'Ma? Aap?'
Rohit asked, but his voice seemed to drown out, as the door banged behind her.

'Sona! My God!'
Suman hurried over to the hospital bed, almost pushing Rohit out of the way.
He staggered a bit, as Suman took hold of Sonakshi's hand.
'Tum Delhi se kab wapas aayin? Or yeh sab? Achanak se? Woh to acha hua, ke Rohit ke paas gayin, warna wahan akele mein kya hota..mein to soch soch ke hi pareshaan horahi hun..'

'Ma..Ma..mein..owww!'
Sonakshi's head fell back, as her body shook with another contraction.

'Meri bachi..'
Suman looked worried, and caught hold of Sonakshi's hand.
'Sab theek hojayega..'

'Kab theek hoga? I want to just die..'
Sonakshi tried breathing over and over.

'Sona! Kya bol rahi ho? Pagal ho kya?'
Rohit hurried back to her side, frowning.

'Tumhe kya flight pe hi dard shuru hogaye, Sona?'
Suman was still wondering, how Sonakshi had made it to the hospital in time.

Sonakshi was about to tell her that she hadn't been on any flight, when she remembered, that even Rohit didn't know about that, so she diverted their attention.
'Nahin, Ma! Woh mein Rohit ke paas gayi..wahan..ohhhhh!'
She screamed in pain.

'Aray! Zyada dard hai to doctor ko bulao na..waise yeh to kuch bhi nahin hai..'
Suman went on, and Sonakshi looked at her, stunned.

'Yeh kuch bhi nahin hai? I feel like I'm never going to be able to see my baby, or aap aise bol rahi ho..'
Rohit came to take her hand again.

'Aray! Jab tum honay wali thi, to mein poore baara ghantay labor mein thi. Contractions rukne ka naam hi nahin le rahe thay, par tum thi, jo zidd lagaye bethi thi, ke bahar aana hi nahin hai. Aisa lag raha tha jaise andar ka saara phatt ke bahar..'

'Stop! Stop! Ma!! Please, bas karen..'
Rohit looked like he was going to throw up.
'Aap aise kyun bol rahi hain..Sona darr rahi hai..'
And he wiped his own forehead, which was wet with sweat.

Suman chuckled.
'Sona se zyada to tum darray hue lag rahe ho! Abhi to bas start hua hai..yeh silsila to abhi barhna hai..'

'Bas!'
Rohit took Sonakshi's hand, and made her sit down.
'Chalo, Sona!'

'Aray, magar kahan?'
Sonakshi and Suman, spoke at once.

'Hum nahin ruk rahe yahan! Baby ko andar hi rakh lo. DELIVERY CANCEL!'
He tugged at her arm.

'Rohit! Are you mad? Jao, chale jao yahan se!'

'What?!? Mein kyun jaun?'
Rohit looked annoyed.

'Aray, jao! Or paani pee ke aao. Thanda. Warna yahan le aana, tumhare ooper daalna hai! What are you even saying?'

'Kya, Sona! Itni takleef mein kaise dekh sakta hun tumhe? Ma bhi aise bol rahi hain ke..'

'Aray! Mein to bas bata rahi thi..'
Suman piped in.

'Or maine aap se kaha ke aise mat..'

Sonakshi looked from one to the other, amazed at their squabble at a time like this.
'STOP IT! BOTH OF YOU! RIGHT NOW!'
Both of them looked at her, astonished at her outburst.
'Aap dono ko behes karni hai, to please, bahar jaa ke karen..I can't handle this..'
Tears gathered in her eyes, and Rohit quickly came forward. But she warded him off, with her hand.
'Jao, chalay jao! Leave me alone!'

'Sona! Please! Aise to mat karo..mujhe yahan rehna hai tumhare paas..'

'Rohit, tum jao. Mein yahan rukti hun, Sona ke paas..'
Suman sat on the stool, next to Sonakshi's bed.

'No, no! Mein rukunga!'

'Aray, tumhara kya kaam..'

'Mera hi to kiya hua kaam hai yeh..'

'AAAAHHHHH!'
Sonakshi screamed so loudly, on her next contraction, that even a nurse came running inside the room to check.

'Sona! Hang in there..'
Rohit rubbed her arm.

