EMBRACING REALITY

CHAPTER 28 EMBRACING REALITY

Chapter 28

Sidharth was anxious.. A lot.. His forehead started sweating.. He didn’t know how to wait outside the loo..
He kept walking from left to right outside the bathroom..
“Baby, hua kya? Jaldi bahar Aa Na..” was the only thing coming out of Sidharth’s mouth but was unheard to Shehnaaz..
Inside the loo, Shehnaaz was holding the test kit in her hands.. Her hands started to shiver.. She didn’t want to disappoint Sidharth.. Somehow she knew what the result was.. She was just afraid to face the reality, not for herself but for the man who was waiting outside, all excited and hopeful to be a father..
She closed her eyes.. She couldn’t look at the test kit.. She splashed water on her face, wiped it with a towel and finally glanced at the test kit..
“Sorry Sidharth..” murmured Shehnaaz as she looked at the single line on the test kit which determined that she wasn’t pregnant..
Yes, the rest was not positive.. It was negative.. She was just two days late.. Not a week..
Shehnaaz didn’t know how to step out of the bathroom and face Sidharth.. On the other hand, Sidharth didn’t have the patience and he finally knocked the bathroom door after waiting for 15 long minutes..
He heard Shehnaaz’s soft sniffle and he knew she was crying.. “Baby, open the door.. Please don’t cry, my love.. Darwaza khol..” said Sidharth and that’s when Shehnaaz opened the door..
He saw her red eyes and his heart broke.. She threw herself at him and he wrapped his arms around her lifting her in his arms..
“Meri Jaan, kya hua? Please aise roh mat..” cooed Sidharth and his eyes fell on the test kit which was kept on the shelf above the basin.. He saw the single line and he got numb as well..
Sidharth didn’t cry but he felt his heart break into millions of pieces.. The noise of breaking heart is louder than anything.. His hopes were shattered.. He didn’t cry, he had to be there for Shehnaaz.. For a woman, this moment is more difficult..
He rubbed her back up and down but no words came out of his mouth.. Shehnaaz stopped crying after a while but she was clung to him.. Not wanting to leave him even for a second..
“Ghar chale?” asked Sidharth.. Shehnaaz nodded and he dragged her to the car..
Adith noticed the unusual silence between the two of them but they were with each other.. He didn’t say anything and drove silently.. They were at a traffic signal, waiting for the red light to turn green when their eyes fell on a pregnant woman, begging in front of the cars and bikes on the signal..
They felt a heaviness in their hearts and Sidharth looked at Shehnaaz and in the other second he opened the door of the car, got down and handed a good amount of money to her, asked her address and her family.. Sidharth decided to take responsibility for the birth of that lady’s child and also, some help to the family..
He asked the woman to come along with him.. He made her sit in the car and she joined her hands in front of him..
Shehnaaz held that lady’s hand and nodded her head, “Hath mat jodo.. Ye hum dil se kar rahe hai aapke liye.. Aapka Naam kya hai?” asked Shehnaaz, trying to comfort her..
“Sheela Naam hai..” said the lady, in a low voice..
Then Sidharth spoke up, “Aap apne ghar ka rasta batao, hum aapko waha chor denge.. Aapko ab se araam karna hai aur sirf Doctor ke pass jana hai.. Ab se aap aise road me bheek nai mangna..” said Sidharth and Sheela couldn’t believe something like this was happening in her life..
Sidharth and Shehnaaz seemed like angels for her.. She guided Adith to her house and they saw her house.. It was in a slum.. Many people living in small place, uncomfortably..
“Itne chote ghar me aap sab kaise manage kar lete ho?’ Sidharth couldn’t help but this question came out of his mouth..
“Parivar sath hai toh koi bhi ghar chota nai hota..” said Sheela..
Sidharth and Shehnaaz felt the happiness she had even in the smallest house.. The importance of family highlighted in Sheela’s life which was in SidNaaz’s life as well..
“Aapki is soch ke wajah se aapke liye respect aur zyada badh gayi hai.. Aap fikar nai karo.. Hum sab handle kar lenge..” assured SidNaaz and they left for their own house.. This time, they felt better.. They did something good.. Their silence didn’t last long.. “Sidhaaartthh!” cooed Shehnaaz.. Sidharth just smiled at her and wrapped his arms around her shoulder.. He looked into her eyes and she smiled.. “Himmat mat har..” said Shehnaaz.. “I know baby.. Mai hi over excited ho gaya tha.. Sahi time ka wait nai kiya.. But I..” Sidharth stopped midway..
