Reconciliation

Chapter 11 : "Get that nasty-"

Avni was now in the twelfth week of her pregnancy. She didn't have a pronounced baby bump or any potential signs of a baby being inside of her visibly, but her body did feel very different to her. Her chest felt sore and heavy and her dizziness was not going away either. They had shifted to the ground floor in the room Neela Ma was occupying and she happily consented to shift back upstairs.

Avni had decided to continue with the training until she felt uncomfortable. The next day after the pregnancy announcement, she went to the forensics branch, dropped safely by DD. DD was cheerful more than ever and drove slowly as he could. Avni almost threatened to snatch the wheel from him and accelerate but DD said sternly, "Bhabhi, this chachu won't take a single risk."

The training first required her to read about a serial killer's case, which was pretty gruesome. Avni threw up at the sight of the victim's trademark injury and Neil had to come and handle her. "The doctor said no cadavers!" He nearly yelled, at both Avni and her trainer.

"It was technically an injury." The trainer pointed out. "On a corpse." Neil replied, looking at him in disbelief. Avni herself decided to train herself more in criminal aims and twisted questions instead of dead bodies.

They were told during their second scan that their baby was now the size of a strawberry. They were able to see their baby's fingers now and his/her movements too. "But I can't feel him." Avni said sadly to Dr. Dipika who gave her a hearty laugh.

"Your baby is very small right now Avi." She said, addressing her by the same nickname as Neil who grinned at once. His wife was too cute to be not called Avi. "And I've read about the belly getting round by this week but mine-" Avni began, feeling worried but was cut off by Dipika at once.

"What is that?" She asked, looking at her sonogram carefully. "What happened?" Neil asked worriedly, trying to look at the screen. "You're...You're having twins!" She exclaimed, confirming the news through the scan.

"We're having babies?" Neil asked, completely overjoyed. Avni however resumed her question but on the verge of tears now. "I'm having two babies but my belly isn't showing the signs of even one!" She almost cried.

"It's not the same for everyone." Dipika remarked, wiping the gel off. "I've talked about your surgery. We can do it in the beginning of the thirteenth week." She added, adjusting Avni's top. "There aren't any risks, right?" Neil asked, unable to refrain the worry in his voice. Avni felt a lump form in her throat too at the mention of the surgery.

"I can't term the surgery very safe, to be honest. There are always risks. The bullet is somewhat deep seated..." Dr. Dipika said, checking Avni's reports of more than a decade ago.

"You were experiencing a heart burn?" She asked Avni, who nodded, embarrassed. Neil burst into laughter and pulled Avni's cheeks. "What am I missing?" She asked, grinning too.

Neil narrated what had happened a day ago. Avni felt a burning sensation on the right side of her chest and panicked thinking it was the lead toxicity that had begun. She was almost in tears when she told Neil about it but he told her apologetically that the bullet was in the left side of her chest.

"You are always joking!" She had said complainingly and refused to talk to him.

Dr. Dipika laughed again and said, "heart burns are really normal. However if you do feel very uncomfortable due to them, I'll write a tablet down for you." Both AvNeil nodded.

"You're getting admitted tomorrow for the pre op procedure." Dr. Dipika stated and they nodded once more, taking her leave.

So there they were now, sitting in their room, doing nothing and waiting for tomorrow. Neil could sense the anxiety inside of her and himself too as the hours passed by.