The cold winds of Magh prowled down empty stairways, howling as they twisted around gigantic pillars in search of tiny spaces to invite themselves inside closed warm chambers. They left behind shivers as every sleeping and sleepless mortal reached for a tighter embrace of warmth.

They were passers-by, visiting all places alike in their course of journey. The Palace of Indraprastha silently greeted them too. In the serene silence before sunrise, as the birds still dozed, the tired eyes of soldiers sought out the eastern horizen willing SuryaNarayan to grace the heavens sooner so their cold exhausted bodies could finally give in to the enticing Goddess of Sleep once their fellow brothers in arms took over their duties.

The ombre sky of twilight held a similar thrum of anticipation that resided in the bated breaths of the residents of Indraprastha these days. The promise of a new sunrise would be fulfilled any day now - the birth of the first descendant of Pandavas would wipe away all doubts from every sceptical heart that had followed the five brothers to Khadavpratha and solidify their faith in the sons of Pandu.

Nestled in crocheted blankets and cushions over a soft mattress held up by a mahogany bed, the bearer of hope wrestled with a fitful sleep. The sparsely decorated chamber was not her own but an obligation for a pregnant royal lady nearing birth. Under Rajmata Kunti's strictest orders and Maharani Draupadi's watchful eye, the warmest, well ventilated, spacious room located deep in the Ladies' wing of the palace was chosen and facilitated with the cosiest bedding. At all times, a group of dasis were instructed to remain available for her every need. In times of requested privacy, the dasis stayed outside the doors always alert to answer her call.

At this hour, the chamber housed two breaths - one steady and the other growing increasingly uneven. The slowly creeping backache roused Rajkumari Abhijishya rather unkindly. But she was not alarmed. The unforgiving winter had only worsened the aches of her body. Blinking up at the ceiling, she endeavoured to breathe slowly hoping the pain would subside soon.

A sudden contraction took her by surprise. Abhijishya gasped in pain. It was enough to alert her slumbering husband whose warrior ears were trained to pick up even the softest of sounds. Rubbing away the haze of sleep, Nakul shifted closer towards his wife, "Mohini? Are you well?"

The wicks of the earthen lamps had burned out hours ago. Shrouded in darkness, one could only make out the nearest dense masses in the chamber. Abhijishya reached out blindly and clasped Nakul's arm. "I am not sure," her voice was small sounding frightened. Before she could say more, another sharp pain ignited in her lower abdomen. "Go," she gasped out. "I think it is time."

Nakul didn't need to be told twice. He hastily got off the bed and walked towards the doors already shouting out orders. The dozing dasis scrambled up - some ran to fetch the nursemaid, some to inform Rajmata and Maharani while some others went to get clean cotton cloths, water and everything else they were instructed to organise once Rajkumari went into labour. Several more entered the chamber and started lighting up the earthen lamps.

The pain ebbed down considerably. Abhijishya sighed in relief rubbing her heavily pregnant belly. She silently prayed to Goddess Parvati asking her for strength. The idea of giving birth without modern medical aid frightened her significantly. She hadn't shared her thoughts with anyone as she knew everyone was worried already enough.

The moment of respite didn't last long. She was hit with another wave of contraction. Abhijishya screwed her eyes shut trying to keep her breaths steady. Nakul's anxious face entered her line of sight. The steady hands of a swordman and healer felt tremulous over her forehead, "You don't have to worry, love. Mata will be here soon along with the nursemaid. Our baby will be fine. You will be fine."

Abhijishya nodded unable to say anything else in reply. Her eyes widened in alarm as she felt a rapidly increasing wetness pooling between her legs.

"Putra Nakul, go inform your brothers. I and putri Panchali are here now. Abhijishya will be fine," Kunti strode in the chamber followed by Draupadi.

Nakul looked torn for a moment before he nodding dutifully and left in a hurry.

Kunti sat down at her left side. The instructions she uttered to a dasi were lost to Abhijishya as another wave of pain hit her. She fisted the bedsheet gritting her teeth. The muscles in the abdomen curled and twisted viciously. Tears rolled down her temples soaking the cushion below.

One wave after another crashed through her body relentlessly - seconds stretching infinitely long. Sweat glistened her skin as Abhijishya heaved for breath. She was a mess of tears, sweat and other bodily fluids. Her limbs shook from the exertion. She was vaguely aware when her legs were pushed apart further and the blanket covering her was lifted. The all encompassing pain left no place for embarrassment or shame.

It seemed like an eternity before the pain somewhat mellowed down again. Abhijishya closed her eyes and gulped in air greedily. She felt a gentle pat on her thigh.

An elderly woman standing near her feet gazed back at her grimly, "Rajkumari, you have to take steady breaths and push down when the pain hits. You are not pushing properly."

"You didn't tell me when to push," Abhijishya mumbled already feeling exhausted. "Easy for you to say since you aren't pushing out a melon from your body."

Muffled snickers ran around the chamber before Kunti cleared her throat. "Try to heed her advice, putri," she glanced at her. "She is one of the most experienced nursemaids of Aryavart."

"I apologise," Abhijishya replied shortly feeling another contraction rising.

The nursemaid smiled crookedly. "You are strong, Rajkumari. Six hours and you still haven't screamed out loud."

Abhijishya would have scoffed if she wasn't preoccupied. Is that how the nursemaids entertained themselves these days? Did they have a record where they wrote down who screamed the most and who didn't? The delirious turn of her thoughts was a welcome change from being unable to think at all. Abhijishya groaned feeling the pelvic bones expanded inside her. She bore down on the contraction pushing hard.

