A different view

Chapter 21

 "Test positive"

This was the only time Preeth ever messaged on the group chat without someone asking her a question.

Congratulatory statements filled up in no time. Lin had worked out that every day someone would visit Preeth's house. Pha, Kit, and Beam timed it on days when they had their night shifts. Since those mornings were off, they stopped by before lunch. The rest of the couples made it on the other days. Since they were 6 couples in all, everyone got a chance to be there at least once a week. Pha would text Derek and Alma a night before on who would be visiting and what the plans were.

In the beginning, Alma was her cold self to almost everyone. The visitors would take Preeth out perhaps for a walk or some activity based on her physical condition and then for lunch or dinner. Eventually, Alma stated that outside food wasn't good for Preeth so she offered to cook at home. Preeth asked her dad if she should tell her friends to bring all this fuss down a bit. "Are you kidding? Your mom loves having them over! She hasn't been this excited for a long time" her dad whispered to her. Her dad was right. Although Alma would reprimand them for the way they handled themselves, Preeth could see her mother smile when she thought none was watching.

Pha had raised the concern amongst the group about the additional expense the family would bear if they visited every day and it wasn't like Preeth's family would accept any help. It was a practical problem. So each couple said they would find a way to balance it out. When Lin and Tim came, Tim would cook one main course to bring along. In the case of Forth and Beam, their cook packed the entire meal and all that needed to be done was being served. Yo would bring along one of the star chefs from his mansion in advance with all ingredients and Alma was floored by the way the chef cooked. With Park and Lam, the dynamics were different. Lam would play chess with Derek or watch games without saying much. When Alma made banana muffins once, Park mentioned it was Lam's favorite, along with chocolate chip cookies. From that day, either one of those was always on Alma's menu when they came. Of course, Lam did notice and he in turn took Alma out grocery shopping every week. When they arrived at the till Lam paid before Alma could fish out her card. After it happened two consecutive times, she stopped Lam and said "Young man, my husband earns enough to feed the family." to which Lam replied, "Ma'am it should not matter who in the family pays for the food as long as it's family" Alma for the first time, had no comeback. Ming would later split the bill with Lam. When it came to Kit, Alma taught him to cook while Ming would enjoy watching TV with Derek. Kit was her favorite. Wat, it turned out was not a regular but when he did come, he always convinced Alma and ordered food from a restaurant. He even introduced June first to Alma before his own family and won a place in her heart.

For the first few weeks, Preeth had a terrible case of morning sickness. Nausea, the dizziness, and the general weakness were immense. Although she had read about it there was nothing much she could do to prepare for it. On one such day, Preeth was still in bed when Lin braved to go meet her in the room. The blinds were drawn but there was enough light to make out the bundle under the blankets. Lin tiptoed to her side and gently shook her awake. "Preeth come on and join us for a snack" Lin whispered. Preeth fidgeted under the covers trying to sit up. Lin leaned towards her to help and in doing so, knocked an item off her bedside table which crashed onto the floor.

"Preeth don't get down," she said and opened the blinds. Pieces of glass glimmered on the floor and amongst the pieces was the Snowflake chain that Lin had given her so many years ago.

"Ah ok the chain is safe" Lin stated looking at the mess. She picked up the chain and put it on the dresser but Preeth continued to stare at the broken pieces of glass.

"Preeth?" Lin asked apprehensively. Preeth picked up a piece of the glass and clutched it in her hands. It took a moment for Lin to notice that Preeth was holding it so tight with her eyes closed that her hand started to bleed.

"Preeth let go, what are you doing?" she cried holding her wrist. Tears were pouring down Preeth's face. Lin shook her shoulder again shouting "Preeth, you're hurting yourself!" Preeth finally opened up her palm with the broken piece of glass jutting out of it.

"I'm calling Pha" Lin fished out her phone but Preeth grabbed her with the other hand.

"No, I'm fine. Get the medical kit from the dresser" Preeth instructed. She pulled out the glass with her other hand and bandaged it herself. "Care to explain what happened?" Lin was flustered. "I thought I was in a dream" Preeth glumly replied. Lin cleaned up the floor and disposed of the mess. When they came down, Alma was the first to question Preeth's bandaged hand.

"It was my fault Ma" Lin quickly said. "I knocked something off her dresser"

"Was it that bottle?" Alma asked

"What bottle?" Lin asked perplexed... she didn't notice it was a bottle in all the confusion

"The bottle she got back from your SOTUS ceremony. I have no idea why she hung on to an empty bottle for so long" Alma said.

Lin noticed her friend was uncomfortable so she diverted the attention to the food and it was quickly forgotten. Lin sneaked out to send a message to Pha so he could decide if any medical attention was needed. Pha was the one person they all reported back to on Preeth's well-being every day

The other time Preeth was severely unwell was when Forth and Beam dropped by. Alma mentioned to Beam that Preeth complained of pain in her calf muscles. Beam asked for permission to go see Preeth in her room. Again, Preeth was asleep or rather struggling to sleep. She was fraught with discomfort, so much so that she was moaning in her sleep. Beam didn't have the heart to wake her up so he massaged her legs while they were still under the blanket kneeling by the bed. Forth brought him a chair to sit on and sat on the floor himself by the foot of the bed. She continued to mumble. Beam went up to her to wake her up. He wasn't sure if it was the pain or a bad dream. Preeth looked at him surprised to find him in her room.

"Preeth, what's wrong?"

"P'Beam..."

Beam put the strands of messed hair behind her ears. She caught his hand in hers.

"P'Beam...." It was barely a whisper now.

He sat opposite her dragging the chair from the foot of the bed to her.

"What is it Preeth? Are your legs still hurting?"

"Should we call Pha?" Forth asked standing behind Beam.

Preeth shifted her focus to Forth. There was worry in his eyes as well. Her grasp weakened and released Beam's hand

"No... I'll call him later. Maybe we need to increase her iron and vitamins." Beam responded without turning to face Forth

"P'Beam could you leave?" she said "Please?"

"Preeth, I'm a doctor. You can tell me whatever it is"

"Hormones... it's just hormones" she said.

They left the room and found Alma outside leaning against the wall a few steps away.

"Parents know when their children are in pain. It's hard to tell whether it's a gift or a curse though. You'll know when they are lying about it too. This feeling of helplessness... when you don't know how to help them... it's just torture... and yet at the same time, you will find that you will support them... unconditionally... till your last breath cause that's what love is about isn't it?" she said and walked back to the kitchen