*David Pov*

"What are you doing here if you are that worried about her?" I glanced away from my mobile screen hearing his words.

"Are you trying to push me out of the room?" I asked, leaning backwards on the chair while he just sighed lying on the bed.

That day when he lost the consciousness and when we had to rush him to the hospital, I was scared to even think about what will happen to him.

However, surprising all of us he asked for the operation the moment he woke up. Even though he got ready for it, they asked him to wait for two days to do some tests and finally operated on him.

It was definitely successful, but he had to stay back at the hospital and it's been one month since he started living at the hospital.

Even though each one of were surprised by his decision to go ahead for the operation, none of us asked him why did he even changed his decision because this is what everyone wished for.

"Are you prepared for tomorrow's meeting?" he asked back instead of answering me.

This is another important issue as tomorrow they are going to announce me as the CEO with my brother resigning the position last week. It's not that everyone is fine with this decision, but he was already in words with many people even before I started working seriously.

"Do you think he is planning something?" I asked, glancing at my phone still waiting for the call.

Palak just left the hospital when I reached here to stay with my brother. I already appointed a few bodyguards, but I am still worried about her.

"It's been one month and he didn't do anything but he may trouble you in future so you need to be very careful with the work." He warned and I gave him a nod.

We increased the security for everyone realizing we can't take him lightly. However, we heard Palak's Dad is no longer supporting him like before after he tried to attack Palak at the meeting.

I sighed in relief looking at the message her driver sent that they reached home before concentrating on my brother who is actually smiling at me.

"What will you do from tomorrow onwards? You will be really busy with all the work load." He pointed out, but I just smiled in return.

"I will definitely not take everything into my hands. I already found a few people at our company who is very capable and I am going to share the work. So, I will still disturb you every day." I assured him and I know he wants to scold me right now but he just changes the topic.

During this one month not just the development of work at the company, but there were lots of changes. Palak is getting closer to Jasmine and kind of with Mom.

She is still treating me as just a brother of James but that is more than enough for me. At least she is not treating me as some stranger she doesn't want to even look at.

"Will I be able to return home?" I pushed my thoughts away hearing those words from him.

"You can return right now. I can get all the needed medical equipment installed at home and will get some help from the hospital too. You already rejected this, but do you want me to do it now?" I asked leaning forward.

"No! I was just asking and I am completely fine here. Mom is spending time here during the morning and Palak is staying here from afternoon to evening while during nights you are staying. So, it's fine, but I don't want you all to be troubled." He replied sighing.

"No one is troubled and you just concentrate on recovering. The operation was not a minor one." I mumbled, standing up to start working after taking this small break.

"Palak will have a check up soon, right. If the doctor tells you any change in the due date, let me know." He suddenly mumbles before closing his eyes as if to rest.

"Is this the reason?" I finally got the words out, but there is no response from his side and I pushed the thoughts away to concentrate on the work but they were lingering no matter what.

****

I took a deep breath, wishing he was here right now because I really don't want to make any mistake. Am I really ready for all this?

Didn't I decide long ago that I will just do some races and a few commercials? But now everything changed completely in a rush where I can't even sit down and think whether I am doing any mistake.

However, I can't back out and it's not like I actually hate all this. So, I just need to go ahead, but still I can't help but feel nervous no matter what.

I couldn't help but frown hearing someone clearing their throat and immediately turned to see who is that only to take a step back feeling shocked.

"James asked me to bring this to you." She said, passing a pendrive while I just stood there staring at her in shock.

"Don't you need it? He said it's important that you have it for this meeting." She added, frowning at me and this time I frowned back at her.

Pendrive? I have everything that I need, right? But still I took it from her hand while holding her hand for a few extra seconds making her take a step back.

She then glanced at my assistant who was my brother's before following her while I stood there still not able to move. She is going to attend this meeting?

I immediately called my brother who calmly informed that she is there in his place and when I asked about the pendrive he just replied that I can check the documents after the meeting.

