3.5 months later
I dialed Reya's number as I walked back to my quarters after a long day. My heart raced as the phone rang, each second dragging painfully.
Her due date was approaching, and the need to be with her was becoming unbearable.
I had been trying everything to get leave, reaching out to my superiors, but it felt like hitting a wall every time.
Finally, she answered, her voice soft and familiar. “Vayu..”
“Sunflower…” I sighed, my frustration slipping into my tone.
“I’m trying, I swear I’m trying to get there.” Words immediately left my mouth in regret.
There was a brief pause, and I could imagine her shaking her head, smiling that calm, reassuring smile she always had.
“It’s okay, Vayu. Everyone is here. Maa, Papa, my parents and even Navi too. Don’t stress out.”
I clenched my jaw, the guilt rising in my throat. She never complained, never showed how much it bothered her, but I knew better.
I knew she wanted me there. I wanted to be the one by her side, holding her hand, seeing our child come into this world. I wanted to be there to take care of her, but the army had other plans.
“I’m not panicking, Sunflower. I just… I hate that I’m not there. You shouldn’t have to do this alone.”
She chuckled softly, but it didn’t reach her usual warmth. “Vayu, I’m not alone. I’ve got everyone.”
Her voice was steady, but I could hear the faint trace of sadness she was trying to hide. It made my chest tighten.
“Mujhe udhar hona chaiye tha tere saath but main nahi hoon..” I muttered, my frustration coming through. “I don’t want to miss this.”
“Vayu,” she said softly, “Even if you’re not physically here, you’re still with me. Always.”
"Mere dil mein hai tu, hai na little one?"
She asked to our unborn child leading to an impromptu smile on my lips.
I leaned against the doorframe, rubbing the back of my neck. “But I don’t want to miss it, Sunflower. I want to see the baby, our baby, to be there when you need me.”
There was a soft sigh on the other end of the line. “I know, and I want that too, Vayu. But you being safe —that's enough for me right now.”
Her words gave me some comfort, but the urge to be there, to hold her, and to see our child was still gnawing at me.
●□●□●□●□●
I was patrolling the camp when I spotted my senior officer nearby. Without wasting a second, I rushed over to him, my heart pounding with anticipation. As I stood at attention, I could barely contain myself.
"Sir," I began, trying to steady my breath.
"I wanted to ask about my leave. My wife… she's pregnant, and her due date is close."
He looked at me, his face softening into a smile.
He patted my shoulder and said, “Your leave has been approved, Kashyap. Go be with your family.”
A wave of relief washed over me, and I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. “Thank you, sir!” I managed to say, saluting him with more enthusiasm than usual.
As soon as I was dismissed, I pulled out my phone and dialed Maa's number.
The second she answered, I blurted out, “Maa, I’m coming home. My leave got approved!”
Her voice lit up with joy on the other end. “Vasu! This is such good news, beta. Reya will be so happy. We’ve all been waiting for you!”
I smiled, the excitement coursing through me. I could finally be there for Reya, just as I had promised.
A week later
I had just landed in Bangalore and hopped into a cab, heart pounding with anticipation.
The thought of seeing Reya, my Sunflower after all these months filled me with both excitement and nerves.
But as soon as I reached home, I was met with an unsettling sight—a lock on the front door.
Confusion settled in as I tried calling Maa, Papa, Reya, even Navi. No one picked up. Each unanswered call only added to the panic bubbling inside me.
Where were they?
Just then, our neighbor, an elderly lady, stepped out of her house.
She approached me with a concerned expression and said, “Beta, Reya’s water broke. They rushed her to the hospital.”
My eyes widened in shock, a wave of panic hitting me hard. What? My heart raced faster.
They were supposed to tell me, I was supposed to be there!
“Weren’t they supposed to call me?” I muttered, my voice barely a whisper as I tried to make sense of the situation.
Without wasting another second, I turned on my shoes and hailed another cab, directing it straight to the hospital.
The thought of not being there for her when she needed me the most gnawed at me.
It took me almost 40 minutes for a 10 mins drive to reach the hospital, all thanks to the Bangalore traffic.
Every minute felt like an eternity, and my impatience only grew as the car crawled through the congested roads.
When we finally pulled up to the hospital, I barely waited for the car to stop before jumping out.
