Mumbai, 2000!

City Hospital was unusually silent that night.

Outside, rain poured endlessly over Mumbai, washing the city with cold winds and endless noise. But inside the hospital, none of that mattered to Utkarsh Rai Kapoor.

He was pacing outside the operation theatre, unable to sit still even for a second.

His eyes remained fixed on the closed doors in front of him while countless thoughts ran through his mind. He had faced many difficult situations in his life. He had built one of the biggest business empires in Mumbai at a young age and had dealt with problems that would make most people lose sleep.

But today was different.

Today, Utkarsh Kapoor was scared.

Not because of a business deal, not because of an enemy, and not because of the countless problems life had thrown at him over the years. He was scared because the woman he loved was inside that operation theatre, fighting a battle he could not fight for her.

A few chairs away, their five-year-old son Vidyut was sleeping peacefully in the nanny's lap, completely unaware of the storm that had engulfed his family.

Utkarsh's eyes remained fixed on the operation theatre doors as memories from the past began flashing through his mind.

Years ago, after Vidyut's birth, the doctors had warned them that another pregnancy could be dangerous for Isha. The complications during her first delivery had been severe, and according to the doctors, the chances of her conceiving again were almost impossible.

The news had broken them at first, but with time they had learned to accept it.

At least Utkarsh had.

He never cared whether he had one child or ten. As long as Isha was beside him, he had everything he needed.

But Isha had always carried a small dream in her heart.

She wanted a daughter.

Many evenings, she would sit beside him, resting her head on his shoulder while talking about the little girl she hoped to have someday.

"I know it sounds silly," she had once said with a smile, "but I really want a daughter."

Utkarsh had laughed and asked, "And why exactly?"

"Because she'll be your princess."

Even now, standing outside the operation theatre, he could still hear her saying those words.

Then, after years of believing it was impossible, they discovered that Isha was pregnant.

Nobody could believe it.

Not Utkarsh.

Not Isha.

Not even the doctors.

The doctors had called it nothing short of a miracle, but along with the miracle came a terrifying warning.

"Mr. Kapoor, conceiving is something we never expected," the doctor had explained carefully.

"But I need you to understand that this pregnancy is extremely risky. There is no guarantee that either the baby or the mother will remain safe till delivery. I would strongly advise you to consider terminating the pregnancy."

The moment those words were spoken, Utkarsh was shattered.

For the first time in his life, he found himself praying that Isha would agree with the doctors.

He tried everything to convince her.

He argued.

He pleaded.

He begged.

But Isha never changed her decision.

And now they were here.

Waiting for fate to make the final choice.

Suddenly, the operation theatre doors opened and a doctor walked out.

One look at her expression was enough to make Utkarsh's heart sink.

He immediately rushed towards her.

"How is my wife?"

The doctor sighed heavily.

"Mr. Kapoor, we're facing serious complications."

Utkarsh felt his stomach twist.

"What happened?"

"There is severe bleeding. We've tried to control it, but her condition is becoming critical."

For a moment, he simply stared at the doctor, unable to process what he had heard.

The doctor continued quietly, "We need to perform an emergency C-section immediately."

"Then do it," Utkarsh replied without hesitation.

The doctor remained silent.

That silence terrified him more than any answer could have.

After a few seconds, she finally spoke.

"There are some chances that we can save the baby, but saving your wife will be extremely difficult."

Utkarsh felt as if someone had punched the air out of his lungs.

"There has to be another way."

The doctor shook her head helplessly.

"I'm sorry. I don't want to give you false hope. No matter how hard we try, the chances of saving your wife are very low. The only thing we can do right now is perform the surgery and try to save the baby, but for that, we need your permission."

Utkarsh ran a hand through his hair and stepped back.

"There has to be another way, Doctor. Please... find another way."

The doctor lowered her gaze before speaking softly.

"Your wife wants to see you."

Without waiting another second, Utkarsh rushed inside.

