The Gentleman: Part 2

2 years after events of part 1 

Dhruv just woke up from his sleep. He slept like a log after the small celebration party of Ananya’s friend they had attended yesterday. He smiled at Ananya sleeping peacefully with a placid smile as she caressed her round belly. She was bearing their child- their next generation in her womb. And she was already in the 5th month of pregnancy, how time flies!

“Ananya, honey, wake up, it’s almost nine.” Dhruv cajolingly whispered to her ear. 

“Nine? But I wanna sleep a little more, please? Do we have any work today?” She groggily replied.

“Yes, honey, your weekly appointment with Dr. Andre. We have to check the progress, haven’t we?”

“But that’s only at 12!” She whined.

Dhruv chuckled at his wife’s childish behaviour “Need time to get ready, hon, come on get up,” 

Ananya dragged herself up with her remaining strength. Dhruv helped her out from the bed, grasping her hand firmly. The incident reminded her of the first time she planned to escape from him by trying to trick him somehow. She laughed to herself.

“What?” Dhruv chuckled.

“Remember the first time you held me when I was trying to walk after you tied me up for hours? That same firm grip, even now.” She smiled.

Dhruv reminisced and smiled as well. He never imagined how things took a dodge from there. But it was a good turn.

They got ready for the appointment soon after. It was a one hour travel from their residence. They checked with Dr. Andre with positive reports.

“Dhruv, we should return to India anytime soon. Our daughter’s birth should be in her own country,” Ananya suggested.

“Yes, you are right. I will book the flight ticket for our travel soon. Flight travel is usually not advisable when you are at the 8th- 9th month pregnancy, they say.” Dhruv advised.

“I think you are going to be an overprotective father, Dhruv!” Ananya chortled as Dhruv rolled his eyes, smiling.

“Okay, have you thought any names for her?” He gently caressed her belly “How about Rhea?”

“Or Durga?” Dhruv shrugged.

“Karthika?”

“No, it isn’t even connecting. How about Radha? I like Radha,” Ananya remarked.

“Fine, that’s on the list.” Dhruv chided angrily “Why aren’t my names good enough? I searched google too!”

“Pft, Google. You should ask my grandma. She is the best at names. She is the one who kept my name too,” Ananya suggested. Dhruv agreed.

..

Dhruv had booked the tickets and they would be arriving to India on the 18th of this month (June) which was exactly Ananya’s father’s birthday. Rahul had been eagerly anticipating his daughter’s arrival and had been preparing since the month was born.

“Appa, you really don’t have to do something too grand just because I’m coming,” Ananya smiled to herself as she talked to her father over the phone. 

“Are you kidding, Ananya? It’s my precious baby coming home after a long time, with my granddaughter in your womb! You know it is an ecstatic moment for me to take in. The adrenaline rush I have right now isn’t usually advisable for people of my age,” Rahul chided.

“Exactly, Ba! Control yourself, don’t go overboard too much!” She scorned.

“Too caring, just like your mother… oh how she would be jumping in joy if she heard she was gonna be a grandma…” he sadly smiled. Ananya could feel the surge of emotions in him even when they were miles apart. She smiled too.

“Ok, I won’t go overboard, but you got to allow me to make simple arrangements, please?” He pleaded cajolingly. Ananya smiled. She agreed.

.. 

June 18 arrived like the blink of an eye. Dhruv and Ananya had landed on India. Dhruv already geared up his protectiveness as he guided Ananya safely through the aisle. The pregnancy glow on her face could tell how proud she was of him.

“Appa, we have landed, are you there?” Ananya contacted her father.

“To the left, honey!” She saw her father waving her hands at her. She waved back smiling.

“Dhruv, he’s there!” She rushed him towards her father.

“Oh, my precious daughter!” He hugged her “And you young man,” Rahul grabbed him hard as Dhruv scoffed an Oof “Thank you for taking such good care of my daughter!”

“No pressure, sir,” he mimicked a salute.

“Come, let us drive you home. This time I didn’t go overboard, your grandma did.” Rahul chuckled.

“Dad!! You should have controlled her!!”

“Never mind, the arrangements are all done anyways!” He chided her.

It took them almost an hour to reach home. They were welcomed like a prince and princess who had come home after a world tour. The entrance in itself was a grandeur: fairy lights gleaming over garlands of flowers. A huge golden board read: WELCOMING ANANYA AND DHRUV. 

“Daddy, you shouldn’t have,” Ananya said, gasping in awe at the decors.

“It’s my baby princess, no? So, why not?!” He smiled.

“I think this day could be best for a small baby shower event?” Her grandma chimed in holding the Pooja tray with kumkum and sacred ash, and a small lighted Diya. She followed the tradition most Indians do on welcoming the newly weds after a honeymoon trip.

“Grandma, we just landed so we are kinda bushed from all the travelling, so maybe not today? We can just hold baba’s birthday event today,” Ananya suggested.

“How about on 20th June? It’s your grandma’s anniversary too,” Rahul reminded. Ananya and Dhruv smiled in agreement.

“Sure, dad,” 

… 

5 months later 

“CALL THE FREAKING AMBULANCE, SOMEONE!” Dhruv yelled. Ananya’s water had broke, and it was time for their baby to come into their world. And Dhruv wanted things safe, but the moment was building up his frustration as Ananya kept wailing in pain.

“Dhruv, fast, please,” Ananya whimpered “It’s too much,” 

“I know I know baby just a little longer, okay?” Dhruv tried his best to console her “HAS EVERYONE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS OR WHAT?!”

“We just called an ambulance and they are on their way asap, Dhruv,” Rahul informed him, trying to keep calm as well.

Moments later, the vehicle finally arrived. Ananya was carefully laid onto the stretcher and Dhruv accompanied her during the whole travel and till the stretcher reached the OP room in CARE hospital.

He waited- his patience was wearing off but he had to remain calm; things would be fine, they would be a happy family just like how he had dreamt off. Things would be fine, yeah.

But it was unusually long. Maybe some sudden complication? Worries flooded him.

The doctor finally opened the room. Dhruv got up immediately with hopeful eyes, eagerly waiting to hold his baby.

“Doctor, is it done? Can I hold my baby?” He questioned.

“I’m sorry, Dhruv, the baby, it couldn’t survive,” 

Visions started to blur. His world came crashing down. They thought of every possible way to keep things safe, but how could things go downhill like this? How would Ananya react?

“I’m extremely sorry,” the doctor bowed to him as he left the scene. He wailed. The tears could form a flood but he didn’t care. His first chance of starting a family was ruined.

But, what could have gone wrong?