Chapter 64

Manjari arrived at the apartment and with the help of security she found their parking space and parked the car. Pulling the trolley she entered the elevator and her mood was totally ruined the moment she stepped out of the elevator.

Manjari: This is just some ordinary apartment, how did he find a place to live here ?

She stomped on her feet and pressed the door bell waiting ready to lash out on him but shut her mouth on seeing the maid. She entered inside and saw the flat was a very simple one exact opposite to her expectations. The maid pointed her finger to a room for her and Manjari glared at her before she pushed open the door. Once again she stood shocked on seeing the room which was too simple with only a bed and a closet that was too small. There was no tub in the bathroom and there was no balcony. Gritting her teeth she stormed out and checked the other rooms which were comparatively better and the actually the master bed room looked good.

Manjari returned to the hall and heard sounds from the kitchen. She ambled over to check and saw Vimal preparing coffee for him.

Manjari: What the fuck have you done ? You call this home ?

Vimal: My home… yes this is my home and I love this. I chose this place for my peace so watch your tone. I don’t want the neigbours to hear what is happening at my home.

Manjari: I hate this place, find some other better home.

Vimal: No, this is where I will live and its upto you stay or walk out but do remember to send me divorce papers before you walk out.

Manjari: You are doing this for revenge ? I can do a lot Vimal.

Vimal: You should be atleast my enemy to plan a revenge but you are no one to me so shut the fuck up.

Manjari: I will call our parents and let them see the place you chose.

Vimal: Do that and I will happily move in with my parents but I don’t think you will be happy to live with us as a family.

Manjari clenched her fist and walked out of the flat. She drove to office since she didn’t want to reveal anything to her parents especially Rishi. As soon as she entered her room, she saw Finance head ready for the second day session of the resilience building program. The head smiled at her and called her too but Manjari glared at her and shut her eyes. She stayed in the room and until Rishi entered to check on her after he received the information from Sudhir that she hasn’t joined the session.

Rishi: Manjari, why are you here and not in the conference room ?

Manjari: Bro, I m not feeling well so I can sit and participate in any of their activities.

Rishi: Let me call the doctor then.

Manjari: No bro, its just a headache and I can manage.

Rishi left from there and returned with a pill and passed it to her with water.

Rishi: Its a very important program Manju, please have this pill and go attend the session. I made this a mandatory program and I don’t want my employees to gossip that I m favoring my sister. Be a good girl and now I want you to get back immediately.

Manjari was boiling in anger but she forced a smile and gulped the pill before she walked out the room. Rishi huffed and returned to his room feeling frustrated over her behaviour.

Rishi: I have been extremely patient and even the employees are holding back themselves for my sake. I m trying so much to put some sense and now even this attempt is to make her realize what she is doing.

Rishi looked at his father who was seated on the couch and took an exaggerated breathe.

Raghavan: I will invite Vimal and Manjari to stay with us for a while. Let me see what is happening between them.

Rishi: Trust me dad, she will come up with a lovey dovey reason to avoid and Vimal would say he is busy with his business.

Raghvan: We could do nothing unless they open up about their problem so lets wait for the cat to be out.

Rishi bobed his head and Raghavan pat his shoulder before he took his leave.

A week later:

Manjari stopped her throwing tantrums and attitude towards the employees at office. She stopped giving witty replies against Aadhi which was surprise but just like Rishi guessed both Vimal and Manjari denied Raghavan’s request to stay at his home for a few days.

Aadhi was feeling exhausted and she herself started worrying about it. Rishi forced her to stay home to rest and promised to return early. Rishi was in a meeting but he was worried about Aadhi and her health.

At home Aadhi woke up and felt dizzy that she decided to stay in bed for a longer time. She received a call from Chaitra and answered in sleepy tone.

Chaitra: Hey sleepy head, you haven’t gone to office today ?

Aadhi: No Chaitu, I m tired. How about you, are you in office ?

Chaitra: Its my special day so I m home watching a movie with lot of snacks and ice cream. Arghhhh Aadhi, it hurts like a bitch. God why do we have to go through all these. I hate these days, keep me company. Lets gossip and wait a minute, let me take Malu on call too.

Aadhi sat up holding her head in shock and immediately opened the calender in her mobile. She closed her mouth in shock realizing she had missed her periods for more than 50 days. She opened the draw of the night stand and noticed she had missed taking contraceptive pills.

Aadhi: Chaitu, baby I will call you later, I m so sorry.

She cut the call and dailed Rishi immediately. Rishi was in the meeting but on seeing Aadhi’s call he answered it immediately.

Rishi: Aadhu, are you ok ?

Aadhi: Rishu, I’m fine but I miss you so  could you please come home, drive safe please.

She cut the call before he could reply and made her way to washroom to refresh before Rishi would arrive. She did her chores and sat on the bed grappling with her emotions.

