Part LXXI
One week later
It was the ear piercing and naming ceremony of Pinky's daughter. Maan wanted to make it a grand event. So he booked the banquet hall at his hotel and laid out an elaborate feast. He called all his friends from the chawl apart from his wife's family and the baby's parents and grandparents. Sameera, who was out of town on official tour when Pinky's baby was born, also attended the function. When she came to know of Geet's pregnancy, she hugged her tight in happiness.
The function began with the ear piercing ceremony. The baby was made to lie on Maan's lap as he was her maternal uncle, and her tiny earlobes were pierced. Hearing the baby wail at the sharp pain this caused, Maan's heart went out to her. He asked Geet why they were subjecting the tiny baby to such torture. She assured him that she will soon be alright. She was right, for soon the baby stopped crying and looked around her curiously at the thronging people. Pinky then bent down over her daughter and uttered her name, Bhavya, into her ear before announcing it to everyone assembled. The guests then lined up to give gifts both to the mother and the baby. The baby dozed off mid-way through the ceremony. As Pinky was also looking tired, staying up half the night to nurse her baby, Maan offered her one of the hotel room to rest and feed her baby as and when she wakes up.
After the ceremony, Adi escorted his wife to the room. Maan arranged for food to be served in their room. Anwesha who was dying to speak to Geet took her aside and explaining to her the reason why she was rude to her the other day, she apologised for it. She assured her that she knew what she was doing and will ensure Arjun pays for his sins. She requested her not to ask her just how she was planning to do it. Geet asked her to be careful as her brother can be ruthless.
The guests in the meantime went to serve themselves the buffet lunch. Seeing the food, Geet rushed to the washroom to puke. Realising that his wife will not be able to sit amidst the smell of food, Maan took her to one of the hotel rooms. He arranged for curd rice and pickle (the only food she ate for the past two weeks) to be served in their room and fed her the food, eating the same himself. Later he stretched her on the bed and sat by her side, massaging her forehead till she fell asleep. His guests looked out for the hosts and the parents of the baby and not finding either, they took leave from Rano and Anwesha. Rano then called Maan to inform him that they too were making a move and asked him to come home for dinner that night with his Baba.
Maan watched over his sleeping wife lovingly. A couple of hours later Maan gently woke Geet up, reminding her of the appointment they had in less than an hour with their gynaecologist, Dr.Preena. Her doctor was to perform an ultrasound test. Normally such a test is done during 16-18 weeks of pregnancy. Her doctor, however, wanted to perform one on her even though she was only 8 weeks pregnant, after examining her and hearing her complaints of excessive morning sickness and fatigue. Both Maan and Geet were a little apprehensive about what they will find, although they were excited to catch the first glimpse of their baby.
On reaching the clinic, they were directed to the doctor's consulting room. As it was still early to have an abdominal sonography, the doctor inserted the instrument into her to get a clear picture of her womb. What she saw on the screen had her transfixed. Moving the instrument around, she tried to confirm again what she had seen. Maan got alarmed seeing her startled look and repeatedly asked her if everything was alright with the baby. She did not look at him but concentrated on her task for a few minutes. By now Maan was sweating profusely, wondering what was wrong. Geet too started panicking and begged the doctor to tell them what the problem was.
Finally turning around, Dr.Preena smiled and said, "Mrs.Khurana, you are carrying not one.....not two.....but three babies."
Hearing this, Geet got up with a start and Maan slumped on the examination table as they both gaped at the doctor. Dr.Preena then explained to them although normally only one egg is released by the woman in a month, sometimes two eggs are released and both get fertilised to form two embryos which will later develop into foetuses. Within a couple of days of fertilisation, one of them then splits to form a third embryo. Multiple pregnancies are not a common event, that too under natural conditions, but Geet seems to be among the select women that nature decides to bless with more than one kid.
She then asked Geet if she had a family history of multiple births. Geet remembered her mother telling her a long time ago that she had a fraternal twin sibling (who would have been Geet's aunt) who died at birth. Dr.Preena then explained to them that fraternal twins (formed by the fertilisation of two eggs or zygotes) are common among older women. Heredity factors or infertility treatment can also result in these twins. In Geet's case it seemed to be a heredity factor. Maan enquired about the safety of his wife. Dr.Preena assured him that since the three embryos were developing with the help of three separate placentas, their chances of survival were bright although Geet will have to come for frequent medical check-ups so that the progress of the foetuses can be monitored.
After getting over the initial shock, Maan gladly hugged the doctor and turned around to kiss his wife's forehead. Geet took longer to get out of her shock. Maan whispered that everything will be fine and slowly escorted her out of the clinic. They picked up Baba from their house and left for the Handa House. Geet was unusually quiet throughout the journey. They had not yet broken the news to Baba as they wanted to do so when both their families were together. On reaching Handa House they were welcomed in by Rano and Anwesha. They all then sat down together in the hall. Rano asked Maan how did the test go. Maan looked at his wife to see if she wanted to convey the news to them but she remained silent.
He then lovingly placed his palm on her abdomen and looking around at everyone he proudly announced, "My love has multiplied in there!"
They all looked at him in confusion wondering what he meant. Anwesha was the first one to understand. "Bhaiya and bhabhi are having twins!" she exclaimed.
"Not twins Anwesha, triplets", corrected Maan.
"Triplets?! I will be aunty three times over," she exclaimed and jumped up to embrace Geet. Rano and Baba blessed Geet and wished her well. Suddenly Geet got up and rushed out of the room. She went up to her room and fell on the bed weeping loudly. Maan was alarmed seeing her strange behaviour and quickly followed her. Kneeling on the floor by her side, he lifted her tear-stained face.
"What is it, Geet? Why are you crying?" he asked in confusion.
"Maan, I am scared. I can't do this, Maan. I can't carry three babies for nine months."
"Geet, my poor darling. You think you are in this alone? Don't worry, I will be with you every step of the way. Together we will bring our beautiful babies into this world. Although I cannot carry your burden now, I will assume their full responsibility from the moment they come into this world. You needn't lift your little finger. You sit back like a queen and relax while I take care of all their needs. I will change their nappies, I will put them to sleep, I will sing to them, I will ..."
Geet smiled through her tears and said, "There is one thing you cannot do."
Maan swore that there is nothing he can't do.
"You'll even breastfeed them?" asked Geet, putting on an innocent face.
Maan scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. "Except that, I'll do everything else. I'll bring them to you only to fill their hungry little tummies. The rest of the time I'll look after them."
"If you are after them 24 hours of the day, who will feed their mother and their grandpa?" By now she was enjoying teasing him.
"I'll shift all of you to the hotel so that I can keep a close watch on my babies and also discharge my duties at work," he said confidently.
Geet started laughing and hugged him. "You are chooooo chweeeeeet, my darling hubby." She pinched both his cheeks.
"Then you'll have these babies?" Maan asked her, looking at her with expectant eyes.
"How can I deny you the pleasure of your precious babies? I'll have them, dear."
"I promise you that you will not regret trusting your husband," he assured her and walked her down to the dining table. Rano, Baba and Anwesha were already at the table waiting for them. Rano asked her daughter whether she was alright. She nodded her head and quietly ate the food her husband fed her, looking at him with love-filled eyes.
Continued here
Edited by Opti - 14 years ago
Aami Daakini
Book Talk
Cricket
52