The moment he entered the room, his heart shattered.

Isha looked weaker than he had ever seen her. Her face had lost its colour, and yet when she saw him standing there, she smiled.

A small smile.

The same smile that had always managed to make everything feel alright.

Utkarsh immediately sat beside her and held her hand tightly.

"Isha..."

She looked at him and smiled faintly.

"Why are you crying?"

He quickly wiped his eyes and looked away.

"I'm not."

A weak laugh escaped her lips.

"You've always been a terrible liar Utkarsh."

A tear slipped down his cheek.

"I don't want this, Isha." He cried.

Her smile faded slightly.

"I know."

He tightened his grip on her hand.

"I don't want the surgery. I don't care about anything else. I just want you."

For a few moments, Isha remained silent.

Then she looked at him and asked softly, "Do you remember when we first met?"

Utkarsh immediately shook his head.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

"You used to tell me that one day we'd have a little girl."

"Isha..."

"I wanted to give that to you."

His throat tightened painfully.

"I don't want her," he said quietly. "I only want you."

For a moment, she simply looked at him before gently touching his face.

"You'll love her, Utkarsh."

He closed his eyes.

"I don't think I can."

A tear rolled down her cheek as she smiled sadly.

"You will. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day you'll look at her and see a part of us in her."

Her smile didn't fade as she continued softly, "When she smiles, she'll remind you of me."

Utkarsh held her hand tightly.

"Stop."

"And when she calls you Papa for the first time..."

His grip tightened.

"Please stop."

She looked at him for a few seconds before speaking again.

"Love her enough for both of us."

Utkarsh shook his head.

"No."

"You will."

Silence settled between them for a moment.

Then Isha spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Name her Ishaani."

Utkarsh slowly looked up at her.

A gentle smile touched her lips as she whispered,

"Our Ishaani."

The same smile that had made Utkarsh fall in love with her years ago appeared on Isha's lips once again as she looked at him.

Utkarsh tried to speak, but no words came out. He simply held her hand and cried silently.

Isha slowly lifted his hand and pressed a gentle kiss against it.

"I love you."

His fingers tightened around hers immediately.

"I love you too."

Those were the last words they exchanged before the doctors entered the room and asked Utkarsh to step outside.

The doors closed behind him, leaving him alone in the silent corridor.

Hours passed.

Every minute felt endless, and every sound coming from the operation theatre made his heart stop.

Then suddenly, a baby's cry echoed through the corridor.

A baby girl.

Their daughter had been born.

A nurse stepped outside carrying the newborn in her arms and smiled gently.

"Congratulations, sir. It's a girl."

For a brief moment, Utkarsh's eyes moved toward the baby.

But before he could take a step forward, another doctor came out.

One look at the doctor's face was enough.

Utkarsh already knew.

"We are sorry."

Three simple words.

Three words that shattered everything.

The nurse hesitated before carefully stepping closer.

"Sir... your daughter."

The baby was crying continuously, her tiny hands moving in the air as if searching for something.

Searching for the warmth she had known only moments ago.

Searching for the mother she would never get to know.

Utkarsh stared at her for a long moment.

She had Isha's eyes.

The same eyes.

The same tiny features.

And somehow, that made the pain even harder to bear.

His eyes filled with tears once again, but instead of reaching for her, he slowly stepped back.

The nurse looked at him in confusion.

"Sir?"

His voice was low and empty when he finally spoke.

"Give her to the nanny."

The nurse froze.

"Sir..."

"I said give her to the nanny." He shouted.

The baby started crying even harder, but Utkarsh turned away.

He couldn't look at her.

Because every time he do, he will saw Isha.

Every cry reminded him of what he had lost today.

Every glance at her face reminded him that

the person he loved most was gone forever.

"You were wrong, Isha. I can never love her. Never!" he whispered before leaving.

That night, Ishaani Kapoor was born.

She entered the world after a difficult battle for life, but fate had already taken something precious from her.

Her family!