Aadhi: What if I m pregnant ? Will Rishu be happy ? He didn’t want a baby for atleast the next 3 months. How would he react now ? Would he think I did this on purpose ?

She leaned on the head rest and started biting her nails unable to get hold of her emotions. On the other hand Rishi looked beweildered at the way Aadhi cut the call. He sure knew something was wrong and couldn’t stay any longer. He informed Sudhir to wind up the meeting and rushed out to return home.

30 minutes later Rishi arrived home and skipped the stairs to their bedroom. He opened the door and saw Aadhi lost in thoughts and tears on her cheeks which broke his heart.

Rishi: Aadhu…

He was before her in a fraction of a second and engulfed her in a hug. Aadhu broke down in his embrace which scared him a lot.

Rishi: Aadhu, baby.. what happened ? Are you feeling any pain ? Lets go to the hospital.

Aadhi shook her head and Rishu pulled back from the hug to convince her to visit a doctor. He cupped her face and wiped her tears and kissed her forehead.

Rishi: Baby, I hate to see your tears, please calm down and tell me what happened. You are scaring me.

Aadhi: Rishu, will you scold me or would you feel upset and bad if I say that I didn’t do something you wanted me to do and something happened because of that but I m sure you will love the something, just the timing of the something happened is unexpected.

Rishi: Love, I m going mad not knowing what is happening with you. Aadhu calm down and tell me clearly please, baby..

Aadhi: Rishu, my studies are over and I now work as intern at your office so there won’t be any problem if I had to stay home for few months to rest right ?

Rishi: Ofcourse baby, you are free to stay home as long as you want. I will support you in everything.

Aadhi: You already got permission from principal that I will only attend my exams right ?

Rishi: Yes baby, you don’t have to report to your college too, you just stay home relax, focus on your studies and exams. Now please tell me what happened to you ?

Aadhi: Rishu, I love you so much and I forget everything when you are around me.

Rishi: Yes love, I love you a lot and even I forget the world. You are on my thoughts all the while.

Aadhi: You are a beast, pervert and exhaust me that I forget everything and think only about you and how you make love to me.

Rishi cupped her face and crashed his lips with her lips stopping from talking further. He kissed her, stroke her back and raked his fingers through her hair until he felt her relax in him. He pulled back from the kiss and wiped her tears and moved the hair from her face.

Rishi: I love you Aadhu, now tell me what happened.

Aadhi: Rishu, I forgot the contraceptive pills and now I missed my period. Its been already 50 days so what if I m pregnant and all that I feel are symptoms of pregnancy ? I You didn’t want to have a baby until my exams are over and .. and…will you be upset Rishu ? I m not sure if I m pregnant but if I m, then its our baby Rishu. Would you feel …

Rishi placed his finger on her lips and stopped her talking further.

Rishi: Aadhu, yes I wanted us to wait until your exams but that doesn’t mean I will be upset or feel bad if you are pregnant now. I knew things won’t be exactly under our control when we decided to consummate our marriage. Also I could have checked or forced you to gulp a pill every time we did the deed like I did for the first time but I didn’t do that. I saw the pain in your eyes the first time you took the pill so I didn’t want to force you further. Infact I let you to decide if you really wanted to take the pill to avoid pregnancy.

Aadhi moved to his lap and wrapped her arm around his neck while Rishi wrapped his arm around her waist to hold her safe.

Rishi: Were you crying that I would not be happy if we are having a baby now ?

Aadhi: I don’t know, I was too emotional when I found that I haven’t got my periods.

Rishi: Its ok that intentionally or unintentionally you skipped the pills but tell me, will you be happy if we are pregnant now ? Are you ready for the commitment, especially you are yet to start your career ?

Aadhi: I will be very happy Rishu and its not like I won’t work forever, its just a break for few months. Will you be happy Rishu ?

Aadhi felt his palm caressing abdomen gently and Rishi pecked her eyes.

Rishi: I don’t know what would be the result but now, just imagining our baby in you gives me goosebumps. I would be the happiest man on this earth to know that we would be having our baby. Its like, I m already impatient to see you walk around with a babybump so if even if you are not pregnant now then we shall take a break and let me work hard to bring our baby. What say ?

Aadhi chuckled and hugged him burying her face in the crook of his neck. Rishi fed her first and without any delay he drove her to the hospital to confirm before they start their celebrations. All the way they were feeling nervous and excited at the same time that their palms turned chill.

Rishi and Aadhi entered the doctor’s room with whom he had booked a special appoinment. As per doctor’s advice the nurse lead Aadhi for a urine and blood test. Aadhi returned to Rishi and he entwined their fingers and squeezed to give her the comfort.

In less than 30 minutes Rishi and Aadhi were called by the doctor and they were impatient to know the results and the doctor’s smile gave the answers.

Doctor: Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Rishi, its a positive. Mrs. Aadhira is pregnant.