control it.

'Woh, sir, across this corridor..'

But Rohit was running towards it, before she could finish.

'Sir! You can't go there..'
She ran after him, but Rohit had already crashed inside.

'Sona! Sona!'
He ran inside.

'Excuse me! What is the meaning of this behaviour?'
Dr. Asha came running out in scrubs, then stopped as she saw Rohit.

'Rohit! Tum yahan?'

'Dr. Asha! Thank God! Sona kahan hai? Andar hai? Kya hua usse? Woh theek to hai? Aap usse yahan kyun le aayin? Sona? Hamara baby? Woh dono..'

'Relax, Rohit! Take a deep breath, please!'

Rohit stopped, and did just that.

'Sonakshi behosh..'

'WHAT?!?'

Dr. Asha raised her eyebrows, and he shut up.

'Sonakshi behosh hogayi thi, but abhi theek hai, ultrasound waale room mein rest..'
Rohit almost dashed for it, but stopped.

'Sab..sab theek to..Sona? Hamara..ba..by?'
He tried getting out through the lump that had formed in his throat.

'Han, dono theek hain..'
Somebody called to her.
'I have an emergency patient inside, would you excuse me?'
She turned inside the door, and Rohit raced out the door.

He ran back across the corridor, to the room where Sonakshi's ultrasound had been done.
He opened the door quietly, not really knowing what to expect. But he was surprised to see Sonakshi lying on the stretcher, her eyes closed, her hand over her abdomen, chanting a prayer.
He released the breath he hadn't known he had been holding, on seeing her.
He shut the door softly, and moved inside.
Sensing him, she opened her eyes.

'Rohit?'

'Sona!'
He hurried to her and took her hand.
'Tum theek to ho? Tumhari tabyat? Kya hua..'

'Rohit! I'm fine!'

'Fine? Aise hotay hain? Hospital aana parra, behosh hogayin?'
He looked really upset.

'Aray, baba! Theek hun..sachi!'

'Tanya kahan hai? Tum yahan akeli kyun ho?'

'Tanya hai..mere liye juice lene gayi hai..idhar betho..'
She indicated the stool next to the stretcher.
'Mein theek hun, Rohit! Or hamara baby bhi. Woh bas achanak se chott lagi to..shayad darr ke maare behosh hogayi hongi..but Tanya had quick thinking. Uss ne Mom ko call ki, woh ghar pe nahin thi. Or ambulance bhi bulayi mujhe yahan laane ke liye..'

'Ambulance? Yeh to nahin bataya..'

'Woh to shayad tumhe bhi baad mein call karti, but I think I was calling out for you..I don't really remember..'
She made to sit up.

'Leti raho..kyun uthna hai?'
He put a hand to stop her.

'Aray! Kyun? Ghar jaana hai..woh Arihaan..'

'Tumhe chott lagi kaise, Sona? What were you doing?'

'Kuch nahin, woh bas..'
Sonakshi seemed reluctant to tell him.

'Batao mujhe! Warna abhi Tanya se hi pooch leta hun..'

He got off the stool, and stood up.
Sonakshi caught his hand.

'Ruko, batati hun! Magar tum hyper mat hona, ghussa mat karna..'

'Mein kab hyper..'
He raised his voice, then stopped at her look.
'Batao na..' he said softly.

Sonakshi related the events, and saw worry over his face.

'Sona..tum..'

'Please! Ab yeh mat bol dena ke Arihaan se door raho..uss ke kaam mat karo..'
She saw a look come in his eyes.
'Kyunke mein aisa hargiz nahin karne wali. I'm his mother, and I can take care of him.'

Rohit nodded.
'Mein tumhe roknay nahin wala tha, Sona! I know you can't not take care of him. I was just going to say ke dhiyaan rakha karo..waise baby theek..'

'Yes, thank God! Dr. Asha ne ultrasound kar ke check bhi kar liya..he or she is a tough cookie!'
Sonakshi lovingly stroked her abdomen, and Rohit found the action really beautiful.
He leaned over, and planted a kiss over her abdomen, his lips lingering.
He looked up to see her eyes becoming moist.

'Indeed! Sonakshi Rastogi ka baby hai! "Tough nut to crack" hona to banta hai!'
He winked, and Sonakshi whacked his shoulder, laughing.

'You are crazy!'
Rohit just shrugged.

There was a knock at the door, and Tanya came in bearing juice and a sandwich.

'Rohit Bhai! Thank God, aap aagaye..'

'Thank you, Tanya! Your quick thinking saved us from any bad mishaps.'
He said gratefully.

'Aray! Aisa bhi kuch nahin hai..as long as Sona Bhabi or baby theek hain..what does it matter..'

'Thankyou, Tanya! Mein thora darr gayi thi, sach mein..'
Sonakshi smiled at her.

Rohit made her drink the juice, before they all left the hospital, going back home.

         *****************

'Arihaan! Kya hua, mera beta?'
Sonakshi called to him, but he just buried deeper into Pari's shoulder.

'Yeh kyun nahin araha mere paas?'
Sonakshi looked upset.

'Sona! Woh tum gir gayin, or chott lagi na, uss se shayad darr gaya hai thora.'
Veena tried appeasing her, but Sonakshi was getting worried.

'Magar maine to isse kuch bhi nahin bola..iss ko kya pata kya theek hai, kya nahin..'

Rohit came behind her.
'Kya hua?'

