Part 1
Nupur curled her legs under her and sunk into the soft rug, welcoming the warmth it was giving her. The piping hot mug of hot chocolate lay at the table beside her, leaning in, she picked it and wrapped her fingers around the mug. She didn't want to waste any warmth that was coming her way.
Closing her eyes, she let the warmth soothe her, " Ow" she winced as the familiar pain coursed through her again. It was the same story every single month. What was normal for every other woman on the planet was no less than a war for her.
Every month she had to go through this acute pain during her monthly cycle. It made her incapable to even walk. All she wanted to do when she got her menstrual cramps was curl up in bed with a hot water bag on her stomach.
Wincing she adjusted the water bag on her tummy and closed her eyes, "hysterectomy" her doctor had suggested - that was the only permanent solution to her problem. She took her medicines and treatments for this pain - but they were all temporary solutions - a way to soothe out the pain once it started, but a hysterectomy would make sure there would be no pain at all.
But a hysterectomy would also make sure that her childhood dream of finding her prince charming and starting a family with him remained just that - a dream. If she had the operation done, she would never be able to have children in her life.
She had everything else - a loving sister, a great brother in law, a flourishing career as in the in-house interior decorator in the city's biggest and best architects, and a nice comfortable apartment.
All that she wanted now was her own family. She'd remained unmarried because she'd wanted a love marriage. She's always imagined that she'd find her prince charming - her Mr.right, fall in love with him and then settle into marital bliss.
She'd even managed to convince Bui about it - after the demise of their father four years ago, Bui had taken extra care about them - she'd even shifted to Mumbai for a short period to take care of them. Only after repeatedly telling Bui that they'd be alright and that they were old enough to take care of themselves, had Bui relented and went back to Morena.
She still called three times a week, Nupur thought with a chuckle, and during the last call, she'd told Nupur how Gunjan had settled into marital bliss and how she should take a leaf out of her younger sister's book, for what seemed like the hundredth time.
Everytime Bui mentioned Gunjan, she felt a wave of sadness wash through her. And then, she felt like a rat for being jealous of her own sister.
She was happy for Gunjan, happy for her that she'd found love and was now happily married to the man she loved dearly. Gunjan had met Samrat during her internship that she'd had to do as part of her PR degree four years ago. Samrat, a professional basketball player, was one of the PR company's top clients and Gunjan had been assigned to assist him with the publicity campaign.
Nupur still remembered the day Gunjan told her about falling in love with Samrat - she'd never seen her sister happier. A year later, they were married.
She was happy for Gunjan and Samrat - but she did envy them for what they had - for what she would never have - love, and a family.
She hadn't even told Gunjan about what her doctor had said.
Sighing, Nupur turned around for the cordless phone - she remembered throwing it down on the bed irritated, after that phone call with her doctor.
After rummaging through the covers and the pillows, she found the phone, picking it up, she dialed Gunjan's number, and then cut the call as an afterthought.
She can't tell Gunjan - during their last phone call, Gunjan had told her how busy she was with Samrat's basketball coaching institute - his institute was quickly becoming the best in the country. With Samrat's enthusiasm and thirst for victory, she would have been more surprised if they did not do well.
The institute along with professional sport bodies was now hosting a national level basketball tournament and Gunjan said she was busy in organizing it.
If she called now, Gunjan would cancel everything and take the next flight from Delhi to Mumbai. While she could do with Gunjan's support, Samrat needed his wife - it was a big moment for them.
No, she wouldn't tell Gunjan. Sighing, Nupur threw the phone back on the bed, and sunk into the covers again.
The cramps and the pain were still there - she needed to take her medicines, but she did not want to get out of bed now.
Hoping she could sleep, she closed her eyes - only to be disturbed by her cell phone. She'd ignored the last dozen calls, but this one she couldn't ignore. The tune sounded urgent and important.
Nupur rolled her eyes, Ring-tones do not sound urgent or important - they just rung. Pushing herself off the bed, she trudged to the hall where she'd wantedly placed her mobile phone and picked it up.
" Hello" she said tiredly
" Di" Gunjan's voice soothed her in an instant
" Gunjan!" she exclaimed, forgetting her pain momentarily, " Kaise ho?" she asked, tears welling up as she heard Gunjan's voice.
" Acchi hun, Di. and you?"
" Good" she said vaguely, hoping that her sister did not notice the sadness in her voice.
Luckily for her Samrat came on the line, " Nupur, Bui called" he said.
She groaned, " not the marriage thing again"
Samrat chuckled, " She's worried for you Nupur, and so are we. How will you find Mr.Right if you do not meet guys?"
Nupur bit her lip and closed her eyes, should she tell them about the hysterctomy? No. " Erm..."
" You are too involved with Mayank Sharma"
Her eyes flew open, " I.Am.not.involved.with.my.boss" she exclaimed immediately. Even as she protested her mind drew up an image of Mayank - the sleeves of his crisp shirt rolled up to his elbow, his tie loosened around his neck and a look of utter concentration on his face as they sat together for their client discussions.
" I meant professionally involved" Samrat explained, she could bet that he was rolling his eyes, and then his voice became bright, " But that's not such a bad idea either, Nupur" he teased.
She frowned, there was a sound of hand hitting shoulder - Gunjan must have whacked Samrat jovially, and Samrat mock yelped in pain - then Gunjan chuckled, and said softly, " Samrat!!, di.."
A wave of sadness rode through her again, smiling sadly, she understood that she was interrupting their private moment, clearing her throat, she said softly, " Will talk to you later. Take care"
Placing the phone back on the table, the short conversation with her sister and brother-in-law, made her realize somethign that she'd known since the time her doctor had told her about the operation, but failed to acknowledge - She would never have somethign that Samrat and Gunjan shared - Love and happiness of a family.
She had to take her medicines now, turning around she started to move to the cabinet where she kept the medicines when her cell phone rang again.
This time she decided to ignore it. But with every step she took, the ring-tone got getting louder and angrier.
Angry?
Yeah - she'd lost her senses.
Ring-tones were not angry - they just rung the tune they were set to! She was in no condition to smile, yet she giggled like an idiot.
Even her ring-tone showed the caller's temperament. She need not look into the caller ID to know who was calling.
Mayank Sharma.
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