Meant to be yours

Trouble or Surprise

Ishika stormed into the living room like someone who had just discovered the universe personally hated her.
Riya was sprawled on the couch scrolling through her phone while Payal calmly read a report beside her.
Ishika dropped her bag dramatically.
“Guess who became my professor.”
Riya didn’t even look up. “Someone attractive? Because the entire college is acting like it’s a K-drama casting call.”
Ishika crossed her arms.
“Melanie Rose.”
Both heads snapped up.
Silence.
Then—
Riya burst out laughing.
Payal tried to maintain composure but failed spectacularly.
“You’re joking,” Riya wheezed.
“I wish.”
Payal shook her head, amused. “That is… unfortunate.”
“Unfortunate?” Ishika groaned. “She made me her assistant!”
Riya clapped. “Oh this is amazing.”
Ishika glared. “How is this amazing?”
Riya leaned forward mischievously.
“Hope she doesn’t fall for you!”
Payal chuckled quietly beside her.
Ishika gasped. “Excuse me?!”
Riya wiggled her brows. “You have a history, Ishu.”
“Riya,” Ishika said with exaggerated dignity, “I am married to your sister. I am your bhabhi. Give some respect.”
Riya stared at her.
Then launched herself across the couch.
“RESPECT THIS, BHABHIJI!”
She tackled Ishika and immediately started tickling her.
Ishika shrieked. “RIYA! STOP!”
“Is this respect enough, bhabhiji?” Riya teased mercilessly.
Payal calmly watched the chaos while sipping coffee.
Ishika finally pushed Riya away and sat up, hair completely ruined.
“You’re impossible.”
Ishika stared at both of them like they had lost their minds.
“You two are the worst support system in history.”
Payal raised a brow. “What exactly does she do?”
Ishika began pacing.
“She calls my name every five minutes. ‘Ishika, answer this.’ ‘Ishika, explain that.’ ‘Ishika, what’s wrong with this strategy.’”
Riya grinned. “Teacher’s pet.”
“I am not!”
Payal smirked. “Sounds like you are.”
Ishika groaned and collapsed into the chair.
“And she enjoys arguing with me.”
“Of course she does,” Riya said.
“Why?”
“Because you argue like a lawyer who drinks too much coffee.”
Payal nodded. “It’s entertaining.”
Ishika glared again. “She always wins in the end.”
Riya gasped dramatically. “Impossible.”
Ishika sighed.
“Because she’s the professor! Her word is final.”
Payal chuckled. “That must be painful for you.”
“It is!”
Payal raised a brow. “Does Anu know about this?”
Ishika froze.
“…No.”
Both of them leaned forward.
“No?” Riya repeated slowly.
Ishika crossed her arms stubbornly.
“I intend to keep it that way.”
Payal smirked. “Dangerous.”
“I want to enjoy my college days peacefully,” Ishika defended.
Riya gasped dramatically.
“You’re hiding things from Anamika Modi.”
Ishika rolled her eyes. “Don’t make it sound like espionage.”
“It is espionage,” Riya insisted.
Payal chuckled. “You underestimate how much your wife notices.”
Ishika waved her off. “Relax. Melanie barely talks to me.”
Riya stared at her.
“Barely?”
Payal raised a brow knowingly.
Ishika hesitated.
“…She did call my name eleven times in class.”
Riya clapped loudly. “FAVORITE STUDENT!”
“Oh please,” Ishika groaned.
Riya leaned back smugly.
“You attract people like a magnet.”
Payal nodded thoughtfully.
“She’s not wrong.”
Ishika stared at them.
“Excuse me?”
Riya started counting on her fingers.
“Rebecca.”
“That wasn’t—”
“That possessive guy from the tour. Nightmare.”
“That was not—”
“And now Melanie Rose.”
Payal added casually, “You do have a pattern.”
Ishika threw a pillow at both of them.
“Traitors!”
**
College Days
Over the next few weeks, the classroom turned into a battleground.
Melanie would write a strategy on the board.
“Ishika,” she would say calmly.
Ishika already had a counterpoint ready.
“That model collapses under supply chain disruption.”
Melanie tilted her head.
“Explain.”
Ishika launched into a detailed analysis.
The class watched like it was a tennis match.
Melanie countered.
Ishika argued.
Melanie smiled.
And finally—
“Interesting,” Melanie would conclude. “But in this scenario, the professor’s model stands.”
Ishika would sigh dramatically.
“Of course it does.”
The class laughed.
Melanie secretly enjoyed it.
She had taught in many institutions.
But rarely had she found someone who challenged her every single time.
