During the labor pains, I was shocked to see that the doctor who delivered the baby was my ex-boyfriend whom I had “left”.

When I became pregnant for the first time at the age of 29, I experienced all the emotions of a woman becoming a mother: excitement, anxiety, and joy. For 9 months, I remained in love with my husband and family, but I could not stop sleeping long nights, missing a person from the past. That person was Arjun, my first love who lasted for 5 years but ended up quickly with just a farewell message. He departed my life for no reason, leaving a painful emptiness in my heart.

It took me years to get over it, then I opened my heart to accept the love of my current husband Rohit. But deep in my heart, the question “Why did you leave that day?” was still like a sharp needle that could never be pulled out.

The day I went to the hospital to deliver a baby in Mumbai, it was raining heavily. The contractions were giving me both fatigue, pain and fear. I held Rohit’s hand tightly, but my eyes were blurred with sweat and tears. As the nurse was carrying the stretcher into the delivery room, I saw a familiar appearance in the hallway. My heartbeat stopped. He was Arjuna. After so many years, I met him again during this difficult phase of life and death.

She was wearing a white blouse, a busy face like a doctor on duty. I thought I was having some confusion because of the pain, but when he caught sight of me, the shock and confusion were palpable. He quickly bowed and bowed, then walked into the delivery room with the team. That’s when I understood: Fate had prepared me to face the truth that had been hidden for so many years.

The pain was getting worse and louder. Between the monitor’s voice and the babysitter’s insistent voice, I heard Arjun whisper:

– Be patient, you can.

Just a short sentence, but it felt like I remembered the old days. He held my hand during an urgent test and said, “You can do it. Tears welled up in my eyes, both from the pain and from the past.

Finally, my baby cried for the first time. As he lay on my chest, I saw Arjuna silently wiping the sweat from his forehead, his eyes shining with joy and indescribable sadness.

After the birth, I was resting. When Rohit and his family went out to do the paperwork, Arjun came up to me in a trembling voice:

– I have an explanation for you.

I was silent, just staring at him. I’ve been waiting for this sentence for years. He told me that that day, just before he proposed to me, he found out that his mother was seriously ill. In order to raise money for the treatment, he was forced to arrange a marriage with the daughter of a wealthy family in Delhi, who could help his family overcome their hardships. She decided to go quietly, because she was afraid that if she explained it to me, I wouldn’t let her go.

I know I’m a coward. But at that time, I thought that if you hated me, it would be easier to forget than to wait. – Arjuna said with tears in his eyes.

I listened and my eyes filled with tears. For years I blamed him for being heartless, but it turned out that there was a family tragedy hidden behind him. I saw my daughter fast asleep in the crib, and a strange feeling welled up in my heart. I thought that if I saw him again, I would scold him, cry out loud, and be content to ask “Why?” But now, after giving birth to a tiny life that stood between the limits of life and death, I suddenly found myself strong enough to forgive.

I don’t owe you anything now. I have a family, I have joys. I just hope that you are at peace, too. I said softly.

Arjuna smiled sadly and nodded. We didn’t have to say anything more, because at that moment the past had come to an end.

Now that my daughter is over a year old, I still remember the birth vividly. It was not only the moment I became a mother, but also the moment I truly matured: learned to cope, learn to forgive, cherish the present.

I understand that the life of a pregnant woman, a mother, revolves not just around the joy of welcoming a baby boy, but also one that touches on so many levels of emotion – sometimes the pain of the past, sometimes the pain of the present. But it was the baby in my womb that gave me the strength to overcome everything.

The unexpected reunion with Arjun taught me that: There are some love stories that stop not because of falling in love, but because of luck. The important thing is not to blame, but to know how to let go, bring peace to the heart, and move on.

Today, when I hold my child in my arms, I thank luck in my heart. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet him again, understand the truth, and complete an unfinished chapter. And thank you for giving me a perfect home, where I learned what simple but profound happiness entails.