An Imperfect Story ||✔️||

3.

In the morning, Shivaay wakes up and sees Anika's side of bed empty.

Shivaay: *to himself* Yeh ladki subah-subah kahaan chali gayi?

He hears the tap running from the bathroom so he goes to check. He knocks then opens the door to find Anika washing her face.

Shivaay: Anika.

Anika: Arey, aap uth gayi?

Shivaay: I'm more surprised ki tum itni jaldi kaise uth gayi?

Anika: Woh kya hua ki...

Before she could complete, she covers her mouth, kneels and bends over the toilet bowl, emptying the contents of her stomach. Shivaay, as fast as a reflex, kneels by her side, holds her hair out of her and rubs her back while she continues to throw up. After the vomiting had stopped, her helped her to feet and guided her to the wash basin. She rinsed her mouth and washed her face then kept her head on his shoulder, breathing heavily as he wiped her face. He guided her to the bed and made her sit on the it.

Shivaay: *worried* Anika, tum theek ho? *hits his head* Obviously nahi ho. Tum leto, main abhi doctor ko bulata hoon.

Anika: Shivaay, doctor ko bulane ki zaroorat nahi hain. Main theek hoon, bas... woh...morning sickness hain.

Shivaay: Okay, but tum bahot weak ho gayi ho. Ruko, main tumhare liye kuch le ke aata hoon. Tum rest karo.

He goes to the kitchen and prepares some peppermint tea. Dadi comes there.

Dadi: Billu, peppermint wali chai kyoon bana raha hain?

Shivaay: *unconsciously* Dadi, uski morning sickness bad gayi hain.

He bites his tongue as he realised what he blurted.

Dadi: Morning sickness? Kiski...

Shivaay: W...woh t..t...Tia, Tia ki.

Saying so, he grabs the cup and leaves.

Dadi: Tia, toh apni maa ke ghar gayi hain. Phir Shivaay yeh kiske liye le jaa raha hain.

She follows him and sees him going inside Prinku's room.

Dadi: Prinku? Nahi-nahi Kalyani, kya soch rahi hain? Prinku aisa nahi kar sakti. Tujhe apne kamre mein jaana chahiye.

In the afternoon, Anika was in the hall when Prinku came back from college. Anika noticed that she was walking unstably so she went her.

Anika: Kya hua Prinku?

Prinku: Bhabhi, woh chemistry lab mein kuch reaction ho gaya tha toh shaayad maine kuch fumes inhale kar liye. *holds her head* Mera sar ghoom raha hain.

Anika held from her shoulder and made her sit on the sofa, which Dadi sees from the first floor and fumes. Anika makes Prinku drink some water while Shivaay comes there.

Dadi: *shouts* PRINKU!

Hearing Dadi shout, all gather in the hall.

Prinku: K...kya hua, Dadi?

Dadi: Prinku, aisa karne se pehle tu ne ek baar bhi socha? Humara nahi, toh kam se kam apne baare mein toh sochti.

Tej: Maa, aisa kya kar diya Prinku ne?

O-bros look towards Prinku but she gestured that she didn't know either.

Prinku: Dadi, kya m...mujhse koi galti h...ho gayi hain?

Dadi: Galti? Prinku, yeh galti tere zindagi barbaad kar sakti hain. Tu SHAADI SE PEHLE MAA BANNE WALI HAIN!

All: KYA!?

All looked towards Prinku while her eyes were as wide as saucers.

Jahnvi: *furious* WHAT THE HELL PRIYANKA!? HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?

Tej: DO YOU REALISE TUMNE JO KIYA HAIN HAIN USSE KITNA BADA SCANDAL HO SAKTA HAIN?

Prinku: *cries* Aap log kya keh rahe hain? Maine kuch nahi kiya!

Dadi: Maine apni aankhon se tumhe chakkar khaate hue nahi dekha hota toh maan bhi leti.

Prinku: Meri t...tabyat toh ek chemical reaction ki wajah se kharaab ho gayi thi.

Dadi: Aur subah Billu tere kamre Peppermint wali chai le ke gaya tha aur bol raha tha ki "uski morning sickness bad gayi hain".

Shivaay eyes almost popped out of their sockets while Anika looked towards him then back at Prinku.

Prinku: Woh chai toh Anika bhabhi ke liye thi.

ShivIka Shut their eyes as all eyes fell on them. Prinku tried to cover up.

Prinku: Nahi... woh... mera matlab tha... ki... woh...

Shivaay: Prinku, tumhe humare liye cover up karne ki zaroorat nahi hain. Haan, yeh sach hain. Anika actually Prinku ke room mein thi aur woh... peppermint tea bhi... Anika ke liye hi thi.

Oberois were just standing, numb with so many shocks.

Prinku: Par bhaiya...

Anika: Kuch mat bol Prinku *facing everyone* Yeh sach hain. Main... *looking down* main pregnant hoon.

While rest of them were trying to digest this fact, Pinky screamed.

Pinky: OH MY MATA! Kiske bacche ke saath?

Tears formed in Anika's eyes while looked towards Pinky.