02. Motherhood

A Few Months Later...

Time waits for no one; it just keeps passing by. Months had gone by. Tanya and Mazid's wedding seemed to have breathed new life into the walls of the house. Saad, Zain, and Aliza-everyone was busy in their peaceful lives. Happiness was pouring into their courtyard double-fold, but wherever happiness turns, somewhere else a storm is also brewing.

Present Time

The sky looked different today. Dark clouds had engulfed the city. Thunder roared as if someone were beating a drum in the sky, and alongside it began the heavy rain, trapping the city's lights inside homes. The streets had now turned into rivers.

Sara stood near her lab's window. The white coat was on her shoulders, and both hands were stuffed in pockets. She was watching the falling drops, but her focus wasn't on the rain-it was on the hands of the clock. She had to pick Saad from school, but the relentless rain had blocked the way.

"Has this rain sworn not to stop today?" she sighed.

Mahad was also stuck in the office with urgent meetings and file work. Sara felt a little anger and worry. She checked her phone, but the network seemed completely gone.

Neha's: Flat

Elsewhere, Neha was completely alone in her flat. Only the faint light from her laptop screen lit the room. Nihal had insisted she come to his place, but Neha refused. Nihal was also out of the country these days.

On the screen, old photos of Ishan and Rayyan were playing. She smiled at them, but moments later, sadness filled her eyes. There was a silence in the room that echoed in her ears.

Ting-Tong!

Suddenly, the doorbell shattered the silence like glass. Neha jumped slightly. "Who could it be in this rain?"

She got up slowly. Each step toward the door felt heavy. Her heartbeat raced. Reaching the door, she placed her hand on the handle and slowly opened it.

Seeing the scene outside, the ground seemed to vanish beneath Neha's feet. Her face went pale, and her eyes widened in shock. Standing before her was the person she had least expected...

At the door was Nihal's ex-wife-anger and a venomous smile on her face. She knew Nihal wasn't home and had come to take advantage of it.

Seeing her, Neha's anger surged. "How dare you come here?" Neha's voice was full of hatred.

The woman stepped forward confidently and sneered sarcastically into the house, "I must praise your courage, Neha. How did you trap a married, wealthy man with two kids with your charms? Amazing!"

Neha's patience snapped. She retaliated, "Look into your own deeds, despicable woman! You were the one who threatened your innocent child and had an affair with your husband's employee. Remember your vile acts before pointing fingers at me!"

The woman's face turned red with anger. Grinding her teeth, she said, "I may not know how to raise a child... but you love children so much, right? So much that you have them for money..."

Snap! Before the woman could finish, Neha waved her hand, but the woman quickly grabbed her wrist and pushed her hard. Neha fell to the ground, letting out a painful scream. The woman left with hatred in her eyes, leaving Neha in pain and loneliness.

Neha struggled forward and shakily picked up her phone to call her most trusted friend, Jyoti. Jyoti, who was always there for her, ran through the rain to reach her.

"Neha! Neha, are you okay?" Jyoti helped her up. Seeing Neha's state, she panicked. "Come on, we are going to the hospital now!"

Sara was still standing in her lab, watching the scene outside, when her phone rang.

"Hello?" she answered anxiously.

"Hello Dr. Sara, Neha is in the hospital. Please come immediately!"

Without wasting a moment, she rushed out. Her friend Zoya was already at the hospital, managing the arrangements.

Sara got into the car and shakily called Mahad. As soon as he picked up, she said without preamble:

"Hello Mahad, I am going to the hospital. Please leave all your urgent work and go pick Saad from school immediately!"

She hung up without waiting for his reply and drove toward the hospital, her heart gripped by an unknown fear.

Mahad stared at the phone screen; Sara's call had been cut. He tried calling back, but Sara didn't answer. A strange unease stirred in his heart. The project Sara had worked on day and night was now being tested in the most personal way. The tiny life about to enter this world was the result of her efforts.

Restless, Mahad called Zoya. Zoya picked up immediately and in a trembling voice explained everything-Neha's condition and the incident. He didn't know whether to be angry or sad. He decided to pick up Saad from school first, then head straight to the hospital.

At the school gate, the car stopped abruptly. The rain was still pouring heavily. Mahad looked outside the windshield; children were running around, drenched. In a corner stood Saad.

Mahad stepped out with an umbrella and hurried to Saad. He lifted his son into his arms to save him from the wet ground. He expected Saad to be muddy like the other children, but to his surprise, Saad's uniform was spotless.

After seating him in the car, Mahad controlled his anger slightly and asked with a faint smile, "I thought you would be drenched and in bad shape, but you are perfectly clean?"

Saad seriously crossed his arms over his chest and said, "Papa, if I got wet, my dress would have been ruined, right? Now I've learned. In the future, I will manage your huge business empire, so I can't behave like a child."

Mahad's eyes widened. He couldn't tell whether to feel happy or worried. His little son was speaking so maturely. Was this wisdom, or was he slowly becoming an arrogant man under the wealth of the Shah family?

Upon reaching home, the atmosphere was even more serious. Arsh and Nadia, who had gone home for a few days, had returned. The whole family seemed to be waiting for some news.

As Mahad stepped in, Nazneen and Tanya called from the kitchen. Nazneen smiled, "Mahad, you're back? Sit, eat peacefully first, then go somewhere."

Mahad, boiling inside, couldn't remain silent. In a firm and heavy tone, he replied, "No, I'm not eating!"

Tanya and Nazneen froze while cleaning utensils. Samad, standing in the distance, looked surprised. Mahad had never shown this side before. Samad slowly approached and lovingly asked, "What's the matter? Why are you so heated? The weather outside is cold, why are you getting so hot?"

