SHEIKH'S SURPRISE BABY: A Sheikh Romance (10 page)

After the doctor’s appointment with the oby/gyn, the two were walking through Central Park, hand in hand, and Ravi was excited. “I can’t believe you still don’t want to know if we are having a girl or a boy.”

“Something about the surprise just works for me. Sorry it’s bugging you.” The topic was talked about a lot. Once he had something on his mind, it didn’t leave and he pursued it to the fullest to get the conclusion he wanted.

“Maybe I can find out and you can close your eyes.” He looked hopeful.

“There is no way you’d be able to keep that a secret.”

“Well, how about a deal?”

“A deal. Go on.” Sasha looked at him, expecting something silly, because he was over the top with that type of excitement. All business and structured with everyone but her—with her, he was so relaxed and carefree. She loved all sides of him, but there alone time was so special.

“I will not ask about finding out again if you finally agree to move in with me.”

He was so predictable, and in this case, that was great.

“Okay. I’ll do it.”

He blinked. Then blinked again. His mouth was open and no words came out.

“You okay?”

“Did you just finally agree to move in with me?”

“Yes.” Sasha nodded her head and was shocked to see the tears streaming down her cheeks as she said that out loud. It felt so good, better than she would have ever guessed it would.

“You’ve made me so happy.” He went to hug her, going off to the side to avoid her growing belly. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

“I guess we’d better contact your realtor to list my place. Might as well get that started.”

“Not much to move, either.” Ravi gave a wicked, half grin.

“Don’t think I didn’t notice you slowly taking all my things over there. I just chose to let you.”

“Because you wanted me to.”

She laughed, mostly because it was true. “I better get my game back.”

Then Ravi’s phone rang and he looked down at his clip. “It’s Father.”

“You going to get it?”

“I should.” His father rarely called him lately, but when he did, Ravi always tried to take it. He wanted his father in his life, but he couldn’t sacrifice everything else to make that happen.

“I’m going to use the restroom. Have fun.” She leaned and kissed his cheek and waddled over to the bathrooms nearby. She heard Ravi greet his father. For his sake, she hoped his father would eventually relax and not be so stubborn, but only he could decide to do that.

In the bathroom, she looked down and patted her belly, “Only two months left. Oh my. They say this is when I’ll really get big.”

Another woman walked in and looked at her, smiling suspiciously. Sasha knew that if she was anyone other than a pregnant woman that the lady would have likely thought she was crazy. Well, she was. Crazy excited and crazy in love.

***

Two months later…

Her hair was plastered on her face and she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror in the corner and thought she looked like a ghost—so pale and pasty that she startled herself, even.

Ravi was holding her hand and talking gently. “You’re almost there, beautiful. Keep going.”

“Push,” the doctor ordered. “Harder.”

“I am.” Her teeth were gritted and if she wasn’t having such a painful contraction, Sasha would have lashed out at him more, but she had to save her strength. That stubborn baby had resisted entering this world for twelve hours now. Apparently she and Ravi had made its home in her womb a bit too cozy.

“You’re doing good. You want some ice? You want some water?”

“I want this baby to come out. Ouch!” She felt like her voice was so loud and she should be quieter, but what the heck, you only gave birth once—that was what she’d decided when she felt the first real labor pain. Never again. One perfect child was enough for her.

“One more. The head’s crowning. We’re almost there.” The doctor sounded robotic to her. He’d probably helped to deliver hundreds of babies before—he sure had the easy part of the job.

Sasha worked harder than she’d ever worked in her life and then it was all over. The doctor was saying, “It’s a boy.” Then before she could do anything else, a naked and slimy newborn baby was on her stomach, the nurse cutting the umbilical cord.

“Be more gentle,” Ravi scolded the doctor.

“That was gentle.”

“Not gentle enough.” He frowned, but then it instantly changed when he looked down at the little baby that was right there.

“He’s beautiful,” Sasha said, blinking her eyes and trying to fight back the tears. Perfect.

“Do you have a name picked out?” the nurse asked.

“Corbin Ravi Kapoor,” Sasha said. She looked at Ravi, “If that’s okay.”

“Your father’s name and my name. It’s perfect…but only if he can be his own man.”

Sasha smiled. She found it endearing that Ravi continued to express that so adamantly, like she’d ever doubted he would offer that opportunity.

“Look at all that hair you have, Corbin.” Ravi put his finger down and touched the newborn’s cheek and then looked at Sasha. “You did it. You’re a mom.”

“And you’re a dad.”

“I have to take him for his check-up and to clean him up. We’ll be back in a little bit,” the nurse said, trying to grab Corbin.

“I’m going to follow along, just to make sure everything goes okay,” Ravi said.

“Do you want to carry the baby or should we put little Corbin in the bassinette and wheel him down?”

“Carry? Oh, I better not yet. He’s so little. I don’t want to hurt him.”

“He’s a sturdy eight pounds, eight ounces.” The nurse smiled a knowing smile—this was a common response for new parents.

