...Preet..

After all the congratulations, warnings and well wishes we came back home and were resting in our room cuddling when my phone pinged informing me about one of my cases. I kept my phone back on the side table and turned to look at Kabir who was lost in his own thoughts. I caressed his cheek with the back of my hand bringing him out of his thoughts. By the look on his face it was clear there was something disturbing him.

"What's wrong?" I asked him directly.

"Preet can I ask you for something?" He asked and I nodded.

"Can we apply for you maternity leave from tomorrow?" He asked further confusing me. Furrowing my brows, I opened my mouth to reason and inform him that it was okay to work in the first trimester but was cut off by him who rejoined our conversation by keeping his hand on my stomach where our baby was.
"I know that you can work for three months but I find it really irrational Preet. I mean the probability of a miscarriage are the highest in these three months, this is the time you need to be careful. I have never argued against you in any matter Preet but please this once don't say no. When it's about you and my Princess I can't risk it. Please." He begged. I was amused and the love and respect I held for him increased ten folds.

"Aap ko Jo sahi lage hum woh karenge yeh baby bhi aapka hai aur mai bhi." (We will do whatever you want, me and the baby both are all yours!") I answered simply.
He caressed my cheeks placing a kiss on my forehead.
Later after a while he pulled both of us straight on the bed covering us with the duvet and letting the sleep take over.

(2weeks later)

....Kabir...
Next morning I woke up next to my life. I sat up a little pulling her closer as she snuggled against me pouting. I bent a little kissing her forehead and smiled as her pout turned into a smile. Because of tiredness she was still asleep and I had no plans to wake her up. I pushed back the tresses that were disturbing her. Just by looking at her I felt at peace. I just closed my eyes going back in time. We had everything but still since her miscarriage there was a space left vacant. Just so that I wouldn't be guilty Preet turned into a kid filling every gap left but over the time these baby antics of hers had become my absolute necessity and now that she had a mother developing within her along with our love. I fearer that this facet of hers might be lost permanently. True our princess would undoubtedly the a bundle of joy and epitome of cuteness but u didn't want Preet's babyness to get crushed under responsibilities. I was too much in love and used to the woman child next to me. I was still in my thoughts when she pulled her right hand over me pushing herself even closer. This time I knew she was awake with the smile the lingered on her lips. I bent again lying straight pulling her over me completely being careful about her fragile conditions. I placed my palm to the back of her neck pulling her for a kiss. Breaking apart I looked straight in her eyes.

"Will you promise me something?" I asked her. Deciding its time to voice out my fear. Confused and curious with my abrupt request she nodded positively instantly.

"Promise me that even after this baby comes in our life you won't change a bit. You will still be my first baby." Tickled pink with my request she tried hiding herself in me nuzzling he face in the crook of my neck while I felt her nodding positively.

"I love you!" She whispered as I kissed the crown of her head. Later in the evening both of us freshened up and were lazing around on the hammock in the open terrace. But suddenly Preet seemed paled and looked really weak. Her pregnancy seemed to be messing with her since she was all fine in the morning and now her condition worsened before I could voice my worry out she suddenly had an urge to vomit, she dashed towards the washroom puking her guts out. I rushed behind her but before I could enter she bolted the door shut. At that moment all I wanted to do is break open the door but Maa had already warned me to be calm since I had to handle her through it. I leaned on the wall adjacent to the washroom waiting for her to cone back. Within minutes she was out but her state wasn't any better. I held her and made her sit on the bed. She instantly tried hiding her face in her hands. I crouched down kneeling in front of her. I pulled her hands apart as I heard her sobs.

"I am sorry." She apologized.

"What for?" I asked wiping away her tears.

"Mrs. Preet Malhotra this is absolutely normal. Isn't this what we prayed for?" I asked her as if asking a baby.

"What? Me being sick?" She questioned.

"No jaan, the baby, our baby, our princess?" I pointed out placing her hand along with mine on her stomach something I loved doing these days it felt as a connection with the baby.

