Hi guys, here are the next chapters. As always, thanks for your feedback.
Chapter Four Past Maan stepped out of the shower, rivulets of water flowing down his body. He dried off with a thick towel, securing it around his waist. He was anxious. Although he had anticipated that she would reveal the pregnancy last night, she hadn't.
Maan walked back into the bedroom and leaned over the bed. She was still asleep. Dropping a kiss on her forehead, Maan watched her eyes flutter open.
She smiled, stretching her arms. "What a nice way to wake up."
Maan couldn't bear waiting even another moment to hear the news. "I know, sweetheart."
Her smile faded. "What?"
"I know." He smoothed his hands over her bare shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. "That you're pregnant."
She sat up abruptly, a flash of something flickering across her face. Was it . . . nervousness?
"I -- I didn't -- you weren't supposed to . . . . I was going to go to the doctor, I was --"
Maan framed his palms around her face and raised his eyebrows in alarm. "Baby, calm down! What's wrong?"
"Maan." She swallowed, her eyes dull. "We need to talk."
Chapter Five
PresentMaan signed off his computer and stretched in his office chair. He was done with classes for the day, and had fielded all student e-mails. He planned to make a quick stop at the main library to familiarize himself with it, and then pick Riya up from school. Maan reminded himself to start searching for daycare or a baby-sitter. He would be free all evenings in the near future, but he liked planning ahead.
As Maan reached for his briefcase, his cell phone alerted him. He furrowed his brow at the number: Riya's school. Quickly, he answered.
"Professor Khurana?"
Maan instantly recognized the voice as Riya's principal, Dr. Fernandes. "Yes, is Riya all right?" Maan asked, his voice strained.
"Riya is fine," Dr. Fernandes assured. "But we wanted to inform you that she and Thomas D'Souza were involved in a bit of an altercation."
"What?" Maan's heart rate began to increase. "What happened?"
"Riya is right here, Professor, and we will let her explain." Maan heard shuffling as the phone was transferred to his daughter.
"Daddy?"
Maan gripped his cell phone tightly at the sound of her voice. "Riya? Sweetheart, what happened? Are you okay?"
"Yes. Daddy, Dr. Fernandes said it is bad to hit people, but Thomas is mean."
Maan's grasp on his phone began to relax. "Thomas is -- wait . . . did you hit Thomas?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because he said that he wanted to marry me, and that I couldn't stay with you anymore after that. I said that I would never, ever, never leave you. Then I hit him."
Maan fought to keep himself from doubling over with relief, and joy at her sentiment. He wondered how to respond. Although he was thinking, "Good job hitting that little boy," he figured that was inappropriate. "Well, sweetie," he began carefully, "um . . . you know that we use words to solve problems, not violence."
"What's 'violence'?"
A chuckle escaped him. "We'll talk later. I'll be coming to pick you up soon. Can you give the phone back to Dr. Fernandes?"
"Okay. Bye, Daddy, love you."
"I love you, too, sweetheart."
"Professor Khurana," Dr. Fernandes began, now back on the line. "We will let this incident slide, but I hope that you and your wife will discuss the dangers of physical violence with Riya."
"I'm not married." Maan began stacking files to load in his briefcase, hoping to cut this conversation short.
"Oh. Err . . . well, I hope that you and Riya's mother will have a chance to sit down and explain --"
"Riya's mother is not in the picture," Maan said curtly.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Professor. Has she . . . has she passed away?"
"I don't know."
Maan could almost see Dr. Fernandes's confused expression over the phone.
"Forgive me, Professor, but you don't know whether the mother of your child is --"
"Thank you for your call, Dr. Fernandes. Good day." Maan ended the call, then steadied himself against the edge of his wide oak desk. Gritting his teeth, he closed his eyes. Even though years had swept by, he wondered if he would ever be able to hear the phrase "mother of your child" without feeling a mixture of gratitude and bitterness swamp his senses.
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Thank you for reading. :)
Edited by kumari3 - 13 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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