Tears of Joy or Sorrow Part 20 on pg 39 - Page 18

Part 15

Ram calls Priya from his office: Hi! Just wanted to let you know we have an appointment with Dr. Jain this afternoon. Please be ready, I will pick you up at four.

Priya: Okay, thanks Ram. I will be ready.

Ram comes home for lunch and Priya is surprised and happy to see him home so early. Peehu is very excited seeing her Papa home and runs to give him a hug.

Peehu: Wah Papa! So nice to see you home for lunch.

Ram: Yes Rockstar, I know that you have are on vacation this week so wanted to surprise you and have lunch with you.

Priya pretends to be annoyed: Well! So you came home to have lunch with your daughter? She gives him a dirty look and walks away.

Ram notices the wicked grin she is trying to hide and holds her hand and pulls her close to him; he looks her in the eye and sees the mischievous glint in them: Yes my dear. It is not too often that I get a chance to eat lunch made by my beautiful wife, with my lovely daughter. Usually my wife is too busy to make time for me during lunch, so I decided to eat with my daughter today. Any problem?

Priya: Absolutely no problem Mr. Kapoor! You are most welcome to eat with my daughter any time.

Ram opens his eyes wide in wonder: Mr. Kapoor? And who is that?

Priya: My daughter's Dad.

Peehu giggles listening to her parents: Papa, I think we should let Mamma eat with us or she might not give us any aloo parathas. They smell yummy and I am hungry.

Ram tugs at Priya's arm and whispers in her ear: But I want to eat you for lunch! Priya looks at him and blushes. He looks at Peehu and very innocently tells her: Okay, we will let her eat with us.

Their playful teasing goes on for a few minutes only to be interrupted by KK and Dadi who come to the table and join them for lunch so Ram smiles at Priya and let's go of her arm. Priya smiles and serves them lunch and they all eat together. After lunch Peehu goes into her room to play and Ram goes up to his room. Priya finishes clearing up and gives instructions to Bansi Kaka about tea time snacks for Peehu and dinner menu and goes up to get ready for the doctor's appointment.

She walks into her dressing room and opens her cupboard to take out her clothes when suddenly a pair of hands wrap around her waist and pull her back. She turns her head and sees Ram as he puts his head on her shoulder. She smiles at him and can't stop the butterflies fluttering rapidly in her tummy. His proximity and touch never fails to make her heart skip a beat as she blushes and is at a loss for words.

Ram: Are you nervous about our appointment?

Priya: A little bit, I just want to get it over with.

Ram: Do I sense a feeling of impatience?

Priya turns dark red and smiles: Maybe not impatience, more of anxiety.

Ram turns her around to face him and puts his arms around her neck: I share your feelings and remember we are in this together, so please don't worry.

Priya buries her head in his broad chest and puts her arms around him holding him as close to her as possible. She feels so secure and safe in his arms and all the worry and anxiety seems to vanish. She loves the effect he has on her and wishes she could stay in them forever.

Soon they reach the doctor's office and are waiting eagerly for her arrival.

Dr. Jain: Good evening Mrs and Mr Kapoor. How are you doing?

Ram and Priya: Good evening doctor. We are fine and how about you?

Dr. Jain: I'm fine thank you. It is so nice to see you after so many years. I heard from Natasha about all that happened. I am glad you both are getting a second chance, something that is not common. I guess you are now considering another pregnancy, am I right?

Ram and Priya look at each other and blush. They turn to the doctor and nod in acceptance.

Dr. Jain: Let me see you have a five year old daughter if I am not mistaken. Did you have a normal delivery first time around?

Priya: Yes doctor. Peehu was born in Dubai. We would like to have another child so Ram was a little concerned if my age would be a deterrent. I am hoping it will not.

Dr. Jain: I understand your concern is your age. I have a few questions and then I will need to examine you before I can advice you. How long have you been sexually active, have you been taking any precautions, if yes what kind and if not is there a possibility that you could be pregnant already?

