So, remember that silly promise Rishabh made of becoming a stay at home father? Turns out, he was pretty serious. Our life has moved ahead quite a bit since we last met. Here is what you missed:
To no one's surprise, Madhubala Kundra was victorious once again without having to humour the judge anymore that I already had. Rishabh had a lavish twenty first birthday party like his parents intended. Following that, we a private affair back in our Mumbai home like I intended. You may ooh and aah now.
But, as a result of that night's indiscretion, we ended up with a little more than we had asked for. I was eeerr pregnant. It was the most disturbing news I had heard. I had been pro-choice all my life. And, one of the two choices was keeping the baby. I was skeptical about Rishabh's view of the future. The pregnancy was my decision. However, his approval was a necessity to the survival of our relationship. Strangely enough, I didn't have to tell him. He was dangerously aware of my menstrual cycle. Perhaps due to his obsession of me??
"Madhu, what is wrong? You have not been ya know…….are you by any chance?"
"Yes", I said before he embarrassed the crap out of me by interrupting my quiet lunch with friends. Within two seconds of me mouthing the words, James and him were frolicking around like school girls.
"I am going to take care of the clothes and you paint the nursery", James divided up the tasks with RK like the born leader that he was.
Rishabh was so involved and hands on, it was annoying at times. He would sit through my fits of rage, my mood swings, my horny days, my stuff-your-face-in-the-middle-of-the-night days. He only took one business trip in the second trimester. Even then, he recorded himself reading Jane Austen to the baby. His argument was, "if it is a girl, I want her to dream of richness, beauty and spirit. I want her to grow with a mind of her own but still own her hope of finding her Mr. Darcy. If it is a boy, I want him to grow up a feminist because I do not want to live for the day when my child uses the word girl as an insult".
That right there swept me off my feet all over again. This rude rich boy has grown up, he has matured in a fine young man and a proud father. Just the way he holds him, I am amazed by the light in their eyes. I remember when Rishabh resigned from the post of CEO. His father was terribly upset with him then, with me. When RK decided to stay at home and only attend stakeholder meetings, I was about as shocked as the rest of them. But, I was naturally to blame for making a manly man do housework.
"For heaven's sake Madhu, I am not forcing you to quit your job. Even if I do not work, three of our generations can live off the interest from my wealth. I am staying at home and it is my decision only".
I did not argue after that. I thought he was quite self-aware, trying to find his passion in other things. He manages the Kundras' charity work now. Remember the first lady speech? It does not sound so bad now, does it? Two days ago, a media person asked him about his profession. He said the most intelligent thing. "I am a stay at home dad who teaches his son that there are only few things in life worth fighting for. And, I am fighting for all of them: myself, my family and peace".
He wears his choice and title with such confidence that it is over bearing for some. That is why, no person has questioned his credibility since the last court hearing. His last rude interruption seems like forever ago, not that I miss him being called the hooligan.
This is the end peeps. <3 you all.
CID
Anupamaa
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