And oddly—
She liked it.
**
The Business Party
A few weeks later, Anamika attended a high-profile business party.
Ishika accompanied her, looking elegant but slightly bored by the corporate chatter.
Anamika spoke with investors while Ishika quietly sipped her drink.
“Boring?” Anamika asked softly beside her.
“A little.”
Anamika’s lips curved faintly.
“You’ll survive.”
Just then—
Anamika stood among them effortlessly, looking every bit the powerful CEO she was.
Ishika stood beside her in a sleek black dress, pretending she wasn’t bored.
“I miss college,” she whispered.
Anamika raised a brow. “You’ve been there for three days.”
“Still.”
Just then—
A familiar voice cut through the crowd.
“Well, this is a pleasant coincidence.”
Ishika’s soul left her body.
Melanie Rose stood behind them.
Elegant.
Confident.
Dangerous smile included.
Anamika turned slowly.
“Ms. Rose.”
Melanie inclined her head politely.
“Anamika.”
Then her eyes shifted to Ishika.
“Hello, Ishika.”
Ishika forced a smile. “Professor.”
Anamika’s head snapped slightly toward her.
“Professor?”
Melanie looked delighted.
“Oh,” she said smoothly. “Didn’t you know?”
Anamika’s gaze moved slowly to Ishika.
Ishika suddenly found the champagne table very interesting.
Melanie continued innocently.
“I’m the new honorary professor at her college.”
Silence.
Anamika stared at her wife.
“You didn’t mention this.”
Ishika coughed. “It slipped my mind.”
Melanie smiled sweetly.
“So, Anamika… did you know that your wife is my favourite student in college?”
Anamika’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Oh?”
Melanie nodded.
“Sharp mind. Excellent analysis.”
She leaned a little closer to Ishika.
“And very entertaining sarcasm.”
The words hung in the air.
Anamika slowly turned her head toward Ishika.
The look was calm.
Too calm.
Ishika gave a weak smile.
“Surprise?”
Melanie watched the interaction with obvious amusement.
“She’s quite remarkable in class,” Melanie added smoothly. “Always challenging my theories.”
Anamika folded her arms.
“Oh?”
Melanie nodded.
“She argues over almost everything.”
Ishika muttered, “Because your strategies are questionable.”
Melanie laughed softly.
Anamika raised a brow at Ishika.
“You argue with your professor?”
“Respectfully!”
Melanie tilted her head.
“She does call me ‘Professor’ every time.”
Anamika’s lips twitched slightly.
“Good.”
Ishika whispered under her breath, “Don’t encourage her.”
Melanie glanced between them.
“You two are fascinating.”
Anamika finally smiled faintly.
“She gets that from me.”
Melanie chuckled.
“I can see the resemblance.”
Ishika sighed dramatically.
“Can we stop discussing my personality like I’m a case study?”
Melanie smirked.
“You practically are.”
Ishika whispered through clenched teeth, “Please stop talking.”
Melanie ignored her.
“I call on her the most in class.”
Anamika folded her arms.
“Do you?”
Ishika could feel the temperature dropping beside her.
Melanie looked positively amused.
“Oh yes. She answers everything.”
Anamika looked at Ishika slowly.
“You seem to be enjoying college.”
Ishika laughed nervously. “Education is important.”
Melanie almost laughed.
She finished her drink and set the glass down.
Anamika leaned slightly closer to Ishika.
“So,” she murmured quietly, “my wife is the professor’s favourite student.”
Ishika groaned.
“Please don’t say it like that.”
Anamika’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
“I’ll be attending your next lecture.”
Ishika froze.
“What?”
Melanie looked delighted.
“Oh, that would be interesting.”
Ishika stared at both of them.
“No.”
Anamika smiled calmly.
“Yes.”
Melanie nodded approvingly.
“I look forward to it.”
Ishika sighed deeply.
“My life has become a corporate reality show.”
Melanie laughed again.
And strangely—
Anamika did too.
“Well,” she said lightly, “I won’t keep you both.”
She stepped closer to Ishika as she passed.
“See you tomorrow in class.”
Then she leaned slightly closer and whispered quietly—
“If you make it past tonight.”
She subtly pointed her eyes toward Anamika’s glare.
Ishika’s soul evaporated.
Melanie walked away smiling.
Anamika slowly turned toward her wife.
Ishika looked up with the most innocent expression she could manage.
“…Hi.”
Anamika said nothing.
Which was worse.
Much worse.
Ishika sighed dramatically.
“I should have told you.”
Anamika raised a brow.
“You think?”
