Naina carefully cradled the small bag of pastries in her hands, savoring the sweetness she had been craving for days. At eight and a half months pregnant, her world felt heavy in more ways than one. She hadnât fully decided whether she was ready to let Rivaan back into her life, but the thought had been creeping in more and more.
Heâd tried, after all. For months, Rivaan had shown up at every doctor's appointment, brought her favorite foods, and showed a tenderness she had longed for when they were together. But they werenât together now, not really. Their relationship was fractured, left in pieces by his actions and his familyâs interference. Still, she had to think about their children and what they needed.
As she left the café with her bag of pastries, Naina felt a sharp pain ripple through her abdomen. She stopped in her tracks, gripping the edge of a nearby table for support. Her heart raced as another contraction followed, more intense than the first. This wasnât the usual discomfort she had felt over the past few monthsâthis was different.
Just as panic began to set in, Naina glanced around, trying to focus through the pain. Her vision blurred momentarily before she spotted a familiar figure near the entrance of the café.
It was Lisa Raghuvanshi.
Rivaan's mother stood there, frozen for a moment as her eyes locked onto Nainaâs distressed face. Of all people to see at a moment like this, it had to be herâRivaanâs mother, the woman who had been at the heart of everything that had driven them apart.
Nainaâs instinct was to look away, to turn and find help somewhere else. But another wave of pain struck, forcing her to lean forward, gasping for breath. There was no time for pride or grudges right now. She needed help.
Lisa seemed to snap out of her shock and quickly approached Naina. âAre you alright?â she asked, her voice unusually soft, lacking the sharpness Naina was so used to.
Naina winced, struggling to find her voice. âI think⦠the babies⦠they're coming.â
For a moment, Lisa looked as though she didnât know what to do. Then, without hesitation, she reached for Nainaâs arm, steadying her. âCome on, letâs get you to the hospital,â she said briskly, guiding her toward a nearby car.
Naina hesitated, her breath coming in shallow gasps, but at this moment, she had no choice. Grateful for the help, she allowed Lisa to assist her into the passenger seat.
As they drove toward the hospital, the contractions came harder and faster, each one making Naina grip the edge of her seat. She was anxious, panicked even, but through it all, one thought stayed constant in her mindâRivaan. Would he be there? Would he come in time?
Lisa remained silent for most of the drive, her usual cool composure replaced with something that almost resembled concern. Naina stole a glance at her, feeling the irony of the situation. Rivaanâs mother had done everything she could to keep them apart, and now, she was the one by her side in one of the most important moments of her life.
When they finally arrived at the hospital, nurses quickly rushed over with a wheelchair, taking Naina inside. Lisa lingered in the background, watching as Naina was wheeled into the delivery area. The whole experience felt surreal, as if it was happening to someone else.
In the midst of the chaos, Lisa finally made the call to Rivaan. Naina could hear her stern, commanding voice through the fog of pain as she told him what had happened.
Inside the delivery room, Naina lay on the bed, her heart racing as she thought about what was happening. Her babies were coming early, and Rivaan wasnât here yet. But maybe, just maybe, heâd arrive in time. And maybe, for their children's sake, they could find a way forwardâtogether or apart.
But for now, she had to focus on her babies and trust that everything else would fall into place later.