'Rohit! Mera beta mujhse darr raha hai..mere paas bhi nahin araha..'

'Aray! Aisa thori hota hai..'
He moved forward to take Arihaan from Pari. Arihaan scrambled onto him, clutching him tightly.

'Baba!'

Rohit threw him in the air, but except for a few giggles, he didn't seem as excited as he usually was.

'Kya hua, mera monkey?'
Rohit kissed his cheek.
'Mama paas nahin jaana?'

Sonakshi stood by, her heart heavy with emotion.

'Owie! Owie!'
He said.

Rohit looked at Sonakshi to enquire what he was saying.

'Yeh, chott ko bolta hai. Jab iss ke forehead pe lagi thi, to aise hi bolta tha..'

'Phir to shayad Mom theek keh rahi ho..maybe he got scared seeing you like that..'

'Sona! Bachay na bohot sensitive hotay hain iss tarha..ajayega..apni maa se door thori reh sakta..thori hi der mein bas.'
Veena assured her.

'Chalo, Arihaan! Baba aap ko ghumaane le chalen..chalega?'
Rohit turned with him in his arms, and began to leave.

Arihaan now kept looking back. As soon as they reached the door, he cried out, lifting his arms towards her.
'Mama! Mama!'

Tears fell out of Sonakshi's eyes, as she hurried over. He came into her arms immediately, and Sonakshi hugged him and kissed him, while Veena and Rohit watched, smiling.

'Meri jaan! Mama loves you so much! Or dekho na, Mama bilkul theek bhi hai..no owie!'
Sonakshi was elated, as Arihaan snuggled into her.

This is indeed the best feeling..ever.

     ********************

Rohit laughed.

'Aray! Bari hansi arahi hai tumhe!'
Sonakshi gave him a weird look.

'Kahan se..matlab..kaise dhoond leti ho?'

Rohit pointed to her t-shirt, which she had come out of the bathroom wearing.
Arihaan was still up and was  with Pari and Ajit in their room.

'Oh!'
She looked down at herself, and smiled.
'Yeh..yeh Pari laayi mere liye. Cute hai na?'

Rohit looked at the shirt again, which had a long line representing a bar of which two were coloured, and it said 'BABY LOADING...PLEASE WAIT'.

'Bohot hi zabardast! I've been a big fan of your t-shirts..'

'That I know..'
Sonakshi smiled, as she came and sat on the bed, putting her feet up.
'Yaad hai, jab hum contract mein thay..'

'How can I forget? That time was...what the..'
He stopped and stared.

Sonakshi stopped rubbing her feet and looked up at him.
'Kya hua?'

'Sona! Your feet! Dikhao..'

'Hunh? My feet? Tum apne dekho..mere kyun dekhne hain..'
She quickly moved them out of his sight, by folding them beneath her.

'Put them back here, Sonakshi Sippy! Right now!'
Rohit said in a very authoritative tone.

Sonakshi bit her lip, and straightened her legs out on the bed.
'Woh mein..'

But Rohit had already come closer, and lifted one foot in his hand.
'Yeh swelling..'

'Rohit! It's normal.'

'Phir chupa kyun rahi thi mujhse? Agar normal hai to?'

'Woh..'

'Koi excuse nahin samajh araha na? Because you and I both know, ke these are not normal.'
He stroked one foot and then the other, the action soothing her.

'Rohit! Fourth month mein to yeh normal hai..besides..'
She stopped, as Rohit got up and left the bed.

'What..Rohit! Mein tumhe samjha rahi hun na..aise ghussa ho ke kyun chale gaye..Rohit!'

She saw him rummaging in the drawers for something. She was surprised when he came back with a bottle of olive oil.

'Yeh kya?'

He sat back on the bed, and lifted her foot in his lap.

'Maine parha tha, ke mommies-to-be ke jab feet swell hotay hain, to olive oil ka massage kafi faida karta hai..'
He opened the bottle and took out some in his hands. Rubbing them together, he began massaging her foot.

Sonakshi watched him in awe, as head bent, he fully concentrated on her foot.

'Hmmm...that feels soooo goood!'
She rested her head back on the headboard, sighing in pleasure.

'Yeah? I told you I have magic hands..'
He preened.

'Yes, you do!'
And his grin widened.

He took her other foot in his lap, and repeated his actions on that as well.

'Ab se roz raat mein, foot massage hoga? Okay?'

'Yes, boss!'
Sonakshi pouted.

Rohit looked up, seeing her naughty expression, and couldn't help but chuckle.

'Waisayyyy, Sonaaaa..' he began.

'Uh, oh!'

He raised an eyebrow.
'What uh oh?'

'Kuch to khurafaati aaya hai tumhare dimaagh mein..jo aise bola..'

'Khurafaati? Or mein?'
He fluttered his eyelashes at her, trying to look innocent.

'Yes, you! Mr. Naughty Sippy!'

'Acha? To batao! Kya socha tha maine..'

'Yeh to mujhe nahin pata..but something naughty, definitely.'

'Okayyyy...since tumne ilzaam laga hi diya hai..to poora bhi kar deta hun..' he lifted her feet off his lap, folding them, and came near her.

Sonakshi's pulse began to race, as he leaned towards her..
Anticipating a kiss, Sonakshi closed her eyes, but was surprised when he whispered something in her ear instead.

She flushed.

To be continued...