Mixed Masala

Chapter 14

"Meera? ... What's wrong? Are you okay?" Suresh glanced at the alarm clock on his bed side table. It was five o'clock in the morning, Friday January the 6th.

"I'm terrific ... And I'm so sorry to wake you up like this but I simply had to tell you! Jaya just had her baby!"

"What?! ... Really? That's fantastic!"

"It's surreal, that's what it is," Meera said laughing happily. "Oh, Suresh, he is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen ... not at all wrinkly like I thought he would be."

Suresh laughed. "Well, I'm sure your sister will be very glad that she didn't just give birth to an old man." Meera giggled as he asked, "Where are you?"

"At the hospital. Ravi's parents are here too. Mine don't know yet. We wanted to wait until the morning, otherwise they would have rushed over here in the middle of the night. Naturally Ravi wants to tell them himself so I needed to find someone else to share the news with!"

Suresh smiled. "Well, thanks for letting me be that someone."

Meera said a little shamefacedly, "Actually, you're the third someone. I called Kavitha and Sudha first ... but I called you before I call Vidhya, if that's any consolation."

Suresh chuckled. "Don't worry. I forgive you. Hey, I guess this means that Melaka is out, huh?"

Meera had completely forgotten about the impending day trip the following day. "Oh, no! Suresh, I ..."

"Hey, no problem."

"Are you sure?" Meera asked. She had actually been looking forward to going to Melaka with Suresh and meeting his group of friends, something he had been pestering her to do for some time now. Meera had always turned him down before now, and just when she had finally decided to "join the gang" ...

"I'm positive," Suresh said, sounding more confident than he actually felt. He had been thrilled when Meera had agreed to accompany him on the trip. His friends were dying to meet her. They all knew how he felt about her and therefore were (naturally) very curious about the girl of his dreams. And now, when she had finally said "yes" ...

He sighed inwardly and said instead, "Now, give me the name of the hospital and Jayashree's room number. I'll drop by before heading to work."

"Really?"

"Of course. After all, I am Ravi's cousin ... and I am also wide awake now!"

*****

"Have you two decided on a name yet?" Meera asked as she adjusted her sister's pillow so that she could sit up more comfortably.

Jayashree shook her head. "No. You know how it is. We have to take into account the time of birth, numerology ... probably even feng shui."

Meera smiled as she handed her sister a cup of Milo.

"Oh God, can't I have coffee now?!" Jayashree whimpered.

"You know better than that, doctor," Meera said wagging a finger at her sister. "Unless you're not intending to breast-feed."

Jayashree sighed, then brightened up as the door to her room opened and Ravi walked in with their son in his arms, all bundled up in a soft blue blanket. Jayashree quickly put her drink down on the table beside her and held out her arms, her face radiant. Ravi smiled as he lowered the child slowly into his wife's arms.

"He's gorgeous," whispered Meera, taking in the clear pink complexion, the pouting red mouth and dark curly hair. She suddenly realised that perhaps she ought to leave the new parents alone with their baby.

"Um, I'll be back in a while ..." she mumbled and hastened out of the room, almost bumping into Suresh in the corridor outside.

"Oops!" Suresh said, laughing. "What have you done now? You didn't drop the kid, did you?"

Meera noticed the bouquet of flowers and the big teddy bear that he was struggling to hold.

"Here, let me help," she said. "And no, I'm not running away. I just wanted to give those two some privacy ...Where did you get all this stuff at eight in the morning anyway?"

Suresh grinned. "Oh, I know a friend who knows a friend who is married to a florist ..."

"And the teddy bear?"

Suresh shook his head. "No, I'm pretty sure he's not married to the bear, just the florist."

Meera smiled and playfully smacked his hand as he asked, smiling, "Have you had breakfast yet?"

Meera shook her head. "No, I drove over here as soon as Ravi called and told me that she was going into labour. That was just after midnight. I've been here ever since ... Why? What do you have in mind?" Meera asked, then added, "And aren't you going to be late for work?"

Suresh shook his head, smiling. "I'll just call in and let them know I'll be in a little later today. No big deal ... just like that Melaka trip."

Meera looked at him, feeling guilty for letting him down. "I'm really sorry about that ..."

But Suresh was laughing. "Lighten up. I was kidding. Now, how about you and I sneak out of here for a little while and grab some breakfast?"

"Okay," Meera smiled. "Let me just grab my handbag ..."

"I wouldn't if I were you. Ravi's in there right now with his wife who's probably naked from the waist up ..."

"Suresh!" Meera exclaimed (as quietly as she could given the surroundings).

Suresh chuckled. "Breast-feeding, Meera. That's all I meant. Jeez, take your mind out of the gutter, girl!"