Chapter 47

**Chapter 47: Nervous Raghav**

The OB-GYN showed up around thirty minutes later, her name was Dr. Venkataraman. She knocked on the door and found Raghav feeding Pallavi.

"Sorry to disturb you two, just want to do a quick ultrasound and set Mrs. Rao here up with some prenatal care. I'm Dr. Savitri Venkataraman, how are we feeling today?"

"Stressed, worried, nauseous," Raghav responded quickly.

Savitri laughed.

Pallavi rolled her eyes, "Raghav, she was asking about me."

"Oh, well Saree ka Dukaan — I mean Pallavi, she spent the whole day fasting, so she fainted, but doctor, now that she's eaten everything is fine, right? Pallavi, lay back down, maybe you should be eating more? Should I get her some orange juice? Juice is good during pregnancy right—" Raghav was babbling again.

Savitri interrupted, "Mr. Rao, let's calm down, take a deep breath. Yes Pallavi should be fine now, but I should tell you that you won't be able to fast for the next seven months at least, Pallavi. Understood?"

Pallavi nodded and added, "So, how far along am I? Will we be able to see anything on the ultrasound?"

"You're about 9 weeks from what I can tell," Savitri responded, and sat down on the other side of Pallavi's bed, watching Raghav catching her every word, seeming to be unable to let go of his wife's hand.

"Let's do the ultrasound, I can't promise we'll see anything yet, but I'll let you know if we do. Now this jelly will be cold."

Dr. Venkataraman applied some jelly on Pallavi's stomach, and then placed the ultrasound wand on top of it. Pallavi gasped a little at the cold feel of the jelly.

"Sorry about the cold, but let's see...ah that sounds good." Savitri said.

"What?" Raghav and Pallavi asked together.

"If you listen closely that's a heartbeat. Here let me show you." Savitri whirled the screen in front of them, and pointed out the fetus' tiny heart, and almost immediately Pallavi's eyes filled with tears.

"Pallavi, what's wrong? Does something hurt?" Raghav asked, worried.

Pallavi shook her head, "How could I be so stupid, I stayed hungry all day, and this baby.." Pallavi cried louder.

Savitri responded, "Mrs. Rao, your baby is perfectly fine. Every mother makes mistakes during their pregnancies, it's completely natural, and more importantly, babies, even ones that aren't born yet, are resilient. I promise your baby looks perfectly healthy, and if you follow your prenatal care rules, your baby will stay healthy."

Pallavi nodded, and Raghav hugged her.

"So, you can be discharged and you can head home. I'd like to see you again in a couple weeks, and make sure to fill out these prescriptions and I'll also send some pamphlets home with you about diet and exercise and other do's and don'ts for the next few months. Does that sound good?"

"Discharged? Doctor, are you kidding me? She just fainted? Aap kaunse medical school mein padthi thi?" Raghav asked, getting angry again.

Savitri was about to respond when Pallavi interrupted, "Ignore my husband, he has no idea how to talk to people. Raghav, mein teek hun."

Savitri smiled and added, "I'll make sure to send home a video of the ultrasound with you two too. You're going to make great parents." And with that she left the room.

Raghav helped Pallavi out of the bed, even though she was perfectly fine, she liked holding his hand. Immediately Raghav left the room however, and he came back with a wheelchair.

“Raghav, I don’t need a wheelchair, I can walk—“ Pallavi started.

“Chop chaap isme beto, no arguing.” Raghav interrupted.

Embarrassed, Pallavi sat in it, and Raghav wheeled her out into the hallway.

“Pallavi, are you still hurt? Why are you in a wheelchair?” Amma asked, walking up to them with Keerthi.

“Ask your silly son, he’s the one who brought this, I told him I was fine—“ Pallavi started to complain.

“Amma, your daughter in law just fainted, and then we find out she’s pregnant, and you want her to walk?!” Raghav asked, a little frustrated.

Amma and Keerthi laughed, as Pallavi crossed her arms and pouted, “Looks like bhai isn’t going to let you even lift a finger for the next few months, Pallavi Di” Keerthi added.

Raghav ignored Keerthi’s joke and wheeled Pallavi outside to the car.

“Here let me help you—“ Raghav took Pallavi’s arm.

“Raghav! You need to relax.” Pallavi laughed and got into the car herself, and then Amma and Keerthi got in. A nurse who had followed them outside took the wheelchair back into the hospital.

“Raghav” Amma said teasingly as he started the car, “How come you didn’t help your Amma into the car?”

