“We need to operate out the babies or else it would be a threat to Anika's life. I'm being straight here. Only a miracle can save all three of them now” The doctor told and both the mothers cried hearing that.

“Doctor I'll give you everything I have. Please save my daughter and grandchildren” Harsh pleaded and the doctor sighed.

“Mr Trivedi, it's not about money. We're trying our best but most of the times in premature delivery, it's difficult to save both the babies, especially when the mother is in shock. In this situation, everything is in God's hand. Pray to the almighty. We doctors do only half, the other half is in God's hands” The doctor told before walking away.

“Tej how's Shivaay?”

“He's under sedation. It was all that news channel's trick to get trp. All he had was a small injury on head and arm” Tej told angrily.

“I'll not leave that channel. They're yet to see who is Harshvardhan Trivedi” Harsh told angrily and Tej nodded.

*

Shivaay sat lifelessly on the bench after hearing everything. He couldn't hold himself realising he was the reason she was fighting between life and death.

“I'm responsible for everything” He whispered.

“I'm responsible for everything mom. For spoiling her dreams, her life. My Anika, she——she went through a lot because of me and finally this. Do you know? She never told anyone anything. She was alone——I made her go through all the loneliness in this world but she never complained. She never cursed me. She always loved me but what did I do? I shouted at her, I spoiled her dreams. I spoiled her wish to study further. I was responsible for her going through all the morning sickness but she never said anything! Today I'm responsible for her going through all these. I——I don't want to live. I don't deserve to live” He told like a lunatic person and Jhanvi couldn't help but cry seeing his condition.

“I didn't consider her a human in those three months yet she never complained to anyone” He told.

“Will she ever forgive me for doing this to her?” He asked looking at all four of them with tears in his eyes and they looked at him unable to say anything. He was not in the right state of mind and wouldn't understand anything they say even if they tried.

He leaned back closing his eyes as tears rolled down his eyes freely. How happy were they when she first made him feel the kick of the babies. Never did he realise that a condition such would arise where he wasn't even sure if he could feel those movements again. Their seven months of wait ever since they came to about her pregnancy suddenly felt futile.

She slowly sat on the floor making sure he wasn't looking. Ever since he came back back from office, he was busy in his laptop and she had finally reached the height of patience.

“Shivaay” She cried and he raised his head from his laptop, startled.

He felt as if someone had sucked the life out of him seeing her on the floor. For a long moment, he couldn't move a single cell of his body as everything felt frozen. He wasn't even sure if his heart was beating that particular moment.

Seeing his blank eyes, she got up from the floor and rushed to him.

“Shivaay” She whispered rubbing his chest and he looked at her blankly.

She held his cold palm in his as tears rolled down her eyes.

“I'm sorry” She cried hugging him tightly and he hugged her back, unsure what exactly happened in the last few seconds.

She parted from the hug and kissed his forehead tightly.

“Take a deep breath” She told rubbing his chest and he did feeling his chest pain.

“How did you fall?” He asked as things registered in his mind.

“Shivaay I'm sorry. I didn't know you'll freeze out like this. When your were looking at your laptop without minding me——” She cried and he caressed her hair.

“Shh—It's ok” He told caressing her hair and she looked at him.

“You're not angry at me?” She asked and he shook his head.

“Really?” She asked wiping her tears and he nodded with a smile.

“You really freeze out like that in tension?” She asked and he nodded.

“It happened once when I was a teenager. Don't exactly remember the reason” He told.

“Ahh” She squealed suddenly and he looked worried at her.

“What happened?” He asked and she looked at him with wide eyes.

“I felt something here” She told keeping his hand on her stomach.

“What's it?” He asked with wide eyes feeling a kick under his palm.

“It's——It's a kick. Did you feel it?” She asked looking at him with an emotion mixed with happiness and shock.

“Isn't it early?” He asked shocked and she nodded.

“Doctor told me in twin pregnancy, it can happen early too” She told and keeping his other hand on the other side.

“Oh my——” He told feeling another kick under his palm. That particular moment, he didn't know whether to dance or jump around everywhere shouting incoherent words.

“It stopped” He told looking at her and she chuckled seeing his disappointed face.

“They're not playing football inside. Be happy you got to feel the first one itself” She told and he smiled.

“My sweethearts” He told kissing her stomach and she smiled.

“Kick one more time for Papa. Please?” He asked keeping his ear on her stomach and she chuckled but her mouth opened wide feeling two kicks together.

“Hayee my babies” He told with a wide smile seeing her shocked face.

“No use being jealous jaan” He told with a mischievous smile and she twisted her mouth.

“I'm not jealous” She told and he chuckled.

She smiled faintly and kept her head on his chest.

“When they come out, don't forget this poor wife who loves you a lot” She told and he smiled kissing her head.

“I call you jaan for a reason” He told and she smiled.

Hearing the loud cry of his mother, he opened his eyes startled and looked in front of him to see both Jhanvi and Vrinda crying looking at something. He slowly got on his feet and walked to them only to feel his heartbeat turn wild.

“We couldn't save the baby” Hearing the nurse's words, he kept looking at the tiny bundle of cuteness without blinking his eyes.

Without even realising what he was doing, he extended his hand and took the baby in his palms.

“Shivaay” Tej called but he couldn't take his eyes off the tiny figure.

“The baby boy is in incubator. We're trying our best to save him” The nurse told and Shivaay finally looked up at her.

“Is this my daughter?” He asked in a whisper and the nurse nodded.

“She's cute right” He asked looking at everyone as tears dripped down his eyes.

“Be strong Shivaay” Harsh told though it was difficult for him to see everything.

Shivaay looked down at the lifeless baby in his palms and felt his chest pain badly. What was he going to tell Anika who would ask for the two babies when she wake up? Can she handle the fact that only one of them were alive? The thought itself made his mind go blank.

“Baby look at me. Just open your eyes once and look at me. Please jaan. You used to kick whenever I said right? Now listen to papa. Just open your eyes once sweetheart” He cried holding the lifeless baby towards his chest. He knew it was futile but the father in him was still not ready to accept the fact that his daughter was still-born.

Everyone tried to separate the baby from his hold but his grip was too strong.

“Shivaay leave the baby” Jhanvi told but Shivaay shook his head as he tried to feel his daughter as long as possible in his arms.

He kissed the baby's tiny hand with tears dripping down his eyes.

••|To Be Continued|••