I was removing my gloves and coat to have my food when I got a call from Mathew.
"Hello, Mathew. At last, someone remembered me", I said teasingly
"Uncle", he said. His voice clearly said that something is wrong there. It was like he has been crying. As much as I know, Mathew is not a person who will break down.
"What's wrong, dear?"
"Uncle, Megha... is in... labor"
"What are you telling? Her due date is after a month"
"Hm"
"So early, she was healthy right, I just spoke to her this morning. What the hell is happening there Mathew."
"Uncle, she was kidnapped...", he narrated the whole story.
"That rod hit her uncle. It hit the kids uncle. It is all my fault", he cried from the other end.
"Mathew, listen stay strong. I'm coming to Bangalore right away.", I said and cut the call.
I booked the immediate flight and started to Bangalore.
I was an hour away from my daughter. She is going to be fine I prayed the god for the rest of the journey.
It took me 47 minutes to reach the hospital from the airport. I ran through the corridors to reach the labor room.
Krish was crying on the floor and a young boy was consoling him. Mathew was walking back and forth in distress. Catherine was sitting next to Sahana and a well-built police officer was standing there. The moment Mathew saw me, he ran to me and hugged me while crying.
"She will be fine", I pat his head
I continuously wept on my shoulder.
"Who are these two men? I asked Mathew after he calmed down a little.
"He is Akash, Rohit's boyfriend and that is Shrey, the inspector who closed Rohit's case", he said.
The two men greeted me. We waited for the doctors to tell us what is happening. We were all hoping for the best. Krish sat next to me and leaned his head on my shoulder.
"Unc..le, Megha... and... my ki..ds..", he was stammering
"They are going to be fine", I said to him
"I... can't think... straight"
"Shh, Krish", I hug him.
He kept crying uncontrollably when the doctors emerged from the room. Krish got up his legs still wobbling. He was beyond scared. I held his hand for support.
"I am sorry, Mr. Malhotra, I couldn't save your daughter", the doctor said.
Krish fell to the floor hugging his knees, he was sobbing in silence. His movements were frozen except for the tears flowing down his eyes. I could feel his whole world crumbling.
"Megha is awake, you can visit her and her son. But, please don't disturb her", a nurse said and walked away.
"Krish come let's see your wife and son", I said pulling him up on his feet.
We all went in to see my daughter sitting on the hospital bed and her premature son kept inside the incubator. Krish went to the incubator his fingers tracing the outline of his son. He was filled with happiness and sadness.
"I love you", he said
"Uncle, I am going out", he said and he did not even see Megha since we entered the room.
"But Megha...", I started
"I want some time alone uncle. My daughter is dead. She faced death even before her birth uncle. I want to calm myself", he said and ran out of the room.
Megha had no expressions, she was blankly staring at the ceiling. I sat beside her and held her hand. Mathew also came closer to her and placed his hand on her shoulder
"Sweetheart", I said and a sob escaped from her
"Dad, my daughter", she started to cry.
Mathew squeezed her shoulder indicating that we are all here for her. She hugged Mathew's torso and cried her heart out. He was patting her head trying to console her despite his tears. It was an unacceptable situation. After a few minutes of consoling, she stopped weeping and let go of Mathew. He took a stroll to the incubator to see his nephew.
"Uncle, look at him. He just looks like my sister", he said with a smile and happy tears.
I walked to the incubator to see my grandson. It is after years I am seeing a baby in my family. My grandson is the definition of cuteness. His tiny legs, hands, fingers, and toes. His pouty lips and eyes which he has got from his mother. His sharp nose was passed on to him by his father. He stirred in his sleep.
"Congratulations, you are promoted as a mother, sweetheart", I said to Megah and she smiled, "I'm a proud grandfather now", I added
"I am not giving him to you. I will take the best care of my nephew. Thanks for making me an uncle", Mathew said to Megha
"Hello, champ I'm your uncle Mathew. I am going to spoil you in every possible way", he said to his nephew
Catherine just then entered the room with Sahana. Sahana ran to Megha first and hugged her. She cried in Megha's arms and then walked to her father to look at her new companion. She hugged Mathew's hand while peeking into the incubator.
"I am your elder sister", she said to the baby.
Catherine joined her husband and daughter. She congratulated Megha and informed us that she will be taking Sahana back home because she needed to tuck her daughter to bed as it was quite late.
Megha was silent the whole time. She wasn't like my daughter who is very enthusiastic and cheerful. She was now only gloomy. I stood in front of her and cupped her face.
"You need to be strong for your son", I said to her. She nodded her head with a forced smile.
"Mathew please take care of her. I wish I could stay here, but my bad luck I have to be in Chennai", I said.
The guilt was already eating me up because I can't stay with my daughter when she needs me the most. I wanted to stay with her but my patients in Chennai also needed me now.
"It's okay uncle, go take care of your patients. I'm there for her.", he said hugging me.
After clicking a few pictures of my grandson, I left the hospital with a heavy heart.