Chapter 42: Chapter 42

"All those clichés, those things you hear about having a baby and motherhood - all of them are true."

Shree's Perspective

The orange sunbeams crawled in my verandah as sun decided to bid its goodbye, leaving the aching souls to relax and rejuvenate before starting a new day. I sipped my coffee, watching the sunset, lost in thoughts. Two years. It had been two years, since we'd moved into Udaipur, permanently. It all seemed like a day before when we moved out from our nest, when we made our own nest. Abhimanyu had been totally busy with his projects and I was alone. In this loft condo.

Sighing, I got up and turned to go inside the hall when suddenly earth rotated for me with supersonic speed, and I had to grip on the banister to support myself.

This was happening a lot lately. I would eat something and retch up instantly after that. Abhimanyu's cucumber smell was nauseating to me. Coffee was proving out to be the best beverage I'd ever tasted. My head would hurt at moments and I would sleep a lot.

Abhimanyu said I'm being a slog, he had completely refrained me from attending the office and I was being appointed to see Dr. Mala. My cell phone rang up and I picked it up in second ring, "Hey, Rhea! You coming?"

"At your doorstep babe. Come out." She responded and cut the call. I swiveled my handbag and trudged out, waving at her.

"Why your face is so pale?" She asked, concerned as soon as I reached to her and I sneezed, sniffing afterwards, "I'm sick."

"What's wrong with you?" She pressed her palm on my forehead, "You don't have fever! Are you allergic?"

"I don't know." I shrugged, sitting inside the car, "Anyways, why are you coming to clinic? Are you sick, too?"

"Please ha!" She made a face, showing me her hand, "I am to escort you to there as per your husband's order. He just yapped in my ear since morning to accompany you."

I rolled my eyes at him, "Who has asked you to tell him that you're coming here in Udaipur?"

"Sorry, my bad. I should've known that your phone would be switched off and I would've known that you must be sick then I should definitely didn't call Abhimanyu and ask him about you." She jeered and I laughed, "How's Akshat?"

"He's in Jaipur. I came here to spend some quality time with my in laws." She sighed, her sudden change in tone catches me alert but I shooed it off, I was already stressed with my health.

Oh! That reminded me, Ms. Rhea Kulkarni had officially converted into Mrs. Rhea Divan after we settled into Udaipur. She had her wedding the unfortunate month when Abhimanyu and I moved out from my in laws' home. They'd been living in Jaipur itself but since Akshat was basically from Udaipur. I had the benefits of meeting her very often. Though, I missed her so much, because earlier we used to meet regularly.

"Mrs. Chauhan. Your number is next." The receptionist apprised me and I nodded, sitting in the waiting lounge. The bile rose up in my throat the poignant smell of medicines. I pressed my hand over my mouth and ran up to the toilet, ignoring Rhea's calls.

Emptying all my guts, I leaned supporting my hands onto the wash basin. Is it because of the Rajma-Chawal I had yesterday? Or is the inventive Dam Chicken I made last week?

Ugh!

Rinsing my face, I came out to witness an exasperating Rhea. She held on to me, taking in my appearance and her perfect forehead creased. "What happened?"

"I don't know. I think I ate up something acidic." I replied, pressing my forehead.

"Are you, by any chance, expecting?" She popped the question, out of nowhere and I rolled my eyes, "We use protection. Not possible" and brushed past her but she nagged, "Babe. Protections are not the assurance of sperm assassination and the amount of love, he bore for you. I think, you should've gotten pregnant way before."

"Shut up!" I told her off, blushing profusely. I got up as receptionist called my name and entered the cabin of Dr.Mala Awasthi.

"Please have a seat." She beckoned, reading my reports and then simultaneously, checked my pulse and eyes. Not to mention, shoving torch to make me almost blind.

"Are you on pills?" She asked and I replied awkwardly, "I was but actually I...missed them simultaneously since last a few weeks. We switched on to other alternatives."

Her lips curled up in a smile, "I see. Well, then you've an intruder there. Congratulations, you're pregnant."

Rhea squeaked happily, hugging me, "Congo, soon to be Mamma." And it took complete one minute fifty five seconds to comprehend what she said to me.

