One fine morning.

At dining table.

Breakfast time.

"Bapusa...I think tomorrow is perfect day for arranging baby shower ceremony" said Renuka

"No problem...Renuka...its you who have to decide" "We will support you" Raghuvir chuckled.

"But Maasa...tomorrow is Sanyukta's birthday" Randhir added in conversation

"Ohh Yes...now?" Renuka sigh

"Will arrange both the functions on same day" "Double celebration" "In morning ladies will celebrate baby shower ceremony" "And evening will celebrate her birthday" Harsh suggested

'"Perfect..." Randhir exclaimed

"So anything special you want to do for her" "So that we would not interfere in that matter" Harsh teased Randhir

"No Bapusa...nothing as such" "I have not plan anything yet" Randhir replied

"And even if he has some plans bhaisa will not disclose it to us na Bapusa...those plans will be excuted in their room" Lavanya teased Randhir

"Choti...aaj kal bohot bolni lagi hai tu" Randhir pulled her cheek.

"I am no more 'choti' Bhaisa...I am grown up girl now" Lavanya said

"Yeah...Shaadi karva de teri" Randhir teased her.

"Okay okay we are diverting from topic..." Lavanya said

"See...you can never win over me choti..." Randhir said

"stop both of you now..." Renuka said

"So whats the plan?" "What are we gonna do for her birthday" Renuka said

"Maasa...Sanyukta is not in situation to party...so we'll have a small celebration" "Will arrange cake..and all" "She needs maximun rest" "Varna uchal kud karti rahegi..." "Next year will celebrate her birthday on grand scale...with our baby" Randhir said

While everyone was listening to him keenly

"Okay then...I will prepare cake" Lavanya said

"I will look into all arrangements for both the cermonies" Renuka said

"Renuka I will help you" Harsh said

"Sure.." Renuka replied

- - - --

Sanyukta was resting in room

She is in last days of her 7th months of pregnancy.

She is finding difficulty in walking now.

She gets exhausted soon.

Her baby bump has fully grown now.

Her legs suffers pain frequently.

Also sometimes having a back pain.

In short she needs complete rest and proper care.

And guess what? Randhir is on paternity leaves.

Sanyukta sat straight on bed and took deep breathe.

She caressed her baby bump.

"Morning Baby..." Sanyukta said

Thou it was 12 noon but still its morning for her.

She sleeps till late in morning nowadays hence missing the lovable family time at breakfast.

"Morning Jaaan" Randhir came

"Afternoon Randhir..." She said

"Its okay...you need rest" He said

"Why didn't you got me up?" She said

"Cause I didn't wanted to break your beautiful dream" He said siting next to her on bed

"How did you know that ? " She asked

"Hmm...connection" He chuckled

"NO Jaaan...I can feel you " "You had constant smile on your face...while sleeping" "I know you were dreaming something" He said

"Yes...I was..." Sanyukta smiled

"Whaaat?" He said

"Ummm...I will not tell you" She said

"Ohh come on...tell me" Randhir insisted

"Okay..." She rested her head on his shoulders

"You were trying to changing baby's diaper..." She laughed

Randhir's face welcome straight look.

"Baby was crying and you were not able to peel of the diaper" She giggled

"You think I can't change them" Randhir said

"Ofcourse...how would "Prince" know changing diaper" She giggled

"I am Prince for people...for my child...I am his father and that's my first priority" He said

"Glad to hear that...but you were so funny" "That look on your face...OMG" She said

"Let baby come...we'll see that time" Randhir said

"You don't need to do such stuffs I am there to do them" She said casually

"Fathers can be good mothers too..." Randhir said

She smiled on his words.

She turned to him cupping his face.

She placed a warm kiss on his forehead

"You are already world's best father, Randhir" "Baby is so lucky to get father like you" "I know...that even in my absence you will take care of baby well...even more than me..." She said

"We are going to be best parents for our child" "Its not just me...but even you too" "You are carrying a new life in you" "Our love..." "Fathers are not lucky as Mothers" "You can feel child in you which we don't" "You give birth to our child..." "Thats a big and best offering any woman gives to her husband" He said

"Randhir I am scared" Sanyukta said

"Why?"

"I don't know..." "But...Randhir sab thik se hoga na" Sanyukta said in her cute but correct accent of Hindi

"Ofcourse...Jaaan" "Everything will be fine" "We are together toh sab aacha hoga" He pressed her hand in his and kissed her forehead.

