Piyush had always fancied Sakshi since the day she had joined Regency hospital as a trainee. And yet, she had never once warmed up to his advances no matter how hard he tried.

When he heard she was engaged, he had felt his hopes crumbling and became aloof with her, not to mention a little rude just to vent his frustration.

But again, tragedy had struck with her fiancee's death, she had become extremely quieter than before. He could hardly see her exchange any words, even with Yuvika whom she was closest to.

Two months had passed since the accident, but she hadn't made an attempt to move on, at least that's what he felt.

"Is she alright?" He enquired his colleague when Sakshi's shift was over and she had gone home "she looks depressed and pale as hell.."

He had met the guy only once when she had introduced him to the staff and Piyush had to admit, the guy was a softie and just like her. Although he had felt a tad bit jealous, he didn't show it.

Yuvika gave a stern glance in his direction "it's not easy for some people you know" she pointed out "and Sakshi is sensitive and emotional..it'll take time for her to come out of grief".

"I understand okay?"he shrugged "but it isn't like they were married or something...and it wasn't even love marriage that they were in a relationship..she doesn't have to feel like the world's come to an end".

Yuvika rolled her eyes "if you want to say something to her, then go ahead and say it" she said straight away "don't assume things and keep it in your mind".

He didn't comment to that and simply went on with his work. Maybe Yuvika was right; he needed to get back in action. He needed to talk to her, tell her how he felt.

One weekend however, he mustered courage and walked over to her when there was no one else as their shifts were over.

"How are you doing?"he asked her over the counter. She turned back and gave a weak smile "fine...how about you?"

Good! That felt better...at least she didn't say just fine. He felt a little courageous "great....I'm waiting for my entrance results.."

Everyone knew he was planning to go abroad and settle in the middle east and was preparing for the same.

"You'll do well..." she said softly and he smiled "thanks..hey listen" he whispered, making sure they were alone "I'm so sorry...about everything that happened...."

Her facial expression changed and she suddenly became uptight "it's okay" she replied, going back to the drug counter.

"Sakshi?"he followed her and she nodded "I'm busy Piyush...can we talk some time later?"

He bit his lip, realizing he had hurt her "sure...I wanted to make sure you're okay..." he added hastily "it hurts me to see you like this".

She stared at him for a long while and he was afraid she was going to yell at him but she gave a small smile "I'm fine...a little sad but I'm okay".

He relaxed "that's great...if you ever want to talk, I'm always there" he said firmly "anything other than...you know".

She gave a small nod "we're out of Amlodipine..." she said. He blinked "er..yeah...of course..I'll let the store know". He took that as a dismissal and walked back towards the cashier section.

Yuvika was so right; he needed to act fast. Sakshi was a nice girl, perfect for him. He couldn't afford to lose her once again. This time, he decided to talk to her parents. He knew how her father was..he had to find a way.

◇◇◇◇◇

"What's with Piyush?" Yuvika asked Sakshi as they made their way towards the hospital canteen "did he talk to you?"

Sakshi raised a curious eyebrow "as a matter of fact, he did. Why?"

Yuvika chuckled "I told him to...he kept asking me every single day about you and I finally gave a small piece of advice...to talk to you directly".

Sakshi shrugged "he isn't bad actually...and he's been drilling me less these days...so it's good".

Yuvika nodded as they made their order and sat back on the chairs "he looks out for you..." she told her friend "maybe you should try going out with him".

Sakshi shook her head "I want to be alone for a while...I'm not in the mood to socialize with anyone, let alone a guy".

Yuvika saw her pressing her head again "migraine's back?"she asked in concern.

Sakshi rubbed her head vigorously "yeah...I feel so heavy sometimes...like my head is pounding out of my body... and it feels so weird".

"Why don't you visit a doctor?" Yuvika said "it could be stress...perhaps you're depressed and..."

"I'm not depressed!" Sakshi threw her hands "yes I'm sad and stressed out, but mentally alright...this isn't depression I know it!"

Yuvika squeezed her hand "you should see a psychologist" she advised "it's all in your head".

"No!" Sakshi sighed "it's more of a physical pain...my stomach feels full and I'm always tired these past few days...and I feel so nauseous and dizzy whenever I have food".

"Then you have anorexia I guess" Yuvika remarked "you hardly eat anything".

"That's because I can't" Sakshi said scornfully "all I want to do is sleep... but if I go to sleep..I get his dreams" a small tear escaped her eyes "I think about Amit....why can't I forget him?"

This was the first time she had taken his name and even Yuvika felt her eyes well up for her friend "hey! It's going to be okay..time heals everything..."

"I'm not sure about that" Sakshi wiped her tears, wondering if ever things would back to before....

Even at home, she had slowly started adjusting with her parents, feeling guilty about zoning them out of her life...they were her parents after all.

Her father had changed his attitude towards her and warmed up to her. And that was a silver lining.

But the pain in her body wouldn't just go...was Yuvika right? Was it all in her head?

Soumya couldn't help but notice the change in her daughter as well "what's the matter beta?"she asked when she saw Sakshi clutching her stomach and coiled in the bed.