Sprinting towards the entrance, I felt a knot tighten in my chest. I hurried to the reception, breathless, asking for her room.
"Dr. Reya Kashyap," I managed to get out.
The receptionist gave me the directions, and without wasting another second, I rushed towards her, hoping I wasn’t too late.
As I made my way through the hospital corridor, I spotted Navi and my parents standing outside the labour ward.
Without thinking, I rushed towards them, my voice rising with a mix of panic and frustration.
"Where the hell are your phones? Why aren’t you guys picking up? Why didn’t anyone tell me her water broke? Where’s Reya?" I nearly shouted, my heart pounding in my chest.
Maa quickly stepped forward, placing a calming hand on my arm. "Vasu, calm down. We didn’t want to worry you while you were travelling. Everything's under control."
Navi chimed in, looking apologetic, "My phone died, and everyone was too caught up to even notice yours rings…”
“Tere phone kaam ke time pe hamesha dead hi rehta hai!” I mocked making her roll her eyes.
I took a deep breath, still anxious but slightly relieved. "Where is she? Is she okay?"
"She’s in the delivery room. The doctors are with her, don’t worry," Papa said, patting my shoulder.
But how could I not worry?
Without thinking twice, I rushed past the doctors, ignoring their attempts to stop me.
"I want to go inside,"
I muttered, barely registering their words as I pushed the door open.
Reya was sitting on the bed, her huge baby bump in full view. She looked tired but still as beautiful as ever, her eyes meeting mine the moment I entered. Relief washed over me.
"Sir, you can't just—" one of the nurses started, but Reya quickly intervened.
"It’s okay," she said, her voice soft yet firm.
"He’s my husband."
The doctors exchanged glances, some amused, others surprised, but they let me be.
I strode towards her, kneeling by her bedside and gently taking her hand in mine.
"I’m here, Sunflower. I made it," I whispered, kissing her hand, my heart swelling with relief and love.
Her tired eyes softened, a small smile forming on her lips. "I knew you would."
“Your water broke… is it hurting too much?” I asked gently.
Reya looked up at me and smiled despite the exhaustion.
“Yes, it’s painful, Vayu. But having you here makes it easier to bear.” She squeezed my hand, and I felt her strength.
I brushed a few strands of hair from her forehead and said, “I can’t stand seeing you in pain, Sunflower."
“Just tell me if it’s too much, okay? I’ll get the doctor. Anything you need.”
She nodded, her hand gently resting on my cheek. “Having you here is more than enough,” she whispered, her smile bringing a sense of calm to my heart.
Hours went by, and I could see how exhausted Reya was becoming. Her face was a mixture of determination and pain.
At one point, the doctor approached, advising a C-section as a safer option, but Reya shook her head.
She was firm about having a normal delivery, her strength and resolve shining through despite her exhaustion.
I stayed by her side, gently wiping the sweat from her forehead, offering sips of water every now and then, and whispering words of encouragement.
“You’re doing so well, Sunflower,” I said softly, holding her hand, feeling her grip tighten every time another contraction hit.
With every passing minute, I felt my admiration grow, witnessing her incredible strength.
Reya looked at me with tired eyes, her voice gentle but firm, “Vayu, go rest. You’ve been here for hours.”
But there was no way I was leaving. I shook my head, squeezing her hand.
“I’m not going anywhere, Sunflower. I want to be here to see our baby come into this world. I want to hold your hand through every moment of this.”
She managed a small, grateful smile, her fingers lacing into mine.
I knew this was the hardest thing she’d ever endured, and I wasn’t about to let her face it alone.
Her strength amazed me, and all I could do was be there for her, reminding her with each breath that she wasn’t alone.
As her screams filled the room, I felt her grip tighten, her last ounce of strength poured into that final push.
“Almost there… just a little more, Sunflower,” I whispered, my own voice breaking as I held her hand tighter, my heart racing with hers making me close my eyes.
Then, suddenly, a new cry filled the room — our baby’s cry.
I kept my eyes closed, tears slipping down, too overwhelmed to look just yet.
Reya, her voice barely a whisper, said,
“Vayu… we did it.”
I opened my eyes to see her smiling, exhausted yet radiant.
"We did it," I echoed softly, a lump in my throat. We shared a look, both of us tearing up.
My entire focus stayed on my Sunflower. I leaned down, brushing a gentle kiss on her forehead, whispering,
“You’re amazing, Sunflower! I’m so proud of you.”
