01// Soon-to-be parents.
"Sir?"
"Come In," Dev hummed as he browsed through his latest file. His days at work are hectic, So are his days at home.
Nowadays, Sona is behaving quite oddly and for no particular reason. He accepts that her days at the hospital are hectic but, she has been arguing for everything. He chucked the thought away and tried to understand her situation but she was in no mood to have a one on one talk with him. Her mood swings affected Dev deeply that he started cursing himself for not keeping her happy.
His Assistant Tina was at the doorway with a tensed smile. Before he could ask her anything, she was pushed out of the entrance with a force that she would have landed herself on the ground if there weren't a chair.
Sonakshi barged through the room roughly though her face had a pleased smile surprising him. But one look at his assistant, Dev felt himself getting angry and clenched his fist.
"Sonakshi, is this a way to come in? You are a doctor yourself do you expect me to teach you manners?," He scoffed at her, his voice was dripping with irritation. He had had enough of her unnecessary rants and he wants the answer for each of that.
And this is the right time for that. He has to end it.
"I'm so sorry Tina," Sona moved to the dishevelled assistant and helped her stand on her feet. The assistant flashed her a weak smile and excused herself leaving them alone in the room.
"What is the matter Sona? Why are you behaving weird these days, I have been noticing for a while but you aren't giving me an answer. Am I the reason for your behavior? Tell me so that we can fix it, I just don't like you being grumpy all the time. No one does,"He sat beside her on the couch and held her hand over his.
Sona squeezed his hand and smiled at him brightly. She has been right all the while, and only she knows how much she had been waiting to tell him about this.
"Dev, I am so Sorry. I was just...you know lost over something that I couldn't understand what you were going through, I'm sorry again," She said. Her eyes were twinkling with some unsaid happiness and it wasn't unnoticeable by Dev.
"It's alright. But now please tell me what is bugging you and what is that you were lost in. You are making me curious"
She stared at him intensly, the atmosphere turned silent all of a sudden and he felt himself blown away by the intensity of her gaze. Is she hypnotising him?
"Dev, I...well I am not so good in putting forth anything so let's come to the point straight. A month before while I was on duty I started feeling odd things happening to me, I suddenly got an feel to eat pickles and you know how much I hate them. I brushed it off and went for lunch, at which I started feeling nauseous and it planted some doubts in my mind. I finished off my lunch and went straight to Kaira and said her about this. She advised me to check for a week and well..."
Dev felt his chest crashing with the news. He stared at her blankly unable to let the piece of information sink in.
"You--you mean..?," He stammered.
Sonakshi nodded as tears filled her eyes. She never saw that coming so soon.
"I'm pregnant"
Dev felt himself getting warm. It was overwhelming and he couldn't control the euphoria he was experiencing. He was going to be a father. His ears couldn't believe it.
"As in you carrying a child?," He choose the words correctly with a nervous face. His hands were trembling and it made Sonakshi break into a fit of laughter.
"Nope. I am carrying a watermelon."
"Don't say my child a watermelon. He is going to be my angel," He glared her quite unhappy that she compared his tiny baby to a huge watermelon.
"Oh please, I was just kidding and how are you so sure that it is going to be a Boy?"
"It is just a prejudice. You see in my family, to my parents I was born first and to mama and mami, it was Vicky," he smiled reminiscing the times when Vicky and he would mess up the house, play with the mud and return home evening tussled and battered."It is just an assumption, I am not cent percent sure"
"Let's see, I just want him or her to be safe and sound. As long as the baby is healthy the gender doesn't count,"she placed her hand on her tummy which was a little swollen.
"I think it would be in the size of a groundnut. I mean, it would be so small right," Dev quipped as he placed his hand over her's.
Sonakshi giggled."How dare you say my baby a groundnut.,"she mock glared."Well, for your thought it is not even the size of groundnut. It would be a size of sesame seed tiny, tiny,"she shrinked her fingers trying to determine the size.
"Yeah, you are right,"he placed his hand in the side of her face. She laid on his chest listening to his rhythmatic heart beat which was so melodious to her ears. "When did you actually find this out?"
"Today!," She looked up at him and smiled."I was just wondering whether to go for a test or leave it as a stomach ache, but I just imagined how your face would be and the astonished look you will give if the news were true and so I gave it a shot and look...it is true! And I am so sorry for the mess I made here, I was freaking happy and I couldn't control my emotions."
He leaned in and kissed her forehead."It's alright. I am just blown away by the news that these things doesn't matter me much and you know I am feeling euphoria erupting within me now. I am going to become a dad and it is the most wonderful thing I have ever heard."
Sonakshi nodded her head and looked outside the window."Positively next year, we will have a company. I cannot wait!" She beamed at him.
"Even I can't," he got up from the couch and held his hand to her."Come let's spread the word. I don't think you have informed the family. Have you?"
She shook her head and held his hand."Nope, I literally forgot."
