Chapter 7
"What took you so long?" Madhu asked exasperated at the long wait.
"Well is it my fault that I have to go pee every 5 minutes?" Rishab huffed as he seated himself in the back-seat of the car along side Madhu. Rishab was in a bad mood. He was feeling uncomfortable all the time, his feet hurt, his back ached, he could smell things a mile away and his boobs were sore. Could life get any worse? Apparently there were things that he considered even worse.
Rishab threw a look in her direction and jumped back in his seat. "What the hell do you think your wearing?" He asked as he glanced at the plaid pant, white shirt and sleeveless sweater worn by Madhu. "I have a reputation to maintain. I can't be seen walking around like this." He indicated to her clothing.
"Yeah well I found it in your closet. If it was not to be worn then what was it doing there?"
"Every occasion has a different attire. At a puja you wear kurta-pyjama, at a party a suit, for a casual outing jeans and a tee, while swimming swimming trunks. Similarly this is what you would wear when you go golfing, not when you are going to see a doctor."
Madhu rolled her eyes. Apparently exchanging bodies is not that big a deal as wearing the wrong clothes. God forbid he drops down to number 2 in the list of Asia's Sexiest Man Alive. "Well if the doctor asks, I will just tell him that I came out and out from a golfing tournament with Tiger Woods where I won, hows that?"
Rishab just screwed up his face and folded his hands at his chest and turned to look out the window. Oh My God!! So he is not going to talk to me now? He is acting like such a girl. Wait.. why is he acting like a girl? I hope it is the hormones again or we are in big trouble.
Rishab screwed up his face, turned towards the mirror and imitated Madhu's answer... I will tell him that I came from playing golf with Tiger Woods. When she had said that he had a crazy urge to stick out his tongue at her and look away, but settled for just turning away.
Suddenly the realization of what she said hit him like a bag of bricks. He turned his head towards her so fast that he could have suffered from a severe case of whiplash. "Madhu... what did you mean when you said ' tell him?"
"Huh? Oh!! Yeah my doctor is a man. But he is a really good and well known in his field."
"So all this time he 'checked' you?" Rishab asked no one in particular signalling the lower half of her body, the body he was currently wearing. It was a question more for himself, as he wrapped his mind around the fact that another guy besides him had a glance at Neverland. The guy might be a good doctor and all but he was not liking the fact that another testosterone yielding individual went where no other man besides him had ever been before.
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Rishab was hesitant as he was asked to undress completely and change into the hospital gown provided. His hesitance changed into nervousness as the doctor asked him to lie down and scoot his rear end to the edge of the table. He grew anxious as the doctor slid out the stirrups on the side of the table while the nurse assisted him in putting his feet into them. And he had a full blown nervous attack when the doctor explained that during the examination it is common for the patients to pass gas or have involuntary vaginal lubrication and that if he experienced any discomfort or pain to let him know immediately.
Madhu noticed that Rishab was doing what the doctor was asking of him without complaint until the time the doctor gave him his doctor speech before performing the exam. He began to shake from the fear that was gripping him. The doctor was trying to make Rishab comfortable but it was having the opposite effect. Rishab looked like he was going to bolt any moment now. Madhu reached out and held his hand and pressed it slightly, silently giving him support. Rishab looked up at her, into her eyes, and though his eyes stared back at him, he could see and sense the strength and calm that she possessed. Slowly his inner turmoil calmed. It was as if she was passing along her strength and calmness to him through their joined hands.
Madhu was pretty impressed with Rishab as he sat through the pelvic exam which is a very invasive examination. He face remained ever so calm as the doctor asked him questions that he surely never expected to be asked ever and then calmly indicated towards me for the answers. The only give away of his tremulous state was the way his hand pressed hers everytime the doctor either asked him a question or invaded him further.
Have you had any bleeding?
Are you having any cramping or abdominal pain?
Have you had any pain, discharge or itching?
The doctor nodded at Madhu's answers and made notes. And if he found us weird he didn't show any indication.
The doctor then told us that he would be conducting a speculum examination after which there would be an transvaginal ultrasound.
The doctor inserted the speculum and turned away to retrieve another instrument. As he turned back, Rishab sneezed. The scene that followed was highly embarrassing for one and hilarious for the others present. As Rishab sneezed, the speculum actually popped out and hit the floor. That was the only time the doctor said something other than the usual doctor talk.
"Wow, I have never had that happen before, you have some very good kegel muscles."
Needless to say, Rishab shot Madhu a dark look which said laugh and you die. Madhu looked away storing away the imagery for a time when she was alone and could laugh out loud with out any inhibitions.
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"Beep...beep...beep.." the sound of their baby's heartbeat echoed around the room as they looked with awe at the image on the screen.
Who would have ever thought that a probe which sends high frequency sound waves into the body and which bounce off different objects only to send back electrical signals which are processed could display such a miracle on the screen.
The doctor spoke and they listened attentively. "At this very moment, your baby is growing. Almost all of the baby's systems are fully formed. Now as you enter your second trimester, the baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. The ears, eyelids and teeth buds are formed during these weeks. Fetal blood cells begin to circulate. At this very moment your baby is about the size of a lime."
As the doctor spoke, Madhu looked at Rishab's face, which was aglow. There was love, pride, happiness shining through. Tears graced his face but they were tears of happiness. He was proud to be part of this miracle. At that moment, she put aside all the hatred and anger she felt for Rishab and concentrated on the most magical moment in her life so far. She could deal with all her baggage later on. She just wanted to spend that time with the loves of her life - Rishab and their baby.
Rishab for once was at a loss of words. He couldn't believe that there was life inside him at that moment. Life which took root in love. He couldn't believe that he could be part of something this beautiful. As involuntary tears traced their way down his cheeks, he held onto Madhu's hand and silently vowed to make everything perfect again. He had to complete his family again, there was no other way for him. He loved his Madhu, no doubts about it. How foolish he was to destroy his own life. He has to make it right again. He cannot lose the two loves in his life.
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Bindi
