Raghav and Nithya had shifted their new home along with their parents. It was a hectic task for Raghav to pack and unpack everything.

Nithya wanted to help him in setting the house, but he sternly told her to take rest as it was just a week left for her delivery. He took the whole stress on his shoulders.

He spent three days at a stretch to set up the whole house on his own. He went to his room and found Nithya sleeping peacefully. He was exhausted and wanted to hit the bed immediately.

Nithya got disturbed due to the night lamp. She opened her eyes and found Raghav.

"What's the time, Raghav?" She asks him sleepily.

"11:30 Nithya." He replied and sat next to her.

"You are coming only now? It's very late, Raghav..." She frowned.

"Just now I finished cleaning everything in the living room. For how many days I can ask you to stay inside this room for the whole day? That's why I decided to finish everything by tonight." He told her calmly.

"Hmm... Sleep now." She told and made him lie down on the bed. She kissed his forehead and patted him to sleep.

Raghav was in deep sleep while he heard Nithya's cry. He opened his eyes and found Nithya, sitting on the bed and silently crying.

"Nithya???" He called her name in panic.

"I guess it's time, Raghav " she told him inbetween her sobs.

He checked the time, it was 4:30 in the morning. He ran out of his room and called out his mom and mother in law. They rushed towards Nithya and tried to calm her.

"Nithya, just bear this for few minutes. We will reach the hospital soon." Raghav said and hugged her. She cried in his arms as the pain was increasing more for every passing second.

Nithya managed to walk till the car and her dad was already waiting inside the car. Raghav sat beside her and held her hand tightly.

In fifteen minutes they all reached the hospital and Nithya was taken inside the labor room. Raghav was restlessly pacing in front it.

"She is going to be fine, Raghav." Sharadha consoled her son.

"She was crying so badly... I have never seen her like this." Raghav said wiping his tears.

"We have to go through this da. Just few more hours, your baby will be here." She said.

Time was running fast, but they did not get any message from the labor room. Here Raghav was getting mad and worried thinking about the struggle Nithya was going through alone. He knew that he can not see her in pain, and that's why he decided not to stay with her inside. But as time passed, it was becoming very difficult for him.

A small wall was separating them and that was paining him like they both were staying miles apart. Making up his mind, he decides to go inside.

"Maa.. I can't stay here anymore. I'll talk to the doctor and go inside." Raghav informed his mother.

"Can you manage there, Raghav?" Subash asked him worried.

"This is the time I should stay with her mama. I can't delay anymore." Raghav replied and went to meet the doctor.

After talking to the doctor he went inside the labor room wearing the safety kit. His heart broke into pieces when he saw Nithya crying in pain. The baby's head had slightly turned and Nithya had to push the baby now. But she had no energy to do that.

Raghav stood by her side and encouraged her to push. Once the doctor realised that the baby was coming out, they pulled out the baby with a forceps, as Nithya couldn't push further.

Nithya fainted immediately due to tiredness. Raghav patted her cheeks to wake her up. They heard their baby's cry echoing inside the room. Raghav turned towards the doctor and she handed over the baby to him.

"It's a girl." The doctor informed him happily.

Raghav silently cried on seeing their baby, who was in his arms. She was a little bundle of joy, their love. He moved towards Nithya and caressed her hair.

"Our love is here." Raghav said and kissed Nithya's forehead.

Nithya smiled inbetween tears and took the baby from Raghav. He waited there untile she fed the baby and took the baby out to show to his family.

The elders were curiously waiting outside the room. Raghav stepped out and showed the baby to his family.

Sharadha, Tharani and Subash were so happy that it was a girl. They showered their love to the little one. After an hour, Nithya was shifted to her room and her parents went to see her.

"How are you, Nithya?" Subash asked his daughter lovingly.

"Feeling very tired pa..." She replied softly.

"You should be in complete rest for the next few months. We will take care of our granddaughter." Tharani told Nithya.

"It has been not even an hour since my daughter is born, and I didn't see her closely, but you are claiming her as your granddaughter." Nithya accused her mother.

"I said because you are tired. If you care for your daughter, shouldn't I care for mine?" Tharani asked her.

"Awww I love you maa." Nithya said and tried to move, but she couldn't even turn a bit.

"You should not move now. If you need anything, ask me or your athai. We both will stay with you." Tharani instructed her.

Raghav entered inside the room with their baby, who was crying. He gave the baby to Nithya as she had to feed her. Within few minutes, she slept in Nithya's arms with a small smile.

"She is very cute." Raghav said and kissed her tiny feet.

"Yes. Have you decided the name?" Nithya asked Raghav curiously.

"I have a name in my mind, but you tell me your choices."

"Wasn't it decided already that if it is a girl, you will name her and I'll choose the name it is a boy?" Nithya rolled her eyes.

"Still... You might have a choice na?"

"Nope. Now tell me! What are we gonna name our daughter?" Nithya asked him.

"Mithra!" Raghav informs her with a smile.

"Mithra! Nice." Nithya repeated the name.

"She is going to be our little friend, more than our daughter!" Raghav informed and Nithya's smile grew wider.

Nithya was discharged from the hospital after two days. She reached home , Sharadha and Tharani took aarthi for them and welcomed home. Raghav had already kept everything ready in their room for Nithya and their baby.

She was tired and so she slept immediately after reaching her room. It was around six in the evening, when Nithya woke up hearing their daughter's cry. Sharadha was trying to pacify Mithra, but she didn't stop crying.

Once she went to Nithya, her cry stopped like a magic. The mother's touch had worked in a minute.

"She looks like you, da." Sharadha informed Nithya.

"Haha yes athai. Amma was also telling the same. But within few months, her face will change right."

"That's true though."

"Where is Raghav, athai?" Nithya asked her mother in law after Mithra had slept. She did not see him after reaching home.

"Forget about him for the next two days." Sharadha chuckled.

"Why? What happened?"

"He is sleeping in the other room and I don't think he would wake up tonight."

"Is he fine, athai? He usually won't sleep in the afternoon." Nithya asked worried.

"Haha! Nothing to worry da. He didn't sleep last week because we had to shift to this house. After coming here he was so determined in setting up everything all alone. The day when he completed setting up, you got pain... He didn't even sleep for an hour during the last two days. That's why I asked him to take rest now. I'll give him food in his room. He is very tired." Sharadha told Nithya.

"Why is he loving us so much?" Nithya asked  with teary eyes as she looked at their baby.

"Because you gave him the courage and love to open up his heart! No one had made him feel comfortable in the past except you. He hadn't told anyone about his past except Vicky, and that was also after knowing him for many years. But you gave him the strength within few months of your relationship. That's why he is ready to do anything for you, Nithya." Sharadha told and kissed Nithya's forehead.

To Be Continued.