23 years ago.

Rao Hospital.

Pratap ji is waiting outside the labour room in the corridor. He got the call when he was on duty, and as soon as he learned that Meera ji was having labour pains, he came to the hospital. He is very scared and nervous as he can hear her screams. Inside, Meera ji is screaming and groaning in pain, and Dr Neha is beside her, telling her to push, Meera, just a final push; don’t sleep … Outside, Pratap ji is praying for both of them, Meera and the baby, as it was their second pregnancy; the first time they had a miscarriage, and because of that he was very scared. Just then Dr Neha came out, and Pratap ji stood up and asked, “Kya hua? Are Meera and the baby ok?” Dr Neha says Meera is ok and it’s a baby girl, and Pratap ji smiles and asks if she is ok. Neha says, “Pratap ji, baby is dead. Baby died in the stomach only.” Pratap ji stumbled back, breathing heavily. The smile disappeared, and tears started flowing, and he asked if Meera knows. Dr Neha says, “Nhi, after giving birth she went to sleep. She doesn’t know anything, and if she gets to know, I don’t think she can handle the shock, as you both lost one child in miscarriage, and if she knows she lost her second baby also, she will go into trauma.”

He did not stay at the hospital. Instead, he stepped outside into the heavy rain, walking under the streetlights, soaked but unconcerned. He stopped at a temple, climbed the stairs, and stood before Krishna’s idol, questioning why this had happened to him and Meera, as they had never wronged anyone. Overcome with emotion, Pratap ji knelt in prayer. Suddenly, he heard a baby crying. He followed the sound behind the deity and found a newborn baby girl in a basket. He picked her up, and she stopped crying, grasping his finger. Pratap ji looked around for anyone who might have left the child, but the temple was empty. He said, "From now on, you are my daughter," and looking at the Krishna idol, added, "Agar ye hi aap ki Marzi hai to thik hai, from now she is my daughter." He brought the baby back to Rao Hospital. Dr. Neha saw him and asked, "Pratap, ye bacchi kis ki hai?" Pratap explained everything. He then entered Meera’s room, where she was still unconscious. After a moment of reflection, he placed the baby girl beside Meera and took his deceased child from the crib. Dr. Neha protested, "Pratap, ye kya kar rahe ho?" Pratap replied, "Saving my wife." Neha insisted, "It’s a crime, Pratap. You can’t do this. You are a police officer." Pratap responded, "I know, but right now I am not acting as the DCP, but as a husband. I am begging you, please do not tell anyone. I cannot lose Meera, and this baby needs parents."