Raghav grimaced as the three women burst into laughter, and started the car to drive them all home.

In the driveway of the house, Raghav quickly opened Pallavi’s door and immediately tried to carry her inside.

“Raghav, what the hell are you doing? You do not have to carry me in the house.” Pallavi snapped, a little embarrassed now at how protective Raghav was being.

Amma and Keerthi laughed harder. “Bhai, Pallavi Di can walk, you know that right. She’s just pregnant, she’s not actually ill.”

“Pallavi, sometimes you say I’m not sensitive enough, and now I’m being too nice? No arguing.” Raghav swiftly took her in his arms. Pallavi rolled her eyes at Amma and Keerthi, but then smiled as Raghav walked to the front door.

“Now, how will you unlock the door?” Pallavi asked, amused.

Raghav glared at her, “Tum na, mera bahut mazaak udathe ho. Chup. Amma, please open the door.”

Amma, still giggling, opened the door, and Raghav walked, without another word, even though Pallavi started to tell Amma she wanted to help with dinner, up the stairs and laid Pallavi on the bed.

“Saree ka Dukaan, stop with this middle class attitude, now. You’ve married The Raghav Rao. No more cooking, no cleaning, no doing laundry or whatever other nonsense you do.”

Pallavi sat up to protest, but Raghav held up his hand to stop her.

“Kabhi kabhi tumhara pati ka baath maan lehni chahihye. Okay?” Raghav laid her back down, “Now, sirf araam karo. I’ll handle dinner. Naidu!” Raghav yelled out Naidu’s name and he came running in the room.

“Naidu, ask Amma what needs to be made for dinner, and then make that. Also tell the rest of the staff, if any of you let Pallavi madam lift even a plate, I’ll have your jobs. Ardhamaindha?” Raghav sir’s voice was firm and Naidu could tell (even if Pallavi madam was rolling her eyes and giggling silently), this was no laughing matter.

Naidu risked a question, “But sir, if madam wants to cook, how can we stop—“ he then cowered back as Ragahv’s eyes flashed.

“Raghav, stop terrorizing everyone, main teek hun.” Pallavi said.

Raghav ignored Pallavi, “Naidu, if my wife makes the silly mistake of trying to do work, you call me immediately, and I’ll stop her. Sound good. Now go, get started on dinner.”

Naidu left, counting his blessings that Raghav sir hadn’t yelled any worse.

“Raghav,” Pallavi tried again, “you’re stressing out too much.”

“Aur kya karun? Should I dance? Should I be singing?” Raghav burst out.

Pallavi suddenly was shocked, “What do you mean? Are you saying you’re not happy that we’re having a baby?” She could feel her mood changing almost immediately, her amusement changing to sadness.

Raghav noticed her change in voice and then took her hand and sat next to her, “No no, I am happy. But tum na, bahut kaam karthi ho, and this is not done. Women when they’re pregnant need to rest, they need to relax, not worry about work. Oh no, why are you crying? I didn’t mean it—”

Pallavi wiped her tears and sat up and hugged Raghav, “What did I do to deserve such a caring husband?”

Ragahv smiled, hugging her back, “You’re not bad yourself.”

Pallavi laughed, “But you are an idiot.”

Raghav broke away from the hug, “Kya?”

“Aur nahin toh kya! You want me to sit still in this bed for the next seven months? Tum pure pagal ho.” Pallavi stood up and went to the closet, “I’m taking a shower and getting out of this saree, and then if I want to I will help Amma with dinner. And that’s final.”

Raghav protested, “But, what if you fall in the shower, I don’t think—“

Pallavi laughed, “So what? I can’t shower now?”

Raghav walked to her and took her hand, “Okay fine, go shower, but don’t keep making fun of my stress, you scared me today.”

Pallavi smiled and tugged on her ears, “Sorry.”

Raghav kissed her cheek again, “I’m sorry too, I’ll be a little less crazy…well I’ll try,” he moved his hand to Pallavi’s stomach, “for both of you.”

Pallavi smiled, “You know…you are right that the shower could be slippery. I might need help…”

“Right? Let me call Amma and she can help you—“

Pallavi put her head in her hands, “Arre dekh yeh akalmand ko.”

Raghav stopped, “What?”

Pallavi took his hand and started dragging him to the washroom, “I didn’t mean you had to call anyone else, duffer.”

Raghav smiled, “Oh, is that right?” He moved his hands around her waist, and kissed her neck, “Tum toh bahut wild niklee.”

Pallavi laughed, “You haven’t seen anything yet, Mr. Raghav Rao.”