Chapter One Hundred Forty: The Hospital Baby Boom
The morning after the twins were born, the hospital room was chaos.
Not the bad kind. The good kind. The kind where family crowded in to see the new babies, where Akshi refused to give Alexander back, where Percy tried to hold both twins at once and Honey had to catch Aurora before she fell.
Jay was exhausted but glowing. Keifer hadn't left her side. Alexander slept in the bassinet, Aurora beside him, both perfect.
Shreya sat in the corner, watching. Her own belly was huge now—eight months pregnant, round and full. She put her hand on it, feeling the baby kick.
"Soon," she whispered. "Soon."
---
The morning had started quietly.
Shreya woke up in the hospital room—she'd stayed overnight with Jay, refusing to leave. Mithun had stayed too, curled in a chair, watching her sleep.
She stretched. Felt fine.
Then she stood.
And her water broke.
---
She froze.
"Mithun."
He was awake instantly. "What?"
"My water just broke."
---
The room exploded.
Mithun was on his feet. "SHREYA!"
Jay sat up. "WHAT?"
Shreya pointed at the floor. "My water broke!"
Akshi screamed. "THE BABY IS COMING!"
Chethan grabbed her. "We're in a HOSPITAL! This is the BEST PLACE FOR THIS!"
Percy ran in circles. "ANOTHER BABY! ANOTHER BABY!"
Honey grabbed him. "Babe, calm down!"
"I CAN'T! BABY SEASON!"
---
Mithun scooped Shreya up. "We need a doctor! NOW!"
Jay pressed the call button. "MY SISTER IS IN LABOR!"
The nurse appeared. Saw Shreya. Smiled. "Ah. Another one."
"ANOTHER ONE!" Percy screamed.
"Follow me."
---
Shreya was wheeled to the delivery room. Mithun followed, refusing to let go of her hand.
"I'm here," he said. "I'm not leaving."
"You better not."
"I'm not."
She squeezed his hand. "I love you."
"I love you too. Now breathe."
"I AM BREATHING!"
"You're crushing my hand!"
"I'M HAVING A BABY! YOU'LL SURVIVE!"
---
The waiting room filled again.
Akshi paced. Chethan watched her. Shreya's room was right next to Jay's. The family didn't have to move far.
Jay sat up in bed, Alexander in her arms, Aurora beside her. "She's having her baby."
Keifer kissed her forehead. "She is."
"Our babies will be cousins. Same age."
"The best cousins."
She leaned into him. "The hospital should give us a discount."
"For what?"
"For the family wing."
---
Percy paced. "HOW LONG DOES THIS TAKE?"
Honey pulled him to a seat. "Babies take time."
"I KNOW! BUT I'M IMPATIENT!"
"Babies don't care."
"BABIES ARE RUDE!"
---
C.N. made notes. "Second birth in 24 hours. Statistical probability: Low. Family chaos probability: Maximum."
Rakii photographed him taking notes. "For the album. 'The Day C.N. Documented Everything.'"
"Everything is worth documenting."
"This is true."
---
Aries and Ella arrived with their twins. Both babies were awake, watching the chaos with curious eyes.
Ella sat carefully. "Another one."
Aries kissed her forehead. "The family is growing fast."
"Alexander and Aurora. Now Shreya's baby."
"Our babies have so many cousins."
"The best cousins."
---
Shreya was in labor. Mithun was beside her. She was gripping his hand, breathing through contractions.
"You're doing great," he said.
"I'M DOING TERRIBLE!"
"You're doing amazing."
"I HATE YOU!"
"I know."
"I LOVE YOU!"
"I know."
"DON'T LEAVE!"
"Never."
---
Hours passed.
The waiting room was quiet. Tense. Waiting.
Then—a cry.
A baby's cry.
Everyone stood.
---
The nurse appeared, smiling. "Congratulations. You have a healthy baby boy."
Percy screamed. "A BOY!"
Honey grabbed him. "Babe, calm down!"
"I CAN'T! BABY!"
Akshi grabbed Chethan. "A BOY! SHREYA HAD A BOY!"
Chethan held her. "I know! I know!"
Jay cried. Keifer held her.
"A boy," she whispered.
"A boy."
"Our babies have another cousin."
"The best cousins."
---
They were allowed in, one by one.
Shreya was exhausted but glowing. Mithun held a tiny bundle. A baby boy. Dark hair. His father's calm. His mother's fire.
Percy was first in. "WHAT'S HIS NAME?"
Shreya looked at her son. "Rohan."
Mithun kissed her forehead. "Rohan."
"Rohan," Shreya repeated. "My little one."
---
Percy cried. "ROHAN! THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NAME!"
Honey pulled him back. "Let them breathe."
"I CAN'T! BABY!"
Akshi came next. "ROHAN! I'M AN AUNT AGAIN!"
Chethan held her back. "Let them hold the baby."
"I'M HOLDING THE BABY IN MY HEART!"
---
Jay walked in slowly, Keifer beside her. She looked at Rohan. "He's perfect."
Shreya smiled. "He is."
"Alexander and Aurora have another cousin."
"They're going to be best friends."
"The best friends."
---
Mithun held Rohan. "Hi, baby. Welcome to the family. You have cousins. You have aunts. You have uncles. You have a grandmother who's going to spoil you. You have a father who's going to love you forever."
Rohan opened his eyes. Looked at his father.
Mithun cried.
Shreya cried.
Jay cried.
Keifer held them all.
---
The waiting room was chaos.
Percy holding Rohan. Akshi trying to hold him at the same time. Honey refereeing. C.N. taking notes. Rakii photographing everything.
Aries and Ella with their twins. Jay and Keifer with Alexander and Aurora. Shreya and Mithun with Rohan.
Three sets of babies. One family.
Kuya Angelo watched it all. Ion beside him. He almost smiled. "Three."
Ion squeezed his hand. "The family is growing."
---
That night, the hospital room was full.
Three bassinets. Three babies. Alexander. Aurora. Rohan.
Jay lay in her bed, Alexander beside her, Aurora on her chest.
Shreya lay in hers, Rohan in her arms.
Keifer sat between them. Mithun sat beside Shreya.
The room was quiet. Peaceful. Perfect.
---
Jay looked at Shreya. "We did it."
Shreya smiled. "We did it."
"Our babies."
"Best friends."
"Chaos together."
"Beautiful chaos together."
---
Keifer kissed Jay's forehead. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Mithun kissed Shreya's cheek. "I love you."
"I love you too."
---
Alexander yawned. Aurora stirred. Rohan slept on.
Three babies.
One family.
Forever.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Forty