Ishika clasped her hands together.
“She provoked me first.”
“That’s irrelevant.”
“She enjoys annoying me.”
Anamika’s lips twitched faintly.
“So do I.”
Ishika groaned.
“This is not fair.”
Anamika leaned slightly closer, voice quiet but teasing.
“Oh, it’s very fair.”
Ishika sighed.
“Am I in trouble?”
Anamika looked at her calmly.
“Not yet.”
A pause.
“Depends how tomorrow’s class goes.”
Ishika blinked.
“…Why do I feel like my wife and professor are forming a conspiracy?”
Across the ballroom, Melanie Rose lifted her glass toward them with a smug smile.
Ishika buried her face in her hands.
“My life is a disaster.”
**
Jazz had stared at the small paper bag on her kitchen counter for three days.
Three.
Days.
Inside the bag were three pregnancy tests.
She had bought them at three different pharmacies like some kind of paranoid criminal.
The first time, the cashier had smiled too brightly.
“Congratulations in advance!”
Jazz had nearly dropped the box and fled the store.
The second time, she wore sunglasses.
Indoors.
The pharmacist still said, “Hope everything goes well!”
The third time she just grabbed the box, threw money on the counter, and walked out like she had stolen classified government files.
And yet…
The bag still sat unopened.
Jazz paced her apartment like a caged animal.
“This is ridiculous,” she muttered.
She picked up the box.
Put it down.
Picked it up again.
“What if it’s positive?”
She dropped it like it burned her.
Her mind replayed that night again.
Rebecca’s laughter.
Too much wine.
Too many unresolved feelings.
One impulsive moment where she had stopped thinking and started feeling.
Jazz pressed her palms against her face.
“Oh no.”
Her stomach twisted again.
Which did not help the situation.
“Maybe it’s stress.”
She pointed at the tests accusingly.
“Yes. Stress.”
Her phone buzzed.
Rebecca.
Jazz stared at the name.
She didn’t answer.
Because if Rebecca asked why she looked pale every time they met…
What would she say?
“Hey, remember that night we lost control? Small chance we created a human.”
Jazz groaned and fell onto the couch.
“Nope. Not happening.”
She looked at the tests again.
Five minutes passed.
Ten minutes.
Finally—
She grabbed her phone.
There was only one person who could deal with this level of chaos.
She dialed.
Payal was sitting peacefully in her office reviewing the script when her phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID.
Jazz.
Payal answered calmly.
“Hello.”
“Payal.”
Payal immediately frowned.
Jazz sounded… strange.
“What happened?”
“I need you to come over.”
“Why?”
“…Just come.”
Payal leaned back in her chair.
“Jazz.”
Silence on the other end.
Then—
“Please.”
That was enough.
Payal stood immediately.
“I’m on my way.”
Thirty Minutes Later
Payal knocked on Jazz’s apartment door.
It opened instantly.
Jazz looked like she hadn’t slept in a week.
Hair messy.
Eyes wide.
Energy chaotic.
Payal walked in slowly.
“You look like you’re hiding a body.”
Jazz pointed dramatically at the kitchen counter.
Payal walked over.
Looked at the bag.
Pulled out the box.
Paused.
Then slowly turned toward Jazz.
“…Pregnancy tests?”
Jazz nodded stiffly.
Payal blinked once.
Then twice.
Then she burst out laughing.
“PAYAL THIS IS NOT FUNNY.”
Payal covered her mouth but the laughter kept escaping.
“You called me here for emotional support!”
“I am emotionally supporting you,” Payal said, still laughing.
“You’re laughing!”
“This is objectively funny.”
Jazz pointed accusingly.
“You’re the worst best friend.”
Payal leaned against the counter.
“Have you taken it?”
Jazz looked offended.
“If I had taken it, would I be calling you like this?”
Payal raised a brow.
“You bought three.”
“I panicked!”
“You panic-buy pregnancy tests now?”
Jazz paced again.
“I don’t know what to do.”
Payal watched her calmly.
“Okay. Let’s analyze.”
Jazz groaned.
“This is not a business case study.”
“Everything is a case study.”
Payal picked up the box.
“Step one: you take the test.”
Jazz shook her head violently.
“No.”
Payal crossed her arms.
“You can’t hide from biology.”
“I can try!”
Payal sighed.
“Jazz.”
“What if it’s positive?”
Payal tilted her head.
“Then you deal with it.”
Jazz stared at her.
“That’s your advice?”
“That’s reality.”
Jazz collapsed onto the couch dramatically.
“My life is over.”
Payal sat beside her.
