Namaste
Chapter 34

Tanushree was asked to lift her kurti so the radiologist could get a clear view of her belly. The doctor applied a cool gel, and as it touched her skin, she closed her eyes. "Your bladder is full," he said as he moved the probe over her stomach.

After a short while, he looked at the screen and said softly, "It's twins."

Tanushree was so shocked she couldn’t speak. The doctor turned the monitor toward her. "See these two dots? Those are your babies," he explained.

At that moment, tears filled her eyes. Overwhelmed, she thought, *Abhimaan should have been here with me.* Seeing other expectant mothers with their husbands by their side made her feel even more alone. She looked at the screen again, and a single tear rolled down her cheek.

Tanushree held the small paper bag of medicines as she stepped out of the dispensary. The cool evening air hit her face, bringing a slight relief from the heat of the day. She made her way to the bus stop, her fingers resting on her stomach. It still felt the same, but she knew deep inside—there were two tiny lives growing within her. 

The bus arrived, not too crowded this time. She took a window seat, letting out a slow breath as it started moving. The city lights blurred outside, but her mind was stuck in the past. 

She thought about that day at the clinic. She had been lying on that cold procedure table, hands shaking, heart pounding. Just when she thought she had made peace with her decision, Dr. Meera had asked in a gentle voice, *"Are you being forced to do this?"* 

That was it. That one question had broken something inside her. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she confessed—*she had no money, no support, nothing. How was she supposed to bring a baby into this world when she could barely take care of herself?* 

Dr. Meera had listened quietly before speaking again. *"You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. Work as a nanny for my grandson. I’ll take care of your medical expenses in delivering your baby. Think about it."* 

And that’s how she had ended up here, looking after little Vansh while carrying two heartbeats inside her. 

But then… there was *him.* 

She still remembered that moment outside the procedure room. The way her body had felt weak, the way her heart had been heavy with all the decisions she had made. And then, there he was—Abhimaan. Standing there, looking lost, broken. But she hadn’t stopped. She hadn’t let herself stop. 

She had walked away that day. Just like he had walked away when she had needed him the most. 

A lump formed in her throat as she stared out of the window. *What does he even want now?* She had left his life. At least he could let her live hers. 

She closed her eyes and rested her head against the seat. Whatever happened next, she wasn’t alone anymore. She had her babies.

A month passed. Tanushree had settled into her routine, balancing her job as Vansh’s nanny while quietly preparing for the arrival of her own children. She had grown fond of the little boy, and in return, he had warmed up to her completely. 

That afternoon, she was sitting on the floor with him, helping him color inside a picture book. He was holding a green crayon, carefully filling in the leaves of a tree, when suddenly, she felt small hands press against her belly. 

Startled, she looked down to see Vansh staring up at her with wide, curious eyes, his tiny palms resting against her stomach. ‘Could the child sense that she carried two precious gems in her belly?’

She smiled, her heart swelling at his innocence. "Do you know, there are two little angels inside?" she whispered, not expecting an answer. She just wanted to talk to someone about her babies—someone who wouldn’t judge or question her choices. 

"You’re pregnant?" 

The deep voice from the doorway made her freeze. She turned her head sharply, her breath catching in her throat. Harshvardhan was standing there, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his dark eyes unreadable. 

Tanushree’s fingers instinctively curled around the fabric of her kurti as she quickly sat up straighter. She hadn't realized he had been watching. 

"You’re pregnant?" he asked again, stepping closer this time. 

She hesitated, then gave a small nod. 

His eyes flickered down to her belly, his expression unreadable. "Are you married?" 

Another nod. 

"Where’s your husband?" 

She lowered her gaze, swallowing the lump in her throat. "We… parted ways," she admitted quietly. "He didn’t want the baby." 

Harshvardhan didn’t respond right away. The room felt eerily silent except for the sound of Vansh’s crayon scratching against the paper. 

"Just that?" he finally asked. 

She took a shaky breath. "He doesn’t love me. He has someone else in his life." 

Saying it out loud made it feel even more real, and for a moment, she thought she might break. But she had promised herself she wouldn’t cry anymore—not for a man who had never truly wanted her. 

"I don’t want to force myself on him," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "Love and marriage don’t work that way." 

Harshvardhan exhaled slowly, his expression still unreadable. He glanced at Vansh, who was now humming to himself, completely unaware of the weight of their conversation. 

"You should have told us," he said at last. 

Tanushree looked up, startled. "I didn’t want to lose this job," she admitted. "I needed it… for them." Her hands instinctively rested over her stomach. 

Harshvardhan studied her for a long moment, then sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "So, you’re doing this alone?" 

She nodded. 

"That’s… not easy." 

"I know," she whispered. "But it’s better than begging for love where it doesn’t exist." 

For a moment, there was silence between them. Vansh, oblivious to the emotions in the air, giggled and pressed his ear to her belly as if he could hear the little lives inside. Tanushree smiled at his innocence, running her fingers through his soft curls.

Harshvardhan finally spoke again, his tone softer this time. "You can stay here as long as you need to.  

Tanushree’s eyes met his, surprised by the kindness in them. She had expected judgment, questions, maybe even pity. But there was none of that. Just quiet understanding.

"Thank you," she murmured, not knowing what else to say. 

He nodded, glancing at Vansh, who was now poking her stomach with a fascinated grin. "Rest when you need to. Vansh can be a handful." 

She let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. "I’ve noticed." 

And just like that, the moment passed. Leaving Tanushree in a deep sea of thoughts.

Days were passing, and Tanushree had now entered her fifth month of pregnancy. Her belly was growing, making it harder to fit into her old clothes. That’s why she was at the mall today, searching for some maternity wear. 

As she browsed through the racks, her eyes wandered to a section nearby—baby clothes. Her heart softened at the sight of tiny outfits neatly folded and displayed. Among them, a blue onesie caught her attention. She reached for it, feeling the soft fabric between her fingers. It was simple yet adorable, with tiny stars embroidered on the front. 

She turned it over, checking the price tag—999 rupees. 

A thousand rupees for such a small piece of fabric? She sighed, shaking her head. 

But still… It was cute. Too cute to leave behind. 

Just as she decided to buy it, she turned around—only to bump into someone. 

Her body reacted instantly, hands flying to her belly protectively. 

"Arey, Tanushree Bhabhi?" 

Her breath hitched at the familiar voice. She looked up, her heart pounding. 

Karan. 

Abhimaan’s best friend. 

Panic surged through her veins. She couldn’t face him. She couldn’t let him see her like this. 

Without a second thought, she stepped back, gripping the onesie tightly in her hands. 

"Tanushree Bhabhi!" he called again, but she ignored him. 

Quickly, she turned to one of the store attendants and shoved the onesie into their hands. Then, before Karan could reach her, she spun around and rushed out of the store, her heart hammering in her chest. 

She didn’t look back. She couldn’t. 

All she could think about was escaping before he could tell Abhimaan that he had seen her.

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