Anamika and Vineet are elated as Ishika is ready to bear their child. They’re going through the process of gestational pregnancy. It is done through IVF usually. A new phase of their life will begin soon.

*****
The following day rises early. Anamika is elated, her dream will come true soon. Be it Ishika bearing the baby, the child will always belong to her and Vineet. She gets ready and also wakes up Vineet. They’re elated to have the happiness which they’ve been longing for.

The couple gets ready and heads out to have breakfast. Ishika is already ready and beams at them. The family of three sits to have breakfast. At the same time, the doorbell rings. They glance at each other. Ishika rushes to open the door and makes a face on finding Naman on the other side.

“Tum! Fir se aa gaye? Kyuu aaye ho mere ghar mein?” Ishika poses a question.

“Arey, andar toh aane do! Aise koi darwaze pe sawaal puchta hain?” Naman makes a face.

“Main karti hoon. And answer me, kyun aaye ho? Tab hi entry milegi.” Ishika makes a face.

“Ishu, aane do na usko, kyun sata rahi hain?” Anamika calls her.

“He’s an annoying person, Di. Ask him to answer me!” Ishika says though she turns aside.

“Mujhe kaam hain, tumhari tarah khaali nahi hoon na main. Chalo hato!” He enters the house.

“Oh hello! Main koi khaali nahi hun, samjhe tum! Huh! Aaye ho tum yahan time pass karne.” Ishika makes a fce.

“Haan toh! Tumhe kya problem hain. Tum toh apni behen ke peeche peeche ghumti rehti ho!” Naman says, making a face.

“Shut up!” Ishika glares at Naman and he glares back at her.

Meanwhile, Vineet intervenes in between the two. He looks at Ishika and Naman and shakes his head. These two always argue when they meet. And it goes on until either Vineet or Anamika intervene between them. And this is what keeps them together, they argue, they fight but they care.

“Ishu, naashta karo tum. And Naman, kaise aana hua?” Vineet asks, sipping his coffee.

“He’s not spilling any secret.” Ishika makes a face.

“Main koi secrets nai rakhta, samjhi tum!” Naman says irritatedly.

“We’ll see, jaldi baat karo tum, hume bahar jaana hai.” pIshika makes a face and continues to eat her food.

Naman exchanges some words with Vineet. There’s some project on which, he wants his advice. Maybe, they’re gonna be working together — that’s the thing that Anamika and Ishika can understand. They have their breakfast and Anamika gets coffee for Naman and he smiles softly.

A little while later, Vineet excuses himself that he needs to go somewhere. Naman looks at Vineet and then Anamika. He knows that Ishika is fine now and as all of them are going together, usually Anamika can handle herself.

“Aaj shoot schedule nahi hai na, Naman. Toh hum log routine check up pe jaa rahe hain. Ishika ka bhi checkup karvana hai.” Vineet says.

“Okay, I wish everything is fine.” Naman smiles at the three.

“It will be! Main tumse kal milta hoon, tumhare office mein. Will that be fine?” Vineet asks him.

“Sure, I’ll see you soon. Lekin is drama queen ko leke mat aana!” Naman looks at Ishika and makes a face.

“Hello! Tum drama kar rahe ho! Jiju ne bola na wo tumko kal milenge, chalo niklo idhar se! Hamara time waste mat karo.” Ishika shouts at him irritatedly.

“Arey! Tumko dikkat kya hai? Tumhari behen toh ek baar bhi kuch nahi boli aur ek tum ho! Bole hi jaa rahi ho. Kuch seekho apni Di se.” Naman says.

“Aur tum apne dost se seekho! Jab dekho ladne aa jate ho!” Ishika rolls her eyes at Naman.

“Tum ladti ho, main nahi! Ab tumhari baat ho gayi na jiju se? Jaao ab! Humko late ho raha hain.” Ishika says, pushing him towards the door.

“Jaa raha hoon, waise bhi tumse milne nahi aya tha main. “ Naman makes a face.

Before Ishika could respond, Vineet intervenes between the two. Anamika also sighs deeply.

“Tum dono bachchon ki tarah ladte ho! Kaun kahega dono professionals ho?” Anamika says while looking at them.

“She/he starts!” Naman and Ishika speak in unison.

“Han han, yahan ladai toh main aur Vineet kar rahe hain, tum dono toh kuch karte hi nahi. Ishu, tumne usko tease karna shuru kia tha, pata hain mujhe!” Anamika glares at Ishika.

