Chapter 61

Part 62 – Congratulations!

 

             After a few months, Isha's stomach was starting to appear. She had never looked so…big in her life. Being a dancer, she had always maintained her weight and made sure that she never got fat. Anything extra weight you saw in her was not fat; it was muscle from the countless hours of dancing. Now, it was a clich to say that she was a dancer. Her stomach was huuuggee! It was so big that Isha could no longer see her feet if she looked down. She was actually looking pregnant. And everyone was taking care of her more than ever. Tulsi maa had given her so many herbs and medicine to take that if it weren't for Nisha and Eklavya, she would have never remembered any of them. Nisha and her yoga classes were also doing fine but as Isha got bigger, she felt as if she couldn't stretch anymore. Just bending down was becoming a mission itself. Then there was Damini maa, who was making sure Isha did everything as to her command. She made sure Nisha slept properly, ate her vitamins, irons pills, took no carbonated drinks, eating healthy and eating the proper foods. Luckily today, nobody was there with her. They all had gone to the temple to pray to God for a healthy child. And Eklavya had an important business meeting so he couldn't stay with her.

 

             Isha walked stealthily downstairs as if she were a robber. If anyone knew she was out of bed, they would kill her. Even though she wasn't supposed to eat anything that wasn't on the regular diet, Isha had just gotten a sudden craving for spicy food. She went into the kitchen and opened the fridge. She got out some Mexican rice that Nisha and Manthan had brought from a restaurant the other night. She heated it and finally popped a spoonful in her mouth. Hmmm, it tasted so good. After all these months, finally, some real food! Suddenly, Isha felt a kick. It wasn't the first time but this kick was very hard. It was almost as if with one more kick her baby would come right out.

 

             Isha sat down and put the rice away. Suddenly she didn't feel like eating rice either. What she really wanted to do was just curl up into a ball and sleep but with her stage in pregnancy, it was hard to curl up into anything. There was a gush of pain down there and she tried her best to stop it by hugging herself but that didn't work. Soon, the pain turned excruciating and Isha could no longer handle it. It was such a powerful cramping in the lower abdomen. As soon as she got up, she realized that her water had just broken. She fumbled with the phone, slightly worried, and reached Eklavya.

 

E: Hi, Isha, are you ok? Koi problem thi?

I: Eklavya, I think -  I'm going into labour.

E: WHAT!?

I: Yea, I'm –

E: You wait there – Oh, my gosh, - I should be there with you right now!! – Just wait 5 minutes ok? Keep talking to me – And don't worry! – I'll be there! – Are you ok? – Isha, don't move! Ok? – Just stay calm and breathe in and out, in and out -

 

             As Isha continued talking on the phone with Eklavya, a car appeared on the driveway. Eklavya stepped inside and ran towards Isha. He pocketed his cell phone and lifted Isha up. After a few minutes, they reached the hospital. Eklavya asked for a wheelchair and set Isha down gently on it. The pain was just growing and growing for Isha but the fact that Eklavya was here and her sister – her sister!!

 

I: Eklavya, Nisha! Call her – and – tell her that I'm –

E: I called them up! Don't talk too much, Isha. They're coming in 5 minutes.

 

             Eklavya pushed Isha's wheelchair to the birthing room. Isha changed into the blue patient robes of the hospital with the help of some nurses. Her pain was growing steadily and it was becoming hard for her to move. A few minutes later, everyone else arrived. Isha continued feeling her pain but was happy to see Nisha, Tulsi dadi, Baa and Damini right by her side. After what felt like hours of agonizing pain, they heard the baby's first cries. The doctor wrapped the baby and gave it to Isha and Eklavya.

 

D: Congratulation! It's a girl!

                                                      

                                              Hope you guys like it!

                                                                      -Pooja

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