Rescued by Love, Named by Destiny

Date: 26 August 2024, Wayanad

"Are you sure? It hasn't even been a month. Take a moment to think—before you regret this hastiness. This could cost you your life. There would be no going back," Aman cautioned, his voice heavy with concern.

Disha, her gaze steady and unwavering, locked eyes with Aman. With a stern expression, she replied, "At this point in my life, I have nothing to lose, but a lot to give. It's not about what others think; it's about what I need, Aman. I want to do this."

As she gently patted her four-year-old to sleep, Disha closed her eyes, a quiet resolve settling over her.

Date: 30th July 2024, Kozhikode.

It was not a very pleasant morning when Rahul, an NDRF officer, received a call. "Hello, Rahul here. Oh God! When? Yes, sir. I'll be reporting in three hours." He hung up, a worried expression spreading across his face as he looked into his daughter's eyes. "Papa has to leave, Shriya."

"Mom, Dad's not being fair! He has to work again!" Shriya screamed, frustration clear in her voice.

Hearing the commotion, Disha hurried from the bedroom, concerned. "What happened?"

Rahul handed her his mobile phone. "There's been a landslide in Wayanad. I need to report immediately."

Disha's heart sank. A wave of mixed emotions washed over her as she prepared to say goodbye. As Rahul was about to leave, Disha handed him a small box with a ribbon tied around it. Curious, Rahul opened it. Inside was a pregnancy test kit showing two lines.

A smile spread across Rahul's face. "I have a feeling it's going to be a boy. We'll celebrate when I get back," he said, kissing her goodbye.

Date: 1st August 2024

The rescue mission was in full swing, and Rahul was exhausted from retrieving so many bodies in a single day. The landslide had claimed so many lives. As another corpse passed by, Rahul noticed the roof of a building partially buried in the ground. Beneath the shade, something in yellow caught his eye.

He took a few steps closer. His heart sank as his suspicion was confirmed—a woman in a yellow salwar, visibly pregnant, lay there. But thank God, she was still breathing. He quickly dragged her out of the mud and cried out for paramedics. Immediate attention was given to her.

Once the woman was taken care of, Rahul turned back to the scene. He pushed the roof aside slightly and noticed a tiny hand. A sharp pang of sorrow hit him. With the help of other officers, they managed to remove the roof entirely. To their surprise, they found a man and a little girl underneath.

The emotion that surged through Rahul was pure humanity—the deep pain of witnessing a stranger's suffering and the overwhelming urge to help. But they were already gone.

Date: 10th August 2024

It had been 10 days, and the rescue mission was nearly complete. Rahul dialed Disha's number on his phone.

“Hi, hon. I’ll be back home tomorrow.”

“Good to hear! How were the last 10 days?”

“As usual, filled with so much misery. Out of all the people we rescued, I’m still worried about the woman I saved on the first day. She’s still unconscious, but her baby is alive. I overheard the doctors saying she might not make it. The baby will be left alone.”

“Rahul, I understand, but don’t worry. The baby will find its way in this world.”

“Disha… can we adopt the baby once it's born? Do you think you could love it as much as our own children?”

Disha paused for a moment. “That’s a big decision, Rahul. Let’s talk about it in person.”

“You’re a devotee of Krishna, right? He was open to adoption; after all, he was raised as an adopted child. If we take this child in, we’ll have the chance to be like Nanda and Yashoda.”

“Come home, Rahul. We’ll talk more when you’re here.”

Date: 11th August 2024

"Ma, I'm sleepy... When will Daddy be back?" Shriya asked, her eyes half-closed, fighting to stay awake. Disha tried to force a reassuring smile, though her heart was heavy with worry. Rahul should have been home hours ago, and every minute that passed without a word from him gnawed at her insides.

"You go take a nap, Shriya. I'll wake you up the moment your dad gets home," Disha whispered softly, brushing her daughter's hair back and tucking the blanket around her small body. Shriya murmured something incoherent, her tiny fingers clutching her favorite stuffed bear, and soon drifted off into the peaceful sleep only children seem to master.

