Frolic of Stars

Part 11

Madhu lay on the bed beside RK, her head resting on his chest, as he was sleeping peacefully after a week. But her sleep was still not kind on her. She remembered RK's shocked face on hearing about the pregnancy. She had blurted it out but seeing his reaction she was scared. He didnt seem ready and there wasn't any hint of happiness on his face. What should she do? She had to tell RK for sure. But how to tell him, and what if he doesn't love her? What if he just has to accept them both only because of this pregnancy? What if he blames her for not taking any precautions? Wait a minute! Why would he blame her? What's her fault? Its both of them who did all this.. then why is she feeling guilty.

She slightly raised her head and saw RK's peaceful face. He looked so tempting, she could have devoured him right then. She giggled at the thought.

It was morning now and to RK's pleasure it was also a sunday, that too seeing Madhu lying in his arms just felt so perfect. He looked at her face and saw her sleeping.. He smiled seeing the slight frown she had on her face. What was it that was bothering her? He would do anything to make this frown vanish and make her happy. Seeing her smile carelessly was what he was craving for.

Madhu was now scrambling eggs while RK was cutting salad. They both were standing at the kitchen counter. "Madhu..." RK called her name softly while still focussing on the cucumber and his knife.

"Yeah?" She asked as she was busy in making that right mix of spices for her demanding taste buds.

"You still didnt tell me why you went off suddenly? Why you were upset yesterday? What's about all the sudden mood swings?" He asked very cautiously.

Madhu suddenly got conscious. "Nothing RK.. That happens with me sometimes.." she said laughing nervously.

"What?!" He feigned shock. "You mean you are sick or something? You know.. i know a great psychiatrist." He said sympathetically.

"No!! i am fine!!" Madhu said getting defensive. "Though I might need to go to psychiatrist.." she mumbled under her breath thoroughly annoyed with herself.

RK chuckled hearing her. He came forward and held her arm as he made her face him. Madhu stared at him intently.
"Madhu.. I dont know why but I have this uncontrollable desire to know everything about you.. I want to know you inside out however you are.. I am having this strange urge to be that secret diary of yours where you can just blurt out anything about yourself without any fears or regrets. I dont know what all this is.. why am i feeling that way but everything about you pulls me so much closer to you.. I cant imagine being a stranger to you again and thinking now makes me wonder how i had even lived the last 25 years of my life.. And you know even if I am not able to sort what may be bothering you but I would still be there to hold you.. And after all of this when you dont tell me the reason why you are being so apprehensive or unhappy then its hurting me.. its hurting me so much to see you worry about something and not even being a part of it.." he said with a lot of care and compassion in his eyes that Madhu almost felt weak in her knees. Ofcourse she has to tell him now. Whatever be the consequences but she has to tell him everything. He has the right to know about her and his child.

She took in a deep breath as she closed her eyes to let herself finally prepare to face any kind of response from him.

"RK this is really important for both of us.." she said in a soft tone.

"Yes.. I can make out that much.." he said.

"I know you were not ready for this marriage or the responsiblities that came along with it but we landed up this way. And i have always been happy however we stayed. Friends.. best friends.. any way.. But I realised last sunday that I... I mean... What happened was that I am.."

"Do you love someone else?!" He asked horrified.

"No! where the hell did you get that from.." she shouted.

"Phew... the amount of build up you are giving it.. I got scared.." RK said relaxing himself.

"Why did you do that...? I lost all my tempo" she said annoyed.

"Madhu.. we are not composing songs here... Tempo lost or beats lost.. just blurt it out..." he said staring at her a little angrily now..

"Okay then.. So its that.. I am pregnant." She said finally.

"That was a joke yesterday..." RK said getting cautious.

"I was scared seeing your shock and that's why I lied that its a joke.. but it's not.. I am actually pregnant.." Madhu said taking a deep breath finally getting that out of her.

"Wait.. you mean you are actually pregnant.. like we are expecting a baby?!" RK asked with widened eyes not believing that.

"Yes.. being pregnant means that only.." Madhu said folding her arms at her chest staring back at him.

"Yes yes.. I know that... wait.. I am going to be... a... father..." he said that slowly as if telling himself. "FATHER!" He almost screamed realizing that. Madhu couldnt make out if he was happy or sad. But she was confident now.. whatever it be he would accept it like she did.

He turned around and walked to and fro in the living room mumbling to himself.

Madhu took the scrambled eggs' bowl silently and sat on the couch as she stared at him apprehensively. She ate slowly as she watched him walking past her again and again.

"You are eating?!" RK exclaimed not believing her. Did she have senses to eat knowing such a big thing happening to both of them.

"I am feeling hungry and i wont be able to eat it if it gets cold.. it would taste awful and i might just throw up.." She said genuinely worried.

"Ohhh my.. you are really pregnant.." he said looking at her with wide eyes as if she was some rare species.

"So you think I am lying?" She said getting annoyed.

"That's why you made me get you the ice cream that night.." he said not registering her complaint.

"Yes right.." Madhu nodded her head seriously taking another spoonful.

"How did this happen?" He said sitting beside her getting over the shock and trying to accept.

"Have you not studied biology?" Madhu said looking at him suspiciously.

"Ofcourse I know how it happens.. That was just an expression i used.." RK said embarrassed at his own question. He lay his head on the sofa rest as he stared at the roof.

"Are you ready for this?" He asked her slightly.

"Can you even think of any other way?" She asked back.

"No i mean.. you will have to bear the effects for the coming months.. It depends more on you.." he said looking at her seriously.

"RK.. We both need to accept it.. I am sure you are not thinking of an abortion.." she said scared. Not that she would go for it if he said or she thought that he might force her. She knew she wont give that right to anyone to harm her child. But she was scared that the image that she had built about RK would get scratched if he said that.

"No Madhu.. we cant do that.. Not at all.." he said leaning forward as he held her hands. "However much playful we may be.. but we cant play with someone's life that too with no fault. And it's our child we are talking about. I should be the one killing the one who would even try to harm my child, not be the one who bring harm.. We will support each other.. sure i am not so comfortable with thinking of being a father now but we have a few months.. and i am sure we both love our child very much.. He would have come eventually.. let him or her join the party earlier.." he said chuckling at the end trying to lighten the conversation.

She looked at him and a smile crept her face as tears peeked through her eyes. She hugged him tightly as she let the tear escape. Yes, she was ready to have this man's child in herself. There was no doubt about it. He was honest that he wasn't ready but yet he was ready to work on it. Not just adamant on having everything according to his own conveniences.

"Thanks RK.." she said happily.