The moment Vayu whispered, “Two of us are one now,” I felt an overwhelming surge of love.
It was the perfect moment, a moment I couldn’t let pass. My heart raced, and I knew I had to tell him—right now.
Without hesitation, I took his hand and gently placed it on my belly. His brows furrowed in confusion for a split second, but before he could ask, I whispered, "Three of us are one now, Vayu."
His eyes widened, his breath caught in his throat. The realization dawned on him, and I saw the emotion flood his face—surprise, joy, disbelief, all at once.
His grip on my hand tightened, as he asked, "Is this what I'm thinking?" his voice filled with surprise as his hand remained on my belly.
I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could say anything, Maa chimed in, "Aaj bhi baato mein lage ho! Chup ho jaao abhi, zindagi bhar phir karte rehna baatein!"
I couldn't help but chuckle and I shifted my focus back to the priest who continued chanting the mantras.
Yet, I could feel Vayu’s constant gaze on me, his nervousness barely contained.
Finally, the priest announced the completion of our marriage, pronouncing us as husband and wife.
Vayu stood up first, then extended his hand to help me. There was something different in his touch now—more gentle, protective, and warm.
We bent down to touch the feet of our elders, feeling their blessings wash over us. My heart swelled with gratitude.
As we stood up, our friends gathered around, cheering and congratulating us.
Param pulled Vayu in for a tight hug, laughing, "Bhaag to nahi paaye, par ab officially phas gaye ho!"
All through the time, Vayu’s hand was firmly placed on my waist, and I could sense his growing impatience.
He wanted to ask me everything, to confirm what I had hinted during the ceremony. His fingers absentmindedly traced circles on my side, a clear sign of his restlessness.
We settled into our chairs for dinner, surrounded by family and friends. Laughter filled the air, but I could feel Vayu’s focus entirely on me.
Finally, when he thought no one was listening, he leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Sunflower... you...” His eyes searched mine, filled with hope and anticipation.
But before he could finish, Tanu and Dhairya interrupted, their arms wrapping around us from behind. “Congratulations, you two!” they shouted, grinning from ear to ear.
Vayu sighed, clearly frustrated, but he quickly masked it with a smile.
Our families joined us for dinner, laughter and chatter filling the room as we shared stories and created memories.
After the dinner I was cleaning my hands with a tissue, standing in a corner, when suddenly, Vayu rushed toward me, urgency etched across his face.
He took my hands in his, holding them gently but firmly. “Reya, what did you mean earlier... about the three of us?” His gaze was intense, filled with a mix of confusion and excitement.
I felt my heart race as I met his eyes. This was it—the moment I had been waiting for.
I smiled at him and parted my lips to speak up when his dad called him. He muttered something under his breath and with a gentle assurance, he left.
I made my way towards Maa as they called me for the rest of the rituals after the marriage.
I was performing the rest of the wedding rituals, surrounded by women of our families, when I heard Vayu’s voice cut through the cheerful chatter.
“Aur kitna time lagega?” he asked his mom, his impatience palpable.
Laughter erupted around him as everyone found his restlessness amusing, but I knew the truth behind his urgency.
“It will take some time! Don’t come here! Go away, Vasu!” his mother scolded playfully, waving him off.
“Please make it fast, I can't wait for my wife!” He muttered, more to himself, but I could read his lips.
Before he turned to leave, our eyes locked cate fabric of my veil.
I could see his impatience through my veil—the way his eyes demanded answers, filled with curiosity and anticipation.
Each second felt like an eternity as I sensed his longing, a silent plea for the answers to the questions hanging in the air between us.
Three of us... who’s the third?
I kept replaying her words in my mind as I tried to make sense of it.
Wait… she’s Rajasthani.
Could it be something like… oh no… did she marry someone in her childhood? Is there some secret I didn’t know about?
Am I supposed to share her with someone else?
Shut up, Kashyap!
My thoughts spiraled into ridiculousness, but I couldn’t help it. The idea of sharing Reya, even the thought, drove me crazy.
What the hell am I even thinking?
I rubbed my face in frustration, trying to calm my racing thoughts.
I bolted from my chair the second I heard the words, "You can go to your wife now." My heart raced as I thanked our mothers, barely registering their amused smiles.
Without wasting a moment, I hurried towards our room—our room, here in Mussoorie.
As I approached the room, I saw Navi and my cousins standing like guards in front of the door, grinning mischievously.
"Not now, Navi!" I said, irritation creeping into my voice, as I tried to step past them. But they blocked my way, holding up their hands.
"Humara shagun?" Navi demanded, her smile growing wider.
I groaned. "You guys are robbers!"
They laughed, enjoying every second of my frustration. I realized arguing wasn’t going to get me inside anytime soon.
Hastily, I pulled out my wallet, handing it over. "Take whatever you want and just return my wallet later!" I blurted out in defeat.
Navi winked. “You're the best bhai!”
I sighed, rolling my eyes as they finally moved out of the way, laughing and high-fiving each other.
