Rohit shot out of bed, and  without asking any more questions, put on his shoes, watch, picked up his wallet from the side table and stood at Sonakshi's side.

'Chalo! Let's go!'
Rohit lifted her off the bed, in his arms, and raced to the door before he realised that Sonakshi was saying something to him.

'Rohit! Will you stop and put me down, you madman!'

'Sona, we must rush to the hospital..'

'But I don't need to go to the hospital! Put me down!'
She wiggled her legs in the air.

'But, Sona..'

'Rohit! The baby is not coming! Atleast not right now!'

'What?!?! Phir yeh sab kya hai?'
He indicated her in his arms.

Sonakshi shrugged her shoulders.
'Mera paagal husband hai yeh! Baat poori sunay bagher hi fire shuru!'

'Phir? The baby's not coming?'
He looked a bit confused.

'No, Rohit! It's not coming right now! I was just saying the baby is hungry! To mujhe kuch khaana hai! Or yahan tum to..'

'What? You were hungry? Uss ke liye itna drama?'

'Drama maine thori kiya koi..tum hi ek dam bas, na idhar dekha na udhar..
To ab aap mujhe wapas bed tak lejayenge?'
Sonakshi had put her arms around his neck, and now clutched at him.

Looking sheepish, he walked back to the bed, and put her down.
Sonakshi began to giggle, quietly at first, but which soon turned into full throated laughter. She glanced over at Arihaan's cot, but he didn't stir.

'Kyaaa?'
Rohit put a hand through his already ruffled hair.

'Poori baat to sunte ho nahin..or yeh..aise jaane wale thay hospital?'
She gestured to him.

Rohit looked down and realised that he was bare chested, wearing pajamas, a watch, and his shoes.
Sonakshi giggled again, and this time, Rohit also grinned.

'Theek hai, theek hai! Hojaata hai! Waise you said you are hungry. Kuch le ke aata hun..'

Sonakshi grabbed his hand, as he turned to go.
'Aray ruko!'
Rohit turned back.
'Mujhe dosa khana hai!'

'What? Dosa? As in masala dosa?'
He looked at her incredulously.

'Or kon sa type? Yes, masala dosa. Mujhe khana hai..'
Sonakshi had a faraway look in her eyes, as if she was already imagining the dosa.

'Magar, Sona! Mom so rahi hain iss waqt..'

'Mom ko kyun uthana hai? Woh thori jayengi..'

'Par jaana kyun hai..woh to deliver bhi...'

'Rohit! Dosa hai, pizza, burger thori jo deliver hojaye ga..dosa lene to jaana parega..'

'What? Raat ke teen bajay, tumhe bahar ka dosa khana hai? Sona..'

'Rohit! Itne bahaane mat banao. Nahin la sakte to mein wapas so jaati hun. Baby Sippy and I will sleep hungry. But tum mehnat na karo..'
Sonakshi pouted, laid back down in the bed, and switched off her bedside lamp.

'Aray, Sona!'

Sonakshi turned back to him.
'Sorry for waking you! So jao wapas!'
She turned over on her side, away from him, trying to get into a comfortable position.

'That's not fair, Sona! Aise kaise kar sakti ho tum?'
Rohit pleaded with her.

'Jaise kiya hai..thankyou! Goodnight!''
She spoke without turning over.
'Chalo, baby Sippy! Hum dono bhookay hi so jaate hain.'
She mumbled, holding her tummy.

'Sonaaaa..aise to mat bolo..acha jaata hun na..tum naraaz mat ho..'
Rohit found his t-shirt on the sofa, and quickly put it on.
'Magar iss time masala dosa milega kahan?'

Sonakshi sat back up, excited, as if she hadn't been blackmailing him just a moment ago. Rohit looked at her, stunned.
'Yahin paas mein Grant Road pe hai na..I've seen the shop open till late..wahan milega yummy sa, mazedar sa dosa..'
Sonakshi smacked her lips, at the thought.
Rohit gave her a look.

'Tumhe sab information hai..save kar ke rakhi thi, lagta hai..'
He said dryly, but she didn't pay heed.

'Ab kharay kharay sawaal poochte rahoge ya jaoge bhi. Kitna late hogaya hai..subah hospital bhi jaana hai mujhe..'

Rohit rolled his eyes, and turned to leave.

'Aray, Rohit! Do leke aana! Bohot bhook lagi hai..'
She smiled at him.
He nodded and turned.
'Suno, Rohit!'
He turned back to face her.
'Woh saath mein spicy wali coconut chatni or sambhar bhi..'
Rohit turned back and reached the door.
'Aray, Rohit!'

'Ab kya hai? Jaana bhi hai ke nahin?'
He turned back, looking a bit put off.

'I love you! You are the best!'
Sonakshi gave him a big smile and a flying kiss, surprising him into smiling back as he left.