Disha stood by the bed for a moment, watching the steady rise and fall of Shriya's chest. Her mind, however, was far from calm. The house was eerily quiet, and with every passing second, the silence became suffocating.

With a sigh, she stepped out of the room, carefully closing the door behind her. The moment she was in the hallway, her composure faltered. She grabbed her phone off the table and dialed Rahul's number. She pressed the phone tightly to her ear, willing him to answer.

Switched off.

Her frustration boiled over. "Damn it, Rahul!" she muttered under her breath. She dialed again, hoping for a miracle. Nothing.

Disha sank into the living room couch, running a hand through her hair. Her fingers hovered over the phone's screen for a second before she dialed Aman’s number, Rahul’s younger brother.

The phone rang just once before he picked up. "Chechi, what's up?" Aman’s voice was calm, but Disha couldn't hold back.

"Rahul hasn't come home yet, Aman," Disha's voice trembled, betraying the storm of anxiety raging inside her. "I'm worried sick. His phone’s off, and he hasn’t called or messaged... It's not like him."

Aman’s voice remained steady, but she could hear the concern creeping in. "Chechi, calm down. Don’t panic yet. I’m sure he’s just tied up with something. Let me try reaching him another way. I'll look into it, okay?"

Disha closed her eyes, forcing herself to take a breath. "Okay. Please... just let me know as soon as you hear something."

"I will. Just try to stay calm," Aman assured her before hanging up.

Disha stared at her phone, wishing it would ring with some good news. The house felt too big, too empty without Rahul. And with each second ticking by, the weight of uncertainty pressed down on her chest. Sha called Aman again.

"Rahul hasn't come home yet, Aman. He said he’d be back by now, but it’s been hours. His phone’s switched off, and I don’t know what to do," Disha’s voice was tight with worry.

Aman could sense the fear in her tone. He immediately switched to a serious, focused mindset. "Chechi, don’t panic. Maybe he’s still tied up with something from the rescue mission. You know how unpredictable these things can be."

Disha shook her head, even though Aman couldn’t see her. "No, it’s different this time, Aman. He always finds a way to let me know if he’s going to be late. I have a terrible feeling about this."

Aman took a deep breath. "Alright. Let me make a few calls to his colleagues. I’ll see if I can get any information. Don’t worry; we’ll find him."

"Please, Aman. I’m scared. Shriya’s asking about him too. I don’t know what to tell her."

"I understand. Stay strong for Shriya, okay? I’ll call you as soon as I find something." Aman hung up, his mind racing. He knew Disha wasn’t one to worry unnecessarily. If she felt something was wrong, there was probably a reason.

Aman quickly pulled up his contact list, finding the number of one of Rahul’s colleagues in the NDRF. He tapped on it and waited as the phone rang.

"Hello, Aman?" a gruff voice answered on the other end.

"Hey, Subhash. I’m trying to reach Rahul. He was supposed to be home by now, but no one’s heard from him. Is everything alright?"

Subhash hesitated for a moment. "Rahul? He finished his shift and left the base in the afternoon. We haven’t heard from him since either. Are you saying he hasn’t made it home yet?"

Aman’s stomach tightened. "No, he hasn’t. His phone’s off. Any idea where he could’ve gone?"

"No clue, but now that you mention it, something was bothering him. He seemed distracted before leaving, kept talking about a woman and her baby that we rescued earlier in the mission. He might have gone to check on her."

"Do you know which hospital they took her to?" Aman asked quickly.

"Yeah, she was sent to the government hospital in Wayanad. You think he’s there?"

"It’s a good place to start. Thanks, Subhash." Aman hung up, grabbed his car keys, and headed straight for the hospital.

As he drove, Aman’s mind whirled. Rahul was deeply empathetic; it wouldn’t be surprising if he had gone to check on the woman and her baby. But that didn’t explain why he hadn’t contacted Disha or why his phone was switched off. Something still felt off, and the nagging worry gnawed at Aman’s gut.

At the hospital, Aman approached the front desk and inquired about any recent patients from the landslide rescue mission. The receptionist nodded and directed him to the intensive care unit.