“Wait!” I stopped them, “Keep the wallet for that matter, but don't fucking disturb us till the morning!”
I twisted the knob, as I heard Navi teasing, “Don't forget to use the protection!”
Saying so, she ran away leaving me all dumbstruck!
Kahan se seekh rahi hai ye sab ye ladki?
I shook my head in disbelief and finally entered the room, locking the door behind me with a soft click.
I turned around to see Reya sitting in front of the mirror, delicately removing her jewelry, her back straight and her face glowing under the dim lights.
Our eyes met in the reflection, and something stirred in me—a wave of emotion I couldn't quite describe.
I sighed softly, loosening the safa from my head and placing it on the nearby table.
I strode toward her, my steps quickening as if pulled by an invisible force. Before either of us could fully process it, she ran straight into my arms.
Without a second thought, I lifted her off the ground, her arms wrapping around my neck as she held me tight.
The warmth of her body against mine felt like home, her heartbeat syncing with my own. For a moment, everything outside that room ceased to exist.
"Vayu," she called softly, but I cut her off, unable to hold back any longer.
"Sunflower, before you say anything, just tell me what you meant by ‘the three of us’. It's been killing me ever since you said it!"
I took a deep breath, trying to make sense of everything. "Is it like… you were already married to someone in your childhood? Did that guy just disappear and now he's back? Or did you mean 'do jism ek jaan'?"
I paused, shaking my head in confusion. "But even that doesn’t explain the three! What is going on?"
Reya burst into laughter, her head resting on my chest, leaving me even more baffled.
"Vayu, you're such an idiot," she said through her giggles, her eyes glistening with amusement and something else I couldn’t quite place.
"Wait... what? Why are you laughing?" I asked, still totally lost as I made her sit on the bed.
She gently took my hand and placed it on her stomach, her gaze softening. “Vayu…I meant…I'm pregnant!”
For a moment, my brain couldn’t process what she'd just said. Everything around me seemed to pause. My senses felt like they'd just… stopped.
I blinked a few times and, almost reflexively, asked, "You're what?"
She smiled, nodding, my hand still resting on her stomach. "I'm pregnant."
I stood up abruptly, pacing around the room like a madman. My feet had no sense of direction, my mind racing faster than I could comprehend. I scratched my forehead, completely overwhelmed.
I stopped in my tracks, staring at her—her eyes were locked on me, full of a calmness that I couldn’t fathom.
“Pregnant… you mean the one where there's a baby inside? Like… in your stomach?” I asked, pointing at her belly like it was the most confusing thing in the world.
She smiled, “It's not the stomach, Kashyap! It's the uterus.”
“Seriously?” I looked at her annoyingly, “Stop teaching me female reproductive organs, Reya!”
She chuckled and nodded again. “Yes, Vayu, that’s exactly what I mean. I'm pregnant!”
I resumed pacing like I was walking on hot coals. Reya’s voice called me to sit beside her, but I was too restless, too consumed by the chaos in my head.
Suddenly, I halted, turning to her with wide eyes. The words slipped out before I could stop them, “Is… is this baby mine?”
She narrowed her eyes, and before I could even react, a pillow came flying straight into my face.
“Kashyap, you’ve completely lost it! Aur kiska bacha hoga?” she yelled.
I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment. “I was just....”
And came another pillow, but this time, I dodged it, quickly making my way toward her. Kneeling down in front of her, I took her hand gently in mine.
“Sunflower, tell me it’s a prank!” I said, my voice half hopeful, half nervous.
She sighed, standing up with a resigned expression. Without saying a word, she walked over to the closet.
I watched her rummage through her handbag, and in a minute, she came back holding something small in her hand. Sitting down, she fished out what looked like a pregnancy test.
She showed it to me, and my heart skipped a beat. Two clear lines stared back at me.
I blinked, trying to process the moment. "That... that means..."
"Yes, Vayu," she said softly. "We're going to be parents."
My breath hitched at her words.
We’re pregnant.
Her words echoed in my ears, replaying over and over. I looked at her, calm and smiling, while my mind raced.
Then something struck me—I had asked her to take the pills. Did they fail?
I gently cupped her cheeks, my voice soft but full of concern. “Sunflower... the pills didn’t work, right? Don’t worry, you don’t need to stress out. We’ll figure this out, okay? We’ll talk to the doctor and find a way...”
I paused, searching her eyes for reassurance. “You don’t have to feel pressured, it’s okay if we... if you’re not ready. We'll do something…” I continued, my hands trembling slightly.
She placed her fingers softly on my lips, silencing me.
“Vayuu…” she began, her eyes wandering around the room, almost like she was searching for the right words.
Her voice was barely above a whisper when she finally said, “I... I didn’t take the pill.”
For a moment, I froze. My mind scrambled to make sense of what she had just said.
“You... you didn’t take the pill?” I repeated, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Did you... forget to take the pills? You’ve been so busy with your internship and the hospital,” I asked gently, searching her face for an answer.
She shook her head slightly.
