Love Bloom

I never realized how fast those nine months slipped away and the day arrived when Richa was admitted to hospital for delivery. What a day it was! Rains started beating very hard from the very moment she got admitted out of no where. It seemed as if heavens were no less excited than I was. In fact it was not only excitement rather a mix of anxiety, curiosity, joy & expectation.

Firstly she was induced for contractions to go for a normal delivery. It was expected that if contractions started properly, the birth would take place within few hours. We waited and waited for at least 6 hours but to no avail. Richa didn’t feel the requisite contractions. But those few hours were equally exciting none the less.

The doctor suggested to go for cesar as the BP of Richa was going up & the heart-beat graph of baby was not very favorable. We were already prepared mentally that if things didn’t go properly we would go for cesar without hesitation. However, before we realized, the nurse took my consent and shifted Richa on to stretcher to take her to the Operation Theater. It happened so fast that we were all taken by surprise. I was on my phone when Richa waved me from the stretcher telling she was going to OT. I was so shocked that I didn’t have words to comfort or support her in such crucial moment of her life. Things that were moving very comfortably a few moments back had suddenly started moving at a dizzying pace. And in seconds, before I could recover, she was gone, out of my sight and into the Operation Theater!!

I have never felt so helpless & drained as if falling into an abysmal chasm. Perspiration had drenched my shirt, heart was pounding, head was thudding and my whole body was shivering with some unknown fear. Every passing moment was a torture and the pain was excruciating. Prayers automatically started emanating from within. Moments passed like aeons. Tension reached its crescendo. And then, in came the news of birth of my Baby boy and welfare of Richa. It was such an overwhelming feeling which couldn’t be put into words.

I was dying to meet Richa & my lovely son. It took another hour or so before the nurse came out with my baby tucked in her arms. She was rushing towards the nursery and I was following her desperately to take a look at my bundle of joy. Finally she stopped at the nursery and put the baby in my lap. What a charming face it was! Calm and gentle. I saw its tiny hands, fingers & beautiful lips. It was such an exhilarating feeling to see another you. Its fingers resembled mine and its cheeks that of Richa, a perfect blend of two of us. I wanted to hold it for eternity but the nurse took it away from me to put it in the incubator leaving me parched & thirsty.

I rushed to recovery section to see Richa and tell her all about our son. But she was still in OT. After half an hour later she was shifted in recovery and I was allowed to meet her. She was semi conscious and was hardly able to speak with that oxygen mask on. But still she looked beautiful. She cried when she saw me and I just managed to hold my tears. It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life. Anybody could see our eyes and tell how much we loved each other. We really do!

It was still raining. But now they resembled the tears of joy and strings of love that bind our lives to completeness.