Two months passed and Aakash and Meenakshi remained nestled in their own little bubble of bliss. Life was a serene flow of joy as they found happiness in the simplest of moments.
Meenakshi no longer woke up early to cook breakfast. Aakash insisted she sleep in while he handled the morning chores, cooking their meals, starting the laundry and hanging the clothes to dry. He took pride in completing the housework before gently waking her up to start her day.
Her morning sickness had subsided somewhat, yet the physical toll of her third trimester was becoming apparent. Standing for long hours during her classes left her exhausted and the added weight made her legs ache more than usual.
Aakash became her personal nutritionist, preparing healthy meals and packing fresh fruits and juices for her to take to school. Meenakshi often felt guilty seeing him shoulder so much of the burden, but her fatigue was real. She managed to cook dinner when she returned from school and rested, later folding the clothes and washing the few vessels used for cooking.
Seeing her struggle, Aakash had become incredibly mindful of her comfort and stepped back from physical intimacy unless she initiated it or expressed a craving for him. Instead, his nightly ritual involved massaging her tired legs until she drifted into a deep sleep. During their checkups, the doctor confirmed that their baby was growing perfectly.
One evening, Aakash returned from the office to find Meenakshi in the kitchen, having finished dinner as usual.
“You should really rest, Meena,” he said, walking over and kissed her forehead.
“I would have handled the cooking. Or we could have ordered from the nearby mess, they provide great home-cooked food and once in a while, it wouldn’t do any harm.” he added further.
Meenakshi didn’t say a word, she simply leaned into him, burying her face against his chest. Aakash gently set his bag on the coounter and held her close, caressing her hair. She did this every day now, seeking the quiet comfort of his presence to wash away the day’s fatigue. He waited until she pulled back with a tired smile before pinching her cheek and headed to the bedroom to change.
Later, while Aakash was massaging her legs, his eyes drifted to her growing baby bump. He leaned down and pressed a tender kiss against her stomach before resuming the massage.
“Slim women don’t usually have such a huge bump at six months,” Meenakshi whispered, watching him. Aakash moved up to lie beside her.
“Meena, our baby is just growing healthy inside you. I know the mood swings and the changes are a lot to handle, but aren’t you different from everyone else? My Meena is a strong woman, you’re an example to others. You are beautiful, and besides… am I not being a good husband?” he asked playfully.
“You are the best and that is exactly why I’m so big now.” she said, pointing to her belly
Aakash chuckled and Meenakshi rested her head on his chest, idly playing with his shirt buttons.
“Aakash, we need to plan our future. I’ll have to take a break from school in the next two months. Since I’m new there, I won’t be receiving maternity pay. We need to be smart about this.” she said and her voice turned serious.
Aakash felt the underlying worry in her voice. “Meena, I wanted you to work because you enjoyed it, but you don’t have to stress about the future. I can handle everything. Just relax and let’s focus on the baby.” he said kissing her crown.
Meenakshi shook her head. “It’s not just about the money, Aakash. It’s about having a sustainable plan. I want to support you. I’ve been thinking, I could start taking tuitions from home now. Once I take my break, we will still have a steady income. I can even start online classes. We could eventually hire someone for a few hours a day to help take care of the baby while I teach.”
Aakash sat up, taking her hand in his. “You are going to need so much rest. Do you really think that’s feasible with a newborn?” he asked worried.
“Listen, newborns sleep most of the time when they aren’t hungry. And since you won’t let me do any housework anyway, I could easily spend two or three hours in the evening for tuitions and a bit of time in the morning for online classes. We can manage, Aakash. I don’t want to miss the chance to build a better future for us. Please, don’t say no.” she pleaded.
Aakash nodded, though his expression remained hesitant. “I’m not entirely sure if this is the best idea for your health, but I can’t deny you anything when you ask like that. Let’s give it a try.” he said and Meenakshi beamed, opening her arms for a hug.
“My baby,” Aakash mumbled, leaning his face against her chest as he held her gently.
“We also need to plan your baby shower. We got married in such a simple way, but I want your baby shower to be grand. The naming ceremony, too.” Aakash said dreamily.
“Don’t get any big ideas. We don’t need a grand celebration. A simple one like our wedding will do with just close friends and relatives, right here at home.” Meenakshi said firmly.
“Please, Meena, let’s do it in a party hall. We have a huge circle of friends now and we definitely can’t forget your ‘fan club’. Let’s book a small hall at least. I want to see you all dressed up, sitting on a stage, with everyone blessing you and our child. It’s my wish, Meena. Don’t worry about the money. I’ve earned and spent so much on everyone else in the past and now, I want to spend it on my wife and our baby.” Aakash urged.
Understanding the depth of his emotions and his desire to finally celebrate his own family, Meenakshi finally nodded in agreement.
“Alright and tomorrow, I’ll talk to the security guard at the gate. I’ll post my contact details and our flat number so people can reach out for tuitions.” she said with a smile.
“Fine, the score is one-one. No more demands for tonight.” Aakash said with a satisfied grin.
They drifted off to sleep, their minds filled with plans for the new life they were building together.
