"Hurry up!!! We have no time!!" said a lady.
There was complete chaos in the Rajput palace on that stormy monsoon night. The scream of a woman shook the 700-year-old palace.
"AAAAAA!!"
"Rani-sa!!! Jaage rahiye!!" (Rani-sa!! Stay awake!!) cried the midwife.
There was no light in the room; the only source of brightness were the flickering candles. The wild winds rushed through the chamber, toppling things to the ground.
"Please, save my daughter-in-law and my grandchild!! Please, God!!" prayed the elderly woman desperately.
"Hum..sse a..ur na seh..en ho...ga maa... (I can't bear it anymore, maa!!)" groaned the young woman on the bed. Blood streamed from her body, her eyes flooded with endless tears, her voice breaking with unbearable pain.
"Don't you dare say this!! You have to live, Swarna!! You must live for your child, for us, for Abhiraj!! You need to live!!" her mother-in-law pleaded, holding her hand tightly.
"AAAAAA...bhiraj!!" Swarna screamed again.
Outside the room, a man stood helpless, his heart tearing apart as he heard his wife crying his name, caught between life and death.
"UGH!!!!" he roared, unable to control himself anymore. He forcefully barged into the room. All the ladies gasped in shock—it was forbidden for a man to witness childbirth. But he ignored everyone and rushed straight to his wife's side.
"SWARNA!! Open your eyes I am here!! Your Abhiraj!! Swarna!!" he cried, tears streaming down his face.
The woman smiled faintly. "Abhi... Abhi..."
"Yes, I am listening!!"
"I... I a..mm sorry—"
"Please, Swarna, don't say anything!!" he cut her off, voice breaking.
"I am the one who should be blamed..." he whispered, holding her hand tightly.
Swarna shook her head weakly.
"Kuwarsa..." the midwife called softly.
Abhiraj looked at her, eyes blazing. The midwife hesitated, then said, "We... we can't save her—"
"HOW DARE YOU!!" Abhiraj thundered, making everyone flinch.
"We have no time!! If we act now, we may save the baby... bu-but for that we would have to—"
"SHUT UP!!!" he screamed again, his fury shaking the room.
"A..abhi..." Swarna whispered.
"Yes, Swarna!! I am here with you!!"
"I... I know... I ca..n't liv..e anymo..re... Pl..ea..se... let... our chi..ld... come in..to this wo..rld," she said weakly.
"No, Swarna, no!!"
"Take care o..f her... gi..ve her loo..ve..."
"No, Swarna, please!!"
"A..nd get marr—"
"Shhh!!" he hushed her desperately.
"Pl..ease... let m..e go... I am ti..red..."
Her final words lingered as she looked up at the sky. A faint smile touched her lips, and then... silence.
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