Knees & Twos
Bala ate and left around midnight, Akka chose to stay, bed time was a scramble
It was very comfy the night before II's ceremony, fancy new gaddas got delivered, sheets.
Janaki Athai and her husband, Amma Appa, Akka baldie.
II and baby, the house wasnt big enough
Appa refused to sleep with Janaki Athai's husband on his bed
Amma and Athai slept on that bed
Bala returned to drop off some bedding just when Amma hinted she will pull out the winter stuff out of the bed box
Ranjan called Appa close to midnight to ask if he can be of any help
He urged Appa to get some sleep, so he can be awake to play with the baby in the morning
The joke was, the baby didnt sleep at night
NOPE!!
First night at her Amma's abode she decided to stare at the ceiling, kicking her arms and legs, and making feeble moaning sounds
Akka and baldie slept on the divan
When ever baldie woke Nivi was awake
Akka had to wake II to remind her to feed the baby
A couple times II shoved Akka's hand to go back to sleep
"Get up kanna... welcome to Mommy world. First husband wont let u sleep, then baby... then BOTH" Akka chuckled
II felt her shoulders hurt early morning followed by the big rush... as new Moms call it
Her ribs and chest felt like rocks...
She sat up in shock... unable to tell anyone
R&B texted at 5:28 AM
"What is she upto?" he asked
"What abt me da?" II asked as she groaned under pressure, calling him
"What happened?" he asked gruffly
"Umm... how do I explain it..." "No I cant" II whispered
"II?" he urged
"Umm.. if u had boobs I cud explain" II explained
He chuckled
"I am sorry" he whispered
"I am SO SORE... I cannot believe I have to do this for 9 months or a year" II whined softly
"U shudnt, just give her the bottle?" he offered
"Nooo" II moaned
"Do u have a hot water bottle?" he asked thoughtfully
"I want my hot water filled guy" she smiled
"Come on over" he urged
"What is she upto?" he asked
She sleeps an hour an night" II answered horrified
"Wonder where she gets that from" he said suppressing a smile
"Rakshasaney... come over and watch her, I will start pumping today... Akka is here... I will stick it in the frig,
and u can stay up all night feeding her" she whispered
"I might do that" he smiled
"It also involves changing diapers, and kissing the belly" she reminded
"Not bad" he chuckled
"She is sooo cute... I gave her a side parting, Amma is refusing to let me put a comb through her hair,
but she has enough, we can do those bows Sam gave her"
Sam had practically sent over a room full of new things, when she was at the hospital
From toys, to books, to rugs to blankets to baby shelving to three cribs, one for each floor...
"Can I stay longer than 11 days?" II asked politely
He didnt respond...
"U know Amma Appa will promise but never come every day... they dont go to Munirka every evening" II went on the defensive
He listened she heard him sigh
"I will be in my best behavior" she whispered
He threw his head back and laughed
"What would that be?" he asked
"Call u every morning & evening, and blow phone kisses" she whispered
"I was hoping it was some other "blow" he whispered
"U WISH... I am told I cant go on my knees for atleast 6 months" she said gleefully
"What did Dr Gupta say about being on ur back?" he asked
"Shut up!!" she ordered
Nivi moaned and squirmed, and cried, and moaned, and opened her eyes and looked at her WIDE AWAKE
"She ONLY SLEEPS TWO HOURS" II complained
"Angel" he whispered agonized
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Manya finally called her six days after birth on April 20th, Wed morning, when II was fast asleep, as Amma and Athai held Nivi.
"Woh to so rahi hai" Akka said
"Congrats... dimpal sent me the pictures, and videos, and I saw her when she was at the hospital" Manya claimed
"Ishita se baat hui?" Akka asked
"No I cudnt... she must be tired right so I thought I shud let her rest" Manya was a bad liar, unlike II
"Well if thats your policy u cant call her for a year" Akka gently jabbed her
Manya chuckled
"Is she healing OK, R&B said it was a difficult delivery" Manya asked concerned
"she is OK... dard to rahega for two weeks..." Akka explained
"Ughhh I cant imagine how u guys go through it" Manya shrugged
"there is no other way, normal or C section" Akka teased
" No I mean u must all love a man too much" Manya said flippantly
Manya was desperate to have a child, Sanjeev didnt want any the first couple years... and then the marriage started breaking apart
she was like R&B... as far as loving wanting to be a parent...
"haan shaayad" Akka said confused
"How is everything?" Akka asked
"OK I guess... Idhar akeli hoon, results aa jaana chahiye, uske baad I will think what I shud do, India aakar sochoongi" Manya explained honestly
Akka's heart skipped a beat at the word India
"U must come, there is another baby now" Akka invited
"My guy is there too... do u know how he is doing?" Manya asked
"Kaun?" Akka lied
"Makarand... Makarand Rao? Hes best friends with ur nephew, Mukund... I speak with Mukund every week" Manya laughed
"Thats nice" Akka nodded
PAAVI HE CANT CALL ME EVEN ONCE!!
"I dont know abt Makarand Manya, Bala se pooch sakti hoon" Akka offered sincerely
"U know... men... out of sight... out of mind" Manya sighed
Akka felt bad for Manya...
"Tum idhar aa jao... then u can hop on a plane and go see him" Akka smiled
Manya laughed
"Sorry aapko tum kaha maine" Akka apologized
"No... I am younger... dont know for how long... dimpal makes me feel old... chat mangni pat byah, jhat pat bacha" Manya announced
Akka nodded, feeling sympathetic
"Meri mangni aur shaadi ke beech do saal, shaadi do saal, divorce do saal, divorce ke baad, multiples of two" Manya said
"Umm... uh" Akka bit her lower lip, not knowing what to say to her.
"We have never spoken much have we?" Manya asked
Akka smiled
"We shud call each other every week" Akka smiled
"I shud, II talks so much... no wonder she calls u so much, u are a good listener" Manya piled a compliment
"uske jitna kaun baat kar sakta hai, na koi gaa sakta hai" Akka spoke proudly
"Dono cheez dimpal nahi karta... no wonder " Manya chuckled cynically
"Her hair and the height... that too" Manya said
"That too what?" Akka asked confused
"Like Ma" Manya wanted to say... but she didnt...
"the baby has lottts of hair" " and she is sooo tall for a newborn" Akka laughed
Manya nodded as she began to cry...
"Like Ma" she thought again...
"Apna khayaal rakhna Manya" Akka spoke softly, not speaking further
Manya sniffled and hung up without saying goodbye
Akka set the phone down on the coffee table and stared at a godee sleeping Nivi
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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