“No, it isn’t.”
Jazz peeked at her.
“What if Rebecca finds out?”
Payal shrugged.
“She probably should.”
Jazz shot upright.
“ABSOLUTELY NOT.”
Payal smirked.
“You slept with her.”
“That was an accident.”
Payal gave her a look.
“That’s not how that works.”
Jazz buried her face in a pillow.
“This is a disaster.”
Payal gently pulled the pillow away.
“Or it’s nothing.”
Jazz blinked.
“Meaning?”
“You’re panicking before you even know.”
Payal stood and placed the test in Jazz’s hand.
“So we find out.”
Jazz stared at the stick like it was a bomb.
“I hate you.”
Payal smiled.
“No you don’t.”
Jazz groaned and stood.
“If this ruins my life, I’m blaming you.”
Payal leaned casually against the wall.
“I’ll accept the credit.”
Jazz marched toward the bathroom.
Then stopped halfway.
Turned.
“Wait.”
Payal sighed.
“What now?”
Jazz whispered nervously.
“Stay here.”
Payal shook her head.
“You’re unbelievable.”
Jazz disappeared into the bathroom.
Door closed.
And Payal sat on the couch, arms folded, waiting.
Because something told her—
This situation was about to get very interesting.
The small white stick lay quietly on the coffee table.
Jazz and Payal leaned closer at the same time.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Payal tilted her head slightly, examining the result window.
Then she said calmly,
“Negative.”
Jazz froze.
“…Negative?”
Payal nodded once.
Jazz leaned back slowly on the couch.
“Oh.”
The single word slipped out of her before she could stop it.
Payal noticed it immediately.
Not relief.
Not happiness.
Just… quiet disappointment.
Jazz stared at the ceiling for a moment, her chest rising and falling slowly.
“Well,” she forced a small laugh. “That was three weeks of panic for nothing.”
Payal didn’t reply.
Instead, she continued staring at the test.
Jazz frowned.
“What?”
Payal finally turned toward her, her eyes unusually soft.
“There it is.”
Jazz blinked.
“What?”
“Your real feeling.”
Jazz looked confused.
“What are you talking about?”
Payal gestured toward her.
“You’re disappointed.”
Jazz immediately shook her head.
“No, I’m not.”
Payal raised a brow.
“You sighed like someone who just lost something important.”
Jazz opened her mouth to argue—
Then stopped.
Her hands slowly tightened together.
“I—”
She looked away.
“I don’t know.”
Payal picked up the test again.
Still studying it.
Then she said quietly,
“Two lines, Jazz.”
Jazz frowned.
“What?”
Payal turned the stick toward her.
“There are two lines.”
Jazz stared at it.
Her brain took a few seconds to process what she was seeing.
One bold line.
And another faint one beside it.
Her heart skipped.
“…Wait.”
Her voice trembled.
“That means…”
Payal smiled gently.
“You’re pregnant.”
The room went completely silent.
Jazz blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then suddenly tears rushed into her eyes.
Her hands flew to her mouth.
“Oh my god…”
Payal watched quietly as the realization settled.
Jazz let out a shaky laugh that turned into a sob.
“I’m pregnant…”
Her shoulders began to tremble.
Payal moved closer but didn’t interrupt the moment.
Jazz touched her stomach instinctively, her fingers trembling.
“My baby…”
More tears rolled down her cheeks, but her face was glowing now.
“My own.”
She looked at the test again like she couldn’t believe it.
Then she laughed softly through her tears.
“I made a human.”
Payal chuckled.
“Technically two people made that human.”
Jazz wiped her eyes.
“Don’t ruin the moment.”
Payal raised her hands in surrender.
“Fine.”
Jazz kept staring down at her stomach, overwhelmed by a strange warmth blooming inside her chest.
Fear was still there.
Confusion too.
But something else was stronger now.
A quiet, powerful joy.
She whispered softly to herself,
“Hi there, little one.”
Payal watched her for a moment, her expression thoughtful.
Then she asked gently,
“Are you going to tell Rebecca?”
Jazz froze.
Her smile faltered slightly.
She looked down again, one hand still resting protectively on her stomach.
“…I don’t know.”
But one thing was certain.
For the first time in weeks—
Jazz wasn’t panicking anymore.
She was smiling.
*"
The drive to Jazz’s apartment was unusually quiet for about five minutes.
Which, for Riya, was a miracle.
Then she suddenly spoke.
“Ishu…”
Ishika looked up from her phone.
“Hmm?”
Riya glanced at her nervously while driving.
“I am a good wife for Payal, na?”
