It had been 8 hours since my water and luckily I wasn't dilating as fast as I should. First I wanted the baby to stay as long as it could. Second, I was waiting for Shaheer to magically appear here. When the doctor last checked twenty minutes ago, I was 6 cm dilated. Meaning I had only progressed 3 cm in all these hours. Both our parents, mine and shaheer's, were now at hospital. They were in the room with me and Ifrah. My mom couldn't sit still because of how excited she was for the baby to arrive. Shaheer's parents were at the corner preparing for the other things. Sure one could see the excitement in them but one could still see the tinge of guilt they had within them. It absolutely broke my heart to see them that way.

My doctor came into the room and sat in the stool next to my bed and I knew something was wrong. Ifrah had called for the doctor after i hit a strong contraction few minutes ago.

"What is it?" I asked as I looked at her.

"It's time. So we will be taking you to the delivery room in few minutes. Before that I want someone from the family to do the paperwork. By the way, Is the father here?" She asked me the question I did not have the answer for. Our silences and glances gave her the answer she asked for. "Oh. He isn't here yet. Is there any chance he would be here?" she asked.

"I don't know." i said with a heavy croaky tone. She nodded and then went on to brief about the procedure and then left the room. And just when mom was prepping for all the requirements for the baby, a nurse came in and said "Someone is here to meet you. He says he is the father.Should I send him in?" Everybody's face lit up. It was dilemma whether to feel happy about this or not. I keep aside the mixed emotions and asked the nurse to call him inside. She went out immediately.

Seconds later the door once again opened and came in two individuals. I was set aback after seeing their faces and recognising who they were. I was only expecting him, but here he was with Ayu. What the heck. Not now. Not at this moment. Everybody took the call and went out of the room leaving only me, him and Ayi in the room.

"I am so sorry. It breaks my heart to see you like this." He weeped after sitting on the stool. What a Lie. Ayu stood back at the other end of the bed while she had a sorry face. I tried to hold back my tears but I guess I was unable to do so. He reached for my hand but I pushed it away.

"I know I've...." he said and then immediately started crying out. It literally broke my heart. I've never seen him cry so much before.

"Erica, I know whatever has happened wasn't meant to happen. But both of us are extremely sorry for that. It wasn't him. It was because of me. We were drunk and I don't how we ended up so close." Ayu spoke up after seeing him crying. She continued, "I know you obviously aren't happy that I am here but I had to clear things out. I am the one who is at fault so I had to come here and apologise to you. I am extremely sorry. I know how it must feel for I've been in that place to. I am a single mother and I can very well understand your feelings very well. I cannot believe I made a woman go through the same thing that I went through. And I feel so bad for that." she said in a throaty voice. Clearly even she was guilty and sorry.

"Erica. I want you to please listen to Shaheer once. He deserves forgiveness for he wasn't at fault. You know he wouldn't do that to his wife consciously." she said claiming him to be innocent. She continued, "He has been crying the entire flight. You two will be living a new life from now on with this baby. Both of you deserve to live this life so please just forgive him and me once." she said. Once she held my hand over the IVs and assured me, she moved out of the room to give me and shaheer some space.

I look over at him. He had bloodshot eyes because of all the crying. His usually gelled hair was now a total mess. He sniffles before he speaks up, "I am so sorry. I am literally the worst husband ever. I don't think I will ever forgive myself for doing this."

"Shaheer, please i think we can sort this out once the baby is out. I know we can fix this later. We should be focusing on the baby right now." I said.

"yeah." he said in a subtle tone, his eyes still glued down on the floor.

"How did you know we were in the hospital?" I asked grabbing his attention.

"I went to home straight away from the airport. But you weren't there. I got scared. I thought you left me. But then the security guard told me you and left left for the hospital. So I came here." she said in a monotonous tone. He continued, "I am so scared. Scared about the baby coming so early. Scared about what we are gonna end up in."

"we will work this out." I said. He looked at me and smiled. First time throughout this entire meeting, he smiled for once. He stood up and hugged me. Just then a pretty hard contraction hit me and I whimpered. He got tensed. I knew what this was so I asked him to call for the nurse and the doctor. I was taken to the delivery room and shaheer stood by me the entire time.

The pain of labour was a prison for my mind. In that jail cell of fear and confusion the time passed without me being able to keep track. My stomach tightened, I heard my own scream without being aware of making it. I lay still as the medication was administered, waiting for the agony to subside. But I knew for sure, in times to come I'd forget these moments, but always I'd recall the love I felt for my baby, my precious child, one born in perfect love.

With each contraction came a pain that dominated my entire being. I squeezed shaheer's hand everytime the pain hit me. In those moments, for those seconds that stretched into infinity, there was nothing else. When the pain passed it was only for a minute or so and I breathed with closed eyes, unwilling to re-engage with life outside of mu own body. The midwife was telling me that is was time, time to push. With a guttural grunt i did so and was told to stop, one was enough. I felt the baby crowning, the hot stretching of flesh and held my breath. Without any further effort the baby slid into the hands of the doctor. There was elation, a girl at last, and in seconds she was there, nascent eyes opening, mouth rooting for milk. And i could see Shaheer's face lit up.

After, when our baby girl was born, it was as if only sunshine existed the world, as if all the earth was ushered into harmony. Shaheer looked into those new eyes, a new consciousness, perfect and reaching out for his love. In that instant he knew he would do anything to protect her child, that his love was as vast as the universe yet solid as rock. We were now parents and would always be.

***

Shaheer helped me stand near the glass window once our little girl was cleaned and laid in the incubator and we were allowed to see her. It hurts so bad to see your daughter just in front of your eyes and yet not be able to touch her soft skin.

"Thats our baby girl. We will name her as you wanted to name. Kiara Sheikh." he said into my ears. I smiled back at me. We couldn't have been more happier to have this little sunshine with us.

"You know agreeing upon my name doesn't deal with your forgiveness. You have to work really hard to get that forgiveness." I said and he smiled.

"I know I have a lot to work upon and I will do it. I will do everything to get your forgiveness and try being a better husband. Till then we can be happy and live our moment of having this beautiful princess in our lives."

My life somehow seemed complete with my daughter. Even though my life has some uncertain courses but now I knew I could work it out. I knew I would forgive shaheer someday but just not now. Till then I had decide to act maturely and have our time of being new parents because three of us deserved a family time. The feeling of being a mother sunk in and it gave me tremendous strength. My soft hearted ness for shaheer actually came only after Kiara was born an di realised she deserved to have a father. Earlier on, I never thought I would ever forgive him. It's only because of this bundle of joy, me and shaheer will be starting a new life.

***

I hope you guys liked reading this book as much as I loved writing this one.

P. S. - Bonus chapter may be come. Still I cannot guarantee though.

P. S. S - follow me on Instagram @_fairytale_believer_ to get updates and spoilers of my other books.