Aman hurried down the corridor and found a nurse tending to the woman Rahul had saved. She lay unconscious, hooked up to machines. The baby was in the neonatal unit, receiving care.

"Excuse me," Aman asked the nurse, "Has anyone been visiting her recently? A man, mid-thirties, tall, dark hair?"

The nurse thought for a moment. "Yes, actually. A man matching that description was here earlier today. He left a couple of hours ago, though. He seemed very concerned."

"Did he say where he was going?" Aman pressed.

"No, he didn’t. But he looked quite upset when he left."

Aman thanked the nurse and stepped out of the ICU, his worry intensifying. If Rahul had been here, why hadn’t he gone home? And why was his phone still off?

Aman made his way to the neonatal unit, where the baby was being cared for. Through the glass, he could see the tiny, fragile child—helpless and alone. Was this the child Rahul had wanted to adopt? Aman felt a wave of empathy for his brother’s compassion but was more desperate to know where Rahul had gone.

Aman stepped outside the hospital, trying to piece together the clues. Rahul had been here, and something had clearly shaken him. He decided to search nearby places, hoping that Rahul hadn’t wandered far. He walked through the streets, checking cafes, parks, anywhere Rahul might have gone to clear his head.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Aman’s phone buzzed. It was a text from Disha:

Any news?

Aman’s chest tightened. He didn’t have an answer for her yet, but he couldn’t give up. He had to find Rahul.

Just as he was about to head back to his car, Aman spotted a familiar figure sitting on a bench near the hospital’s entrance, staring out into the distance.

It was Rahul.

Aman rushed over. "Rahul! Where have you been? Disha’s been worried sick!"

Rahul looked up, his face pale and worn. "Aman, I’m sorry. I couldn’t face going home yet... Not after today."

"What happened?" Aman asked, sitting down next to him.

Rahul’s voice was hoarse, filled with a deep, emotional exhaustion. "The woman I saved… She passed away an hour ago. Her baby survived, but she didn’t make it. I sat there, watching her slip away. I tried so hard to save her… but it wasn’t enough. I couldn’t bring myself to go home after that."

Aman placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder. "Rahul, you did everything you could. You saved that baby’s life. That’s no small thing."

Rahul nodded, wiping his eyes. "I know… But it’s hard, Aman. It’s hard to keep seeing this kind of pain over and over again."

"Let’s go home. Disha and Shriya need you. You’re not alone in this."

Rahul looked up at Aman, his expression softening. "You’re right. Let’s go home."

As they walked back to the car, Aman sent Disha a quick message: Found him. We’re coming home.

Date: 11th August 2024, Night

Aman drove silently, glancing over at Rahul, who stared blankly out the window. The exhaustion on his brother’s face wasn’t just physical—it was the emotional weight of the last ten days. He had been through hell, and it was clear he hadn’t yet fully processed the loss and chaos he had witnessed.

They pulled up to Rahul’s home just after midnight. The house was dimly lit, except for a warm glow from Shriya’s room. Disha must have left the light on, waiting for Rahul.

As Aman cut the engine, Rahul sighed deeply, almost as if bracing himself. "I don’t know how to explain any of this to her," he muttered.

"You don’t have to explain everything right now. Just being here is enough for Disha and Shriya. They’ve been waiting for you," Aman reassured him.

Rahul nodded, gathering himself. As they approached the door, it swung open before either of them could knock. Disha stood there, her face a mix of relief, worry, and anger all at once.

"Rahul!" She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him. For a moment, Rahul didn’t respond, but then he held her tightly, as though she were his anchor to reality. Disha pulled back slightly, searching his face for answers. "Where were you? I was terrified something had happened to you!"

Rahul shook his head. "I’m sorry. I was at the hospital. I just… I couldn’t come home right away. I needed time to process everything."

Disha cupped his face, her voice softening. "You don’t have to carry this burden alone, Rahul. I’m here. We’re in this together."

Rahul blinked back tears, nodding. "I know. It’s just been… harder than I expected."

Disha stepped back, giving him room to breathe. "Let’s talk inside."

