13-04-2026, 12:18 AM
Chapter 93: The Eve of Delivery
Anandhi went for her 8th-month pregnancy check-up accompanied by Rahul. The doctor examined her thoroughly and finally gave a tentative delivery date — it could happen anytime between 20 to 30 days from now. She advised extra caution: complete bed rest, no stress, and immediate hospital visit at the first sign of labour.
Rahul sat beside her, holding her hand, but his mind was elsewhere. He could barely concentrate on his long-term plans. Taking care of Anandhi had become his utmost priority. He made sure she ate on time, helped her walk slowly in the evenings, and stayed close even when she rested.
Meanwhile, Dr. Madhavan had aggressively pushed Suriya toward the franchise model. Suriya, ever the fighter, took it up as a challenge. He worked day and night — scouting franchise partners, finalising agreements, and coordinating with suppliers. He barely slept, determined to prove himself.
That was when Rahul made a careless flaw.
In one hurried phone call with a supplier, he had casually instructed the man to deliver “substandard but cost-effective” products for the new franchises, wanting to create future problems under Suriya’s name. He forgot to follow up or correct the message. The mix-up happened.
Soon, issues started popping up. The three franchise units that had just begun operations reported receiving substandard supplements and equipment. Customers complained about poor quality. Negative feedback began spreading.
Suriya was clueless about the root cause. When he mentioned the problem to Madhavan, the doctor simply shrugged and said, “That’s your section. Handle it.”
Suriya felt a strange doubt creeping in. Why was Madhavan suddenly so indifferent?
He called Rahul immediately.
Rahul, who was at home with Anandhi, answered calmly. “Doctor gave the delivery date. I cannot move an inch right now. Thanks to my experience in the field, I figured out the supplier’s fault and stopped the last-minute consignment. Don’t worry, I’ll guide you remotely.”
Suriya thanked him, but the uneasy feeling lingered.
Anandhi, who had been overhearing Rahul’s phone conversations over the past few days, realised Suriya was in serious trouble. Her heart ached for him. After days of internal conflict, she finally decided to open up to Rahul.
One evening, while he was helping her sit comfortably on the bed, she spoke softly.
“Rahul… Suriya should know the exact delivery date. You should inform him properly.”
Rahul’s face showed a flash of uneasiness. He quickly masked it.
“Suriya is already in trouble with the franchises. We should not bother him right now. He is single-handedly carrying a lot of my work too,” he lied smoothly.
Anandhi stayed silent, but she was strangely expecting Suriya to visit. She felt an abnormal tension in the air. The more Rahul tried to keep Suriya away from town, the stronger her unease grew. Deep inside, a quiet part of her wished Suriya would be here when the baby came.
Exactly one day before the expected delivery date, Suriya arrived in town.
By then, Rahul had already taken Anandhi to the hospital a day early for admission and monitoring. When Suriya walked into the private room, Rahul’s face visibly changed — a mix of irritation and tension flashed across his features.
Anandhi didn’t miss it.
As Suriya approached the bed, she reached out and gently caught Rahul’s hand first.
“Nothing will change here,” she said softly, looking into Rahul’s eyes. “The baby is always ours.”
Rahul was stunned. For a split second, he wondered — Did she know something? No… there’s no way at all.
Suriya stood near the bed, looking tired but concerned.
Anandhi turned to him and spoke calmly, “I heard you had too much work and were in some trouble.”
Suriya nodded with a small smile. “Yeah… but I heard you have a date tomorrow. I just wanted to see you and wish you well before the delivery.”
Without hesitation, Anandhi extended her other hand toward Suriya. He took it gently. Her grip was surprisingly tight.
“Don’t worry,” she said, her voice steady but warm. “Rahul is my pillar. When he is there, I don’t need to worry about anything.”
But the way she held Suriya’s hand — firm, almost desperate — told a different story. She continued, “You go ahead with your work. Rahul will give you the news. When you get free, come and visit us.”
Suriya placed his other hand over hers, his thumb gently brushing her knuckles. “Take care, Anandhi. I will await your calls.”
As he turned to leave the room, Anandhi felt an unexpected sense of ease wash over her. She had needed that touch — just once — before the baby came out.
She wasn’t sure whose baby it was going to be.
She placed both hands on her belly and whispered to herself, “Don’t worry, little one. Whoever may try to split ownership… you are completely mine.”
Another strong kick came from inside her womb.