“He does it more, Di. Aur aap uski team mein ho ya meri?” Ishika looks at Anamika.

“Main kisi ki team mein nahi hoon, Ishu. Ab ladna band karo, achi baat nahi hain na.” Anamika says lovingly.

“Ye jiju apne dost ko smajhaye!” Ishika makes an irritated face.

“Bas bas! Ab hum chale? Hum bhi late ho rahe hain. Hospital jana hain.” Vineet intervenes and Ishika falls silent.

Naman takes his leave and the other three also drive towards the City Hospital.

*****
Anamika, Vineet and Ishika reach the hospital and make their way towards the cabin of the doctor. They enter the cabin and the lady doctor, Anjali Shah smiles at them. She takes Ishika for a final checkup. The girl insisted Anamika be with her but Anjali smiles.

“Relax, Ishika. Main tumhe koi injection nahi dungi. Bas normal checkup karungi.” Dr Anjali smiles.

“Par…..” Ishika says but falls silent at the moment. She’s scared a little.

“Koi Par nahi….Ishu, tum jao, hum dono hain na yahan! Dr Anjali sirf checkup karengi, Relax.” Anamika cheers up Ishika.

Ishika nods, she can’t trouble Anamika anymore. She silently follows Dr Anjali. Though, she’s scared. She’s been through a lot and now that she can help Anamika and Vineet, she doesn’t want anything to falter. Anjali does the check-up and smiles at Ishika.

“Darr lag raha hain?” She asks.

“Mujhe bachpan se darr lagta hain. Pichli baar Di mere sath thi aur aaj aise….isliye. I am sorry, mujhe pata hain aap achi hain, aur Di ki dost bhi hain.” Ishika replies softly, she’s stills cared.

“It’s okay, Ishika. I understand. Acha, ye batao, kya tum sach mein ready ho? Surrogate mother banne ke liye ready ho?” Dr Anjali asks.

“Main ready hoon, sach mein. Par aap mujhse kyun puch rahi ho? Di bhi baar baar puch rahi thi.” Ishika asks innocently.

“Ishika, main ek doctor hone ke naate puch rahi hoon. Kyunki tumhare andar ab ek jaan palegi. Tumhara mann aur dimag dono shant hone chahiye. Sirf apni Di ke liye , ya usne tumse kaha, isliye tumhe ye sab nahi karna chahiye.” Dr Anjali says and Ishika holds her hands.

“I understand, Doctor. I am glad aap apne patients ki itni care karti hain. Main kisi dabaav mein aake ye sab nahi kar rahi hoon. Anamika Didi ne mera sath tab diya jab koi nahi tha. Meri family ko toh jaise koi chinta hi nahi hain. Lekin unhe hain, wo mujhse bahut pyaar karti hain. Aur kisi apne ke liye agar kuch nahi kiya toh phir zindagi kaisi!” Ishika says emotionally.

“Main ye bhi jaanti hoon ki is process ke liye mujhe physically, mentally aur emotionally ready rehna hain. Aur main hoon, sach mein. Jab meri behen mere sath hain toh mujhe koi chinta hi nahi. Aap bhi toh ho na!” Ishika says and Dr Anjali smiles.

“You’re very generous, Ishika. Mrs Anamika is very lucky. And the baby will have everything that you own.” Dr Anjali smiles and they move out of the checkup room.

*****
Anamika stands up looking at them and Ishika stands by her side. Anjali tells them that Ishika is alright and ready for the procedure. She also signals Anamika that she has talked with Ishika and things will be going fine.

She then explains the process of gestational pregnancy to the couple and tells that how they’d be needed for fertilizing the eggs. Vineet and Anamika share a glance and they agree with what the doctor is saying. They’d need at least two to three weeks to make this process of IVF happen. Anamika agrees and is ready to do anything and everything to make it possible. Well, it’s something that they’ve desired for a long time.

Taking the next appointment with Dr Anjali, they take their leave. There’s silence in the car as they are taking in what the doctor has told them. Ishika pushes herself closer to Anamika’s seat and taps her head. Anamika turns to look at Ishika when the latter holds the former’s hand.

“Everything will go as planned. Hamari kahaani abhi shuru hui hain, bahut kuch hona baaki hain abhi.”

Ishika says while Anamika smiles. Yes, just a little wait and they will get the fruit of their patience and this is just a beginning to a new story.

To Be Continued.

What is in store for Anamika, Ishika and Vineet?

Stay tuned.