Mahad looked at Samad; worry and anger were clear in his eyes. He simply said, "I'm going to the hospital."

Silence fell in the house. Hearing the word "hospital," everyone's ears perked up. They understood this was no ordinary matter. Samad immediately gestured to Nazneen, "We're coming with you." Then he turned to Tanya, "Tanya, stay home and take care of the kids. We'll see what happened."

Mahad walked briskly into the hospital corridor, looking around. His eyes fell on Sara, who was watching him. She glanced at him and silently walked past.

The hospital atmosphere was heavy. Thunder crashed outside, and the red light above the operation theater made everyone's heart race.

Neha's pulse was dropping. The woman's push had caused internal injuries.

"Doctor! The patient's blood pressure is dropping!" the nurse exclaimed, panicked.

At that moment, a tiny cry echoed throughout the OT. A beautiful little angel had entered the world. But there was no time to celebrate. The baby's skin was turning blue. After crying, she suddenly fell silent.

The Golden Entry

Outside the corridor, Mahad, Samad, and Nazneen had arrived. All eyes were on the OT door. Zoya emerged, sweat on her face, fear in her eyes.

"Mahad! Neha needs blood, but more than that... this little baby needs a blood transfusion. Her hemoglobin is dangerously low. She won't survive if she doesn't get O-Negative blood in the next 30 minutes!"

The hospital erupted into chaos. The blood bank was out of stock. Donors couldn't come due to the rain. Everyone was helpless.

Samad immediately started calling his contacts, but every response was the same-'roads are blocked.' Nazneen sat in the chair, engrossed in prayer. Everyone was helpless for the tiny life that had just entered this world, while death was knocking at the door.

Sara decided to make one last attempt. She announced over the hospital intercom that any staff member or attendant with O-Negative blood should immediately report to OT-1.

Mahad couldn't stay still. He ran to Sara, saying, "I'll arrange the blood." Sara watched him silently.

A little later, Mahad returned to the hospital, drenched from the rain, having arranged the blood.

Amid this chaos, Zoya explained everything to Sara-that her daughter had been born sick, and the project she had worked so hard on and invested money in had failed.

"Sara, your daughter looks normal, everything is normal and very beautiful, but she is ill from inside," Zoya said with a heavy heart.

Hearing this, the ground seemed to slip from under Sara's feet.

A little later...

The OT door opened. This time, there was no rush. Zoya came out holding the tiny angel, who was now sleeping peacefully. Her pink cheeks and tiny nose made her look like a fairy on earth.

"Congratulations, Mahad," Zoya said, bringing the baby closer. "Your daughter is perfectly fine. She didn't let her father's efforts go in vain." She glanced at Sara, who had struggled to hold back her tears.

As Mahad held the baby in his arms, it was as if centuries of exhaustion and anger had washed away with the rainwater. He looked at the baby as if only they existed in the world. A strange glow was on her tiny face. Nazneen and Samad came close, eyes wet but faces peaceful. They were so lost in her innocence that they forgot about time.

But then Sara stepped forward and took the baby from Mahad's arms. "She needs a checkup and to meet Neha," she said softly, heading toward the ward room.

Outside the ward, Sara's steps faltered. She wanted to gaze at her daughter a little longer. Zoya came behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder, giving her courage. Sara took a deep breath and entered, placing the baby into Neha's arms.

As Neha touched the baby, all the "money and greed" inside her melted away. She cried-these tears were mourning her old reckless life. She had made a deal for money, but today she realized that a mother's love is priceless. She felt she had changed today, but the pain was that the baby would now be taken from her. Her heart was breaking.

Then Sara's voice echoed in the room, "Neha... now you can marry Nihal. You are free from all responsibilities that bound you. You are free."

Hearing this, Neha pondered. Freedom? The real imprisonment for her was not marrying Nihal. She would have been richer if this baby had stayed with her forever.

A few days passed. The baby had arrived. Everyone gathered around her. Zain had become like her guardian. He sat near her, talking.

Sara's plan to keep her away from the family now seemed impossible.

"Look, don't be stubborn like Nadia. Be my good sister. I'll bring you so many toys that your room will be full," Zain said, making everyone smile. He wouldn't let anyone touch the baby. "No-no, stay away, you might get an infection!"

Meanwhile, Arsh wondered, "Where did she come from? There was no news of her." His little mind worked hard.

In another corner, Saad sat alone, upset. Seeing all this made him jealous. Mazid came to him teasing, "Why the party? Sitting alone? Looks like no one cares about you now."

Saad pouted, "No... since she came, everyone is crazy about her."

Mazid laughed, "Then understand, son, now I won't pay attention to you either, because I'm going to the baby!" And he walked away laughing.

Mahad sat a little away, eyes fixed on his daughter. Suddenly, he remembered the day his sister Suhana had made a promise to him.

Flashback

"Brother, I know you don't like big families," Suhana said, looking into his eyes, "but I wanted a niece! So I'm telling you in advance, if you have a daughter, name her 'SAHAR'."

Flashback End

Mahad was about to speak when a deep, dignified voice echoed-

"Sahar."

It was Samad. Everyone fell silent. They knew this name wasn't just a name but Suhana's last wish. A sparkle appeared in Mahad's eyes.

Elsewhere, Nihal had taken Neha home. She sat on the bed like a living corpse. Nihal knew Neha's mistakes had brought her here, but he couldn't bear to see her broken. He brought her food.

"Neha, eat... sorry I wasn't there for you in your difficult time," Nihal said gently.

Neha looked at him with empty eyes, saying, "It feels so strange, Nihal..."

Nihal anxiously asked, "Feels? What hurts?"

Neha tried to hold back her sobs but failed. She cried, "It feels as if someone has taken my heart out of my chest..."

-to be Continued