            *************

Rohit was surprised to see people still eating at the shop Sonakshi had told him about.

Kaisi cravings hain yeh Sona ki ..or kya kya karna parrta hai yar..

Rohit yawned loudly, as he waited in his car, for his parcel.
It took another ten minutes, and then he rushed back across the almost empty roads, back home.

Taking the stairs, two at a time, he reached the room, and entered.
And was shocked to see Sonakshi fast asleep.

'What the? Yeh mere saath hand hi hogaya! Mujhe utha ke, yahan wahan bhaga ke, madam patt se sogayin?'
He put the food on the table, and walked up to her.
'Sona! Sona!
He shook her gently.

'Hmm..kya hua? Sonay do na, Rohit!'
She mumbled, burying her head deeper into the pillow.

'What do you mean? Or mujhe jo jagaa ke dosa lene bheja, uss ka kya?'
Rohit shook her awake.

'Oh! Oh, han! Sorry!'
Sonakshi sat up, looking very sleepy.
'Woh der lagi na, to aankh lag gayi shayad.'
She sat up, and holding her tummy, got off the bed.

Rohit helped her to the table, and opened the thermapol boxes.

Sonakshi's sleep disappeared, as her stomach grumbled.
'Wow! This looks yumm!'
She quickly dipped it in the sambhar and began to eat, making satisfying sounds.

Rohit watched her relishing each bite, and all his mumbling, grumbling took a U-turn.
She looked so happy, and he couldn't help but smile, at how the smallest of things could do that.

'Tum khaoge?'
She offered, looking up.

'Tum kha lo..'

'Aray, ek bite!'
She held it out to him, and he leaned over to take it, his eyes not leaving her face.

'Aise kya dekh rahe ho?'

'Dekh raha hun, ke I have literally the best wife in this world.'

'Woh to hai! Magar yeh tumhe dosa dekh ke khayal aaya?'
She held up another bite for him, which he took.

'Nahin! Tumhe dekh ke! Kitni cute lag rahi ho tum, sach.'

'Cute? I look like an overgrown watermelon!'
She pointed to her big abdomen, and her loose  t-shirt with the quote 'COMING SOON' on it.

'Chalo..cute watermelon..'
He put his palm over her abdomen, while she swatted it away.
'Aray! I said cute!'

'Yeah, right! You have no option but to say that!'
Sonakshi rolled her eyes.

'Mere jazbaat ka mazaq!
He pouted.

'Yes, drama king! Lagta hai goad bharai ka drama bhool gaye..bas, ek hafta hi to hua hai!'

'But that was my love for you, and our baby Sippy!'
He stroked her abdomen again, and this time she let him.

'Mmmm..'
She mumbled, as she finished her food, and smacked her lips.
'By the way, thankyou for this too! It was awesome.'

'To phir? Don't I deserve a reward for my efforts?'
He gave her a hopeful look.

'Oh, yes!'
Sonakshi patted him on the head, and stood up.
'Thankyou, I love you!'

Rohit sat there stunned.
'Oye! Yeh kya tha? You just patted me on the head?'
Rohit went behind her, as Sonakshi stood at the sink to wash her hands and face.

'Aray! Thankyou to bola..'

'Husband hun, ya puppy? Aise bolte hain thankyou?'
He pouted, actually looking like a lost puppy.

Sonakshi chuckled, as she shuffled out of the bathroom. Rohit followed her and caught her hand.

'Theek se bolo na thankyou..'
He dragged her close, and ran a hand over her arm.
'Like a good, proper wife..'

'Ohhh! I'm so sorry, my bad!'
Sonakshi made a face.

Rohit smiled in anticipation, as she leaned close, but his eyes widened when she just gave him a peck on his cheek.

'Sona! This is just not done,  han!'

'How do you want me to do it, then?'

Rohit's eyebrows went up at that.
'Now that is one leading question, darlin'!'

'Welll..'
Sonakshi put her arms around his neck, and shifted so she could lean up to him.
'Maybe you want to answer it yourself, sweetheart.'

Rohit gave her a grin, and leaning down, closed his lips over hers.

           *************

Rohit opened his eyes, to see Sonakshi sitting up in bed, stroking her hand over her chest and abdomen, and with the other, trying to rub her back.

'Sona! Kya hua? Tum theek to ho?'

'Rohit! Mujhe kuch acha nahin lag raha..'

Rohit sat up fully alert now.
'What's wrong?'

'I don't know, it's a weird feeling..bohot uncomfortable feel horaha hai..'

Rohit moved forward to rub her back, as she shifted this way and that.

'Sona! Paani..'
Rohit quickly filled a glass for her.

'Nahin! Paani nahin..I..I  think..I think we really need to go to the hospital now..'

To be continued..