"Yuvrani just a few minutes more, the baby's head is visible. Please don't lose your consciousness" The dasi urged.

"Really!" Supriya smiled and rubbed Vedangi's hands and feet. Vedangi felt aa if life is being sucked out of her, she could not feel any sensation below her waist and was panting hard. "Priyaai I can't!" She murmured and gave out all the energy left in her body.

"The... The child is born!" The dasi announced loud enough for people in the room to hear. The pandit sitting in a dark corner noted the time if the birth and exited the room quickly. "Is.. is my child safe?" Vedangi asked blinking her eyes. She lost her consciousness as soon as the dasi replied positively.

The dasi and some other women immediately cleaned the baby with warm water and wrapped it in a clean cloth. Tears were rolling continuously from Supriya's eyes. "Angrani, you are a matamahi now, don't cry" the dasi handed the little wonder to Supriya. She raised the baby in her hands so that the first rays of sun fell on his face, "Putra huwa hai! Abhinandan!"

She announced aloud and held the child close to her chest. She remembered the moment two decades ago,when she had held Vedangi for the first time in her arms. Wiping her own tears, she took the baby close to baby close to Vedangi. As soon as he was placed besides his mother, he wailed aloud, announcing his arrival to the entire fortress.

Shvet's eyes were filled with curiosity and tears, his child was born! He waited impatiently at the entrance to see his wife and child. Vedangi held her son close to her chest and kissed his face multiple times, "My child! My son!" She would not let anything or anyone harm him. Suddenly all the relations in the world became secondary and the one with this new born wonder became primary for her. He was her everything henceforth!
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After all the cleaning was done, Shvet was allowed to enter the room. He walked inside hurriedly not waiting for any announcement and took the little child wrapped in silk cloth in his arms. "Putra huwa hai" Vedangi informed smiling faintly due to the tiredness. Shvet raised him in air and he slowly opened his eyes, smiling for a second before wailing aloud.

Shvet was startled. He tried to calm the child, cooing him. "I am your pita, don't be afraid of me" he spoke with concern in his eyes. "Oh God nath! He is not afraid of you, he is hungry" Vedangi chuckled. Shvet smiled too. It felt as if all the problems and worries had disappeared. They had their own world now. They both and their son!

Shvet placed the baby on the soft bed and leaned towards Vedangi, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. Tears of bliss rolled down their eyes as Shvet hugged her tightly. "Ye rone ka samay nahi hai! It's time to be happy" Vedangi wiped his tears and leaned on his shoulder. The baby immediately wailed aloud making his presence known to his parents. Vedangi chuckled and Shvet placed him in her arms.

"Yuvrani... I think he is hungry" the dasi said from corner of the door. Shvet smiled sadly, he wished to spend more time with them. He kissed  his wife and child on their forehead and exited thr chamber, with a small frown. Vedangi looked at his retreating figure, realising their time wasn't only theirs now, it was owned by their son now.

The dasi placed the child near Vedangi, showing her how to feed him. Vedangi's eyes were filled as soon as he started drinking. It felt like a new birth to her! She was reborn again, as a mother. She wasn't just a woman now, she was the mother of her child! Though it hurt physically when he drank, her smile kept on widening.
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Karna peeped inside from the door, smiling. Vedangi was cooing her son in her arms. Vrushali walked past him and entered the room in a hurry. "Putri! How are you?" She settled on the bed and held Vedangi in her arms. "I am fine maa, but you are four hours late!" She complained. Vrushali cupped her face, "I am sorry putri, really sorry" she said with teary eyes. "Baba? Where is he?" Vedangi questioned gazing around the room. Karna entered the room and sat on the other side, besides his daughter.

"My putri is a mother now" he caressed her head and patted it lovingly. The child wailed aloud again, making his presence known to his grandparents. Karna held him carefully in his arms and cooed him lightly. Vrushali and Vedangi gazed at them smiling. "You can rest for some time now, we will take care of him till then" Vrushali held her daughter's cheek lovingly gazing at her tired eyes.

"I am your mother's father! Your Matamah!" Karna rocked his grandson. Vedangi layed her head in Vrushali's lap and slowly drifted to sleep.
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"I am really happy that both you and my grandson are safe" sudeshna said rocking the baby in her arms. "Mata, where is kakashree, kakishree, uttara and others?" Shvet asked. Shankh took him from Sudeshna's arms, "Dekha! I had always told you both that it's going to be a boy. He is our team mate now". Vedangi smiled and tried to raise herself, but sudeshna stopped her, asking her to rest. "Shubhr, bhrata Shvetketu, Uma and others are busy in planning to give him a big welcome. And in such conditions, it won't be advisable for the royal family to travel together, right?" She answered.

"Mata, I want to discuss some things with you" Shvet sat beside Sudeshna. "Shubhr! I know what you want to discuss, but today is an auspicious day, heir of Matsya is born. It's time to celebrate not to worry, understood?" She rocked Shvet's cheek lightly. "Your responsibilities have increased now. You have to look him, nurture him, get ready for it" she chuckled, making Shvet blush.

Shvet and Vedangi exchanged glances, everything felt perfect, nothing can go wrong now.
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Hey, my lovely readers. The next part is here!
Hope you all liked reading it, do let me know through your comments. They are much appreciated ❣️.