I slowly put my hand on my belly, trying to contemplate that if there was any movement or not. I am pregnant. I have a life in there. In my stomach, somewhere near my digestive system, in my tiny uterus. There's life breathing.

My eyes brimmed with tears, happy tears as I couldn't assess when I made this baby. A night back, a week back, a month back. An exhilarating grin broke out on my face and I responded to the hug Rhea was giving me.

"Thank you, doctor." I whispered, shyly and she smiled at me, "We still need to get the blood test done and that can be the confirmation."

I gave my blood test and confirmed about the reports before coming back home. I have a baby. A little tiny winy baby. It's in here. In me.

"I want to surprise him!" I confessed, looking at Rhea and she grinned, "I am so happy for you."

***

Lying on my bed and gawking at the ceiling, I ran my hand on to my belly. "Hey little munchkin, can you hear me?"

"There's a little problem, munchkin. Your dad, he is kind of stupid and your mamma is very afraid as to how reveal your existence." I pouted, talking to my baby. "I don't want to freak out your dad."

ESV contorted her face, 'It's just a clot of blood and flesh, now. It can't hear you. Besides, you can trash on him, sister. You didn't make it alone; neither did you order it on eBay. He was equally responsible.'

"No..." I sighed, putting the delicious goodie down, "That's what the problem is. What if he reasons that he doesn't want to keep it? He doesn't like kids."

"Wait a sec. Why won't he keep you? He has no choice but to accept you munchkin. Don't worry; your mamma will make everything right. Don't take stress, munchkin. Mamma loves you." I grinned, rubbing my belly, trying to connect to my munchkin.

The car tires screeched his presence in our adobe and I got up. I cleaned up the bed and put the plate on the Ottoman, "Okay. Don't let him know that something's wrong with you. Don't let him even read you and...Be brave." I emboldened myself before emerging out in hall and opened the door.

Abhimanyu was standing on the door, with his hand reached up high to press the doorbell and his tie hanging low around his neck, gracefully.

His face lit up as he saw me and stepping inside, he pulled me closer to him, involuntarily making me wreath my arms around his neck and his lips swept down on mine, showing how much he missed me and how tiring was his day.

Contented, I closed my eyes and leaned in to intake his cucumber cologne, once my favorite, but today that happens to rose up the bile in my throat and I, unwontedly, backed off, making him frown.

No no no...Little munchkin. Don't do that.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. You're early? I thought you said you would be late today. Not that I am complaining." I murmured, keeping my chin on his chest, pursing my lips and he grazed his lips on my forehead, compelling my eyes to nictate.

"I was missing you." He murmured back, eliciting my chuckle and I paltered. "People will call you henpecked, Y'know! Also, I never knew you how much you miss me. Come inside, I'll bring water for you."

He sighed, coming inside and plopped on the sofa, meanwhile I poured him water and put the pan on the stove for his tea, "Anyways, did you see the doctor? What's wrong with your health? When will you get the reports?"

"Hang on!" I narrowed my eyes at him, passing the water, sitting beside him and the moment ESV prodded, 'Tell him. C'mon. Be a man! Um. Be a woman!'

"No!" I said out loud and Abhimanyu frowned, looking at me, "What? You didn't go?"

"No. Yeah! I mean I went to. The doctor said, a little weakness, that's it. I will get the reports tomorrow." I lied, nervously.

"You don't okay to me." He catechized, on alert and I held my breath, biting my lip, "Nah. I am good. Don't worry." That must've added a kick to fan his hormonal flame because just a moment after that, he wrapped his arms around me and stapled me to him, tightly.

That's the point where I sensed something weird. More like retching.

No. No. Munchkin, don't! We shall give surprise to daddy. I screamed mentally as I felt the need to retch.

"I am going to meet Bharat today." He enunciated and I frowned, "Again?"

When he shrugged, I sighed, "Let him enjoy fatherhood for some days Abhimanyu. Stop burdening him with work."

Bharat had just been blessed with a cute baby girl and was temporarily on leave but Abhimanyu would find little excuses to go to hospital and disturb him.

"It is work."

"Of course it is." I nodded, agreeing, "But the happiness of being a father is most important. Let him enjoy the little moments, why the hell you want to sham him into files and contracts?"