Her exhausted but blissful smile melted me, and I kept holding her close, letting her know I was right there, that she had been so strong.
Just then, the nurse approached us, cradling a tiny bundle. She held him out to me, her smile warm.
“Congratulations, Mr. Kashyap. It’s a baby boy!”
A baby boy!
Our son!
My and my Sunflower's son!
My breath caught as I looked at our son for the first time, so small and fragile in the nurse’s arms. I reached out, my hands steadying as I took him into my arms.
He looked up at me, his tiny face scrunched, and for a moment, the world faded around us.
I glanced over at Reya, our eyes meeting in pure, unspoken joy.
“Sunflower,” I whispered, my voice choking with emotion.
“Look at him…he’s perfect.” I brought him closer, so Reya could see his little face.
She reached up with a trembling hand, brushing her fingers over his cheek, and a tear slipped down her face.
“He looks just like you, Vayu,” she murmured, her eyes filled with love.
I chuckled, glancing back down at our son.
Reya smiled, and I leaned down, softly pressing a kiss to our son’s tiny forehead. “Welcome to the world, little one,” I whispered, holding him close to us both.
Our family gathered around us, their faces glowing with happiness as we sat down for our son’s name ceremony.
Vayu and I sat cross-legged, our son peacefully asleep in my lap, wrapped snugly in a soft white cloth.
The priest began the pooja, chanting prayers that filled the room with a sense of calm and blessing.
Vayu gently placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, and I could feel his gaze shifting between our son and me, filled with love and pride.
My heart swelled watching our families smile as they shared glances, almost in awe of the moment.
When the priest finally paused, he looked up at us with a warm smile, signalling it was time to announce his name.
Vayu and I exchanged a glance, a quiet understanding passing between us.
“Everyone,” Vayu began, his voice steady yet filled with emotion, “we’ve decided to name him…”
“Vyansh Kashyap!”
Yes, we chose the name "Vyansh" for our son—a name that reflects both Vayu and Reya in spirit.
"Vyansh" beautifully signifies "a part of greatness," embodying our hopes that he’ll grow with strength and kindness, carrying a piece of us in him always.
As we whispered the name "Vyansh," he smiled softly in his sleep, as if he understood the love behind it.
Maa looked at him with tears in her eyes, cupping his tiny head in her hands.
"Vyansh, mera chotu sa betu, you are going to be so loved," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
Papa, standing beside her, couldn't help but beam with pride.
"Vyansh means ‘the first ray of light’—he’s going to brighten our lives," he said, his voice full of warmth.
Navi leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to spoil you just like me, Vyansh!”
Vayu looked up at me, his eyes shining with joy. "Our little Vyansh is already stealing hearts, isn’t he?" he said, his voice soft and affectionate.
I nodded, overwhelmed by the moment. "He’s the perfect mix of us!” I replied, brushing my fingers gently over our son’s cheek.
Maa chuckled, “Just wait until he starts running around and getting you both into trouble!”
As we all gathered closer, I felt a wave of happiness wash over me, knowing that Vyansh was surrounded by so much love and laughter, ready to embark on his journey in this world.
After the pooja was done, I settled into the room as I cradled Vyansh in my arms.
He was so tiny, with delicate features that seemed to hold a little bit of both Vayush and me. As he latched on and began to feed, I couldn't help but marvel at how much our lives had changed in such a short time.
Just then, I felt a familiar presence behind me.
Vayush's hand slipped around my waist, pulling me close. His warmth enveloped me, and I leaned back into his embrace, feeling safe and cherished.
“Hey!” I greeted, turning my head slightly to plant a soft kiss on his cheek. The stubble on his face tickled my skin, but it was a comforting sensation.
“How’s my little champ?” he asked, peering over my shoulder to catch a glimpse of our son.
His eyes lit up with a mix of pride and love as he watched Vyansh peacefully feeding, his tiny fingers wrapped around my blouse.
“Aalsi hai, ” I replied, glancing down at our son. “Bilkul meri tarah.”
Vayu chuckled softly, the sound rumbling against my back.
“He's lucky to have you as a mother, Sunflower,” he said, his voice filled with sincerity. The admiration in his eyes made my heart swell.
I felt warmth bloom in my chest, and I turned slightly to face him.
