'I did fall in love with you
for a reason.
There's no one else
like you.'

_____________________
The 'D' day

Sadhvi's POV

I was sitting behind my trainee, chest to back.
Her back was in between my legs and I was instructing the soon to be fathers to support their wives, when their wives are going under labour.

“All mothers look right here and see how she is breathing in and out, a single deep breathe in, hold it and then release out slowly with your mouth”

“Repeat this procedure until you feel the next contraction during labour. Don’t contract your pelvic floor muscles. Fathers! I want you to hold them, support them in the position.”

Both I and my trainee pulled off from the position and we walked around the crowd to correct our students.

Almost six of the mothers here were past their second trimester.

This was the last set for today and after them I had an appointment with Harpreet Bua ji by 2 in the afternoon.

I was suddenly happy and looking forward to her appointment these days. Now that we are very much related we have been spending quite a time together.

Sometimes she comes here by herself, directly from her office or sometimes with my mother-in-law soon to be.

They both talk a lot with me.
I was here spending quality time with my mother-in-law and Bua-in-law and there my sister was spending time with my father-in law and brother-in law.

I was having my share of happiness. It has been a week since my roka.

Often Bua ji and Kanika aunty are here ten or fifteen minutes earlier to their appointment so that they get to see pregnant mom’s exercising and they join them too sometimes.
Sharing or experiencing—they enjoy that more.

I walked inside my cabin once the session finished and sipped from the tumbler I had brought today with me, homemade pineapple juice.

I turned to take my notepad out from the cupboard under the table when Bua ji knocked at the door.

I was going to study some topic because I was a little confused with the contraindicative measures when she entered beaming.

“Namaste Bua ji”

I stood up from my place and went to touch her feet, she patting my head once said,
“Namaste gudiya. How are you today?”       
*Doll

“I am good. You say how’s your back doing?” I asked her pulling the chair out for her to sit

“It is good and I feel very much better now that I saw you” she joked, obviously

I laughed and sat beside her on the second chair, “On a scale of 1 to 10, How is the pain?”

“2, I guess now”

“Very good. We are going fantastic”

“Ofcourse we are, you know your work.”

I waved a hand, “I try. Anyways we should get started”

“Before that” she held my hand when I was starting to stand and move.
“Your mother in law and I would like to have lunch with you day after tomorrow”

“There is no problem, we can arrange that” I smiled looking at her

“You want to change your clothes?”
Bua ji asked me

I was still in my tights and tank top, my outfit from training session.

“I mean if you want me to, I could get changed right now?” I asked her

“Don’t ask me, I thought because of me you are not changing”

I laughed, “I am fine, let us do one thing, you lie down on the couch and start doing the exercises I will send someone to assist you untill I am back”

She laughed too and nodded, “Okay”

.

When bua ji left it was 3 in the afternoon and I had two more patients lined up.

Following them up and getting their treatment done even with the help of interns was a tough task.

We needed to hire one more physiotherapist.

Rajveen and I have been planning that for a month now.

It was 5 in the evening when I finally got the time to check my phone.

The lock screen showed few instagram notifications and three whatsapp messages.

I slide the instagram notifications off the screen for check upon later or tomorrow. I was not active on social media much these days.

I opened whatsapp and saw two messages from an unknown number and a message from my school friend, saying-
    Hi!

I smiled remembering the guy.

The guy was transferred to my school in class 10th and after graduating from there we lost touch.
We reconnected during my final year in undergrad.

We went out for lunch once and the next day he said he liked me for some time now and he wanted to have something serious with me.
We went out on a date or two, when I realized his feelings for me are more intense than I  could ever allow myself to feel for him.

I wasn’t looking for something serious until I was sure my parents will accept it too.

And clearly that was never going to happen. I just can’t explain the reason why.

He was good, he had everything but I was never certain about us happening.

Like I said, I wanted something mutual and I couldn’t find that with him.

When I refused him, he was heartbroken for a complete year, uploading sad statuses and cutting himself off from me.
Leaving all the contacts with me. I figured this much.

But he deserved better and I wasn’t right for him. And still am not.

Sighing I replied back with a  'Hi'

I had another gossip for Rajveen now.

I turned my eyes to open the message from unknown and beamed even brighter,
“Talk about real gossip”

I giggled.

It was a message from Avrudh.

Hi, Avrudh this side
A

re you free tomorrow evening?