He gaped at me, "Why are you yelling at me, sweetheart?"

I squeezed shut my eyes, "Um...sorry. I will be back."

***

It was around half past eight when he came back after meeting Bharat and I was in the kitchen. I could feel he was triggering to me and within seconds, he wrapped his hands around me, with a surprise "Boo."

"Ha. I wasn't scared." I pretentiously fleered; he put his chin on my shoulder, "Why? How you figured it's me?"

"Because instinctively I knew something dangerous is sledding to me." I pressed my lips to choke the pretentious fleer.

"Oh I am wounded! You just have surceased me with your presumptuous remark, love." He dramatically said.

"Is it superfluous to be presumptuous if I have an outsmart husband?" I grandiloquence, sneeringly and he hummed resting his chin above my head.

"Love, is something burning?" He asked, out of the blue and I looked up at him, not comprehending his meaning, so he asked, "Did you put something on stove?"

His words hit me right as I remised about the curry I left on the stove. Pushing him with interspersed glare, I spun to turn the stove off. I curled my lips out as I stirred the curry and figured that some of it was burn.

"Is it esculent, now?" He asked, peeking over my shoulder and scowling, I dug him in the ribs, "This is all because of you. If you weren't stick to me, it wouldn't happen. You really are dangerous." I twitched my lips, drawling.

"Ahaan!" He snuggled closer, circling his svelte arms around my petite waist and whispered in my ear, salaciously "Then let me show you Mrs. Chauhan how fatal danger I am!"

Erato-maniaced and aroused, I moistened my dry lips before whipping my head to look at him and lock my gaze with him. So swift, as it was, his ardent lips fell down on mine, evoking the fervor in the pit of my stomach. Slow, smoothing, soft; the kiss might be define through them but saliently, passion, possession and propitiation draws its peculiarity.

"Um...Abhi...Now go, I will serve the dinner." I mumbled and diverting my eyes from him, I resumed my work.

"It can wait." He breathed, spooning me in a hug, causing real damage to my calming breaths and turning me more hued.

"Go!" I whined, and my hands stop as he chortled, sniffing my hair, erupting the hair on my back "Why? Can't you resist me?"

"Don't boost your overly sized ego with self-made presumptions." I feigned mocking and he remained as it was, but his lips started trailing kisses on my neck. I arched my back in reflex, as he started weaving the surreal spell on me.

"I love you, y'know! I love when I am with you, no matter what the situation is." He mumbled, peppering kisses and I egged on my mind to get his drift.

"I love you so much." He made me turn and penetrating his sharp gaze in mine, clasped my hands in his and kissed my fingers "I love your hands. I love your fingers too."

"What has happened to you? You are behaving....different." I wondered, raising my eyebrow.

"Why?" He paused. "Is it necessary to have reason for loving your own wife as and when?" He questions back and I snort "No, of course not! But when husband start drenching his wife in love out of nowhere, then it has to be associated with prominent reason."

"What do you mean?"

"You never found my fingers and hands lovely then why now?"

"So? I love so many things in you. Shall I name them?" He smirked, leaning on and I bent backwards "Nope! I want the reason." I quirked.

"Alright!" He premised, looking at me expectantly "Actually, I went to see Bharat. He is very happy, y'know! His daughter is just like him." He seemed to jog his memory and a faint smile stretched on his lips, "I...want to...ask you something."

"What?"

"Before that promise me you won't deny." He said and I reckoned his words "Are you nailing to counter about your extramarital affair and ask for divorce?" I panicked and he panicked more, his eyes bawled out in shock.

"What? No! I am not going to ask for divorce." He shook his head fervently, "And I don't have any extramarital affair, for god sake. Why on earth do you think so?"

"You made it sound very cryptic. Excuse me for jumping into the conclusion." I shrugged, sheepishly looking at his offending eyes.

"Okay, leave that. Tell me what you were asking?" I initiated as he went silent, after the episode and still glaring me, he warned. "You better don't interrupt me in between, wench!"

ESV snorted, 'Wench? Wench! Seriously? He's not the man who called me deity last night?'

"You remember you told me something about fatherhood?" He asked, composing himself after the little shock and I nodded.

"Um...so." He hesitated and my anticipation grows with that. Why's he hesitating for???