Akshara had been unconscious for a while now and Abhimanyu was sitting next to her holding her hand. Her reports had come in and as Dr. Divya had said, the mother and the baby both were fine. Abhimanyu had heard her when she said so but looking at the reports calmed him better. He leaned in and kept his face next to hers while caressing her bump.

Abhimanyu: Thank God! Thank God Akshu! Agar tumhe ya baby ko kuch bhi ho jata toh mai jee hi nahi pata....mere zinda rehne ki wajah ho tum dono...tumhe kuch bhi hota to mai bardash hi nahi kr pata...

He heard footsteps and wiped his tears. Sitting up straight, he looked at the door and saw Manjiri enter followed by Harshvardhan who had a tray in his hand.

Manjiri: Abhi, kaisi hai Akshu?

Abhimanyu: Thik hai maa, reports bhi normal hai.

Harshvardhan: Chalo accha hai! Ab tum bhi kha lo kuch...

Abhimanyu: Jb tk meri Akshu ko hosh nahi aa jata tb tk mujhse kuch khaya nahi jayega..

Manjiri: Abhi agr tu apna dhyan nahi rakhega toh Akshu aur apne bacche ka dhyan kaise rakh payega...unke liye toh thoda sa kuch kha le...

Abhimanyu nodded and ate a bite from the toast Manjiri offered. They all looked at Akshara who was lying down- unaware of the pain her state caused the people in the room. However, as if sensing the sorrow and worry of her husband- she slowly began to gain consciousness.

Akshara: Abhiii

She moaned softly with her eyes still closed.

Abhimanyu: Akshu!! Yahin hoon mai, akhen kholo...dheerse se- (gestured Harshvardhan to dim the lights) haan baba....dheere se- yes, you can do it...slow..

Akshara opened her eyes and saw the tensed faces of her family.

Akshara: Abhii?

Abhimanyu understood her silent question. He told her not to stress and that the baby was fine.

Manjiri: Akshu! Tumhe careful rehna chahiye beta....Thank God tumhe kuch nahi hua...

Akshara: Thank papa Maa...

Harshvardhan: Mujhe?

Akshara: Haan...vo mai giri thi na to zyada impact feel nahi hua....table, chair, saare corner me toh pool noodles lage hue they...

Abhimanyu looked at Harshvardhan gratefully. His baby-proofing the house had literally saved both his babies- his wife and future child.

Dr. Divya came in to meet Akshara and guided her. She signed her discharge papers and advised Akshara against rapid moments for a few days. Abhimanyu helped Akshara up and wear her cotton dress again instead of the hospital gown she had on.

He helped her tie the dhori on the back and turned her to face him. Slowly he cupped her face and rubbed his thumb on her soft cheeks. Akshara was taken aback by his expressions. His eyes screamed his love at her. He looked at her like an ardent devotee would look at his deity.

Akshara: Abhi? Kya hua?

Abhimanyu shook his head and wordlessly took her into his arms.

Abhimanyu: Mai dr gaya tha Akshu! Kyu darati ho mujhe itna? Aisa to mai mr jaunga na-

Akshara: shh...marne ki baaten mt kro docman...tumhari girija bilkul thik hai-

She said and snuggled into his chest while he breathed with relief in the warmth of her presence.

Arohi: Akshu!!!

Abhira separated as Arohi barged into the room. Working in the same hospital, she had seen Abhira's PDA so often that it did not bother her. She walked up to Akshara and started to scold her.

Arohi: Akshu! Maa banne wali hai tu...ab to sudhar jaa...kya kahin bhi girti padti rehti hai??

Akshara: Aru?

Arohi: Kya Aru? Dhyan nahi rakh skti kya apna? Mai Dr. Trivedi ke sath OT me thi...bahar ayi toh pta chala ki meri behen bhi admit hai...pta hai kitna dr gayi thi mai-

Akshara: Aru, I am fine! Trust me...tune ghar pr to nahi bataya..

Arohi: Nahi, vo mai directly yahin aa gayi thi-

Abhimanyu: Mujhe toh kissi ko phone krne ka dhyan hi nahi raha-

Akshara: Good! Dekho reports bhi aa gayi hai. I am hundred percent fine so let us not stress anyone..

Kairav: Too late for that!

Kairav said while entering with Goenkas. Swarna had called Manjiri for an update and learned about her being at the hospital. The family fussed over her. Then, they all went home.

................

Birla House | Hall

Anand: Hospital se call aya tha, Akshara and the baby are completely fine.

Shefali: Thank god!

Mahima: Yes, wrna tum dono ki wajah se pta nahi kya ho jata..

Anand: Mahima...

Mahima: What? Tumhe bhi pta hai Anand ki is state me kitna careful rehna hota hai....aur Akshara me toh jaan basti hai Abhimanyu ki...usse kuch bhi ho jata na vo kya haal krta sbka ye hum soch bhi nahi skte-

Parth: Maa, sach me galti se hua...mai bs usse rokna chahta tha, pta nahi kaise dhakka lg gaya..

Shefali: Galti meri bhi hai- mujhe bhi aise hall me ladna nahi chahiye tha, Akshara ko stress issi wajah se hua...aur vo mujhe hi rokne aa rahi thi-

Parth: Nahi Shefali, mujhe bhi samajhna chahiye tha- I

Mahima: Shut up! ab bada pyaar aa raha hai- tum dono itne useless ho, Tumhare pass koi kaam nahi hai aur tumhari biwi aise behave krti hai jaise office ka saara kaam usi ke pass hai....ek baccha tk tum plan-

Manjiri: Didi bs!!