I was scared and thrilled altogether. I was happy and thrilled because of the idea of him having my number and him talking the first move—texting me.

I was scared of what to come next.

I was silently praying inside for him not to breaking this marriage, I was not at all ready for him to have someone else too and at this stage where train has already left its platform at the station of my heart.

I was so not ready for a heartbreak and this time for real.

Contemplating to what to reply, I shut the screen off and went back to work.

I had exactly an hour now before going back home. I took that hour to decide what would be my reply to this question.

I was stalling, I know but I really needed that.

I was sure that even though my read receipt was off he knows by now I have seen the message and deliberately wasn’t replying.

Some part of me always had known he couldn’t be the guy who will leave me at this stage.

I finished my work, arranged every modality and equipment with the helpers help in the common room.
Locked it and my cabin, I stood at the center of the studio and looked everywhere when nothing looked out of place or misplaced.

Later I said my good byes to the helpers and moved upstairs to check on Rajveen
She was done too and the guys helping her were wearing their backpacks and were on their way to leave.

I smiled at them and said goodbye.

Rajveen and I keep the keys to ourselves. I have access to all the floors and doors and so did Rajveen. The reception desk has the access to the pantry, power-room and terrace.

Together we both left the building and waved the security guard bye too and parted ways but I couldn't leave not before giving her the gossips.

  About the school guy she laughed because she knew he just wanted to catch-up and we find a good understanding in each other, so we share our professional stress together and he often check on me once in six months.

About Avrudh rather me being scared Rajveen looked ecstatic. She was always the positive in my negetive life.

Once home and done with the dinner by eight thirty I decided it was time to respond to the dear text.

I went inside my bedroom and opened the message, ignoring the message of others I went straight to the type box of the man awaiting my answer.

I typed-  Hi, I could make some time. Why? Someone being anxious?

It was good for now to keep my bad feels to myself. Sharing or looking anxious never has done me any good.

I waited for like one minute when his reply flashed off my screen

'Anxious? You have no idea!
How does 6 p.m. sound?'

I grinned like a fool, he sure was sitting on his phone.

My heart was beating like crazy and the bird in my stomach was flying high above. Since meeting him pulled the doors open to her cage.

I typed- I would very much like to know the reason why 6 should appeal to me?

He replied- 'Papa ji wants me to take you out on a date.'

I laughed- Obligations I see. Should I ask Dad for his say in this too?

Ignoring that I just called his father Dad too I waited like a teenager for his response. He was texting me instantly and I was really happy knowing that he was sitting on his phone. Like literally.

He replied- 'I am taking you out on a date tomorrow. Be ready by 6.'

I felt my heart in my throat while texting-

Address? I’ll be coming directly from work.

He replied- 'I’ll take that as, you want to come by yourself. Since you will be coming directly from work so let’s book a place nearby your clinic.'

I texted- Sure.

He replied- Chili’s Ambience mall, Vasant Vihar. I will wait.

I laughed not texting the words this time,
“I will make sure of that”
I said to myself and turned to look at Meheka who was looking at me intrigued,

“Avrudh’s taking me out on date tomorrow.”

Meheka laughed, “We all know”

Shocked I waved my hands, “What?”

Meheka laughed even louder,
“He asked you in the afternoon and when you didn’t replied he asked me—I happen to be at the high court today so—I told him you don’t answer phone calls or messages when at work. And then he told me why he was paranoid that this question might have offended you.”

“offended me!” I asked to no one, was I that stuck-up

Meheka still smiling replied,
“NO, he thought you don’t like meeting before marriage”

Unintentionally I toyed with the sun pendant around my neck, I seemed to grow fond of it in a week itself,
“It never came to my mind about asking him out on a date and why would I be offended, I like the idea so much.”

Meheka grinned looking at me,
“That’s a beautiful pendant by the way”

“Yes it is, he said it reminded him of me”

“You are sun person anyways” she pointed it out from her desk moving back to read her files.

“I am” I blushed to myself.

Something about that sentence felt nice.

Inside my head the shape of him has started erupting light. Shiny golden light, the soft one, like early morning rays.
Weak but warm.

Dawn was tearing the dark sky.

Literally once again.

_____________________

'I have looked at you in million ways
and have loved you in each'
______________________

Do tell me how do you like the chapter.
With love,
Ankita 🐿️