Tears | [BoyxBoy] | English

37

'Sir.' I looked up when I heard the voice of an employee working under me. I moved the stack of papers in my hand away and looked at him.

'What is it Tharanga?'

'Sir... Madam is crying.' When he said scared, I sighed and got up from the chair. Afraid to leave Yeheni alone at home, I took her to the office and asked her to stay in the office restroom.

Yeheni was curled up on the sofa and crying when I went to the lounge. I went near her and touched her head. 'Why are you crying?'

She wiped her tears with her palm. 'They say... They say... I act like a child because I am an idiot.'

In the corner of my heart, along with compassion, there was also anger towards those who work under me. But I controlled my impulse and patted her head. 'Now stop crying like a good baby. Let's get you something to eat as we go.'

Yeheni began to sneeze again. 'Am I an idiot?'

I kept her head on my lap. 'not. The people who called you stupid are the idiots.' Even though I said it, I felt empty. Her childish behavior was making me uncomfortable.

I looked at Tharanga and nodded to him to leave the room. I turned back to Yeheni as I watched the Tharanga leaves the room. I kept rubbing her head to comfort her. Her sudden change struck me as a nuisance. But I had to do my duty for Shanalka. Every time the memory of Shanalka came up, I felt my mind wash over me, remembering again and again that I had not seen his dead body by myself.

I stroked Yeheni's head until she fell asleep on my lap. Even after falling asleep, she put a finger in her mouth like a child and was sucking it. I felt the need to see her to a psychiatrist when I felt her saliva wet my pants.

'Tharanga!' When I called Tharanga very cautiously in a low voice, he poked his head out of the restroom door.

'Yes sir?'

'Get me a pillow.' When I told him, Tharanga took a pillow from the other sofa and placed it in my hand, and placed it under Yeheni's head. She meowed and squeezed one of my thighs.

I left Yeheni's hand on the sofa and stood up. Her shirt was up so I could clearly see her belly. I fixed her shirt and looked at Tharanga again. Tharanga looked at me with pitying eyes. I could understand his gaze.

The fact that twenty-five-year-old me is about to become a father and twenty-one-year-old Yeheni is one step away from motherhood led to this sympathy. I craned my neck.

'Let's go. There is a lot of work to do. If you can check on her from time to time, can you do it Tharanga?'

Tharanga nodded. 'Okay, sir.'

I went back to the office room and started reading my few files again. I did not remember any of the facts in that film about the goods that were to be imported from abroad because thoughts about Yeheni had invaded my mind. Picking up the phone in my pocket, I looked up and down the screen for a moment, searching for a psychiatrist. After about half an hour I was able to find the phone number of a young female doctor.

I thought for a while and called her. After an introduction about who I am, Dr. Niluka agreed to come to the office to see me. Yeheni was still asleep when she arrived.

'So Mr. Gamage?' The doctor asked me with a smile.

I treated her with an awkward smile. 'I have a big problem, doctor.'

'Tell me. You said you have a problem with your wife?'

I started to unfold my whole life story in front of her. I told her everything I knew about Yeheni, even though my words were stuttering at places and tears were welling up in my eyes. When I finished talking for over an hour, the doctor looked at me sympathetically.

'Now your wife is behaving like a child?'

'Yes, doctor. She was so strong. She didn't even cry when her brother died. But today one of my employees called her an idiot so she wept like there is no tomorrow. I'm afraid about the future of her and the child inside her,'

'I think she is behaving like this to release the pressure, Miniru. I will prescribe some medicine according to what you told me. If there is no change in her within two weeks, I'll talk with her. As you said, Yeheni likes to eat a lot of sweets, but don't feed her too much as he likes. Emotions are definitely affected by the food she eats.'

I felt like I was falling even lower and more helpless. 'But Doctor, she's crying.'

'How many months old is the baby now?' She dodged my question.

'About eight months.' I thought for a while and answered.

'Eight months?'

'Yes.'

'That means we will have a baby in about a month.' The doctor said thoughtfully with a rather serious look.

'Would that be a problem?' I asked fearfully.

'Some medicines are not good to give to a pregnant person. But we have nothing else to do at this time. So let's give these medicines for about two weeks. I hope she gets well soon. Anyway, Miniru, you are the one to blame to have delayed this work by four months. If you had told someone about Yeheni's change early on, we would have been able to give her less pain medication and give her some time to get better. But now there is nothing to do. Let's start this medicine course. Shall I come again in two weeks?'

I nodded. 'Can I have your address? I will bring Yeheni with me telling her that we are going to visit a friend.'

The doctor opened her purse and handed me her card. I took it and thanked her.

'Ayya...' it was Yeheni's voice. I looked up and Yeheni was standing by the door.

'Come on Yesh. A friend has come to see you.' I tapped the chair next to me with my hand to signal her to sit next to me.

Yeheni slowly came and sat next to me. 'What have you brought me?'

I was startled. I should have at least guessed that she will behave like this.

The doctor took a toy bear from her bag and placed it on the table. I looked at her in surprise.

'I bought this for you. When the baby in your belly grows up, let's give him the bear to play with.'

Yeheni leaned forward and picked up the bear. 'What's his name?'

'You can name him whatever you like.'

'Citrus?'

'Citrus? Good name though.' The doctor also applauded like a little one.

I stared at the two of them for a moment, not sure what was going on.

'Yesh.'

Yeheni placed the bear on her lap and looked at the doctor.

The doctor glanced down at me and then back at Yeheni as if to ask something.

'What name will you give to your baby?'

Yeheni answered without even taking a second to think.

'If it's a girl, she will be Mehansa, if it's a boy, his name will be Shanalka.'

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TEARS

2022. 08. 06