Foresight

Chapter XXXXI

"Ma'am, your token number is 28. Currently we are 18. So it will take around one hour." the compounder girl hands Pallavi her token no and requests her to wait, by gesturing to the plastic chairs, which are overflowing with pregnant women. Most of them are married, some are with their husbands. Looking at them, guilt washes over Pallavi. She grips her handbag tightly, as she inches towards and empty seat in the back of the room. As she walks by, some ladies give her a stare while some gossip about the absence of the ring and marriage thread in her neck. Hearing these snide comments, Pallavi's guilt overflows to the extent that a lone tear escapes her. As she sits down, her conversation with Rajesh yesterday flashes over her mind.

******************************************************************************************************

Yesterday night.

"Hello Pallavi. what did you mean by the message that you are late?" Rajesh speaks frantically.

"My periods Rajesh. I am late by two weeks. It has never been this late ever. I am scared Rajesh" Pallavi speaks out, without a breath.

"Calm down honey. We used protection. Still how could it be?" Rajesh asks her up.

"I don't know Rajesh. I am scared too much" Pallavi answers.

"Tell you what. Don't get scared now. We will go to a hospital tomorrow." Rajesh calms her down

"Ok Rajesh. I didn't want to scare you. But I need your cool thinking" Pallavi tries to comfort Rajesh.

"I know honey. You take rest now. Good night honey. I love you" Rajesh comforts her and hangs up.

******************************************************************************************************

The sharp ringtone jolts Pallavi into the present as she frantically silents the call and attends it.

"Honey where are you? I have been trying to reach you for the past twenty minutes." Rajesh asks concernedly.

"I have come to clinic Rajesh. I can manage." Pallavi replies, frevishly

"No way I am leaving you. Text me the address right now" Rajesh orders her.

"Rajesh, seriously its ok. I can manage" she tries to convince him

"Either you text me the address or I find you in my way. You choose" he replies, stressing the last part, gritting through his teeth.

"OK Ok, I will text you the address." she replies, hanging up as she text him the address. Twenty minutes later, Rajesh's head pops into the clinic, as he makes his way through the ladies, creeping his way to Pallavi. He kneels down beside her and holds her hand, which says all that was to say about him. Sh just closes her eyes, tightening her grip on his hand. He places his hand over her and consoles her.

"Pallavi, no matter what happens, I am going to stay by you" he comforts her.

"Thank you Rajesh. It means a lot to me." she replies, wiping away her tears.

"Tarun was talking about a new venture he wanted to present with SIDCO. Me and Neeraj were little skeptical about it. But now I guess I will have to take it up." he informs her.

"Rajesh. You guys already have a lot on your plate. Why don't you guys take it slow" she chimes in.

"Yeah. But this was the case with our game venture too about a year ago. We went ahead and look where we have grown up to"

"That is true too. Just scrutinize properly and take a good decision." she comforts him.

"Yeah. You don't worry too much about it. Let's first concentrate on where and how we are going to live" he changes the topic.

"What do you mean by that?" she asks, surprised.

"You remember I told you that my father is a man of principle right? His principle is that once a man becomes a father, he is supposed to get independent" Rajesh answers.

"So? You are independent. What else is needed?" she asks questionably.

"Well, when my mother got pregnant with me after marriage, my father moved out and started his family on his own. and he expects the same from me too. And I will uphold the principles." he explains to her.

"So now you will have to move out?" she asks with a deep concern.

"Once I let them know, I will have to. But don't worry, my parents will support us in all way possible" he assures her

"No. 28, please go." The compounder girl shouts, interrupting their talk. Pallavi and Rajesh get up and head into the doctor's cabin

"Good evening doctor" Rajesh greets her and they both take their seats.

"What is the issue here?" the doctor calmly asks.

"Ma'am my periods got delayed by two weeks. It has never been this late ma'am" she explains.

"I see. Any sexual activity in the recent?" the doctor asks.

"Yes ma'am. Last month" Rajesh answers, as he finds Pallavi not being able to answer.

"Ok. Pallavi please lie down on the table, I will with you in a moment. Rajesh please wait outside" the doctor gestures as she puts on her gloves. As Pallavi gets up, Rajesh, gives her kiss on her forehead, uplifting her confidence. Rajesh than heads out, leaning against the wall, texting his mother that it will be late for him and he will finish his dinner out.

Fifteen minutes later, Rajesh hears the doctor calling him. As he enters, he finds the doctor sporting a poker face, while Pallavi's face is like as if somebody gave her a death threat.

"Rajesh. It's imperative that we don't panic and take a rational decision" the doctor explains him, easing him to the situation.

"Pallavi is pregnant" the doctor blows the bomb.

"Ohh" is all Rajesh able to reply, as he starts to process as to how to let his parents know about this and how to proceed ahead. Suddenly, all the confidence he had before, started vanishing, inch by inch.

"Rajesh. I knew your situation the moment you guys entered. But we don't have any other option as to go ahead in the positive way. Pallavi's body will not respond in a positive way if we go ahead with abortion" the doctor explains the situation.

"Ma'am, abortion was never an option for me." Rajesh states his point.

"It's good to hear. The important thing now is to come for regular checkups. I will prescribe some medicines now." the doctor replies, as she proceeds to write her prescription. Twenty minutes later, Rajesh and Pallavi exit the clinic. They head for a nearby restaurant, having a silent dinner. Rajesh drops her at her hostel. As Pallavi gets down, she takes hold of Rajesh's hand.

"Rajesh. I am scared. Can you please stay with me tonight?" she pleads.

"Hmm Sure honey. Let me just inform my mother. You go ahead and I will be right behind you." Rajesh replies assuringly. Taking his word, Pallavi heads inside, without looking back. As she walks, Rajesh observes her.

'She is shaken up bad.' he contemplates. He drops his mother a text stating that they have hit a sudden glitch and he will have to code through the night. Next he dials up Tarun.

"Yeah man. What happened?" Tarn asks

"We are going ahead with X-Musix. We will discuss in the morning" is all Rajesh replies, before hanging up. He heads up the hostel, dashing to Pallavi's room. He finds her curled in bed, hugging her pillow as if her life depends on it. He slowly slithers up next to her.....engulfing her in his protective arms.