Sasha laughed at Ravi as he followed the nurse and Corbin out of the room, but was a bit shocked at how she was suddenly alone, just her and her thoughts. She was now a mom—officially. All the fears, expectations, joys, and hesitations of the thought hit her at once. She stared up and waited for everyone to return.

A half hour later, Ravi walked into the room with their son, a smile on his face and a stride that was cautious, and he walked over to Sasha. “He’s perfect. Of course. He’s just like you.”

He handed the baby over and Sasha looked down at him, her eyes springing to life with tears of happiness. Everything felt perfect, and in sync.

“He looks like you, Ravi.”

“He does?”

She nodded her head.

“Why isn’t he opening his eyes?”

“They don’t do that right away.”

“But I want him to see us; his family.”

“Family. I like the sound of that, Ravi.”

Ravi sat down on the edge of the bed and leaned over, kissing Sasha’s forehead lovingly and then pulling out his cell phone. “Our first family picture.”

“Oh my gosh, I’m a mess.”

“Nonsense, you’ve never been more beautiful.”

Ravi took the picture and then showed Sasha.

Neither said a word; they just took in the joy, appreciating it for what it was.

Then Ravi was sending a message. He looked at Sasha, sensing her watching him, and said, “To my father. I want him to see. Maybe he’ll come around.”

“I hope so, too.” Sasha just stared at Corbin, so perfect with his ten fingers and ten toes. She put his tiny fingertip to her lips and kissed it softly.

“I love you little, Corbin.” Sasha looked at Ravi and saw a frown. “What is it?”

“Am I going to have to compete with the baby for your kisses now?”

“I think I have enough to go around. I have to take care of my little man, and my not-so-little man.”

Corbin let out a small squawk and the two looked down, watching his little nose wrinkle up and his face turn red.

“Only a baby can look cute doing that,” Ravi said.

“And this baby is the cutest one in the whole world. I’m not just saying that because he’s mine, either.”

“Ours—he’s ours.”

“Yes, ours.”

***

It was an exciting day, the grand opening party of S & M Technologies, formerly known as Mason Technologies. They had a new state of the art facility with a small daycare for employees who had children, a new government contract to celebrate, and a new line of consumer drones, lead by Ravi, who was in charge of that program. Everything was perfect.

Ravi had just put Corbin into his stroller and they were making their way into the building, Sasha by his side. They were talking and laughing, having arrived early enough that the media and others wouldn’t be there yet. They were ready for a toast to the new joint venture.

“Look, someone’s standing up by the door,” Sasha said. “A reporter must have gotten confused and is here early.”

Ravi looked up. “Take this.” He pointed to the stroller and then walked away.

Sasha knelt down by Corbin quickly and watched her fiancé walk rapidly, his hands in his pocket and his body tense. He moved faster and faster. What’s going on, she wondered.

She got up and started toward the same destination with the stroller. Her eyes were on Ravi the entire time, curious and intrigued. Then she saw him hug him and a light dawned on her. Could it be?

Ravi turned around and motioned her over. She quickened her pace now and with every step closer she got, she saw a man who looked like what Ravi may look when he got older, only a more serious version.

“Father, this is Sasha,” Ravi said, smiling brightly.

Sasha extended her hand. “Hi, it’s nice to finally meet you. Really nice.”

“And you, it’s nice to meet you, too. I fear I must start our acquaintance with an apology. A long overdue one. Please forgive me for the tough time I’ve given my son and you.”

“It’s okay. There was a lot going on, and we’re doing wonderful, all of us.”

Sasha looked over and Ravi was carefully getting Corbin out of the stroller. He picked him up and walked over to his father. “Father, this is your grandson, Corbin Ravi Kapoor.”

“Oh.” His father said nothing else and a tear trickled down his cheek. “Welcome to the family, Corbin. You look just like your father.”

Little Corbin blinked and showed the bright blue eyes he’d also gotten. “Oh my, but those eyes—”

“Those eyes are just like his mother’s,” Ravi said.

“Sheikh Kapoor, thank you for showing up. It means a lot to all of us. Would you like to come inside and get a private tour of S & M Technologies.”

“Please, you may call me Aarov. We are family now.”

“I like that, Aarov.”

Sasha looked to Corbin. “Corbin, this is your grandpa.” Then she looked back to him. “Would you like to hold him, Aarov?”

He nodded yes and Ravi began to break into a tutorial on how to hold Corbin, which made Sasha laugh and his father scowl. “I know how to hold a baby, Ravi. Don’t you think I ever held you? I know the world moves at a fast pace now, but surely that hasn’t changed.”

Ravi froze, but then he burst out into laughter. “Point well taken.”

Aarov looked at Sasha. “You’ve done good for my son, I can see. He’s never submitted to anything that easily before.”

“Well, thank you. I can assure you, though, he’s done just as much for me.”

Sasha looked at Ravi and leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Now, let’s go get this next phase of our future going.”

And they all walked in, a family that was growing and learning and gaining better understanding with each passing day. And at the heart of it were two people who were meant for each other from the very start. From all their perspectives, that was a beautiful thing.

THE END

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