Chapter One Hundred Forty One: The Discharge Day Surprise
The morning of the discharge, the hospital room was chaos.
Three bassinets. Three babies. Alexander, Aurora, and Rohan, all ready to go home. Alexander was dressed in a tiny blue onesie. Aurora in pink. Rohan in yellow. They were all perfect.
Jay sat on the edge of her bed, Keifer packing her bag. Shreya sat in her own bed, Mithun beside her, Rohan in her arms.
Akshi was in charge of organization. "OKAY! We have three car seats! Three babies! Three parents! Well, four parents, technically, but Shreya and Mithun are one unit, Jay and Keifer are another, so—"
Chethan grabbed her. "Babe, breathe."
"I'M BREATHING! I'M ALSO PLANNING!"
Percy ran in circles. "BABIES GOING HOME! BABIES GOING HOME!"
Honey grabbed him. "Babe, calm down!"
"I CAN'T! BABIES!"
---
The nurses came to check everyone one last time.
Jay was cleared. Shreya was cleared. The babies were perfect.
The discharge papers were signed. The car seats were loaded. Everything was ready.
Akshi was carrying Alexander. "I'm taking him to the car!"
Chethan grabbed her. "Let his mother carry him."
"I'M HIS AUNT! SAME THING!"
"Not the same thing!"
"EMOTIONALLY THE SAME!"
---
Jay laughed. "She can carry him."
Akshi beamed. "SEE!"
She took two steps.
Then her face went pale.
"Akshi?"
She swayed.
"AKSHI!"
She collapsed.
---
Chethan caught her before she hit the ground.
"AKSHI!"
The room exploded.
Percy screamed. Honey grabbed him.
Jay rushed forward, Alexander safely with Keifer. Shreya handed Rohan to Mithun, trying to get up.
C.N. was there in seconds. "Move back. Give her space."
He knelt beside her. Took her pulse. Checked her breathing.
"She's breathing. Pulse is weak but steady." He looked up. "Has she eaten today?"
Chethan's face was white. "She had coffee. That's it."
"Slept?"
"Not much. She's been too excited about the babies coming home."
C.N. nodded slowly. "Exhaustion. Dehydration. Her body just shut down."
"Is she going to be okay?"
He didn't answer immediately. His fingers pressed gently against her wrist, counting. Then he looked at her pale face. At her stomach.
---
"Help me get her to the bed."
Chethan carried her. Laid her on the empty hospital bed.
C.N. sat beside her. Took her hand. Checked her pulse again.
"She needs water. And food. And rest." He paused. "And I need to run some tests."
Chethan's eyes widened. "What kind of tests?"
C.N. looked at him. Then at Akshi's still form.
"She's been exhausted for weeks. Not eating properly. Mood swings. And now fainting." He paused. "I want to check something."
---
He pulled a small kit from his bag.
Chethan grabbed his arm. "What are you doing?"
C.N. met his eyes. "Trust me."
He drew a small amount of blood. Ran a test.
The room was silent.
Everyone watched.
---
C.N. looked at the result.
His face went through several expressions.
Then he smiled.
---
"She's pregnant."
The room went silent.
Chethan stared. "What?"
"About eight weeks. That's why she fainted. Her body is exhausted. She hasn't been eating. She hasn't been sleeping. And now she's growing a baby."
Akshi's eyes fluttered open.
She heard the words.
Her hand went to her stomach.
"A baby?"
"A baby."
---
She looked at Chethan.
He looked at her.
"I'm pregnant," she whispered.
"You're pregnant."
"We're having a baby."
"We're having a baby."
She started crying. He pulled her into his arms.
---
The room erupted.
Percy screamed. "ANOTHER BABY! ANOTHER BABY!"
Honey grabbed him. "Babe, calm down!"
"I CAN'T! BABY SEASON!"
Shreya was crying. "A BABY! AKSHI'S HAVING A BABY!"
Mithun held her, Rohan safe in his arms. "Another cousin."
"So many cousins!"
---
Jay leaned against Keifer, Alexander in his arms, Aurora in hers. "Another one."
"Another one."
"Our family keeps growing."
"The best kind."
She kissed Alexander's forehead. "You're going to have so many cousins."
Alexander yawned.
"Agreed."
---
C.N. stood, making notes. "Eight weeks. You need to start eating properly. Sleeping properly. Prenatal vitamins. Regular checkups."
Chethan nodded. "I'll make sure she does."
"You'll need to monitor her stress levels. The fainting was caused by exhaustion and dehydration."
"I'll take care of her."
C.N. looked at him. "I know you will."
---
Akshi was still crying. Chethan held her.
"I'm pregnant," she kept saying.
"You're pregnant."
"We're having a baby."
"We're having a baby."
He kissed her forehead. "I love you."
"I love you too."
---
Percy was bouncing. "ANOTHER BABY! THIS IS THE BEST DISCHARGE DAY EVER!"
Honey grabbed him. "Babe, let them process!"
"I'M PROCESSING! I'M PROCESSING WITH JOY!"
C.N. made a note. "Akshi. Pregnant. Eight weeks. Due date: Seven months from now. Family chaos probability: 100%."
Rakii photographed Akshi's hand on her belly. "For the album. 'The Hospital Baby Boom Continues.'"
---
The discharge took longer than planned.
Akshi had to eat. Had to drink water. Had to be checked again.
But eventually—finally—they were all ready.
Three car seats. Three babies. Alexander. Aurora. Rohan.
And Akshi, with a new baby growing inside her.
---
In the parking lot, they paused.
Jay held Aurora. Keifer held Alexander. Shreya held Rohan. Mithun beside her.
Akshi stood with Chethan, her hand on her stomach.
Percy looked at them all. "THREE BABIES! AND ONE ON THE WAY! THIS IS THE BEST FAMILY!"
Honey sighed. "Percy, that's not a toast."
"IT IS NOW!"
"TO THE BEST FAMILY!" everyone echoed.
---
Jay leaned against Keifer.
"Our family."
"The best family."
"Our babies."
"Best babies."
She kissed Aurora's forehead. He kissed Alexander's.
The future was bright.
And their family—
Was growing again.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Forty One