She nodded positively to it.
"But you don't have to do all this. I mean its absolutely gross looking at someone throwing up all what they had." She appealed.

"Preet. This is our baby. We are in this together. I promise Preet, I will be with you in this at every step. All the time. Please let me." I begged and suddenly once again her expressions changed and she rushed to the washroom but this time leaving the door open. I dashed behind her holding her hair and rubbing her back. Once she was done she turned around. I hugged her immediately. I picked her up placing her on the bed I stepped downstairs to get something for the two of us when suddenly I heard her screaming. I ran to the room where she laid on the bed holding her stomach and wincing in pain. I panicked and immediately called up Anya who was here within minutes. She immediately injected Preet and she was fine in a while.
Once we knew Preet was stable all of a sudden Anya blasted.
"Preet are you dumb? Out of all the people you know how delicate your pregnancy case is. How can you be so inconsiderate? Tera nahi toh Kabir ke bare mai soch. Apne hone wale bacche ka soch. You are no more alone Preet there andar ek aur zindagi pal rahi hai." Anya shouted. I was hell worried now so I moved towards her. Before I could ask what was wrong the bell rang and Abhi and Zayn ran upstairs with bags and a saline stand without any delay. Anya connected the saline to Preet. Being extremely tired and due to the effects of the sedatives Preet slipped into a nap.
"What's wrong?" Zayn asked finally since I was still not understanding anything.

"She is dumb." Anya pointed out.

"Be clear Anya." I stated as I sat next to her caressing her hair.

Anya too sat at the end of the bed.

"Preet knows her conceiving itself is a miracle After her miscarriage. She has to be on her toes with this baby. Still she is skipping her lunch and parental vitamins. Its not that she is doing it on purpose. Its her cravings and hormonal changes to be blamed. But being at this stage we cannot take a chance. And you know what is the strangest thing ever the baby is totally fine. She isn't skipping anything when its about the baby. But she doesn't care about her own self. The baby is healthy. Its Preet who needs care. Her blood pressure is really low. It can further cause complications to such an extent that we can even loose her during the delivery.!" She broke down by the end of her rant. I grew stiff.
No nothing will happen. This time I wouldn't let any harm come to my family.

"What about the pains?" I enquired.

"Its normal. The baby is growing so it happens sometimes." She informed and I nodded looking back at her and noticed the bump that had formed with time.
By night everyone was here and even Preet's condition improved but she was still asleep. I hadn't left her side even for a minute. I kept pecking her forehead every once a while. Aryan and I were talking when I sensed some movement besides me.
She opened her eyes and I could see worry in them for once.
"Kabir the baby? Baby is fine right?" Was all she asked and I nodded helping her to sit. Aryan cane towards her patting her head.

"Why can't you take care?" Aryan asked her and before she could answer I beat her to it.

"Leave it Aryan. It doesn't matter to her how important she is to me." I placed my displeasure in front moving to change into night dress. Once I came out Tara brought a plate of dinner as they informed that everyone was leaving giving us our space.

I turned back to Preet picking up the plate. I made her sit properly as I forwarded the morsel towards her lips she denied it placing the plate aside and covering the distance between us and straight away kissed me straight on my lips. Breaking apart she made me face herself.

"Aapki jaan air aapki Princess dono bilkul theek hai. Aapke hits hue no harm can touch us." She spoke with utmost confidence and there was a shine on her face.

I pulled her closer and raised her top a bit higher revealing her small bump.

"Hey Princess. Aapko pata hai apki Mumma aapse aur apke papa ke bilkul pyaar nahi karti isiluye apna khayal nahi rakhti. Unhe pata hai him Dino unke bina nahi reh sakte still she is so careless." I complained to my daughter while I heard Preet chuckle. Preet placed her hand on mine.

"Princess, Mumma bhi aapse aur papa we bahut pyaar karti hai. I promise Mumma apna aur aap Dono ka pura khayal rakhegi." She said.

I looked up at her hopeful and asked.
"Promise?" And she nodded hugging me.
"Promise."
Later making sure she had her dinner we called it a day.