I sighed, realizing he just lied to her in a way to make her come and he already thought of asking Mom or Jasmine to come in his place but now he decided on Palak.

No matter what her presence made me decide to do my best and the meeting finally started. We already found a few members are against this decision of my brother's, but of course majority always wins.

All I need to do is make sure they never get a chance to criticize this decision and not give a chance for them to say anything in the future and that's just mean I have to do more work.

I kept on glancing at her in the middle to find her completely disinterested in this meeting and that is not a wonder at all.

She told me numerous times that she can do anything except for the things relating to business. I smiled looking at her expression as she even started yawning which she immediately caught when she glanced at everyone's face.

I couldn't help but smile more when she glared at me. Who wouldn't be happy to receive a glare from the person who was showing a blank look all these months?

I stood up when the meeting is finally done and everyone started congratulating me. After that I found her calmly leaving the room when a few suggested to have a celebratory lunch.

"Let's go with the dinner. I don't want to disturb your works." I politely declined and a few were happy hearing that, but they don't know my reason at all.

I rushed out of the room, after gesturing my assistant to handle and finally reached the parking lot where her car is waiting to take her back.

"Going to the hospital? I will come with you." I mumbled, opening the passenger seat door before getting inside.

"Why?" she asked from the back seat.

"I need to be there to inform my brother. Why to waste fuel and increase pollution by taking another vehicle?" I asked, not turning around knowing well, even the driver is not going to buy that excuse.

When we reached my brother's room together, we found Mom also present and she is staring at us with an unreadable look which I completely understand knowing well she will soon start the lecture by saying how Palak is my sister-in-law and I need to respect that relation and I will just listen to it while fisting my hands in silence like every time.

There has been just awkward silence for a few seconds and I finally opened my mouth to announce that the meeting was a success. After a few minutes Mom stood up to leave as she is here for a check-up as it is time for her monthly check-up.

"Let Palak go with her." Bhai suddenly said when I shifted to go along with Mom.

"I will go with her. Palak needs to take a rest before going to her department." I mumbled, standing up but he shook his head.

"I need to have a word with you. She can just accompany and go to her department directly." He mumbled and Palak just voiced out that she will go before they both walked out of the room.

"David! I know you are worried that Palak will feel discomfort, but you need to let them bond." He said frowning at me.

"I know, but she need not go through something if she is not comfortable, right?" I asked frowning back at her.

"Within a few weeks, Mom will be getting a grandson or granddaughter and just imagine how the awkwardness between Palak and her will impact. Isn't it better to remove it? I don't want Mom to miss the chance of bonding with Palak's baby." He pointed out.

"You can call me a bad son, but I don't want that to happen at the expense of Palak's emotions." I mumbled sighing and he just shook his head.

"I know no one can match you regarding the concern for Palak but this will be good for her too." He assured me and I guess he really knows what is right.

That's why he is my elder brother while I am still lost in my own emotions. Isn't that the reason for this distance between Palak and I?

"I wish she can take proper rest instead of moving like this." I mumbled counting the weeks to her due date.

"She is working at the hospital." He mumbled as if I don't know that already making me roll my eyes before we finally talked about the business matters.

"Will you be able to take care of Palak, Baby, Mom and Jasmine along with this work burden?" he asked again like usual.

"Bhai! I am not saying you were completely wrong with the way you worked until now, but I am not going to do the same. I already found a few people who are capable of sharing my work with and I will definitely not bear the whole burden. I will make sure to make enough time to spend with everyone." I assured him and he smiled nodding.

"You still remember the conditions of Palak, right? I don't want there to be any chance of her taking the baby away from our family." He stated with a warning in his tone.

I want to say that in future I will do whatever is good for her and her wishes, but I will never pressure her regarding anything. We caused enough damage and mainly me but that is the end of it.

I know he is worried about Mom and Jasmine and thinks my baby will be kind of a replacement when he leaves us but I will not let that happen. Palak and the baby will have their own space, no matter what.

