Karmanami Series

Surprise

Okuda was busy preparing dinner while occasionally stole a quick glance at the ceiling clock. She gasped to see how fast the time flies and he will be home in any minute if she didn't hurry. She quickly throwing the slice of vegetables into the pan and stirred it in slow fry.

Tonight, she was making a plan to surprise her husband with the news she was itching to tell. She bet her older son must be happy to hear the news too. He had been asking for one lately.

Just then, she felt her apron was being tugged down and she was back into reality. She looked below - only to find her 6 years old son, Dharma was gazing at her with curiosity look. His pout looked so adorable that she wants to peck his plump cheek.

She kneels down to be level with his height.

"Yes, Dharma?" She asked while ruffling his soft red hair. He possessed his father's hair and Okuda swore he was a split image of his father from the moment he was born. Even the rest of their classmates were astounded when they first met him.

Dharma pressed his lips together. "Mommy, why is there a cake in the fridge? Today is not my birthday." asked him in almost childish voice. His pair of mercury eyes were soft like hers unlike his father's.

Okuda couldn't resist and pulled him into tight embrace. As she lets go, she noticed his reddened face and couldn't help laughing. She explained to him with a hint of tenderness in her voice. "Mommy has a surprise for daddy and for you too but since you've found the cake, it's not a surprise anymore unless you keep it a secret from your daddy. Can you do that for me?" She extended her pinky finger which he hooked it with his tiny finger almost rapidly.

His face brightened. "Yes, I can do that for you! Do you want my help, mommy?" He was so excited at the thought of keeping a secret without his father's knowledge. A secret between him and his mother.

"Oh, why of course! Thank you, dear. You can help me by preparing the table. I'm almost finished anyway."

/

Not long after that, Karma finally arrived and announced that he was home as he loosened his tie at the entrance. He couldn't help but feeling light-headed when the sight of his wife and his son were welcoming him home. Gone all his fatigue from his workplace as he absorbed their warmth feeling and kept it close to his heart.

Dharma dashed towards him and hugging his left leg while Okuda took his briefcase from his grasp and also his coat. She was standing at the corner – waiting for him to take off his shoes while listening to Dharma's rambling about what happened at school. Then, he planted a soft kiss on her temple and his son's right cheek as he scooped him.

Dharma giggled happily. He loved it when Karma did that.

"Dinner is ready. Do you want to eat first or taking a bath?" Okuda inquired. She settled his briefcase on the couch and hanging his coat in the closet near the front entrance.

Karma hummed. "If you don't mind, I would like to eat first. I'm pretty starving since the last time I ate was during lunch. Later in the evening, the old man kept piling load of works on my desk that I didn't even have a chance to make myself a cup of coffee." He complained.

He was about to rant about his superior when the sight of variety of dishes on the table caught his attention.

He laughed merrily. "Am I missing something? It's very rare of you to cook more than two dishes. I did not missing someone's birthday or our anniversary, do I?" His tone sounds unsure.

Okuda merely smile secretively. "No, you did not. I just feel generous today. Please, have a sit."

As the night curtain fall down, the family were enjoying their dinner happily with Dharma told them in between meal about his excellent performance at school and due to that, the teacher gave him a snack and a flower medal for his achievement.

"That's my son. Too bad you aren't mischief like me or else we could control the world just like daddy used to be." Karma grinned mischievously. He laughed when Okuda gave him a stern look. Meanwhile, their son was looking at his parents with confused look.

"Karma." Okuda pleaded him and told their son his daddy was just kidding. "It was nothing, Dharma. Finish your dinner."

Dharma nodded – didn't bother to ask more even he knew his parents were hiding something from him. That is when he remembers the cake inside the fridge. "Daddy, we have a surprise for you!" He exclaimed loudly and immediately shut his mouth with his small hand as he realized his mistake. He looked at his mother with guilty. "Showwy, mommy."

Okuda shrugged it off with smile. "It's okay."

Karma now feeling intrigued. "Ohho~ What kind of surprise are both of you hiding from me?"

Okuda looked at her son with expectant look. "Should we tell daddy?" Dharma bobbed his head giddily.

She shifted her gaze back to her husband who was anxiously waiting. She took a deep breath before announcing the good news. "I'm pregnant. Surprise."

Okuda was regretting for not having a phone with her so she could capture his expression when he heard the news. The unbelievable look on his face looks adorable to him.

"H - how long has it been?"

"Three weeks. Guess Dharma's wish come true. He gets a younger sibling." She hummed softly.

"I cannot wait to become an older brother!" Dharma responded excitedly.