Thanks a lot for your likes & comments on the previous update 😳 Keep encouraging me guys 😆 Here goes the 3rd Chapter! 😃
Baby on board - Chapter 3
'Sir.. please listen to me..'
'What?'
'Sir I'm PREGNANT'
That conversation haunts me day & night. Why is that? Why did I feel unhappy to hear that? I couldn't sleep peacefully. Flashbacks kept me awake. I was tossing on my bed for the past 3 hours unable to sleep. I looked at the alarm clock beside my bed. It was quarter for 3 am.
RK just forget it! Why do you worry for her? She is not your girl friend. She is just a mere employee who works under you. I scolded myself. I just wanted to get off from those weird feelings. But I couldn't deny the fact that I was attracted to Madhubala. I don't know how it happened. I don't believe love in first sight but heck! that girl managed me to fall for her.
Love? Is it love? Why do I feel insecure? She is already engaged. She is not mine. Someone else's. Why the hell I can't just forget her? I have figured out that this girl has already driven me crazy. I have never felt such a thing before. I have never fallen in love with a girl but Madhubala? Her beauty mesmerizes me.
God RK! just stop it! I tried to surrender my feelings. No matter how much I try, I just can't let go of it. What is happening to me? Why do I want to think that Madhubala is lying? Why I don't want Madhubala to be pregnant with someone else's child? I'm doubtful about this pregnancy. I gotta find the truth whether she is really pregnant or not. RK you are mad! Just try to get off from that bullshit.
I poured water to a glass & drank fast. Took a deep breath & closed my eyes. It didn't work either. Madhubala popped up in my mind once again. This is gonna be a huge headache. Just calm down & sleep. I ordered myself again. It was impossible.
Next day at the office.
'Good morning Madhu ma'am Have a nice day!' The receptionist greeted me with a radiant smile like never before.
'Uh.. Good morning. Thanks' I replied with a confusion.
'Madhu.. Madhu Madhu! the mom to be so sweet! Good morning' Adi came almost singing. Such a lunatic!
'Hey Madhu. Give me all the stuff. It's not good to carry heavy stuff while you are pregnant' He forcefully took my handbag & the set of the files I was carrying. It was not that much heavy. He accompanied to my room.God! why is this? Adi is trying to be a help me unnecessarily.
'Would you like to drink anything?' 'Tea, Coffee or a fresh fruit juice?' Adi inquired me like a waiter in a restaurant.
'Um no thanks Adi.' I started arranging my desk to work.
'Why Madhu? Do you think that it is a trouble preparing something for you?' Adi spoke in sad tone.
'Err no.. not at all. I know you love helping me but I don't want anything to drink now' God this is fake pregnancy is driving me crazy.
'Please Madhu. You have to think about your to be born baby's nutrition.'
What kind of a nutrition will a baby get from Tea & Caffein? Even those juices are made of artificial ingredients nowadays. God please help me to tackle this situation.
'Adi please!' I raised my voice.God this man is making loose my patience.
'I'm sorry Madhu.'
I felt bad for him. He was really trying to take care of me, as per his boss's orders.
'Umm.. sorry Adi. I didn't mean to be rude.. I mean I had a heavy breakfast in the morning so I can't drink for anything now. May be later.'
'Hey it's okay. It's not you Madhu. Those pregnancy hormones are affecting you.' He replied with a smile.
Pregnancy hormones? What are they? I don't even know that bullshit.
'Okay if there's anything please let me know okay?' Adi went out of my room.
'Thanks Adi. Will let you know.'
'Phew!' I took a deep breath & tried to calm down. This is not gonna be easy. God why did I put myself in to trouble?
'Madhu Madhu Madhu!' Pinky stormed into my room.
'Pinky?'
'Hey how is it going?' 'The whole office seems to be caring for you right?' She chuckled.
'Caring?' 'God this is out of control now!'
'I told you right? This is gonna be very much difficult.'
'I don't know what to do Pinky. I feel really bad.'
'Don't worry. Let's think of a solution. By the way is your sister aware about this?'
'Muski?' 'No! I didn't tell her. You know she is not kind of a sister that I can trust. She would spill the beans & will make me a liar in front of everyone'
'But Madhu, you need support. I mean I can support you while you are here. But after that?'
'Do you think that RK sir & others will come to my home to see me?' 'Heck no! They don't know even my address.'
'But your details are at the archives room. Anybody can get your address.'
'So? Do you think that everybody will come to my place too?'
'May be. RK sir will follow you.'
'What? Pinky don't scare me.'
'Arey relax Madhu. I was just kidding. They've got plenty of work to do. Why would they follow you?' She chuckled.
