Annika was regaining her previous self through the constant care,love,affection and attention of Shivaay.So was the case with him.They were each other's life and life-line at the same time.Saving one means saving the other.That brief gap in their life was filling up bit by bit.Shivaay rejoined office and resumed work.There Annika completed her third month of pregnancy without letting anyone know.How she managed that,only she knew.She didn't want anyone to get busy with her leaving Shivaay.As things had fallen into places by the grace of God,she thought to share the good news with Shivaay and the family.
Standing in front of the mirror she tried many sentences in which she would tell Shivaay about their baby.Even wrote lines on paper for the purpose of practicing.But,whenever she decided to tell him,those perfect,practiced sentences just refused to come out much to her dismay.She didn't want Shivaay to find out her impending motherhood all by himself and question her for hiding such a big matter from him since the beginning.He would definitely feel bad.And she wanted to avoid that by all means.She felt outlandishly stupid on her serious lack of guts in telling that beautiful piece of line- "...Shivaay,I am pregnant..."
She concluded on herself being fed up- "...I am just impossible.Uff!...."
One Fine Morning
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Shivaay is getting ready for the office.He smiles watching his beautiful wife entering with a mug of coffee in a tray.He asks-
S: Is college off today?
A: No...Have just one class at 11:30 am.It's not even 8:30 now.I have plenty of time at my disposal.....Shivaay takes the mug then says-
S: Well,then select a tie for me.Will you?
Accepting her husband's request,Annika runs her fingers on those laid out ties on the bed.She picks up one then hands it to Shivaay.When he asks her to make him wear it,she says-
A: But I don't know how to tie a Tie!
S: Not a problem.I will teach you.By the way,there is something at least you don't know......Shivaay grins watching Annika crossing her hands in silent protest.He shows those tricky knots at which most people lose their wits with another tie.At one point,he gives back the chosen one to her while taking off the other and says-
S: Got the idea?Very simple.Now you try.Let's see how far I have succeeded.................Annika says nothing.Action speaks louder than words and she sticks to that.She applies her entire focus at the task at hand.Stealthily Shivaay's hands come and capture Annika's delicate waist thus sending jolts of current all over her body.She looks into his eyes and sees raw desire is burning there!She says hastily-
A: What are you doing?Stand straight!
S: I have stood straight.It's you who is moving!
He declares with a wicked smile pulling Annika against him.Her soft bosom crashes into his hard chest.She gasps in breath clutching Shivaay's shirt in her fists.He presses his face in her hairs,inhaling the sweet fragrance.Trailing his mouth,he goes on planting sensuous kisses on her twin eyes,eyebrows,eyelids,cheeks and chin.As his mouth travels down the column of her neck,Annika arches backwards granting Shivaay more access to her smooth skin.Pure pleasure captures her senses.Her heated up body starts melting in the same way it melted three months ago,under her husband's insanely sensuous touches,scattering her senses,her resistance,out of her.And the more deep Shivaay goes,the more she craves.It's been damned long three months.Annika didn't realize until this very moment.Her longing is reaching new,newer peak with each passing moment.She is feeling the same hot,throbbing sensation at the juncture of her thighs,again.They stand locked in their embrace,bathing in the sweet,intoxicating fragrance of love.Shivaay runs the back of his finger on Annika's face,slowly and that reaches near her lips.He lightly brushes his thumb over those pink petals.Holding her chin at the tip of his fingers,Shivaay leans forward to taste that sweet rosiness upon his lips.
But,the ring of his mobile interrupts!
Shivaay groans audibly at this untimely disturbance in between his romance.Annika watches herself over then tries to get away but Shivaay catches her hand from behind.While he is talking,Annika tries to wriggle her hand out of his grasp.Her attempts wither without success.Shivaay finishes his talk then turns to Annika who is standing at a little distance.Smiling he lifts her trembling hand to his mouth and kisses there then leaves it,slowly.Annika gathers her kissed hand near her heart while touching it with the other.Blushing to the core,she runs out of the room.There Shivaay looks at the mirror to watch his wife's work and finds the tie perfectly knotted up,fitting his collar.And he praises himself for that,with a charming smile!