Priya and Ram are both blushing and feeling uncomfortable discussing their most intimate information with a third person, but understand the necessity to share it with their doctor. After the discussion, she takes Priya inside and both of them return after a few minutes. Ram looks anxiously at Priya, while she is not making eye contact with him. She sits down beside Ram and they are waiting for the doctor's response.

Dr. Jain: Well, from what I can see there doesn't seem to be any problem, but I will need to do some further investigation. I will send the lab technician to come in first thing tomorrow morning for some blood work and then we can talk again. If the blood reports are fine and there is no signs of any diabetes or anemia or any other reasons why it might not be advisable, I don't think I see any problem at all.

Ram: Doctor are you absolutely sure?

Dr. Jain: Like I said, we will have to wait for all the results and then we can talk. Her blood pressure is absolutely fine and clinically she is fine to conceive in my opinion, provided the other tests come back normal. If you can come back tomorrow same time, we will have the results out and then we can decide.

Ram and Priya thank her and they both leave. There is absolute silence in the car as Ram drives home. They are both equally embarrassed as well as anxious. Priya is playing with her mangalsutra absent mindedly and looking out of the window. Ram looks at her a couple of times but notices that she is preoccupied and doesn't talk. The rest of the evening passes as usual. Priya gets busy with regular chores around the house, Ram goes up to his study and is buried in papers. At night, both of them curl up in each other's arms and fall asleep in the comfort of their closeness.

The next morning, Priya wakes up and gets ready waiting for the technician and once all that is taken care of, gets busy in the kitchen. Peehu is spending her vacation with Kush so KM was very quiet. Priya comes to wake up Ram with his morning tea and she sees him coming out of the wash room.

Priya: Good morning Ram.

Ram: Good morning. Did the lab tech come this morning? Are you done with all the test stuff? He takes her hand in his to see the band aid and cotton on her arm from where the blood was drawn. He bends down and kisses her on the spot: Did it hurt?

Priya: No, not at all. She takes both his hands in hers and kisses the palms of his hands. She then takes them and wraps them around her and puts her hands on his shoulders. She rests her head on his broad chest and kisses him. Ram plants a kiss on her head and smiles.

The rest of the day seems to go by very slowly and our two love birds are so anxious as if their life depends on this evenings results. Both of them are so keen on being parents once again, and are worried what the evening will predict for their future. They go to the doctor in the evening and she gives them the results of the tests and tells them what they mean. Now the moment of truth as they wait with baited breath.

Dr. Jain: Well, Priya all your results look great. You have maintained yourself very well, keep up the good work. Now coming to the main issue you are here for, late parenthood has come to stay these days. Women are more career driven so want to start families later in life and it is now a common practice. Given your state of sound health, I don't see any problems going further. Yes you will have to take extra good care of yourself and I am sure Mr. Kapoor will assure me that he will take charge of that aspect.

Ram is still not satisfied with what he heard: Are you sure that there is nothing to worry about doctor? I promise to take good care of my wife and see that she gets all the attention she requires, but I hope there will not be any life threatening effects. I don't want to put her life at risk for the sake of another child.

Dr. Jain: Mr. Kapoor, I cannot guarantee anything, but from the way things are at this point, I don't see any problem with planning your second child. All we have to do is keep a close watch on her. She smiles at Ram's concern and understands his anxiety.

Priya and Ram look at each other. Slowly a smile breaks out on both their faces and Priya lowers her eyes as she blushes like a coy bride. Ram admires his sweetheart and squeezes her hand between both his palms: Shall we leave Priya?

They thank the doctor and leave. Ram puts his arm around Priyas shoulders as they walk back to their car. Ram opens the door for her and she slides into her seat, while he goes to the other side and slips in behind the wheel and they drive away. As usual, when Ram steals a glance at Priya, she is looking out of the window, deep in thought playing with her mangalsutra. He smiles to himself as he is watching her, admiring his beautiful wife, as she gets more beautiful with each passing day.

Ram: I am so happy Priya; ask for anything and I will do my best to get it for you. Whatever you want will be yours, just name it.