'I am hanging! In the middle of a cat fight between you two, and this baby, who wants to see its' mother die! Will you both stop it?'
Sonakshi was extremely exasperated.
'And staff? Please call back Dr. Shitij. I want to know the progress. Now!'
Her authoritative boss' voice, had the nurse scuttling away in a hurry.

'Sona..'

'Not a word, Rohit Sippy!'
Sonakshi gave him a furious look, and pointed her finger at him, making him step back, and put a finger on his lips.
Suman chuckled, and Sonakshi turned to glare at her too.
'Aap ko bari hansi arahi hai! Aap dono jayen yahan se! Mujhe doctor se baat karni hai..'
Sonakshi shifted position, as she was attacked from inside by the baby's kicking, and from her back, by the contractions.

There was a knock on the door, and Dr. Shitij entered. Sonakshi saw Rohit give him a look, but the doctor paid no heed, hurrying over to her.
'All okay, Dr. Sonakshi?'

'Please, Shitij! I want to know how long this is going to be. The pains have increased..'

'I'll check. Aap log please bahar chale jayen..nurse, aap ruken..'

Rohit stepped forward, as if to say something, but one look at Sonakshi's face, and he knew, it was useless. The nurse saw him and Suman outside, and shut the door.

***************************

Rohit paced the floor, in wait. And Suman sat on one of the sofas, as they waited for the doctor to come out of Sonakshi's room.

Dr. Asha had arrived, and had promptly gone in to examine Sonakshi, not letting Rohit or Suman inside.
Suman had called Veena, and she had been super excited. But since she was looking after Arihaan, she couldn't come right away. Suman had assured her that, she was here, so it was perfectly alright.

The door opened, and the nurse came out.
Rohit rushed up to her.

'Sister! Kya hua? Is Sona, I mean, Dr. Sonakshi..theek hain? The baby..'

'Sir, Dr. Asha ne aap ko bulaya hai, andar..'

'What? Why?'
Rohit was panicking, running his hands over his hair and face.

'Aray! Jao, Rohit! Yeh kya pooch rahe ho?'
Suman urged him, and Rohit made his way inside.

The sight that met him, had him in goosebumps.
Sonakshi was almost screaming in pain, and no one seemed the least concerned.
As he quickly moved towards her, the nurse stopped him.

'Sir, yeh pehen len..'
She handed over a surgical gown to him.

'What? Mein?'
Rohit looked utterly confused.

'Delivery ke liye..'
The nurse explained.

'Par mujhe thori deliver karna hai baby!'
He looked aghast at the suggestion.

'Sir, protocol hai..please.'

Rohit quickly donned it, and the nurse helped him in tying it from the back. She also sanitised his hands before letting him go near Sonakshi, who was crying and howling.

'Sona! Sona, mein Rohit!'

'I know that! I haven't lost my senses!'
She turned her head, her face all sweaty, her eyes blotchy. But she still looked beautiful to him.

'Rohit! You are here!'
Dr. Asha came forward, already dressed in her scrubs, gloves and mask.
'Sonakshi is all ready to deliver. I thought you would like to be a part of it.'

Rohit mentally rolled his eyes.
Do I? Man, I'm going to throw  up here or something..

He just nodded his head, and turned to Sonakshi, who was trying to breathe to ease her pain.

'Rohit! Rohit!'
She chanted over and over, and Rohit reached to wipe the sweat off her brow.
He leaned over and kissed her forehead.

'Bas, Sona! Soon, we will have the baby with us..'

Instead of being comforted, she gave him a look of anger.
'That's so easy to say! I have to get it out first!'

'Alright, Sonakshi! It's time for you to push!'
Dr. Asha called from where she had taken her place between Sonakshi's legs.

'Hoo, hoo..'
Sonakshi tried with all her might.

'Come on, there. Push!'
Dr. Asha called.

'I'm trying!'
Sonakshi huffed, and puffed.

'Come on, Sona! You can do it!'
Rohit held her hand, and she clutched at it, as if it was the only support.

'Yes! Yes! I can do it! Hoo, hoo!'

'Come on, Sonakshi! Try harder!'
Dr. Asha called.

Rohit took it upon himself to repeat everything the doctor said, in case she couldn't hear it from where she was.

'Push!'
She called again.