Some encouraging words were muttered but she couldn't decipher them. The uterine contractions intensified more and she was lost again in a world of torment.

The nursemaid was telling her to push. With a guttural scream, Abhijishya did so almost sitting up forward. She was being asked to push again. Abhijishya shook her head crying. She couldn't do this anymore. Abhijishya let herself fall back on the bed.

Slender fingers curled against her shoulder shaking her awake. It was Drauapdi looking terribly pale. "Have strength, Dhruvi," she was saying. From where was she supposed to draw strength when her muscles were fatigued and shaking badly?

She felt patting on her cheek. Abhijishya blearily looked at the person calling her. They wanted her attention but she was miles away. To respond, open her eyes, she would have to drag herself forward from the deepest recess of her mind. A constant  drone of a even voice chanting mantras penetrated her mind through the haze of pain. Her mother-in-law's meticulous fingers steadily moved from one bead to another on her japamala. Willing herself to focus on it, Abhijishya breathed gathering up strength.

As another contraction hit her, Abhijishya pushed hard letting out a hoarse scream. She felt the baby crowning, the hot searing stretch of her flesh. The nursemaid yelled at the maids to bring warm water. Without any further effort, the baby slid into the hands of the nursemaid covered in mucus and blood.

A few tense moments later, there was a snip of the cord being cut. The air was pierced by a sharp cry of an infant who definitely possessed a very healthy set of lungs.

Abhijishya was crying without any inhibitions now. The months of bearing her child, hours of pain, her fears seemed faraway in an instant. The first cry of her own child was the sweetest music she had ever heard. She forced her hands to reach out for her baby. She needed to hold them.

The nursemaid quickly cleaned her baby and placed her loosely swaddled in a yellow blanket on her bosom. A soft look crossed her face as she said gently, "A girl, Rajkumari. You have birthed a girl." Abhijishya cradled the tiny soul with her hands feeling overwhelmed. Her sweet daughter wiggled around reaching for her breast.

Abhijishya clumsily adjusted her baby. A small mouth latched onto her and suckled noisily. With pinkish skin, closed eyes, tiny curled fists, scant black hair on her head, her baby was the most beautiful and precious creation of the world. This must be what love at first sight was all about.

------------ˋˏ  ༻❁༺ ˎˊ------------

Time had flown agonisingly slow for Nakul. The eldest Madreya paced restlessly outside the closed doors of the birthing chamber. His wife was in labour for nearly over 9 hours. Dasis rushed in and out constantly carrying salves, herbs, blankets and other necessities. His brothers had taken turns waiting with him and going to attend their respective duties.

It was nearly midday now and still there was no news. Each scream made him grimace. He prayed to his Godfathers the Ashwinis then to all other Gods and Goddesses he could think of. His twin Sahadev thankfully handled the task of making potions and medicines which were essential for Mohini's recovery after birth. It only grated him that he wasn't able to provide any help to alleviate the pain of the birthing process.

The doors parted suddenly. Mata Kunti came out bearing a broad smile. Her eyes shone with happiness as she announced, "Putri Abhijishya has given birth to a healthy baby girl. Nakul, you are a father now."

Rest of the words were lost to him as Bhrata Bheem thumped him on his back. His brothers were congratulating him and thanking the Gods. He ignored everything else and hurriedly walked inside the chamber. The sight before him left him breathless.

There sat his wife reclined against pillows looking dishevelled. Her eyes were red rimmed and everything about her screamed exhaustion. Yet her face adorned the most brilliant smile as she cooed down on their daughter tucked safely in her arms. Draupadi was holding up a metal cup to Abhijishya's lips which she drank from gratefully. That was when her eyes met his.

His eyes stung as his emotions got the best of him. He strode up to them swiftly. Draupadi moved away allowing him to sit closest to his wife and newborn daughter.

Nakul cupped Abhijishya's face tenderly drinking in the peace her features exuded. "How are you?"

She smiled tiredly. "Feeling very sore and very excellent," she gently pulled away the veil which covered his daughter's face feeding from his wife. "Isn't she gorgeous?"

Her voice held the same awe his eyes did. Nakul shakily reached for touch his daughter. His callous hands met soft skin and silky hair. His daughter must have registered his touch because she removed her mouth from her mother's breast. Small dark eyes blinked up at him as she moved around her hands towards him.

Her eyes were a perfect reflection of his wife's and Nakul never loved anyone else more in the world. "Anveeksha, our beautiful daughter Anveeksha," he whispered reverendly as his newborn daughter gurgled at him.

Abhijishya echoed after him as if testing out the word. "Anveeksha. Our little Anvi," she leaned in and nuzzled her daughter's temple with her nose. For the first time in many years, she felt a sense of fulfillment.

The cold breeze of winter blew gently then. They carried the news of the newborn princess mixed with the scent of other winter blossoms. Their touch left pleasant shivers on the toasty skin of all mortals basking under the midday sun.

A.N. - Nakul and Abhijishya have a daughter now. Anveeksha!!!

I was quite surprised by the amount of people who wanted a boy and a girl.

frostymishti, SOUROBENGAL, sparkle_46 and SujoyMukherjee5 guessed correctly that our Abhi will birth a baby girl. 🎊🎉

I don't know if I was able to describe the birth, emotions of Abhi and Nakul efficiently or not. Do let me know what are your remarks about this chapter.

This is the first time I am writing this kind of scene. Let me know how I did.

Until the next time,

Byeee

;")

P.S. I think I am suffering from mistyping syndrome 🙂 It is irritating. So please point out any mistakes you find.