'Pinky! this is not a joke. Seriously I'm helpless now.'
'Calm down Madhu. Let me think of a solution.'
'Good morning Madhu. How are you doing?' Tasha came running. She was almost bumped in to Pinky.
'Oh sorry Pinky' She grinned. Pinky looked aside annoyed with Tasha's encounter.
'Umm.. I'm doing fine Tasha. Thanks.'
'Oh Madhu. 2 months up but barely shows it' Tasha rubbed my belly. I felt quite uncomfortable.
'Umm no. May be it is not that visible to this dress.' I grinned.
'Oho the doting mum to be is conscious about her beauty right?' Madhu the fashionista!' Tasha was hell annoying. I couldn't figure out that if she is really complementing me or not. She was better than Sasha but I felt so uncomfortable around her.
'Madhu oh my darling! Congratulations!' Miss Simran who is a senior employee in office came along & gave me a bone crushing hug. She is a little bit crazy. She is about 45 years old, unmarried but still searching for a partner.
'Umm.. thanks Simmy didi.' But how do you know?' I was confused that how did she get to know about me? She was on leave yesterday.
'Well a little birdie told me this good news.' Simran winked at Tasha. Oh god that gossip monger has spread this news. I'm not surprised if it goes on news paper headlines too.
'Here! I specially made this fruit salad to you.' She placed a big plastic container of fruit salad on my desk.
'Madhu, you should be careful. Avoid those fast food which contains so much of oil & salt. Always stick to nutritious ones.'
'Oh. umm.. thanks a lot Simmy didi' I did thanked her but yuck! how can I eat those fruits? I hate fruits!
'Madhu you start working. Let me feed you.' Simran came more closer. Oh crap!
'Uh oh. Simmy didi. I can't eat them now.'
'Aww baby why?' 'Don't be stubborn. Just eat them. At least on behalf of your baby.' She tried to feed me forcefully.
'Uhh..' I faked that I was about to puke.
'Madhu what happened dear?'
'Uh no..' I pretended to be nauseatic.
'Simmi di. Just leave Madhu for a while. I think she is not fine at the moment.' 'Just go away & give her some space to inhale some air.' Pinky tried to get Simran & Tasha away from me who were covering me up. I was pretending to be nauseatic but the terrific scent of their perfumes gave me a headache.
'Oh still you are getting morning sickness?' Simran inquried.
'Umm..' I gulped my words.
'Okay okay dear. Take a rest now. But don't forget to eat that okay?'
At last Simran & Tasha left the room.
I took a deep breath thinking that the troubling session has been ended but no. There came another torture, Sasha.
'Oh hi Madhu.'
'Hi.' I answered even without looking at her.
'Umm.. sorry if I am disturbing. Just came to see if you are doing fine.'
Of course you are disturbing me Sasha. Can't you get lost? I scolded her silently.
'Uh.. I'm doing fine.'
'So Madhu when we'll be able to attend your wedding huh?' Sasha popped up a question. I saw Pinky face-palming from far.
'Wedding?'
'Confused?' 'Why? Aren't you getting married to your fiance? I mean you are pregnant now. You got pregnant before marrying and.. and it is kind of you know.. against to our culture right? So it's better to marry off. Haven't you discussed about it with him?'
Look who is talking about culture! This Sasha is so annoying. She comes to office with short dresses & 6 inch high heels as if she is going to attend a party. She doesn't even have an idea about the formal dress code. She think she is so sexy but she has got a plump figure which is crushed inside her shaping up undergarments. It is clearly visible to her tight clothes. She even spend most of the nights clubbing according those gossip mongers at our office. She wants to impress RK sir all the time but she miserably fails every time.
'Umm.. not yet. We haven't discussed.' I replied her.
'Really? but make it soon Madhu.'
'Sasha. You don't have to worry. If me & my fiance doesn't have a problem about this, then why are you bothered?' I spoke sternly.
'Oh Madhu! calm down. Don't get angry with me. Just said because I cared.'
Care my foot! I know your real intentions.
Okay then. Have a nice day at work. Don't hesitate to call me if you need any help'
'Thank you!' I grinned.
Sasha left the room.
'Madhu I think you should display a 'Do not disturb' board on the entrance of your room!' Pinky giggled.
'God Pinky! what is this? Everyone is so much conscious about me like never before?'
'That's because you are pregnant honey!' Pinky chuckled.
'Pinky!' I glared at her angrily.
'Okay okay! just calm down.' ' I doubt if really your pregnancy hormones are active. You behave so weird Madhu. Why so stern?'
'Shut up!'