"So big day tomorrow" "Meri Jaaan ko kya chaiye mujse" "Birthday gift..." He asked

"Nothing..." She said

"Ask me for something?" he said

"I have everything...toh kya mangu" She said

"Are we really talking in Hindi?" He chuckled

"Yes..." She chirped

"Tumhari Hindi sudhar gayi" He said

"Hindi toh aacha thi...aab promotion hogayi hai" She chirped

"Okay..." He grinned hearing her cute Hindi.

"Are you not going to office today?" She asked

"I am on paternity leave from today" Randhir said

"Hahaha...really" Sanyukta laughed

"Yes...I want to be with you in last stage of pregnancy" He said

"And your work?" She asked

"I will work from home" He said

"But I think being with you more important" He said

"Hmmm..." "Randhir can you get me my laptop please" Sanyukta said

"Sure..." Randhir replied

"Why you need it but?" Randhir said handing her laptop

"umm...we will do something special...something interesting" She said

"Like what?" He said

"Come here and sit" She ordered him

"Here..." She tapped the portion of bed indicating him to sit where she wants

"Okay..." Randhir followed her

"What are you doing?" He said while she was trying to settle on his lap

"Wait..." He said and made her sit properly on his lap.

"Hmm...so now?" He said caging her waist

"Wait.."

Sanyukta said and open a folder from her saved files.

The video played

"Thats your sonography CD" Randhir said

"Hmmm...I love watching them Randhir" "I keeping watching them in loop" Sanyukta said

He lightly kissed her hair and they got engrossed in watching video.

"Our baby..." Sanyukta said touching the screen on laptop.

"See its...moving..." She said as her eyes welcomed tears

"Jaaan..." Randhir too had tears in his eyes.

"Randhir..." "Baby..." She could hardly speak something.

Randhir caged her in his arms.

The moment was too emotional for them.

No words were enough to describe their feelings.

Randhir kissed Sanyukta's head.

He knows she has become more emotional person now in the last few months of pregnancy.

- - - - -

Later that night.

Randhir was doing his work in room while Sanyukta was sleeping.

Actually he was writing something.

He is amazing in playing with words. He loves writing.

************************

Baby,

In  less then two  months, you will enter a world four-and-a-half billion years older than you. It will be cold and bright and loud, and it will greet you with indifference.

You will share this world with over seven billion people. Those people can be cold and bright and loud, and many will also greet you with indifference.

Try not to take it personally. The world has no motive. It is thoughtless and unknowable. It will push you in directions without reason. It will deploy circumstances that are at times illogical. It's at once astonishingly beautiful and unapologetically cruel. Both remarkably simple and incomprehensibly complex.

Navigate this world with modesty. Be kind. Work hard. Help. Give. Be forever a student. Find comfort and liberation in the world's indifference. See each person as you see yourself. Realize we're all just making our way as best we can.

I know this may seem harsh. But within this world I describe is another world. A much smaller world that you'll spend the majority of your life. A world that's warm and loving and kind. A world that will nurture and protect you as you grow.

In this world, you'll always have a home. You'll always encounter honesty and trust and guidance. Consolation when you're down. Encouragement when you dream. This world will always and forever love you unconditionally.

This world is us. Your family.

We'll be there when you enter this cold and bright and loud world. We will wrap you in our arms so that you are warm. We will sing to you so that you can sleep. We will shelter you so that you feel safe. We will always and forever love you unconditionally.

One day you'll leave this small world to enter that much larger one again. This time you'll be grown, and if we do our job, you'll be prepared for the realities of it. You'll draw your own conclusions, make your own decisions, and traverse it the best you can. However far or near you end up, remember our little world will always exist for you. The little world that cherishes and supports you. That will encourage and stand with you. The little world that will always and forever love you unconditionally.

I can't wait to meet you, little one. See you soon.

Love Always,

Daddy

*****************

At the last word Randhir looked at Sanyukta's straight sleeping frame.

His eyes travelled down and stopped at her big baby bump.

Amidst those tears he smiled faintly.

Who says 'Men don't cry!'

They do.

They do but they don't show it to the world.

You need to understand them only then you could see those 'tears'.

Precap: Sanyukta's birthday

TBC

Thanks for reading

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