“And he’s lucky to have you as his dad,” I said, placing a hand on his cheek.
“You’ve been amazing through this whole journey.”
“No Sunflower, main to bas abhi aaya hoon, you were alone all these 9 months!” Vayush said, wrapping his arms tighter around me, his embrace making me feel grounded.
“The way you kept a check for my medicines, taking care of me through the phone calls, making sure that both of us are okay…” I replied, leaning back into his warmth, finding comfort in his presence as Vyansh continued to feed.
Vayush nodded, his chin resting gently on my shoulder as he pressed a soft kiss against my neck.
“Shhh..” he kept his index finger making me shut.
We lay there, enveloped in a cocoon of love, feeling the soft rise and fall of Vyansh as he fed.
Vayush leaned in, capturing my lips in a soft kiss. It was sweet and tender, filled with unspoken promises of the future.
Our kiss was abruptly interrupted by a knock on the door, causing us both to pull away with surprised smiles on our faces.
I turned to Vayush, playfully narrowing my eyes. “Why did you lock the door?”
He frowned, clearly caught off guard. “Ab main apne hi room ko lock nahi kar sakta?”
I chuckled, appreciating his sheepish expression as he stood up and opened the door.
Standing there was Maa, her face lighting up with warmth as she walked in, a tray of fresh fruits and a glass of milk balanced carefully in her hands.
“Look what I brought for you, beta,” she said, her voice soft and loving.
She set the tray down on the bedside table, her eyes immediately darting to the sleeping baby in my arms. “And how is my little Vyansh doing?”
“He’s perfect, Maa,” I replied, glancing down at our son, who was now peacefully dozing off.
Vayush laughed, “Thanks for bringing this, Maa. You know Reya is going to need all the energy she can get.”
Maa smiled at Vayu, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Vasu, chal bahut raat ho gayi hai, mere room main jaake sojaa!” she said.
“What?” Vayu almost shouted, making me gawk at him with wide eyes.
“Ah..I mean…pehle aap ne kaha jab tak namkaran nahi hoga tab tak nahi aa sakta mere room mein, an to namkaran bhi hogaya!” he said his eyes fixed on me.
Maa laughed, shaking her head.
“Woh baat alag hai, lekin abhi Reya ko meri zaroorat hai. Use kuch bhi chahiye ho sakta hai raat ko, and since she has given birth recently, she is supposed to take proper rest.” Maa explained.
“Haan par I want to sleep with Re…with my son,” Vayush replied, his brows raised in mock innocence, making me chuckle.
Maa crossed her arms, “What if she needs anything at midnight?”
“Are toh main hoon na…vo mujhe utha deti…hai na Sunflower?” He looked at me with pleading eyes.
“Um…maa jaisa aap ko theek lage.” I replied biting my lips, making him glare at me.
Maa just chuckled as she turned to me. “Thik hai, par dhyan rakha Reya ka, samjha?” Maa said to Vayu.
“Aree…main sounga hi nahi, aap chinta hi mat karo!” Vayu responded, making us both chuckle.
Maa left after giving a kiss to Vyansh who was sleeping in my lap peacefully.
As I lay there with Vyansh snuggled between us, my gaze kept drifting to my Sunflower.
She looked so peaceful, her face soft and calm as she rested after the day’s exhaustion. She had fallen asleep right after feeding our little one.
But the urge to hold Reya closer grew within me, so I carefully lifted Vyansh, placing him gently on her other side.
With Vyansh now on her left and me on her right, it felt like our little family was wrapped together perfectly.
I added extra pillows against the wall for Vyansh’s safety, double-checking that he was tucked in securely.
Sliding under the duvet, I wrapped my arm around Reya’s waist, pulling her close.
The warmth of her presence was soothing, but my gentle touch stirred her awake. She blinked, her eyes immediately searching for Vyansh.
“Where’s Vyan?” she whispered, her voice still laced with sleep.
I chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “He’s right here,” I murmured, pointing to his sleeping form beside her.
A relieved smile spread across her face as she nestled closer, resting her head against my chest.
Her arms wrapped around me as she snuggled into my embrace, letting out a contented sigh.
In that moment, with her safe in my arms and our son sleeping beside us, everything felt complete.
The world outside melted away; all that mattered was right here, held between the rise and fall of our breaths.
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