Knock, Knock! Who's there? Pt 21/22 pg 80, 82 23/04 - Page 42

Chapter 16

'Mommy please...' she paused squashing down the hurt, 'Find out where he is?' she requested gripping onto the plastic chairs as her stomach grew in ache and a tear escaped. Rano watched her daughter take in the agony as her fingers fiddled on the phone, once again she heard the tone of oblivion. 'Where is he?' she sounded frustrated and pained seeing her only daughter suffer. Then she got up and send out numerous text all asking 'Where are you Maan?' in several different ways.

'Miss Geet Handa' the nurse called walking to stand in front of her with a soft warm smile

'Can we wait a few more minutes please?' she asked crossing one leg on top the other and Rano continued walking up and down, as the nurse nodded in understanding and called the next patient in. It was nearly 10 minutes after the scheduled appointment and yet there was no sign of him nor was there a text, with each second Geet grew more uncomfortable trying to supress the pain.

'Though the sonography will be affected however I can't see you in this much pain, go to the loo please sweetheart' Rano sat urging her towards the ladies toilet, but Geet sat rooted nodding for a 'NO' biting down her lip. This was supposed to be Maan's first visit at the hospital with her, and as a mother she wanted her child to see his/her father as much as Maan wanted to see their unborn child. Over the last few days, she watched and heard him read through books, discussing stages of her pregnancy and time and time again they'd talk about this appointment, the light is his face made her sure that he really wanted this and that he was as excited as she was. So now although she was in incredible pain however she just didn't have the heart to steal Maan's right from him. Even though they hadn't surpassed that friendly stage however they were open to being the mother and the father, spending much more time together.

'Baby stop kicking please mummy's in pain' she begged closing her eyes, trying very hard to keep it together. She was instructed to drink 1litre of water an hour before the appointment, but then Sameera had brought out another 2 glasses for 'Good luck' and being the friend Geet was, but more so because she wanted Maan to clearly see their baby; she had drank way more than required but only to regret now feeling her bladders bursting in excruciating pain.

Maan ran along the corridors of the pathology department, it was few minutes after Geet's allocated timing and he left his nerves jumping around. Hence when Adi called back he ignored, even Sasha asked 'What's wrong?' but he continued running. The last blood test took longer than anticipated and being the only one trained, he couldn't forward the work to another. Leaping over the fence, he ran across the field and entered the out-patient clinic. Stopping at the direction's board, he then immediately turned right and continued running ignoring his beeping and ringing phone. He just couldn't disappoint Geet, also himself by missing the most important appointment in his life.

'Maan' she rejoiced in alarm, and the next Rano ran towards the nurse station informing of his arrival. Unfortunately, the doctor wasn't done with the patient yet so Geet waited impatiently a little longer as Maan tapped her hand in pain.

'I'm sorry' he muttered once again holding her sweaty hand in his and then ran his other hand over her forehead in comfort.

'Nurse is it done?' he asked for the 3^rd time within a minute, the patient that took Geet's slot took far too long according to him. He couldn't just sit quiet.

'I'm sorry but no' the nurse apologised in sympathy knowing Geet was in pain

'Geet just go to the bathroom, the scan quality won't be affected' he promised rigidly and she nodded in a firm 'No' with a faltering smile. Rano looked at him in distain, maybe for the first time but it couldn't be helped, Geet though in pain was still keeping it together just so he could see their baby clearly, and that made him guilty; extremely guilty.

'Sweetie lets go' Rano ushered her up once the patient existed the cabin uncaring of the fact that nurse hadn't called them in yet. Geet who has sitting for a while in pain felt her legs go numb due to the exploding bladders, slightly dizzy but Maan immediately held her by the waist and helped her to the room.

'Oh dear please come in' the doctor got up from her seat helping Maan aide Geet while Rano carried her and coat. The doctor then straightly applied the gel and explained through the procedure smiling at Geet who squirmed in her seat feeling the cold gel against her skin, making it far worse to hold together.