At the same time I don't blame him for this thinking too and maybe if I was in his place, I would think the same. There is a slight chance, but that's all. If Palak wants to bond with Mom and Jasmine then only it will happen. No one can force and I will not let anyone do it.

But I can see that during this month she is closer to Jasmine and kind of close to Mom. She is already a part of this family in everyone's eyes but I want that to be the case in her eyes.

*Palak Pov*

"He should have taken a rest at home instead of coming here during Sunday's at least." James mumbled glancing at his brother's sleeping form and I looked away from the book I am studying to glance at the sleeping form on the couch.

"You should have stayed home instead of coming here too. You don't have to work, right?" he added, glancing at me and I glanced away from the sleeping form to stare at his face.

I stopped working from today, completely as I already reached my due date, but I still wanted to come here feeling bored at home.

"I am comfortable." I mumbled patting the new cushion chair they placed here for my comfort.

I can even adjust it backwards to lay down if I want to. I know who bought it, but I don't want to think about any of it.

"You are my friend and it's nothing to accompany you for a few hours. And I am already taking advantage of all of you to take care of me. So, this is nothing." I shrugged, making him smile.

"You are not taking advantage of anyone. How is Mom doing? I didn't see her for two days." He finally asked and I couldn't say anything immediately.

Two days back they got the news that his condition is worsening and during these two months after the operation everyone prayed that he will be fine for a long time but it changed completely.

When I returned home from hospital yesterday I found her breaking down in the kitchen while crying uncontrollably. I couldn't say anything except for holding her crying form in silence.

He already knows what is going on and keep on saying every day, why are we even coming here and don't spend much time. I don't have any answer to his question and he understood what I am trying to say with my silence.

"Is he very busy with work everyday?" he asked changing the question.

"I don't think so." I replied, knowing the answer to this because I find him at home every day while trying to spend time with everyone and is even disturbing me.

I closed my eyes, feeling the pain in lower back and took a deep breath. After that he drifted off into sleep while I continued to read the book.

After a few minutes I tightened my lips feeling more pain, but didn't wish to make any sound which would disturb them for sure.

I couldn't help but stand up from the chair before taking a few steps around the room not making sounds and I know what is happening right now.

It's fine to stay here for some time until someone wakes up I guess because it just started. I sighed, not stopping my walk around the room and finally decided to go to my doctor to inform about this.

It is a good thing that I stopped working from today onwards otherwise I would have gone through all this during the instruction class to the interns.

"Palak! Are you okay?" I turned to see the person sleeping on the couch getting up with a frown when he found me walking around.

"I will go." I mumbled just to inform before taking steps out of the room and gripped my bag feeling another pain hitting and I know it is kind of faster so I should go to my doctor no matter what.

"Palak! Are you... right now..." he didn't even form the complete sentence and I just nodded.

The next minute I am actually sitting in a wheelchair, which belongs to James while he took me out of the room after informing James who also urged him to go fast.

Within a few minutes we reached my doctor and the process was faster than I thought because at present I am already in the room while my contractions are being monitored.

Everyone is here except for James as Mrs. Anthony and Jasmine are informed about this after I was admitted to this room.

I tried to ignore his voice, but he is talking about so many tips which I already read but forgot while concentrating on the pain. I just want my baby to be healthy along with me being safe to take care of my baby.

I stopped counting how many hours it was but the early morning I gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl with him being beside me all this time even though I ignored everything.

However, they still took her to check up as she was kind of underweight and also because of my health condition.

"Don't worry! Mom and Jasmine are there where they kept our baby to monitor." He assured when I felt drowsy after sometime and somehow those words really assured me making me drift off into sleep easily.

****

"Aunty!" I whispered after finding Mrs. Anthony, beside me with happiness covering her face even though she is actually not smiling broadly.

She stared at me in shock after hearing me calling her like that, but immediately recovered, saying, "How are you feeling? Jasmine and David are near your baby not leaving that place at all. Jasmine even took leave along with David." She continued to talk and the way she is describing them, it's like they both are kids or something.