Manjiri said from the door. She was agitated at her sister. Harshvardhan gestured them of all to stop. He turned and nodded at Abhimanyu who brought in Akshara.

Shefali: How are you Akshara?

Akshara: Bilkul thik bhabhi.

Parth: I am so so sorry Akshara...

Akshara: Bhaiya, please. Apne jaan-bhoojkr kuch nahi kiya so hum ye baat ko yahin khtm krke aage bhadte hai na..

Shefali: I am sorry too Akshara-

Akshara: Bhabhi, mai wahin kahungi jo bhai se kaha....please let's forget all that happened..

Manjiri: Sahi keh rahi hai Akshu...jhagde ko yaad nahi krte...Abhi tu isse room me le jaa, mai tum dono ka khana wahi bhejti hoon...tum rest kro beta..

She kissed Akshara's forehead and bid the couple goodnight. As Abhira took their leave, Manjiri turned to Mahima.

Manjiri: Didi, Akshu ke liye stress bura hai isliye maine apko vo baaten krne se roka pr aap jo keh rahi thi, bohot galat tha. Bacche toh bhagwaan ki den hote hai, jb likha hoga, tb ho jayenge- aap aise Parth aur Shefali pr dabav nahi bana skti..

Mahima: Oh please, ye impractical baaten, bhagwaan ki den and all- ye apne pass hi rakho. Bhagwaan ki den ke liye bhi mehnat krni padti hai, ye dono toh plan krne se hi mana kr dete hai..

Abhimanyu: Taiji! Bs kijiye aap? Aap Parth bhai aur bhabhi pr dabaav daal rahi hai...issi wajah se unme bhi ladaiyan ho rahi hai...

Manjiri: Yahi chalta raha to baby ka toh pata nahi, rishta zarur kharab ho jayega inka...

Parth: Right, mujhe hi mom ki baaton me aakr tumse baby nahi demand krna chahiye tha...I am so sorry Shefali..

Shefali: It's okay...mai bhi toh chid gayi thi, mujhe calmly tumhe apna point of view samjhana chahiye tha...

Parth: And sorry Abhimanyu, meri wajah se aaj jo bhi hua..

Abhimanyu: Bhai, Akshu ne maaf kr diya toh maine bhi kr diya...pr aap sb dhyan rakhiyega...Akshu ke saath ya samne thoda dhyan rakhiye...mai nahi chahta usse stress ho thoda bhi-

They nodded and promised him.

Abhimanyu: Maa, mai upar jaata hoon...wrna Akshu mujhe dhoonte hua neeche aa jayegi..

He left. Parth and Shefali also left. Manjiri reprimanded Mahima for her actions. In a fit of rage, she revealed that she wanted her son to give the first grandson. Manjiri and Anand are disgusted.

Harshvardhan: Waah bhabhi! Aise toh bada beta beta krte ho aap Abhimanyu ko, aur yahan akr dikha di na apni soch...dekhiye I don't care...apki insecurity, apki soch- apko Mubarak....khushi khushi shamil hona hai toh aap humari khushi ka part bane...warna apni ye soch lekr door hi rahiyega meri Bahu se..

Harshvardhan and Manjiri left. Anand too dissed her for her orthodox thoughts. Mahima looked at how alone she was in the large hall and sat down upset.

............

Abhimanyu enters the room and sees Akshara is still in the washroom. He knocks to know if she is alright since she is taking time. Getting a positive response, he relaxes. A staff members comes with food as Akshara comes wearing a loose, light blue nightgown. She had towel in her hair.

Abhimanyu: Iss time shower? Raat ko geele baal lekr ghumogi toh tabyt bigar logi...itni tension kyu de rahi ho meri jaan? Jaan lekr hi manogi kya?

Akshara: Vo tumhe toh pta hai na ki hospital se ane ke baad mujhe kitna yucky lgta hai...

Abhimanyu: Roz toh nahi lgta..

Akshara: uff! Tum bhi kitne budhu ho! Roz kaam krke aati hoon...aaj admit thi, hospital bed pr leti hui thi..

Abhimanyu gets up and releases her hair free from the towel. He starts to wipe the excess water.

Abhimanyu: Don't let sir hear you...unhe pata lga nahi ki unke five star hospital ke bed se tumhe yucky feel ata hai toh shock me chale jayenge...

Akshara: Abhi!

Abhimanyu: Aur nahi toh kya...

Once the excess water was out, he used a hairdryer on her hair.

Abhimanyu: ab sahi hai, accha chalo pehle kuch kha lo..phir vitamins aur dawaiya bhi toh leni hai.

Abhimanyu carefully fed small bites to Akshara who fed him as well. Then she took her medicines. Abhimanyu went down to keep the dishes and then applied lotion on Akshara's body. He rubbed it gently.

Akshara: Bohot aacha lg raha hai Abhi...(closes eyes) so relaxing!

Abhimanyu smiled at the look of relief on her face. He brushed her hair and made it into a neat braid.

Akshara: (checks the braid) not bad! Choti bana seekh gaye docman!

Abhimanyu: (lifts the non-existent collar of his t-shirt) there is nothing I cannot do, or learn to do..

Akshara: bs, bs...udo mt..

Abhimanyu laughed and kissed her head. Then he kissed her belly.

Abhimanyu: Goodnight my cutie. Papa cannot wait to meet you...I love you..

He again kissed Akshara, on her nose this time.

Abhimanyu: Goodnight my girija, my love, my wife...I love you..

Akshara hugs him and kissed his jaw.

Akshara: I love you too dear husband..Goodnight.

................

Five one shots/two shots of Pregnant Akshu have been published. Five more to go. Again, they'll be published once in every short while.

xoxo