December 22nd, 2004
Life was utter amazing. It took four days for Chander and Teja to come home, but Neela and Michael were ready. Chander and Teja was perfect babies, even though they cried a lot. Michael beamed with pride.
"Come here, Princess." Michael picked Teja out of her crib. She clung to him as tight as she could. "Mommy is downstairs feeding Chander." He walked downstairs, cradling Teja like precious cargo.
"Teja's turn." Neela said laying Chander on his blanket, "Chander needs to be burped.
"Got it momma." Michael said handing her Teja.
"Hey, sweetpea." Neela smiled cradling Teja. She helped the baby latch on to her breast. She winced. "I'll never get used to this."
"What does it feel like?" Michael asked.
"Like someone stapling your nipples." Neela chuckled. Michael grimaced. he was proud of Neela for all that she was doing for the growth of his family.
"We're so lucky." Michael said, "We've been blessed."
"I know." Neela said, "I still cannot believe that they're here. My little angels."
Neela groaned loudly as she opened her eyes. It was two o'clock in the morning and the twins were screaming their heads off. She nudged Michael.
"They're both up." She mumbled. Michael grunted.
"We just put them down." He said glancing at the clock, "Two hours ago. I need more than two hours of sleep." The two of them laid there, listening. Then Neela groaned.
"I need help, Michael." She said sitting up. He watched her slide out of bed and move o of the room. Michael sighed deeply. No one told him twins were going to be this fun. His mother should have warned him. Wait, she did tell him. He just wasn't listening. Michael got out of bed and walked to the nurseries. Neela was in Chander's already so he went into Teja's. The baby was screaming her little head off.
"Daddy is here." He picked her up and looked at her tear streaked cheeks. "I feel like we just did this two hours ago. Wait…We did." He kissed her forehead and picked her bottle up off of the floor. Michael sat in the rocking chair and began to feed her.
Michael watched his daughter eat. Her little eyes were fluttering shut. Milk was dribbling out of her mouth. The sight made him smile. There was silence in the house. No babies screaming and no parents groaning.
"You are asleep." Michael whispered as he slowly stood up. He couldn't jostle her. She woke up at the slightest sound and the slightest movement. Michael carefully lay the sweet baby down in her crib. Michael still couldn't believe that little creature was his. It would never sink in.
December 29th, 2004
Neela sat in front of the television watching the news coverage of the Tsunami. Her heart thumped in her chest. She knew people who lived there. She had friends whom she couldn't reach. She didn't want to get that phone call…just like she didn't want to hear about Michael getting shipped off ever.
"Anyone home?" Jacqueline knocked on the back door and walked in.
"We're in the living room, Mom." Neela said tearing her eyes away from the television.
"Hey." Jacqueline tiptoed over to the swings and grinned at her grandchildren, "I haven't seen you in four days and it seems you're already bigger."
"They have Buddha bellies now." Neela laughed, "Can you believe this?" Jacqueline looked at the television and shook her head.
"I'm trying to not think about all of this. I'll donate my money." She said with a sigh, "There's so much to be thankful right now. It makes you hold the twins a little tighter doesn't it?"
"Oh yes." Neela smiled watching Jacqueline pull Chander out of his swing.
"Did you know anyone who lived in that region?" Jacqueline asked. Neela nodded.
"A few handful of friends. I'm sure they're okay though." She said, "They weren't really close to the coast, but too close for my comfort you could say."
"If you need any help, let me know. The Gallants do have connections." She said. Neela chuckled.
"Michael already informed me of that." She said. "Thank you."
"No problem." Jacqueline said, "Mind if I ask you a personal question?"
"Go ahead." Neela told her.
"I know before you and Michael were married, you were exploring a lot of different religions like Muslim and Judaism. Have you found one that suits you yet?" She asked. Neela chuckled at her terms.
"After being married in a Catholic church, I think it'll suit me just fine." Neela said, "But I do want to raise these children knowing about the Jewish people, Islam, Buddhists, and everything else. I think it makes people better knowing about everyone's different religions."
"I agree." Her mother-in-law said, "And I'll have you know, I was raised to be a wonderful black jewish girl, but it was when I met Mr. Gallant I started to explore other possibilities."
"You sound a lot like me." Neela chuckled.
"It's just that the Gallant men choose wonderful and Intelligent women." Jacqueline said.
"That they do." Neela looked down at her twins. "I have been blessed haven't I?"
"More than you know." Jacqueline said, "just wait until you have two walking twins, talking twins, and all of that stuff."
"I can't wait." Neela said sarcastically as Michael walked into the front door. He stared at his mother.
"Oh, hey." He smiled "what are you doing here?" Michael walked over and kissed each of his children and then his wife. It warmed Jacqueline's heart to see that.
"I just wanted to make sure Neela was all right and I wanted some grandbaby sugar." She said.
"Their sugar costs a home cook meal." Michael winked.
"Oh you hush." Jacqueline smiled watching her son with his children. He was so careful and treated them like china dolls. She had certainly done right when she raised him. Now he seemed to be doing right with raising his own children. As the Movie said, it's the circle of life.
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