"I can't wait to see their faces. Baba is going to kill us," His eyes flickered mischievously.
"Oh yeah, I still remember his dialogue 'Sonakshi you both are still young. Think before you leap. You can't manage each other. How can you get along with the kids?' But, I think he will be happy to become a grandpa."
"I bet he is going to squeal and tear the bloody curtains. But, if he doesn't I swear I am going to speak. I know we are young but that doesn't mean we can't raise kids."
"I hope he will understand," she said to him or more to herself.
There was a pin drop silence in the villa. Sonakshi and Dev looked at the family members with expectant looks. They had made it a point to break the news to all of them at once and have called upon Sonakshi's family in the house itself.
Ishwari kept on bugging Dev to spit the news but he told her to wait until the Bose Family arrives and when they arrive Bejoy was in his Hitler Baba avatar searching frantically for Sona as if someone has hidden her. Asha was rather embarrassed with her husband's behavior and tried calming him down. Elena and Sourav were in their usual self, cheerful and chirpy though their faces had the same curious looks, no one surpassed the one Bejoy showed.
Sona smiled weakly at the curious faces and placed her hand and Dev's on her tummy and took a deep breath.
She recalled all those lovely moments they had spent, all the naughty, dirty and rubbish they have talked. They way they were always caring for each other which helped them climbed the ladder of success together and earlier. She thought of all those lovely moments when they talked about having little Dev and Sona running in the backyard while they sat in the verandah sipping tea looking at them. She felt her smile widen as she drew her father's reaction after listen they news.
"I am...I am...,"she stammered.
"I am pregnant,"Dev announced.
Crash Crash Crash
"What?," They screeched in unison with bewilderment and confusion. Sonakshi looked at him wide eyed.
"Sorry, I mean Sonakshi is pregnant."
"Thank God!,"Jeevan chimed in.
They remained in silence letting the news sink in. Ishwari and Asha were already in tears while Bejoy's face was gobsmacked. He stared at them blankly as if someone had stunned him.
"Bhabhi, I am so happy!!,"Nikki squealed and hugged Sonakshi tightly. Dev glared at her and pulled her back.
"Slowly Nikki, For god sake there is a child inside her right now,"He warned her. She shook her head at him suppressing her growing smile and winked at Sonakshi who smiled in return.
"Sona, I am just taken aback by the news. I am going to be a grandmother and it is just so overwhelming for me to take in,"Ishwari placed her hands on either side on Sona's face and gently caressed her head.
"So what are you giving us? A boy or a girl?,"Asha hugged Sona and asked.
"Or both!" Elena chirped and the others laughed.
"It is too early maa. But, Dev assumes it is going to be a Boy"
Asha turned to him."And how is it Dev?"
"Well, it is just logic Maa. I was first born and then to Mama and Mami it was Vicky so I just assume, that the trait may follow,"he muttered.
"A Boy or Girl but I am sure we are going to have a company."
Admist the scenario, Sona's gaze was fixed only on her father who was staring down with a unpleasant smile.
"Baba, I am...I can't do anything. Please understand,"Sona placed her arm on his shoulder and said quietly.
Bejoy looked at her and then turned to Asha who mouthed something like 'please' and again turned back to her and sighed."It is not like I am unhappy with the news Sona. I am genuinely so happy that you are going to give me a grandchild but, you both are so young..."
Dev stepped beside Sona but one look from Sona made him stop.
"But nevertheless, I think you both will be good parents," He smiled at them brightly and hugged Dev surprising him."And Listen Dev, I know you will take care of her, but still, please take care of her. She is invaluable and so is my cute grandchild."
"Yes, Grandpa Bijo," Dev bowed at him.
"And I like that new name,"He smiled.
"It's near evening. I'll make something for us to eat,"Ishwari excused herself.
"I'll come too,"Asha followed her to the kitchen were the soon-to-be-granny's ranted.
Dev and Sonakshi settled themselves in the couch chatting with their family, all fresh with the news discussing the name-factor.
"What I bol is, we can keep the bacha name with S like Swapnil for a beta and Swapnila for a beti," GKB giggled with her usual ugly expression.
Sona turned to Dev."Did she keep Vicky's name?"
"No it was Mamaji,"he responded.
"Thank God."
She watched Elena getting up and passing through her. She grabbed her wrist and Elena shuddered as if being caught.
"Where are you going?,"Sona cocked her eyebrow.
"On a Date,"She responded coolly.
"With whom,"Dev asked.
"Elena...Come fast. They may cancel the booking if we go late."
They both turned to the direction of the voice and were Stunned.
"Are you Dating Jeevan?," They both asked in unison.
"Hmm, yeah,"Elena tried to conceal her blushing face.
"When did this happen?"
It was too late Elena as drifted off with him.
(How was it? Bad, Nice, good?
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Veer Hanuman
Kumkum Bhagya
