The morning went surprisingly fast, perhaps because I had slept through most of it. Jas still hasn't come home and is still at practice.

Suddenly my phone rings and I get a giant lurch in my stomach. Time to find out if I had a disease; fun.

💗

"Hi, Jas?" I call him.

"Shanaya is everything ok? Do you feel sick?"

"No no, I'm fine at the moment. The doctor called just now."

"Okay, I'm with the boys right now, but is it anything to worry about?"

"We'll talk when we get home, and no it's not serious."

"Phew" Jas sighs over the phone. "Love you, see you in a bit."

💗

JAS'S POV:

I can't explain how much I wished that it would just be a little hangover and nothing overly concerning. My mind and heart neither were present in the practice.

"Hey Jasprit, I noticed you were a little glum today, all okay?" Virat asks as we walk back to the changing room.

"Yeah bro, Shanaya's just a little sick."

"Oh no, what happened?"

"She's been throwing up since yesterday. I wasn't going to come to practice but she insisted it wasn't that bad."

"God that's terrible! I hope she gets better soon"

"Thanks."

"Vaise, I don't want to sound weird and all, but perhaps she's pregnant?"

"Huh?" I look up at him.

"Like, that's a symptom. I don't know I mean you guys might not have... like - done Hardik's favourite hobby -" he trails off awkwardly.

"Okay yeah got it." I say, rolling my eyes and laughing as it gets awkward. "anyway we'll see. See you Virat."

The drive back home is worrying and nauseous, but finally I'm home, rushing up the steps and opening the door.

I expect it to be dark and quiet in the living room, but instead there are flowers arranged everywhere, balloons and as I go further in, a beautiful cake on the dining table. The lights are dim, but a perfect romantic setting.

"What's all this? A celebration for her food poisoning and not stomach cancer or something?" I say, placing my kit bag on the floor and walking around, observing the sight.

"BOO!" Shanaya jumps out of nowhere making me jump.

"Jesus Christ I thought you're sick! Anyone would think you're ready to run a marathon like this?!" Jas laughs, clutching his chest still in shock.

"How did you like my little surprise?" She says, wrapping her arms around my neck and coming in close.

"You're sick stay a little away from me." I say guiltily.

She straightens up. "Accha? So would you like to hear the disease I have?"

I gulp. She said it wasn't serious?!

"The disease is ....."

My heart rate is rapid; almost synonymous to a cricket match; the last over. Anything can happen. It could be cancer, it could be heart disease; will she hurry up and tell me?

"The disease is that you're going to be a dad."

The floor beneath me seems to just shake a little bit as I try and process what I just heard. I stand there with my mouth dropping. I clutch a chair beside me as I gulp and widen my eyes, staring at her like an owl.

Suddenly my lips burst into a huge smile as I laugh, partly because I'm glad it's not a disease and mainly because there's a new member coming into the family! I'm going to be a dad! I cannot even-

"So?" Shanaya raises her eyebrows.

"Thanks for the best gift ever." I say, running up to her and giving her the tightest hug I've ever given.

"Careful now!" She says, laughing as she looks down at her stomach. "You're going to squeeze Baby Bumrah."

I laugh like never before, bending down to kiss her stomach, not knowing whether to laugh or cry out of happiness. I'd finally be able to give my child something, Wait can I say this again - my child, something I lost at age 7.

"I love you." He whispers before kissing my lips.

I go up to my dad's frame on the wall. "I'm going to try to be even better than you." I say, smiling, even though I think that's near impossible.

💗

"Congratulations and celebraaaations!" Everyone sings in the dressing room after an IPL match the next day. Mumbai Indians won it yet again.

"How is bhabi feeling?" Hardik places an arm around my shoulder as we walk to our areas.

"Sick, haha."

"Aw shucks. We all wanted to congratulate her."

"Yeah, Ritika keeps me updated about everything by the way." Rohit comes up to us.
"Hope you're taking care of her!"

We laugh. "I'm trying, Bro."

"Wait till it gets to about 2 months in, then you'll feel like you're the pregnant one yourself!"

"Seriously?"

"Oh yeah, the cravings and the hormones. Messed my woman up, not to mention me."

"Oh." I sigh with a smile. "Guess that's in the job description of a husband though."

"Boy you learnt that early!"

"How's little Samaira doing?" I ask.

"She's great, she came to the match today actually, just going to meet her now"

"Sure, go ahead!"

From what Rohit has said, I'm still not put off by the idea of raising a child. It sounds interesting.