"Can I go there?" I asked, staring at her and she immediately called him, who helped me into the wheelchair, which doesn't belong to James before taking me to the baby ward.

I stared at James, who is also here while Jasmine is pointing the incubator where my baby is sleeping. I too glanced at that while asking him what is he doing here.

As we both are at the same level at present sitting on the wheelchairs, he calmly whispered, "I wanted to meet my niece."

"They said there is no need to worry at all and everything is fine with her." His brother commented and continued to talk without a pause just like Aunty while I just stared at her sleeping form with a smile.

All these months the first thought after waking up and before sleeping is her and praying that she is not endangered at all. Finally, she is fine and I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and a weight lifting off my shoulders.

"Don't cry!" Aunty whispered, making me realize that the tears are flowing down.

"Doctor said you still need to take care of yourself for a few weeks." He ended his information with that sentence.

"Are you going to name her?" James asked, looking at me, but glanced at his brother for a second.

"I didn't think about names at all. You have any name in your mind?" I asked back and he stared at me in shock but didn't say anything.

"There is no need to hurry." Aunty offered, after which she calmly asked whether I want to inform my Dad.

I want to but I don't know whether he will share that with my brother or not. We already found him trying to harm me again and because of the increased security the men he hired were immediately found, but they didn't confess who ordered them even though we already know who it could be.

I know he could have his ways to find this, but I don't want to inform him myself by endangering her safety no matter what so I declined after a few minutes and no one said anything hearing that.

I stayed at the hospital for two weeks, even though my baby already returned to the VIP room where I am staying at present. During that time I couldn't help but be closer to Aunty and Jasmine as Aunty helped with how to take care of my baby while Jasmine spend most of her free time at the hospital as it seems she fell in love with my baby.

I couldn't help but smile during my stay when one of the nurses walked out the room to which they both frowned at me.

"It's just that I always thought that the patients in the VIP rooms are nothing but extra work, but it turns out even I, am staying in one of those rooms." I explained and they both chuckled.

I know Aunty is really tired as she is doing so much while handling the work at home and then caring for us along with spending time with James.

Even he joined them everyday whenever he returns from work and during the weekends he is literally living in the hospital while spending some time in this room giving rest to Aunty and staying with James for some time.

James even joked saying, "They all are really good at dividing time and making sure both of us are treated equally."

But even he is coming here sometimes to meet her, but I still didn't take her to his room as the ward is not that safe for babies as of now.

"You will be going home tomorrow, right? After a few days can you come back? I need to talk about a few things." James asked and I nodded without asking anything else.

I am scared along with others regarding his condition too, as he becomes paler every day and we can see how weak he is right now. As the medication is really strong he is going through some pain too, even though he is not sharing that matter with us.

****

"Come in!" I mumbled hearing the knock on my door while she started crying hearing the sound.

I sighed, feeling defeated as I thought I will be able to change her diaper easily but now she is crying. I glanced at the door and found him standing there while staring at us.

"I heard you will be going to hospital today to meet Bhai. I am here to take you both." He explained when I didn't ask him directly why is he here.

"I still need to get ready after changing her diaper and dressing her." I mumbled as if gesturing to wait for some time.

I will definitely not reject his offer because even though there will be bodyguards, it is better to have someone else.

"I will do it." He immediately offered when I took out the diaper which made me stare at him in silence.

It's not like he didn't hold her all this time, but every time he asked my permission before doing that. He is doing the same right now and even though I am staring at him with a blank face I have a few thoughts in my head.

He did everything in his power to take care of us both which he was supposed to if we were a normal couple, but now he is doing that while making sure I am fine with that.

Damn it! She is your baby. I want to shout those words every time he asks permission to do something which is nothing but a contradiction with how I am behaving.

Aunty and Jasmine are actually behaving like she is James's daughter along with my colleagues except for my doctor. They are just praising him for taking care of his niece with such dedication while his family is staying silent hearing that.

Stop! Isn't this what I wanted him to go through when I thought of taking revenge for deceiving me? Why am I thinking of all this? I shook my head, but nodded at him because I really need to rush.