'PUSH, SONA! PUSH!'
Rohit shouted.

'Shut up, Rohit Sippy! I'm not deaf, I'm in labor!'
Sonakshi turned to him furiously.

'Okay, okay! Sorry! Relax! I mean, no..don't relax right now, I meant...Just push!!'

As she increased the pressure, her whole frame shook with it. And she squeezed Rohit's hand, very tightly.

'Ow, ow! My hand, Sona! My hand will break! Sona, my hand! She's breaking my hand!'
Rohit's eyes had widened in pain and shock, at how she had gotten the strength to do it.

'A bit more, Sonakshi! Hurry, now!'
The doctor called out. Dr. Shitij repeated her order.

Sonakshi groaned with the effort of pushing, her face all red, as she strained her whole body, still squeezing Rohit's hand.

'It's all because of you, that I'm here! It's your fault! I hate you, Rohit Sippy! I just  hate you!'
Sonakshi hissed through her teeth, leaving Rohit stunned.

'What is she saying?'
Dr. Shitij asked Rohit, amazed at Sonakshi's mumbling.

'That she loves me, that she can't live without me!'
Rohit gave a fake smile, full of wonder, as Sonakshi glared back at him.

'I'm going to kill you for this!'
She continued, as she moaned and groaned.

'But, Sona..'
He stopped, as she screamed.
'Oh, God! Tum theek to ho..mein..'

Sonakshi didn't even look at him this time.
'Yes! I'm fine! I've got a baby stuck in my cervix, I feel like I'm going to die..so yes! I'm fine!'

'Just stop with the sarcastic remarks will you! Or yeh kya I'm dying, I'm dying laga rakha hai! Meri koi parwah hai bhi kya tumhe? I love you, God dammit! Stop saying all this!'
Sonakshi was a bit startled by Rohit's outburst, as she saw tears in his eyes.

Sonakshi's head went back with the effort of pushing, as guilt and regret filled her.
'Rohit! I'm so sorry! Maine tumhe kitna pareshaan kiya na. Tumhari baat nahin suni. Tumhara yaqeen nahin kiya! Mujhe maaf kar do..'

'Yes, Sonakshi! That's it! I can see the head. Come on!'
Dr. Asha's voice cut across her apology.

Rohit turned back to Sonakshi, not even listening to the doctor.
'Tum aise kyun bol rahi ho? It wasn't your fault. Koi bhi hota to aise hi sochta. Khud ko blame mat karo..'

'But, I am to blame!'
She huffed.
'Or sab jaan ke bhi I couldn't face you, to Delhi jaane ka bahana bana diya, jab ke mein yahin thi, Mumbai mein. I'm sorry! I was afraid..hoo, hoo..that you wouldn't forgive me!'

Rohit was dumbfounded by her admission.
'You what? You knew everything? Or mujhe nahin bataya?'

'Yes, that's it! Come on, now! Push harder!'
Dr. Asha was saying.

'I said, I'm sorry! Mein paagal hogayi thi...aaahhhhh!'

'Sona hum baad mein baat karenge yeh..'

'Mr. Sippy! Come here! The baby is almost here!'
Dr. Shitij called him, gesturing with his hands.

'I love you, Rohit! I LOVE YOU!!'
Sonakshi screamed, as Rohit went to where the doctor had called him.

As he saw the baby's head come out, he thought he wouldn't be able to watch.
'Oh my God!'
He staggered a bit, and Dr. Shitij gave him a hand to steady him.

Suddenly, the cry of a baby resounded in the room.

Sonakshi fell back on the bed, as if she had run a marathon, or more like been through a grinder.

'Oh my God! Oh my God!'
Rohit chanted, as Dr. Asha lifted the baby up.

'It's a girl! Congratulations!'

'Yes! Congratulations to you!'
Rohit couldn't seem to take his eyes off the squealing, sickly looking thing, his head spinning.

'Rohit! Congratulations to you and Sonakshi! Not me!'

'Ahan..that's right!'
He had a faraway look in his eyes, as the doctor wrapped the baby in a sheet.
'That's..all..'

Dr. Asha gave him a look of concern.
'Are you alright?'

'Yes! Yes! Never been better..'

He gave her a thumbs up, and the next instant, he staggered, fell to the floor, and fainted.

To be continued..