Avni sat in a corner of her room at Neela's place. Her phone buzzed bringing her out of thoughts. "Neela Ma?" "Neil is here to see you. I wont let him in if you don't wish to see him." Said Neela on the other end. Avni sighed. "Let him in." There's nothing tougher than this, that can happen. Neil have shattered her heart into pieces. No other pain or circumstance can worsen her situation. Avni took a few breaths as the footsteps neared, but her heart sank with the first glimpse of Neil, who were tired of crying perhaps. She couldn't hold back herself, but ran into his arms and hugged him tightly! Neil hugged her back, which wasn't as tight with her tummy in between. "Avni I'm so sorry. I know I don't even have the right to apologize but... please. I overreacted. I.. I don't know what happened to me. I just felt like the whole world has collapsed, but failed to understand the same feeling, or much more worse grief of you.. I'm sorry." Neil kept on apologizing, hugging and kissing Avni. "Shh.. you are here, that's all I need.., I'm so tired.."
Neil pulled back from the hug and carried Avni to bed. He lay down next to her and brought her into his arms. Neil then lifted up the cloth of Avni and  caressed her tummy. "I just talked to dr.Rita, She've advised to get admitted tomorrow." Avni shook her head, crying. "Avni.. look at me.." Neil cupped her face. "I'm here with you. We have to be strong, for our baby. And you have to come out fit and fine for us, love.." both were crying now. They didn't sleep that night. It was spent in supporting and convincing each other. Promising to fight till the last breath. Avni finally fell asleep due to exhaustion. Neil trailed kisses on her face and on her tummy, lingering his lips there. "Daddy will be with you always. Please be brave and fight along, my darling. I love you so much..." Neil whispered.

Avni was admitted by the time her parents reached india. The sight of the breakdown of the mother and daughter broke down Everyone in the room. Neil hugged Avni and kissed her on the lips passionately. "I love you.." was the last thing Avni heard when She was taken to the theater.

Neil's heart almost stopped when the door opened. "We're taking the baby to NICU and the mother to ICU. She's fine, but under observation. For now we highly restrict anyone to meet her. She needs rest and get stable, so that we could start her chemo treatments as soon as possible." Doctor petted on Neil's shoulder. He tried but couldn't have a glimpse of his son who was rushed away.
Neil finally got to enter the NICU in the midnight. He followed the nurse who guided him through a raw of other babies who were under observations, to a cabin. There he was! A tiny little bub, almost the size of half of his forearm. So tiny, so delicate. Neil couldn't help but bursted into tears. His fatherly instincts were out into the world. "He's healthy Mr.Khanna. We've done the tests and there's no presence of cancerous cell in his body. Congratulations! He's a fighter. Let us all pray that he gets through fine." Said the doctor who came in for observation. Neil nodded, holding the tiniest little fingers. He clicked a photo of the baby, as no one else was allowed inside.
Avni was kept in ICU for another three days, before starting the chemotherapy. It took over 2 months for the two cycles to complete. There were days that Avni wanted to give up. Days that she spent without even knowing about anything in her surrounding. Doctors did not allow anyone inside because of the fear of her caesarean wound getting infected and might slowdown the effect of the chemo. Avni even prohibited Neil and others to see her. She coped up with all of the side effects, with the courage of a women, a wife and now.. a mother.
About Neil?... he had the toughest days of his entire existence! He could see across the glass barrier, What Avni was going through. How much in need of a physical and mental support she was. How courageously she fought for them. For Neil, he had no idea how the day and night revolves. His whole day will be spent near the glass door, or in the NICU. He stays up all night, reading to his tiny little one. It was all about courageous characters, who fought and got through their battles. Little one now opens his eyes, with tiny little movements. Neil could stay there all day watching him. Each member of the family would take turns to see him. Pouring their love and praying for him to move out as soon as possible.

Exactly after 3 whole months, Neil got to meet Avni. She was lying down to a side of the bed. Her body was so weak, losing all the weight she had gain from pregnancy. Her long hair was cut to a shoulder length. Her skin was so pale, so white that he could almost see the nerves underneath. "Hey.." He mumbled, taking the seat next to her. Avni shot her eyes open. She tried to smile but bursted into tears. Neil could not hold himself either. He sat on the edge of the bed and brought her into his arms. He let her vent out all the sorrows in her heart, weeping himself. They stayed in the posture for so long Neil finally got a grip on himself. "Shh.. enough now. You've cried enough." He moved slightly out from the embrace to look at Avni's face, reading the questionable look. "He's fine.. the reports are negative." Neil caressed on her face. He took her hand and kissing on her cold skin. "Thank you so much.. for giving me the best gift.. thank you, for fighting for us.. you've been so brave, love.. so brave.." Neil kept on repeating the words, hugging her more. "And now.. there's no grief. We can go home once your last test is done.. we can go back to our normal life. Just.. fight a bit more, will you? Until you are back in good health.." Avni nodded and Neil kissed on her eyes. Later Avni was shifted out of ICU, to a suit. Neil made sure she does not have any difficulty in the place. Everyone, including both families and friends came to see Avni, finally congratulating the both to parenthood. Avni was exhausted by the end of the day. Neil was glad her mood was lightened up. His heart was at ease when he saw her smile and talk.
After dinner, Neil took Avni to the NICU. Avni hugged his waist as a support to walk, she was still weak. Neil took his hand from her eyes, when they reached the cabin. Avni's eyes welled up, to see the little soul in the glass crib. She slowly sat down on the seat, taking a closer look. He's hers. Her little love, not so tiny anymore. Avni touched the glass with a trembling hand, and caressed on it. She then looked at Neil, who was right next to her, tears in his eyes. "He's just like you.." Avni smiled through her tears. "Oh yes! Already turning into an ACP you know. He stays up all night and guards this entire unit!" Neil said in a dramatic way. Avni laughed at his joke. "I cant wait to take him home, let's just pray your reports comes out well." Said Neil. A nurse then came into the room and let Avni hold the baby. She hugged him so close to her, as if she wanted to hide him in her chest, away from all the pain and evil eyes. Neil brought both of them into his arms. "Marshal Neil Khanna" Said Avni, looking into Neil's eyes. "Yeap, our little Marshal.." Neil kissed on the little one's forehead. ♥️