Priya suddenly brought back to the present with his words turns her face towards him as she gives him a coy smile, like a new bride admiring everything about her groom. Without even giving it a second thought pat comes her answer as if she anticipated the question: I want to pick up Peehu and go to the temple. God has been too kind to us and I want to thank Him for everything.

He just threw his head back and laughed: Oh Priya, when will you change! When will you ask me for jewels, an expensive car or even a small vacation home on the other side of the world! I ask you to name your gift and all you want is to go to the temple.

Priya: Ram, I would think you know me well enough by now. What you call small things are the world's biggest treasures in my eyes. Give me a single bed room place in the poorest corner of the world where you and I can live with our family – that for me is the world's most expensive gift anyone can give me. It is a priceless possession that I will treasure all my life.

Ram: Your wish is my command my queen. So be it. And he goes to Sharma house to pick up Peehu. Kush and Peehu are just as excited to see them as they are on seeing the two of them. Shipra invites them to stay over for dinner but Priya declines the offer and tells them that they are going to the temple, so they wanted to pick up Peehu.

Kush: But, Papa you said that Peehu can stay here till tomorrow. Why are you picking her up today?

Ram: Champ, we are going to the temple and will be back with Peehu. As promised we will pick her up tomorrow evening.

Priya looks at Ram as if she reads his mind and then kneels down to talk with Kush: Beta, would you like to come with us to the temple?

Kush looks at Ayesha who nods in agreement and he is very happy. He runs and gives Ayesha a hug: Thank you Mom.

Peehu and he are very busy talking as they leave down the elevator and go to the temple.

At the temple Priya thanks God for helping them to get things back to normal and prays for a happy future. She prays for Ayesha and Kush and also for Peehu, Ram, herself and their future together. After they are done with the temple they go back to Sharma house to drop Kush and Peehu. Priya and Ram are very happy to hear both Kush and Peehu talk so much about how good Ayesha is with them and they are enjoying their small vacation with Nuts Bua and Ayesha.

They get back to KM and spend the evening with the family. Priya seems a little preoccupied all evening and Ram quietly notices everything. She is deep in thought recollecting all that the doctor told them and her words keep ringing in her mind all the time. After dinner Priya says she is tired and goes upstairs.

KK asks Ram: Beta, I am concerned about Priya. Is everything alright? I know the lab technician was here this morning, I hope you are not hiding something from us.

Ram: Ma, there is nothing to worry, she is fine. The tests were just routine age related as the doctor wanted to check her for diabetes etc. and everything is fine Ma. She has had a long day and seems to be tired. Good night Ma.

He goes upstairs and looks for her in the room, not finding her there he goes to the verandah and sure enough she is sitting on the swing lost in her thoughts. He tip toes to her and holds her shoulders from the back and nuzzles her neck as he plants a kiss on her shoulder. As she feels his lips touch her she shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath, inhaling the intoxicating fragrance of his cologne. His proximity sends a million shivers down her spine anticipating more such heart racing sensations to come. She gets up from the swing and comes around stands facing him with her arms around his neck. He takes her chin in his hand and lifts her face so their eyes meet. She arches backwards and closes her eyes as he bends forward and kisses her on both her eyes and slowly his lips leave a trail of kisses along her cheeks till they come in contact with her lips. The gentle caress of his lips playing havoc with her senses all the time leaving her craving for more. Slowly and gently he moves his lips across her cheeks to her ear lobes and whispers softly: You mean the whole world to me Sweetheart! No matter what, I will love you for the rest of our lives and we are in this together. I will never stop loving you EVER.

Priya eyes moisten and tears flow down her cheeks involuntarily: I love you more than I love myself Ram, more than anything in this whole world. I am nothing without you. Thank you for being a part of me and I promise to be by your side forever.

He gently lifts her off the ground and carries her inside the room while she locks her arms around his neck and rests her face on his chest listening to his heart racing in anticipation of a beautiful union of two love lorn bodies and minds as they plan to spend the rest of the night in reckless abandon – lost in their own world filled with love and nothing but pure love for each other. Two people so much in love with each other on a mission, not wanting to waste any more time.

…… to be continued.

Sandhya