'Haha just kidding!' Pinky gave me a back hug.
'Think about a solution!'
Pinky was roaming inside my room from corner to corner scratching her head, thinking of a solution.
'Eureka eureka! She shouted in excitement.
'Shh! what the hell wrong with you?' 'Why are you shouting?'
'Madhu! I have a plan!'
'Plan?' 'What?'
'This is the best for it!'
'What tell me?'
'I know it's gonna be the perfect!'
'What Pinky? You are making me restless. Just tell me about it!'
'Can you continue being pregnant for like another month or so?'
'What? is that your plan?'
'Just don't jump in the middle. Listen carefully.'
'You can say you got a miscarriage.'
'A miscarriage?'
'Yes! so this pregnancy track will be over!'
'But will they believe it?'
'Of course! why not? If they can believe you are pregnant, why not a miscarriage?'
'OMG I love you Pinky!' Finally Pinky came up with the best solution.
'But Madhu you have to wait for another month or so because they will get a doubt if you tell you had a miscarriage this soon. You have to prepare for that act okay? You have seen those miscarriage tracks in those TV soaps na? Like that your act should be realistic. You know how heart wrenching it is. You might have to stay all sad for a few weeks.'
'Oh god will I be able to do all these things huh? I'm not a damn actress!'
'Madhu just keep calm & act! Our viewers will enjoy the show.'Pinky winked.
'But for this coming month. You need one thing!'
'What?'
'Pinky! RK sir called you to his cabin.' Adi came up with a message.
'Okay Adi. I'm coming.'
'I will tell about it later okay? Just take care.' She patted my back.
In the evening.
Pinky asked me to come with her after work. She didn't reveal anything though I was bugging her with so many questions. I just had to follow her. In a few minutes we both ended up in a Mother & Baby care store.
'What the hell Pinky?' 'Why did we come here?'
'Listen Madhu! Just come with me' Pinky pulled my hand.
We entered the premises. The fragrance of the baby items took my breath away. The store was beautiful & filled with a variety of garments, linen, soft toys & many other things for moms & babies. I wish I was pregnant for real. I was blown away with it.
Pinky signaled me to come nearer. I was shocked to see what she did in the next few seconds. Pinky stole a baby bump from the near by mannequin & put it inside in my bag in a swift.
'Pinky?'
'Shh! just stay calm'
'But why the hell did you..?'
'You need this! You just can't stay with a flat belly. People will suspect about your pregnancy!'
'God! I can't wear that' I cried.
'Just keep quiet Madhu! you have to do this.'
'No way I can't just keep that. What if we get caught? There are security cameras around.'
'Madhu. Didn't you notice? That mannequin was placed near the changing room, & I'm not dumb! I looked around. There weren't any.
'Are you sure?'
'Yes!'
'But what if that alarm beeps when we are trying to go out?'
'Madhu don't be a dumbass! that alarm beeps if someone steals something.'
'What? you are trying to say that what you did was not 'stealing something'?
'God you are so stupid Madhu!' 'That security system detects only the tags. Not the item. Neither this baby bumper was for sale nor it did have a tag. Understood?'
'Oh yeah I got it!' Pinky! what a genius. She is my only savior.
'Madhu. You have to buy some baby items.'
'What? why? Pinky did you forget that this is all fake?'
'No you stupid! If we just go out buying nothing, it would be uh.. awkward.'
'Okay then but I don't have much money.'
'It's okay. I have my credit card with me. Let's buy a maternity frock for you!'
'For me? are you mad?'
'Honey! you have to do what I say okay? How will you wear those skinny outfits with this baby bumper huh?' I'll get more maternity outfits for you. I have some at my home. My sister's ones. They will perfectly fit for you & you'll look like a real cute pregnant mummy!' Pinky pulled my cheeks.
'Ouch'
Pinky selected a flower printed maternity frock for me. It was so cute & elegant. Pregnant phase is somewhat interesting, I felt. One day my Mr. right would shop for me & my baby. I went to a dream world. Can't wait till that day.
'Oye Madhu!' What are you doing? Let's go now. It's getting late.'
We did our payments & thankfully nobody noticed about the baby bump. The security alarm didn't rang either. I was relieved to go out. Pinky was hurrying her steps. I got a call from Muskaan that she will get late to come home as she is going to watch a movie with her friends. She disconnected the call not even letting me to talk to her properly. I knew that she would not listen to me even if I didn't permit to go.
Someone bumped in to me in the very next second. I was about to fell down & a strong arm held me in a swift. I looked up. I just couldn't believe my eyes.
To be continued...
Kumkum Bhagya
Anupamaa