The next morning, Aakash and Meenakshi met with the security guard at the gate. They explained their plan to place a notice at the entrance informing residents about Meenakshi’s new tuition classes. The guard agreed and by the time Meenakshi returned home that evening, she had an A4 sheet ready with her name and contact details.
She watched as the guard taped the notice to the wall beside the gate. Almost immediately, a few women nearby turned their attention toward her, eager for more information. Meenakshi patiently explained her qualifications and her experience as a professional teacher. By the time she reached her front door, four students were already confirmed to start the following day.
She turned on the TV and sank into the sofa to relax for a moment as a wave of contentment washed over her.
“We need to plan more, but one step at a time. know you’ll be kind, just like your father. We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without your support. Be with us for every milestone, baby. Your father deserves a peaceful life after running around for others all these years and so do we. Let’s make a better life for ourselves.” she whispered to herself, gently touching her baby bump.
Suddenly, she felt a distinct thud from within. “Oh my god, did you just kick?”
A wide smile spread across her face. she stood before the bedroom mirror, watching the slight movements of her belly. She grabbed her phone and dialed Aakash and he picked up instantly.
“How are you, Meena? Did you have your fruits and milk?” he asked and the sound of his laptop keys clicked in the background.
“Aakash, our baby kicked just now. We have felt movements before, but today was a real kick, a strong one.” she said and the typing stopped abruptly. Aakash’s happiness was evident in the silence that followed before he spoke.
“Really? Oh my god… does that mean we’ll feel them more often now?” he asked curiously.
“I think so and I have more good news. Four students are already confirmed to start tuition tomorrow.” Meenakshi said happily.
Aakash wished her luck, his voice full of pride, before hanging up. When he returned home later that evening, he wasn’t empty-handed. He brought sweets and immediately knelt before Meenakshi, resting his hands on her bump.
“Baby, did you kick Amma? Give a kick to Appa too,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her belly. To his delight, he felt a small, firm nudge in response. Tears welled in his eyes and Meenakshi reached down to wipe them away, ignoring her own.
Aakash rose and kissed her forehead and drew her into a gentle hug. No words were spoken, the silence in the room was heavy with a love that didn’t need a script.
Later, Meenakshi shared the tuition details in her WhatsApp groups. Within minutes, her phone began to explode with notifications.
“Aakashhhhhhhh ” she screamed and Aakash nearly tripped over his own feet rushing into the bedroom. Seeing her beaming smile, he clutched his chest and took a long, shaky breath.
“God, you scared me, Meena. What happened? Why did you scream?” he asked her.
“Look at these messages. Everyone wants coaching for their children and some are asking for online options. Aakash, I have an idea. We should ask other subject teachers to help and schedule subject-wise classes. Hema is a math genius and we just need a science teacher. We can share the fees with them.” she said, sitting up on the bed.
Aakash was stunned by her initiative. “Wow, Meena… that’s amazing.”
Meenakshi immediately grabbed a notebook to draft the plan. She called Hema, who jumped at the opportunity and promised to find a reliable science teacher.
“Let’s post this on social media. If we get enough students for the online classes, we might eventually be able to stop the evening sessions at home so you can rest more.” Aakash suggested.
They spent the evening creating social media accounts, inviting friends and sharing the post about their new online coaching center.
The next morning, Aakash was a whirlwind of productivity. He rearranged the sofa and table in the hall to create more space for the students. He booked an auto for Meenakshi to ensure her commute was comfortable, then headed to a nearby supermarket. He returned with water bottles, a white board, markers and a duster. He fixed the board to the wall, filled the bottles, and tucked them into the fridge. Only after ensuring everything was perfect did he head to his own office.
When Meenakshi returned that evening, she froze at the sight of the white board. Written in Aakash’s steady hand was: ” Wish you good luck, Meena“.
She traced the words with a smile. Moving into the kitchen, she found a sticky note on the counter explaining that the water bottles were ready for the children. Beneath a casserole, she found another note. “Please don’t cook. Wait for me to return home. Have the juice and fruits”
The tears came then, born of the sheer weight of his devotion. “I want to hug you. I want to kiss you,” she mumbled, wiping her eyes.
Suddenly, she felt his arms slide around her waist. She turned to find him smiling at her. She threw her arms around his neck and Aakash pulled her close.
“You are spoiling me,” she whispered, playfully pinching his chest.
“I think you mentioned something about a kiss,” he teased.
Meenakshi pulled his collar and kissed him deeply. Aakash groaned into the kiss, his hands moved to her curves, his desire briefly took hold before he pulled back, mindful of their situation. He smiled at her, but Meenakshi gave him a knowing wink.
“I want you tonight. Let’s celebrate,” she whispered.
Aakash pinched her cheeks. “Let’s get you ready before the children arrive.”
Meenakshi changed into a fresh salwar while Aakash poured her juice and prepared the fruit. Soon, the doorbell rang. They shared one last look before Meenakshi opened the door to find ten children standing there with their parents.
Aakash created a register and noted down the students names while Meenakshi held a brief orientation with the parents. Once the class began, Aakash placed the water bottles on the table and retreated quietly to the bedroom so as not to disturb them.
He opened his laptop and checked the social media responses for the online classes. He began meticulously listing each inquiry, ready to discuss the next stage of their future with Meenakshi later that night.
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