Miracle Marriage

Chapter 36

 My Miracle

The next day my mother-in-law arrived. She brought an entire shop with her. There were so many natural herbs; for me to eat, drink and even bathe. So many food items, sweets and dresses.

"You need to be careful of what you eat-ma. Don't worry, I will cook for you," she says

"Amma, Sathya needs to study,"

"You can help her. She will get a headache if she constantly looks at the book,"

"Amma, you are making so much food, she won't eat this much,"

"She has to eat well these days. When I was pregnant with you, your father used to feed me a lot more than this," began the fight between my husband and mother-in-law over taking care of me. I feel like a river trapped between two mountains, it's really hard to flow freely.

"Sathya, here I made you some Malabar biriyani," Aisha Chechi's top-notch cooking skills are undefeatable. I learnt how to cook biryani, ghee rice and certain snacks from her. She was always there supporting me past years since she started her own shop it is hard to see her. She has to care for her children and husband, do the housework and continue her business. As always she is my role model. I got some useful pregnancy tips from Aisha chechi. She showed me how to scratch my growing belly without getting any marks.

"You just have to wet the towel and rub gently when you feel itchy," she said, I always thought being pregnant is hard and agonising. I never imagined myself being pregnant. There is a life inside me and will I be a good mother? My thoughts are unstable. The doctor, on the other hand, is enthusiastic about being a father, he already asked a carpenter near us to make a crib for the baby.

"Sathya, you love eating sweets these days, I think your baby is a boy. I used to eat sweets when I was pregnant with Bala," my mother-in-law said as she oil-massaged my hair. She made this oil herself just for me with some herbs, she says I can lose my hair at the time of pregnancy. I know, they are all experienced, but aren't they worrying too much? I don't know, as Jessy said perhaps because Chellam is our first baby. However, I am kind of enjoying this royalty care, I don't need to cook, or do housework. Amma is not letting me do any.

"Sathya, do you feel any pain?" he asked while I sat on the bed, deep in my thoughts.

"No, it's just I was thinking, my Appa and Amma are coming tomorrow, so where will they sleep?" I asked.

"Ehh?" he gazed at me surprised, "you were thinking that?"

"Yes, we only have two rooms. Ours and Amma's, where will my parents sleep?"

"That's right? Should we buy a new house? Now that our little family is also increasing, we should buy a house, I should get a housing loan," he said with a serious face.

"Yes, doctor, let's plan to buy one after Chellam comes," I smiled.

"What kind of house do you like? I heard modern architecture is getting popular in Kerala these days," he asked, resting on my lap as I comfortably sat on the bed.

"I don't need anything big, but I really liked Hari's traditional house. Can we build something like that?" I suggested, the Kerala architecture really impressed me.

"Then how about a blend? I saw a house recently in the city. It looked traditional from the outside and modern inside,"

"That will be good, I like it,"

"Sathya, are you studying for your exams?" he stared deep into my eyes as if reminding me not to fall off from the path I choose. "I am sorry, I really didn't plan to have a baby now and give you a hard time," he added.

"You are like a child, doctor. Do you think I am some typical girl who will forget and leave my dreams that easily? I am just pregnant not dying. There are many pregnant women who achieved many things, I will be one of them. I will never ever give up on my dream nor I will not forget my duty as your wife. However, I am a little scared to take responsibility as a mother. What if I can't become a good mother, I won't give up, I will try my best. Doctor, please don't regret this," I replied with a warm smile. I know why he thinks this way, he has been working hard to provide for my dream. He supports me no matter what I decide. He smiles at me gently so I can be calm and confident. "Chellam is so lucky to have you as a father," I said, abruptly he rose and kissed my lips. I can feel his tears leaking down between our cheeks. I can hear his heart racing and his pulse accelerating. He is happy and excited.

"No, more than that, you will be an amazing mother. Sathya, thank you. I never wanted to get married until I met you. I fell in love for the first time the day I saw you. Even though I was sure we will never be together, that short amount of time, I dreamt of a life with you. Marrying you, making love, having kids and starting a family. I was happy with that five-minute fantasy. When unexpected fate tied our life together, I was thrilled and grateful to those deities my mother prayed to every day. I thought slowly I can make my dreams come true. But then you showed me another path, with your strong determination, passion, and ambition, I realised I was fooled by my own desire. That's when I decided to help you, lend you a hand, but seriously that's all I did. I just showed you a path and its distance like a milestone, you are the one who strode through it, alone. You have achieved all this by yourself, Sathya. Today you gave me the family I always dreamed of. I should be thanking you. I am glad I met you. I am glad I fell in love with you. I am glad you were born Sathya. You are strong, independent as your father say, you are a singakutti, a fierce goddess, and you will be a great mother. I will always be at your side, supporting you." he poured his heart, I am happy and I want to cry so badly. I started crying loud.

"Ehh! Huh! Sathya? ennachu? Valikitha? (What happened? Is it painful?) he began to panic, but I can't stop myself. I can't stop my emotions. It's overflowing out of me. I hugged him and cried.

"I love you, doctor," I said

"I love you too-ma. Do you need anything? water?" he asked, stroking my head gently.

"I want -- (crying) -- sweets,"

"Yes-Yes, I will bring them now," he ran to the kitchen.

---Late at night, Sathya slept after a long whine and heart-content eating of sweets. "Your parents? Where will they sleep? We didn't decide that," Bala thought, in his arms, he held Sathya close. His face brightened whenever he glanced at her delicate face. "My Sathya, you are my miracle," he kissed her forehead, affectionately---