When Gautam heard about the developments at the home he had abandoned, he couldn’t remain indifferent for long. While he was thrilled about his daughter-in-law’s confinement, he felt grateful to her for her keenness in commemorating Sneha’s memory.
As Vidya’s delivery time neared, Gautam developed a premonition that Sneha would reincarnate herself, and thus awaited the arrival of his granddaughter. And a week ahead of the child’s expected arrival, he felt out of sorts during his discourse that forced him to end it midway. Feeling uneasy all through the evening, he skipped his meal and retired early to bed. Failing to manage a wink past midnight, he impulsively reached for his trunk and picked up the album. Staring at Sneha’s pictures adoringly for long, he was overcome with love and sorrow. At length, feeling at ease, he believed his unease should’ve been induced by the birth pangs of Sneha’s reincarnation as Vidya’s daughter. Closing his eyes with a rare sense of inner peace he had never experienced before, he let sleep overwhelm him in time.
Waking up cheerfully, he awaited the news of the new arrival. But, it was only towards the evening that the confirmation came by telegram—the birth of a girl midnight the previous night. Elated at the development, he was convinced that Sneha had indeed signaled her arrival telepathically to him. In time, he turned sentimental on that count and came to believe that she had forgiven him after all. As that thought gave him an immense relief, he was seized with the desire to espy his wife in her reincarnated shape. However, he tried to control his emotions and sent a message of congratulations to the happy couple suggesting the baby’s barasala be performed at Vanaprastham.
When Gautam's telegram was delivered to them at the Nithya Nursing Home, the happy parents were in seventh heaven.
“How she resembles my mother!” Suresh said for the nth time.
“We can expect guruji to get glued to her,” Vidya repeated parrot-like.
“I hope after her barasala at Annavaram, Delhi would be on his radar,” he wanted to believe what he said.
“Now I can see the change in him,” she said fuelling his hopes further. “How he used to detach himself over the years!”
“Let’s hope it’s that way,” he sighed in hope. “How I wish he lives with us.”
Spending five more days in the nursing home with his wife and the newborn, Suresh drove them home that evening. Seeing the Gautam waiting in the portico for them, the couple couldn’t comprehend their position. But, recovering their wits quickly, they jumped out of the car ecstatically. Even as Suresh bowed at his father’s feet instantly, Vidya put the baby in the right hands, and followed suit.