James actually wished to meet me outside the hospital building even though within the compound. And the time restriction is already stated by his doctor to do that so I need to go there soon.

While I started braiding my hair, I couldn't help but stare at him while taking care of her through the mirror and she even stopped crying.

"Let's go!" I mumbled when he finished dressing her and actually playing with her.

She is already one month old and even started staring at familiar faces while making eye contact. I just hope she will not fall asleep before meeting James today, but I just fed her and she may really do that.

He nodded, passing her to me before stepping out of the room and I followed him. I already informed Aunty that I will be going to the hospital today, so she just nodded as she was sitting with Lakshmi Aunty taking care of lunch preparations.

****

"It's been two weeks since I saw her." James whispered while holding her in his arms, but even I, am supporting him as he is very weak right now.

"Did you think about the name?" I asked, staring at them and I know his brother is near his vehicle and not near us.

At present we are at the spot where I used to conduct therapy on his during the beginning days. He stared at my face hearing that question.

"Are you sure? Mom will not mind if you don't use a christian name for her." He assured me.

"It's not because of her, but I actually don't mind. I know you all actually care for her and I really don't have any names in my head. I even asked you to discuss with everyone if you want. Isn't that a good thing if the people who loves her give her a name? So, it need not be me compulsorily." I explained and he nodded with a smile.

After a few minutes of silence, he finally started talking, but not about the name. It was completely something else which I didn't expect him to.

"When I was diagnosed again with this tumor I didn't think much about it actually because I kind of felt satisfied with everything. I didn't mind that there is no chance for me to live a long life except that I wanted my family to be secured with everything. But that didn't stressed much because I know even if David doesn't join the company, he would have taken care of Mom and Jasmine just fine." he explained and his last sentence made me feel confused.

"But I still wanted him to step away from his career because he had to stay away from all of us and meet us only occasionally and the reason is his career. What if it continues later and that will be not good for my whole family. So, I pressured him with everything and I already know he is capable of this. That's why I was not interested with any therapy and against operation because I have settled myself with everything and I don't have the idea to even extend my life." He added making me look away hearing those words but his next words shocked me.

"I went through this operation because of you, Palak. Do you remember asking whether I want to see my nephew or niece before leaving this world? At that time I didn't react much, but I know I wanted to more than anything. But I ignored that feeling and kept quiet. However, when you both brought me to the hospital after the meeting, the words just rushed out and the reason is mainly those words of yours." He explained with a smile.

"I thought I am more than satisfied with everything but these extra few months gave me the memories and made me remove the regrets I didn't know I actually had. I can see with my own eyes that my family will be more than fine with both of your presence and kind of a new hope for them. I am including you and not just my niece otherwise David will kill me. Thank you for all the memories and moments which I never expected to go through making my last moments more than special. I am happy to have a friend like you in my life and this screwed up relationship status." He commented and I immediately scolded him.

"Don't talk about the last moments and you are my good friend too." He smiled hearing me, but didn't say anything else relating to that.

"I will be respecting your wishes until my last breath, but please respect mine too by making sure my family always in contact with both of you no matter how much time passes." He pleaded and I immediately nodded without any hesitation.

"I want her to be named Elisha and you can decide on the surname." He whispered looking at her sleeping form. I still remember each word, even after a week at his funeral, as he left us yesterday in his sleep.

---------------------------

I don't remember killing an important character like this so had a lot of hesitation but i wanted to do it too... "B" was very important in Don't leave me 2 but she was present more in their memories than in the normal passage of story and so i wanted something like this... "Don't hate me" for this *Closing my eyes*

So, even though we have to say goodbye to James, let's welcome Elisha but James involvement is not finished... Remember that he wants best for his family which now includes Elisha and Palak... So... let's wait for his involvement...

This is kind of an early update right? And I will be starting a new story from tomorrow please wait for it and give your support as it is kind of new for me...

How is the chap???

comment plz and vote...