She smiled softly, tears glistening in her eyes.
Anandhi went for her 8th-month pregnancy check-up accompanied by Rahul. The doctor examined her thoroughly and finally gave a tentative delivery date — it could happen anytime between 20 to 30 days from now. She advised extra caution: complete bed rest, no stress, and immediate hospital visit at the first sign of labour.
Rahul sat beside her, holding her hand, but his mind was elsewhere. He could barely concentrate on his long-term plans. Taking care of Anandhi had become his utmost priority. He made sure she ate on time, helped her walk slowly in the evenings, and stayed close even when she rested.
Meanwhile, Dr. Madhavan had aggressively pushed Suriya toward the franchise model. Suriya, ever the fighter, took it up as a challenge. He worked day and night — scouting franchise partners, finalising agreements, and coordinating with suppliers. He barely slept, determined to prove himself.
That was when Rahul made a careless flaw.
In one hurried phone call with a supplier, he had casually instructed the man to deliver “substandard but cost-effective” products for the new franchises, wanting to create future problems under Suriya’s name. He forgot to follow up or correct the message. The mix-up happened.
Soon, issues started popping up. The three franchise units that had just begun operations reported receiving substandard supplements and equipment. Customers complained about poor quality. Negative feedback began spreading.
Suriya was clueless about the root cause. When he mentioned the problem to Madhavan, the doctor simply shrugged and said, “That’s your section. Handle it.”
Suriya felt a strange doubt creeping in. Why was Madhavan suddenly so indifferent?
He called Rahul immediately.
Rahul, who was at home with Anandhi, answered calmly. “Doctor gave the delivery date. I cannot move an inch right now. Thanks to my experience in the field, I figured out the supplier’s fault and stopped the last-minute consignment. Don’t worry, I’ll guide you remotely.”
Suriya thanked him, but the uneasy feeling lingered.
Anandhi, who had been overhearing Rahul’s phone conversations over the past few days, realised Suriya was in serious trouble. Her heart ached for him. After days of internal conflict, she finally decided to open up to Rahul.
One evening, while he was helping her sit comfortably on the bed, she spoke softly.
“Rahul… Suriya should know the exact delivery date. You should inform him properly.”
Rahul’s face showed a flash of uneasiness. He quickly masked it.
“Suriya is already in trouble with the franchises. We should not bother him right now. He is single-handedly carrying a lot of my work too,” he lied smoothly.
Anandhi stayed silent, but she was strangely expecting Suriya to visit. She felt an abnormal tension in the air. The more Rahul tried to keep Suriya away from town, the stronger her unease grew. Deep inside, a quiet part of her wished Suriya would be here when the baby came.
Exactly one day before the expected delivery date, Suriya arrived in town.
By then, Rahul had already taken Anandhi to the hospital a day early for admission and monitoring. When Suriya walked into the private room, Rahul’s face visibly changed — a mix of irritation and tension flashed across his features.
Anandhi didn’t miss it.
As Suriya approached the bed, she reached out and gently caught Rahul’s hand first.
“Nothing will change here,” she said softly, looking into Rahul’s eyes. “The baby is always ours.”
Rahul was stunned. For a split second, he wondered — Did she know something? No… there’s no way at all.
Suriya stood near the bed, looking tired but concerned.
Anandhi turned to him and spoke calmly, “I heard you had too much work and were in some trouble.”
Suriya nodded with a small smile. “Yeah… but I heard you have a date tomorrow. I just wanted to see you and wish you well before the delivery.”
Without hesitation, Anandhi extended her other hand toward Suriya. He took it gently. Her grip was surprisingly tight.
“Don’t worry,” she said, her voice steady but warm. “Rahul is my pillar. When he is there, I don’t need to worry about anything.”
But the way she held Suriya’s hand — firm, almost desperate — told a different story. She continued, “You go ahead with your work. Rahul will give you the news. When you get free, come and visit us.”
Suriya placed his other hand over hers, his thumb gently brushing her knuckles. “Take care, Anandhi. I will await your calls.”
As he turned to leave the room, Anandhi felt an unexpected sense of ease wash over her. She had needed that touch — just once — before the baby came out.
She wasn’t sure whose baby it was going to be.
She placed both hands on her belly and whispered to herself, “Don’t worry, little one. Whoever may try to split ownership… you are completely mine.”
Another strong kick came from inside her womb.
She smiled softly, tears glistening in her eyes.
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