Ishika slowly lowered her phone.
“…What?”
Riya sighed dramatically.
“You know… caring, loving, supportive… good personality… amazing charm…”
Ishika blinked.
“Yes… but why are you asking this suddenly?”
Riya gripped the steering wheel tighter.
“Well… Payal called us to Jazz’s apartment.”
Ishika frowned.
“Yes…?”
Riya whispered dramatically,
“So I thought maybe… she found someone better.”
Ishika stared at her for three full seconds.
Then smacked her forehead.
“Riya.”
“Yes?”
“Watch less serials.”
Riya looked offended.
“They reflect real life!”
“No they don’t,” Ishika groaned. “And seriously? Payal leaving you?”
Riya nodded nervously.
“What if she met some mysterious rich woman?”
Ishika rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn’t fall out.
“That woman is crazy about you.”
Riya looked slightly relieved.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Ishika smirked.
“And also slightly obsessed.”
Riya smiled proudly.
“Ah. That sounds accurate.”
They finally reached Jazz’s apartment building.
Riya parked the car.
“I still think something suspicious is happening,” she muttered.
“Just come,” Ishika said, grabbing the snack bags.
Inside the Apartment
The door opened before they even knocked.
Payal stood there, calm as usual.
“Finally.”
Riya immediately walked in holding two bags.
“We’re here! We bought drinks, snacks, emotional support and gossip!”
Jazz was sitting on the couch, unusually quiet.
Ishika frowned slightly.
“That’s suspicious.”
Riya dropped the bags on the table and looked around.
“Where’s the crisis?”
Payal leaned against the wall.
“Sit first.”
That sentence made all three of them suspicious.
Riya squinted.
“Why does this feel like a family meeting?”
Jazz nervously rubbed her hands together.
Ishika sat beside her.
“What happened?”
Riya grabbed a packet of chips.
“Please say someone is getting married again. I love chaos.”
Payal sighed.
“Jazz has something to say.”
All eyes turned to Jazz.
Jazz suddenly looked like she wanted to disappear.
Riya blinked.
“Why do you look like a student who failed an exam?”
Jazz took a deep breath.
“I… um…”
She looked at Payal helplessly.
Payal raised a brow.
“You called them.”
“I know.”
“Then talk.”
Jazz groaned.
Ishika leaned forward.
“Jazz?”
Jazz finally blurted out,
“I’m pregnant.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Riya froze with a chip halfway to her mouth.
Ishika blinked slowly.
Then both of them spoke at the same time.
“WHAT?!”
The chip fell from Riya’s hand.
“PREGNANT?!”
Ishika grabbed Jazz’s shoulders.
“How?!”
Riya pointed dramatically.
“Don’t ask that question! We all know how!”
Ishika smacked her arm.
“Not helpful!”
Riya turned back to Jazz with wide eyes.
“Wait… WAIT.”
Her brain finally caught up.
“Rebecca.”
Jazz nodded slowly.
Riya gasped like she had discovered a national scandal.
“YOU GOT REBECCA PREGNANT?!”
Payal closed her eyes.
“No, idiot.”
Riya blinked.
“Oh.”
Then realization hit again.
“OH.”
She pointed again.
“Rebecca got YOU pregnant!”
Jazz buried her face in her hands.
“This is exactly why I didn’t want to say it.”
Ishika was still processing.
“Jazz… are you serious?”
Jazz nodded quietly.
Payal placed the test on the table.
Riya grabbed it and squinted dramatically.
“Two lines.”
She looked up.
“You’re actually pregnant.”
Then suddenly—
Riya squealed loudly.
“Oh my god we’re getting a baby!”
Jazz blinked.
“…We?”
“Yes!”
Riya jumped up excitedly.
“I’m going to be the coolest aunt ever!”
Ishika laughed in disbelief.
“Riya, it’s not our baby.”
“Details!”
Riya turned back to Jazz with sparkling eyes.
“Does Rebecca know?”
Jazz shook her head slowly.
“No.”
Ishika exchanged a glance with Payal.
Then looked back at Jazz gently.
“You’re going to have to tell her.”
Jazz sighed.
“I know.”
Riya suddenly hugged Jazz tightly.
“Don’t worry.”
Jazz blinked in surprise.
Riya grinned.
“You have three idiots and one scary genius supporting you.”
She pointed at Payal.
“Actually two scary geniuses.”
Payal shook her head.
Jazz laughed weakly.
Then she placed a hand on her stomach again.
Still overwhelmed.
Still amazed.
Still a little scared.
But for the first time—
She wasn’t facing it alone.