Akshu stared at the picture of her daughter as she sobbed. Even after much begging and crying, the doctors didn't allow Akshu to go to the nursery to see the baby. She could barely sit for a second without screaming in pain and the doctors felt it would be better if she waited for a few days. Until then, she made Abhi promise to stay with the baby as much as he was allowed to and video call her every hour.
Even after a few days, it seemed like Akshu was not improving. It didn't help that she spent all her time crying for her baby. She was desperate to hold her daughter.
As Akshu cleaned her tears, she saw Dr. Roy and Mahima come in. Akshu tried to sit up. The pain was getting a little better.
"Akshara. Be careful, please. You don't want to mess up your stitches." Dr. Roy warned her.
"No. I am feeling a lot better. It's been four days now, I am better now." Akshu told the two doctors. Just then Abhi came in as well. "Please, Abhi. Tell Dr. Roy and Tayi-ji, I'm better now. I can even go home."
"She's right, Tayi-ji." Abhi nodded his head. "In fact, tomorrow she will be taking part in the Udaipur Marathon aur meri Akshu toh Wonder Woman hai toh she will even come first!"
Akshu shot him a dirty look. Tumhe main baad mein dekh loongi, Nakli Doctor.
"Akshu beta I know you want to go see the baby, just be a little patient, okay? You just had such a bad accident and such a major surgery. It's really a miracle both you and the baby are okay. This is not a TV serial that you will be recovered the next day. It takes time, na? Just a few more days." Mahima tried to assure Akshu. With that, Akshu started to cry again.
"Jaan! Look I made a video of her today." Abhi gave his phone to Akshu. She watched the video and started to cry harder.
Dr. Mahima and Dr. Roy left the room to let Abhi handle her.
The next day, Akshu was in even a worst mood. She refused to talk to anyone or eat anything.
"Akshu, aise zid nahi karte. Tum aisa karogi toh theek kaise hogi?" Badi Mama tried to get her to eat.
"Akshu, chalo beta. Just eat a little. You need to be strong na? Apni bitiya ke paas jahna hai ke nahi?" Manjiri asked her.
The mention of the baby made Akshu cry again. "Please maa. Mujhse aur nahi ho raha. Mujhe apni beti se milne doh. Baas ek baar. Maine aaj tak usse dekha nahi hai...I haven't even held her yet. Main kaisi buri maa hoon ke apni beti ke paas bhi nahi jah sakti. Bas I'll watch her from the nursery window...that would be enough."
"Okay Akshu, I'll make a deal with you but first finish your food." Mahima said as she came in.
"Kaisi deal, Tayi-ji?"
"Finish your food first. Then maybe I'll let you go look at your daughter from outside the nursery." Mahima smiled at her.
Akshu quickly drank her soup.
"Aaram se beta, it's still hot." Badi Mama warned her.
"Ho gaya. All done. Can we go now?"
Mahima looked towards the door of Akshu's room. There was Abhi pushing a baby bassinet. Akshu gasped. Abhi took the bassinet towards Akshu's bed and helped Akshu sit up.
"Kya hai na, hamari gudiya ke jo doh Dada-ji hai na woh bhi bilkul pagal ho gaye hain. They are breaking the rules for their princess. Magar Akshu, the baby will go back to her nursery if you don't get enough rest." Mahima told her.
Akshu was not listening to a single word. She was staring at the bassinet with tears streaming down her face.
"Tum meri beti ko yeh rotlu chehra dekhogi?" Abhi wiped the tears from Akshu's face and kissed her forehead. "Ready to meet her?" Akshu nodded.