'Before we start can Geet please use the toilet, she's been keeping her wee in for so long. It can't be good for her kidneys?' Rano queried anxiously, being a mother she naturally was more scared for her daughter.

'MOMMY' she whispered in anger, feeling a little embarrassed. The doctor smiled nodding her head and Maan immediately wiped away the gel and pulled down her top without carrying of his actions, in that moment all he wanted was his smiling Geet again and for the guilt to die down for causing her pain unknowingly.

'Would the scan be affected?' Geet asked stopping Maan's hand which reached hers

'No it shouldn't' the doctor stated smiling warmly and with that Maan waited not a second longer, hurling Geet into his arm and taking long strides towards the little cubicle situated within the doctors cabin. Geet hid her face in his nape feeling mortified, her face shy and the heart beating fast as was his, but right now all his focus was on the toilet sign on the door.

'See that's the baby's head' the doctor pointed pressing down on her abdomen and Maan stared in awe, Geet looked between the screen and his fascinated face.

'The pregnancy is going normal?' Rano asked, not wanting to pose the question which made her heart scared, Geet after all was her only baby so the mother cared much more for her daughter than her grandchild.

'Yes everything is normal' the doctor assured smiling at Rano who sat beside Geet, Maan stood between Geet on the bed and a sitting Rano stroking her hair once in a while. After exiting the toilet, Geet cautiously walked back to the chair with Maan. She then laid down as instructed by the doctor who again explained the procedure and squeezed a large amount of cold gel onto her warmed excited skin making her yelp in shock, Maan had giggled then offering to hold her hand but then as if remembering asked Rano to sit instead and he found a comfortable spot so see both Geet and the screen.

'What's that?' Maan asked intrigued, his happy eyes unwavering from the screen as the doctor informed him, he then pointed at a different spot and repeated the question, this time all three woman laughed at his cuteness making him shy.

'It's fun to see an excited father. That's the baby's leg' the doctor started before again telling him, she then looked down at the file before saying, 'From your notes I see you don't want to know the gender, is that still correct?' she asked rounding the device over the whole stomach and Geet stared at Rano who shrugged as if to say 'It's up to you', she then mustered the courage to look at Maan, if he wanted to know there was no point in her denying after everything's he's done, he deserved to know even if she didn't. 'No we'd like to keep it as a surprise' he offered smiling at the doctor and Geet too smiled feeling relieved, he then looked at her for a long moment without blinking and she felt her toes curl in excitement. His stare told her, that he understood, that he could tell what she wanted and for now she wanted to believe so.

'So do we want to hear the baby's heartbeat' the doctor asked and Maan enthusiastically nodded his head with a sweet smile, once again Geet turn to watch Maan who stood fascinated hearing the sound of their baby's heart-beat, somewhat resonating with hers; loud and unsteady.

'This is your last appointment with us' the doctor washed her hands after wiping away the gel. She then wrote down on Geet's record before wishing her all the best for the delivery.

The three walked out the hospital, the warm weather radiated the beauty of the afternoon feel. While Maan held tightly onto Geet, Rano fiddled with her phone.

'I wanted to take you both out for dinner' she offered with a small smile and both Geet and Maan looked at each other to see if they agreed, when they both nodded Rano walked over to the ticket machine paying for the parking ticket as Geet directed Maan towards her mother's parked car.

'Where shall we eat?' Rano asked eagerly looking at the reading in the car, 17:45, then she looked at her rear view mirror at both Maan and Geet, who held hands too absrobed in tehir own world. Watching the young be in love was pleasing, especially for a mother.

'Wherever you like mommy?' Geet forwarded and Rano reversed out and drove towards her favourite restaurant in Soho, once in a while she'd watch Maan and Geet who were too busy admiring the sonography image in their hand, again she smiled happily. Her daughter finally found the rightful partner, one who cherishes and respects her.

Next: Bringing in a Trouble or two