“No, Vayu. I didn’t forget.”
I blinked in surprise. “Then why didn’t you take them?”
She quietly lowered herself to the floor, sitting beside me. Her fingers interlaced with mine as I continued to search her face, still trying to grasp why she hadn't taken the pills.
"I couldn’t take it," she whispered, her voice trembling, and I noticed the tears silently slipping down her cheeks.
I shifted closer, my heart aching at the sight of her tears. "Why, Sunflower?" I asked softly, brushing my thumb across the back of her hand.
"Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you talk to me about this?"
Her gaze pierced through me, and as she whispered, "Because you were at the war!"
She took a deep breath, and I could see the conflict swirling in her eyes.
“The thought of losing you always surfed around me whenever I tried to take the pills,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “As if something was stopping me from taking it.”
My heart raced as I processed her words. “So, you didn’t just forget,” I said, my tone softening. “You chose not to because... you were afraid?”
“Exactly,” she replied, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
“When you were at war, every second, I was scared of losing you,” she confessed, her voice trembling with emotion.
“The thought of never meeting you again killed me every night. Every time I tried to take the pills, it felt as if I was doing something wrong.”
I could see the pain in her eyes, and my heart ached for her. I brushed a stray tear away with my thumb.
“The thought of never seeing you again made me restrict myself from gulping the pills down my throat.”
“I…I wanted to keep a part of you alive. And luckily, I conceived.”
Her words hung in the air between us, heavy with the weight of our shared love and fear.
I pulled her into my lap, her head resting on my shoulder as I wrapped my arms around her protectively.
The warmth of her body against mine was a comfort I desperately needed.
“But what about your MS, Sunflower?” I asked, concern lacing my voice.
“Psychiatry is your dream, Reya, and you know that MS requires 36 hours of continuous duty. How will you manage everything?”
She took a deep breath, looking thoughtful for a moment before her gaze locked onto mine.
"I can do my MS after some years."
Her words hung in the air, resonating with a mixture of reassurance and sacrifice. I could see the sincerity in her eyes, the determination to prioritize our family over everything else.
“Are you sure, Sunflower?” I asked, searching her gaze for any hesitation.
“I don’t want you to feel like you’re giving up on your dreams.”
She smiled gently, brushing her thumb across my cheek. “I’m not giving up; I’m simply choosing a different path for now.”
She looked into my eyes, her expression serious yet soft, and asked, "Are you ready for it or not?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with implications. My heart raced as I considered what it meant—not just for me but for both of us.
Taking a deep breath, I replied, “Honestly? I’m terrified and excited all at once. I don’t even know how to hold a baby,” I confessed, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly.
“We can abort the baby if you—” and before she could complete her thought, I captured her lips with mine, silencing her fears.
Pulling away, I tightened my hold around her waist, looking deeply into her eyes.
“Dare you to ever say anything like this again!” I said firmly, my voice steady.
“This baby is a part of us, a part of our love. We’ll figure it out together, I promise.”
She searched my gaze, and I could see the conflict in her eyes—fear, uncertainty, but also a flicker of hope. “But Vayu, what if you're not ready?”
I brushed my thumb over her cheek, my heart aching for her worries. “Who said I'm not ready? We’ll face it together, Reya. This child is a blessing, and we will give them all the love and support they need.”
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and I gently wiped them away with my thumb.
“Just promise me you won’t ever think of ending this life, no matter how difficult things get. We will rise to every challenge, together.”
After a long moment, she finally nodded, the resolve slowly returning to her gaze. “Together,” she whispered, a soft smile breaking through the worry.
“Yes, together,” I reaffirmed, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.
I stood up and gently lifted her in my arms, carrying her over to the bed.
As I laid her down softly, I positioned myself beside her, resting my head gently over her stomach.
“Hey there, little one,” I murmured softly, feeling a sense of awe wash over me. “It’s your dad here!”
I pressed my ear against her belly, as if trying to listen for the tiny heartbeat.
“Can you hear me?” I continued, my voice a mix of excitement and tenderness. “You’re going to be one lucky kid. Your Mumma is the strongest person I know, and I promise to be the best dad ever.”
I glanced up at Reya, her eyes shining with a mixture of joy and disbelief. “You’re going to have the most amazing adventures with us. We’ll take you everywhere—hiking in the mountains, beach days, and so much more. I'll tell you how your parents fell in love and how frequently your Mumma slaps me!”
Reya narrowed her eyes and patted my shoulder slightly.
I returned my attention to her belly, speaking to the baby as if it could understand me. “And when you come into this world, I’ll make sure you have everything you need.”
I grinned, imagining the future. “I’ll teach you how to ride a bike, drive a car, throw a ball, and together we'll annoy your Mumma too. You are our little miracle.”
I leaned closer, planting a soft kiss on her belly. “I can’t wait to meet you, kiddo. Just hang tight for a little while longer, okay?"
Reya chuckled softly, and I looked up at her, unable to contain my happiness. “I mean it, Sunflower.”
.
.
.
To be continued.
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