Inside the Living Room

They sat down in the quiet living room, the house still as Shriya slept in her room. Disha brought Rahul a glass of water, and Aman settled into a chair across from them, giving them space but staying close enough in case he was needed.

Rahul took a long sip before speaking. "There was this woman... on the first day of the rescue. She was pregnant, caught under debris. I managed to save her, but her husband and daughter didn’t make it." His voice trembled. "She was holding on, but today… she passed away. Her baby survived."

Disha reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. "That’s heartbreaking, Rahul. I’m so sorry."

Rahul exhaled heavily. "I just keep thinking about that child. No family, no one left. And I couldn’t save them all… I wanted to save them all." He paused, the pain evident in his eyes. "I mentioned it to you before… about adopting the baby."

Disha was quiet for a moment, processing everything. She looked at Aman, who gave her a reassuring nod, before turning back to Rahul. "You were serious about that?"

"Yes," Rahul said, his voice firm despite his weariness. "I can’t explain it, but I feel a responsibility toward that child. I couldn’t save the mother, but I can give her baby a chance—a family, a home."

Disha’s eyes filled with emotion. "I’ve been thinking about it too, Rahul. I wanted to wait until you were home before deciding. But I understand why this means so much to you. And if this is what you truly want, then… I’m with you. We can raise that child as our own."

Rahul looked at her, a mixture of gratitude and relief washing over him. "Thank you, Disha. It won’t be easy, but I believe this is the right thing to do."

Aman, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "You’re making a big decision, but I know the two of you can handle this. That child will be lucky to have you."

Rahul smiled faintly. "Thanks, Aman. I’ll talk to the hospital tomorrow, figure out the legal process. But right now, I just want to be with my family."

Later That Night

After Aman left, Disha and Rahul peeked into Shriya’s room. Their daughter lay peacefully asleep, unaware of the emotional whirlwind her parents had just been through.

Rahul bent down, kissed Shriya’s forehead, and whispered, "I’m home, sweetheart."

Disha watched him, feeling a deep sense of gratitude that he had come back to them. No matter how difficult the days ahead would be, they would face it together.

As they walked back to their room, Rahul turned to Disha. "There’s something else… about the baby."

Disha raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Rahul hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "I still think it's a boy."

Disha chuckled softly, a much-needed moment of levity breaking through the tension. "We’ll see, won’t we?"

Date: 26th August 2024, Wayanad

Weeks later, the process was nearly complete. Disha and Rahul stood outside the hospital in Wayanad, where they were about to finalize the adoption. Their hands were intertwined, a united front against the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

"Are you sure?" Aman asked again, his voice tinged with concern. "It hasn’t even been a month. Take a moment to think—before you regret this hastiness. This could cost you your life. There would be no going back."

Disha looked at him, her gaze steady and unwavering. With a stern expression, she replied, "At this point in my life, I have nothing to lose, but a lot to give. It’s not about what others think; it’s about what I need, Aman. I want to do this."

Rahul looked at her with pride, knowing they were both taking a huge step but believing in their decision. Together, they walked into the hospital to sign the papers that would change their lives forever.

As they emerged from the hospital, a small bundle wrapped in a soft blanket rested in Rahul’s arms. The baby stirred slightly, eyes fluttering open for just a moment before falling back asleep. Rahul and Disha looked down at the child, their child now, with a sense of hope and purpose.

Rahul smiled down at the baby, then looked at Disha. "What do you think about the name 'Krishna'?"

Disha’s face softened, her eyes filling with warmth. "Krishna… yes. It’s perfect. After all, he brought us together, just like Krishna was raised by loving parents who weren’t his biological ones."

Rahul nodded, his heart swelling with emotion. "Krishna it is, then."

As they stood there, the weight of the world lifted just a little, replaced by a quiet peace. Krishna was theirs now, and no matter what challenges lay ahead, they knew they had made the right choice. They were a family, and together, they would raise this child with all the love they had to give.

The future was uncertain, but it was filled with possibility.

Krishna’s eyes fluttered open again, and for the first time, Rahul and Disha saw a hint of a smile.