Late Afternoon
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Annika is seen in her room.She has sat on the sofa comfortably and relishing on a variety of pickles,kept on the table in front of her.She is licking up her fingers quite blissfully.Suddenly she gets a call and receives it wiping out her oily hand in the tissue paper.One of her college friends is on the other side-
A: ........Yeah I know but I won't be able to participate yaar.So sorry..........Shivaay enters while the conversation is going on.In the mean time,he retires to freshen up.When he comes out he finds Annika is arranging refreshments on the table.He joins her.She asks-
A: You returned so early?
S: Meeting was finished within time.....She hands him over a glass of juice.
You were telling something like you won't be able to participate on something.What is it?
A: Our college will be hosting Freshers Welcome ceremony and a group dance performance is included in it.I was selected for that but I refused.
S: Why?Annika places her hand on her womb.
A: This year....I am not interested.That's it!
S: And no-one can make my wife do anything against her will,right?
A: Right...............Saying that she puts a slice of cake in his mouth,smiling.
Night
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Annika is on the bed,preparing to sleep.Shivaay comes there and asks-
S: It's just 10:15 and you are all ready to sleep?What about your late night study?
A: I can't keep my eyes open after dinner.Actually,feel tired nowadays.........She regrets the moment she said that.Shivaay gets in the bed.He asks cupping her face-
S: What is it that distancing my wife from her beloved books and making her tire up?She holds his hands then says in a complaining tone-
A: You!
S: Me?How is that?
A: I....I have figured out going early to bed has its own advantage.Moreover,I love sleeping cuddling close to my husband.And he has to compensate for those two lonely months.Won't he?
S: I would love to...............They lie down together.Annika's head is resting on Shivaay's chest.He is stroking her hairs softly.Soon they fall asleep.
Later that night Shivaay wakes up and finds the bed empty and Annika is nowhere in the room.He searches in then locates her in the kitchen.She is looking for something in the upper cabinet,standing on a stool.He calls out her which frightens her and she screams out in fear.But that didn't sound like a proper scream as a chocolate bar was stuck up in between her teeth.But she did get scared.Because of that the stool under her feet shakes and she is about to fall but Shivaay catches her on time stopping the inevitable damage.
S: What are you doing in the kitchen at this time of night?You could have got hurt Annika.
Well,she couldn't tell him that she was craving for something sweet in the middle of the night.Before Shivaay came,she has finished an entire bowl of gulaab jamun and five chocolate bars!Then she was searching for almonds and the entry of Shivaay did the thing.He asks her again-
S: Why are you silent?Don't you think you are behaving weird recently?I have never seen you like this.........Those jars of pickle have not gone unnoticed from his sight.Something about Annika was not right at all and he was sure about that.Breaking the flow of his thinking,Annika says-
A: Why are you scolding me?
S: Where am I scolding you?
A: You did! She was confirmed.
S: I...I am sorry.I just simply worried for you.
A: Put me down....He does so.
S: Are you still angry with me?
Without saying anything Annika spreads her hands then hugs Shivaay.
A: I can never be angry with you.......He kisses her hairs then says-
S: I forgot to tell you something.
A: What?
S: Day after tomorrow I am leaving for a business summit,in Delhi.A short trip of three days then I will be back.
A: Is it very important to go?The sadness in her voice was crystal clear.He kisses her again then says-
S: Just three days Annika.Mere 72 hours to count............She answers without lifting her face from her husband's chest-
A: Maybe for you but for me........She couldn't complete.
S: Okay,I understood.The trip is cancelled......She retreats from the hug.
A: Work comes first and you would definitely go.I will manage.
S: Are you sure you will be all right?
A: Yes.........She hugs him once again.Smiling Shivaay tightens the embrace then says whispering near her ear- I love you.
Tear wells up in Annika's eyes.Burying herself in the safety of her husband's arms,she says in her heart- ".....I love you too Shivaay....."
The date of her first sonography is approaching.She will tell Shivaay about their unborn baby once he returns and then,they will visit the doctor,together.Being the most happiest parents,they will watch how a little part of themselves is growing up in her womb.Together,they will watch the symbol of their love,the miraculous result of their purest passion- Their baby's heart is beating in her womb.........Those precious future moments come vividly in her closed eyes and she smiles lying on the bed,in the sweet,secured embrace of her husband.