Fragments of Ruhi

Unfolding Happiness

Ruhi Birla-Poddar had been feeling peculiar lately. The room spun as she stepped out of the shower, and she found herself reaching for the towel rack to steady herself. The smell of her favorite shampoo suddenly seemed overpowering, making her stomach lurch. She brushed it off as a simple case of the flu, but the symptoms persisted, even after a week of rest and over-the-counter remedies. The nausea that accompanied her every morning was unlike anything she had experienced before.

That afternoon, as Ruhi sat in her office, going over the latest diamond shipment records, she heard the sound of familiar footsteps approaching. She looked up to see her great grandmother, Swarna Goenka, bustling in with a warm smile, her arms laden with Tupperware containers. The aroma of Ruhi's favorite dishes filled the air: spicy paneer tikka, creamy butter chicken, and fluffy garlic naan that was still warm to the touch.

B Nani had a special talent for sensing when her granddaughter needed a little cheer, and today she came bearing a delicious homemade feast to brighten Ruhi's day. "B Nani, what's all this?" Ruhi asked, her curiosity sparked.

Swarna beamed, placing the Tupperware on the desk. "I thought you might need some extra love today, beti. You've been working so hard.

Ruhi couldn't argue with that. As the managing director of the Goenka Diamond Business, her days were long and demanding. But her love for the work kept her going. She took a deep breath, trying to ignore the sudden wave of dizziness that washed over her. "Thank you, B Nani," she said, forcing a smile. "It smells heavenly."

The truth was, the smell of the food made her stomach churn. But Ruhi didn't have the heart to tell that to her great grandmother. She knew how much effort Swarna had put into this surprise. Instead, she took a bite of the paneer tikka as swarna feed her and nodded with feigned enthusiasm. The taste was as delightful as ever, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

As she chewed, the room grew warmer, and the nausea intensified. With a sudden urgency, Ruhi excused herself and dashed to the bathroom. She barely made it to the toilet before her breakfast made a reappearance. She felt her grandmother's concerned gaze on her back, but she didn't dare look up, afraid of the worry she would see in Swarna's eyes.

After a moment, she flushed the toilet and washed her face with cold water. Swarna followed her in, her voice filled with concern. "Beti, what's wrong? You've hardly touched your food."

Ruhi leaned against the sink, taking deep breaths. "It's probably just stress," she murmured, trying to downplay her symptoms. "The business has been keeping me on my toes, and I've been feeling a bit under the weather.

Swarna's eyes narrowed. She wasn't easily fooled. "You've been tired, nauseous, and your appetite has been off," she said gently. "Could it be...?"

Ruhi's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, B Nani," she whispered, placing a trembling hand on her stomach. "Could I be?"

Swarna's expression softened, her eyes sparkling with hope. She took Ruhi's hand in hers. "Let's not jump to conclusions, beti," she said softly. "But we should get you checked, just to be sure."

The following day, Ruhi found herself in the familiar office of Dr. Mehra, the family physician. The walls were adorned with framed degrees and certificates, and the room was filled with the comforting scent of antiseptic mixed with the faint aroma of blooming flowers from a small vase on the windowsill.

Swarna sat beside her, holding her hand tightly, her thumb tracing small, reassuring circles on Ruhi's palm. Ruhi recounted her symptoms to the doctor, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement bubble up within her.

Dr. Mehra nodded thoughtfully, her kind eyes never leaving Ruhi's face. "It does sound like you could be experiencing the early stages of pregnancy," she said gently. "But we'll need to perform some tests to confirm.