Shehnaaz didn’t ask him to talk further.. She wanted them to be alone, in their room, in their private space.. They reached home soon and saw the house empty.. A frown appeared on both their faces on not finding Maa inside..
They simply walked into their room and Sidharth went into the bathroom.. He turned on the shower and stood under it.. “Am I not capable enough to be a father.? Why didn’t my baby get pregnant? Is God punishing me?” These were the thoughts running in his mind..
Outside the bathroom, Shehnaaz stood at the door.. She knew he wasn’t fine.. He needed a shoulder to cry on, to vent out.. She also knew he wouldn’t do it with her because they both were in the same zone..
Shehnaaz walked towards her bed side table, took out her phone from her handbag and called Mom.. Mommy Shukla heard all what Shehnaaz told her from missing her period to Sidharth’s over excitement to his pampering to his sudden silence..
“Bache, tu fikar mat kar.. Mai bas abhi aayi ghar wapas.. Mujhe nai pata tha tum log aaj Aa rahe ho.. Warna Mai Pehle Aa jati.. Tu roh mat bache, mai Aa rahi hu.. Bas phone rakh ke turant..” assured Mommy Shukla and as promised, she was at the door step in ten minutes..
Sidharth was still in the shower.. Shehnaaz was at the door and hugged mom as soon as she stepped in the house.. “Maaa” cooed Shehnaaz as tears rolled down her eyes..
“Mai usko wo khushi nai de payi..” said Shehnaaz and Mom pulled out of the hug and grabbed the bottle of water.. She sat on the sofa along with Shehnaaz and put the bottle close to her mouth, “Ye sab Baad me bolna.. Pehle Pani pee.. Aankhe dekh apni.. Kaise roh-roh ke suja di hai..” said Mom and Shehnaaz was a little shocked..
Mom’s reaction confused her a little but she sipped the water and then looked at mom.. “Ab meri Baat dhyan se sun.. Ek hi test toh kiye ho.. Aur jaisa ke tune boli, tum logo ne test bhot jaldi kar liye ho.. Aise pareshan kyu ho rahi hai fir.. Kisi doctor ne kuch bola abhi tak? Aur kya ek baar agar test negative aaya toh tum log aise mayus ho jaega? Tujhe Maa banna hai toh Pehle bhot zyada strong banna hoga.. Tere andar ek Jaan basne wali hai.. Sidharth ko mai dekhti hu.. Tujhe bhi Mai hi dekhungi.. Mai tujhe mera experience bataungi..” said Mom, which made Shehnaaz feel a little better.
“Tu Sidharth ko bula ke laa..” said Mom and Shehnaaz was on her feet the next moment walking into her room.. She heard the bathroom door click and Sidharth stepped out of it..
His clothes were wet, he didn’t even bother to take his clothes off before turning on the shower.. “Sidharth, thand lag jaegi.. Kya kar raha hai?” said Shehnaaz walking towards him and taking his clothes off..
Sidharth stood there, silently as Shehnaaz took his clothes off, wiped his wet body and dressed him up in his comfortable shorts and tshirt..
Sidharth came back into his senses when Shehnaaz patted on his heart, softly caressing it.. “Bebu..” She cooed and tears rolled down his eyes..
Shehnaaz just called Maa, “Maa..” and Mom came running into their bedroom.. Sidharth saw her and that was all.. He made her sit on the edge of the bed and he lay on her lap.. “Mom!” He cooed like a little baby and sobbed softly..
“Sidharth, tu shant ho ja na Bache.. Mai hu na tum dono ke sath.. Aise Himmat mat haar.. Abhi maine Shehnaaz ko samjhaya.. Tu toh mera samajhdar bacha hai na..” said Mom, who wasn’t able to form much words looking at her son’s condition..
Shehnaaz walked out of the bedroom, wanting to give some space to them, to have their mother son time.. Shehnaaz got a lot of strength from Mom’s words..
She wanted to be strong and not sit and cry in a corner.. She joined her hands and closed her eyes, “Baba ji, Meher karan!” said Shehnaaz and then grabbed her phone. She called her doctor, told her everything and the doctor said, “This is a very emotional moment, Shehnaaz.. But aap dono ko stress lene ki zarurat nai hai.. I have done a few tests and you can be a mother.. Aap me koi problem nai hai.. So, you guys need to stay confident and not lose hope.. Agar zyada hi emotional breakdown ho raha hai toh aap dono ek baar Counselor Srijana Chanda se Baat kar sakte hai.. Aaplog Pehle Bhi unse Baat kar chuke ho..” said Dr. Gupta and Shehnaaz thanked her for the same..
A smile appeared on Shehnaaz’s face when the doctor said that there was no problem in her and they could keep trying for a baby.. She didn’t take Srijana’s appointment right away.. She was waiting for Sidharth to calm down a little..
What next? Stay Tuned..