"I feel like my stomach's knotted" Sakshi complained "I feel so full.. like something heavy".

"I think you have gastritis" Soumya said, stroking her hair. Sakshi sat up straight "oh my God! Why didn't I think of it before?"

She had ruled out that possibility. Of course it had to be gastritis..since she hadn't eaten anything properly after Amit's incident. And she had nausea and vomiting as well.

"I think I should see a doctor" she told her mother who looked worried "relax...it'll be fine".

"I'll come with you" Soumya said "we'll tell your father...he'll take us". Ranjit knew of her daughter's illness and agreed without hesitation.

She applied leave for the day and made an appointment with their physician Dr Ganesh.

As her parents waited outside the consultation room, Sakshi visited the doctor and told him about her illness.

"Where exactly do you have pain?"he checked her abdomen as she was made to lie on the bed.

"Can't pinpoint where but somewhere around the lower abdomen" she replied looking apprehensive. He nodded and she came back to his cabin after examination.

He took out the prescription pad "it could be epigastric pain...but we can't rule out the possibility of a UTI" he scribbled on the pad "I suggest you take a routine abdominal ultrasound and show me the report...that way it'll be clear"he explained "radiology department is on the lower basement...tell me once you're done".

Sakshi nodded and walked with her parents to radiology department. "It'll be fine" said her father as he held her hand while they waited for her turn "I pray there's nothing serious". She smiled and clasped his hand.

"Sakshi Rana?"the nurse called and she walked in after a quick prayer.

The radiologist was already waiting as she lay down on the reclining bed. After pushing her top upwards, he put the gel on to the sonogram and moved the device over her stomach.

She watched as he stared at the screen intently "is this a routine ultrasound?"he enquired.

"Yeah...I had severe stomach cramps and Dr Ganesh suggested an ultrasound" she explained anxiously "how's it doctor?"

"There's no abnormality as such" he said "could be gastritis...it's a common symptom of pregnancy". She thought she mistook his words "excuse me? What pregnancy?"

He turned his attention from the screen to her "it's an early pregnancy...probably 8 weeks or so. That's the reason you're having lower abdominal stiffness. Sometimes the uterus..."

"No!" Sakshi shot up from bed, much to his amazement "you're wrong! I can't be pregnant...there's something seriously wrong with your diagnosis".

He stared at her but kept his cool "okay...let me show you then" he made her to lie back again and showed her the screen as he ran the device over her stomach "see this?"he pointed towards the small hazy figure which almost looked like a dot "this is the embryo...and this is the gestational sac which is covering the..."

"Shut up!" Sakshi yelled "I can't be pregnant! I just can't!"

"But the ultrasound is showing otherwise..."

She shook her head angrily "I'm not married doctor! I'm not pregnant".

He gave a small smile which was close to a sneer "you don't have to be married to get pregnant"he suggested calmly.

"Enough!"she bellowed and the nurse who was outside the examining room came rushing to see the commotion "is there a problem doctor?"she asked glancing uncertainly at Sakshi.

"Call her parents" the doctor said "she's slightly unstable....". The nurse nodded and tried to approach Sakshi who screamed "leave me alone!"

She pushed the nurse and jerked forward but not before blankness engulfed her and she fainted pitch black.

◇◇◇◇◇

She found herself in bed and saw her mother sitting next to her.

Oh thank God! She gasped. It had been a dream but it felt so real. She was at home and had probably dozed off to have such a nightmare.

She got up but felt a strange smell engulfing her. And voices too.

"Sakshi?" Dr Ganesh was staring at her with concern "how are you feeling?"

At that point, she realized it wasn't a dream; it was her worst nightmare and it had only just begun.

She saw her mother clearly and Soumya had tears in her eyes and sniffing slowly. She couldn't dare to look at her father but stared at the doctor "the ultrasound...I don't understand..." she murmured.

Dr Ganesh gave a guilty gaze "I understand your anxiety..." he turned to face her father "I saw the report...when was your last menstrual period?"

Sakshi blinked, unable to comprehend the question but thinking hard. She had never gotten her periods since long, she suddenly realized. But she had attributed it to the worry and the stress caused due to Amit's death. She had never thought about otherwise.

"I don't remember exactly..." she managed to utter "it's been long".

The doctor nodded in sympathy "you're almost eight weeks pregnant" he announced softly "according to the ultrasound...and based on the symptoms that you mentioned, it's all because of the early pregnancy. We already took a blood pregnancy test and it's positive".

Ranjit who was quiet during the entire ordeal spoke up without raising his voice "I beg of you doctor...no word about this to anyone...if this gets out...we're doomed!"he groaned helplessly. Since Dr Ganesh was their family physician, he was sure many of their relatives came to visit him.

"Don't worry about it" the doctor gave a sympathetic smile "I do have ethics...I never discuss my patient with anyone" he turned to Sakshi "you must see a gynecologist...to make future options..." he wasn't sure what her options lay but sincerely hoped for the best.

After thanking him and discharging from the hospital, they made their way home quietly. No word was spoken during the journey and Sakshi felt her life crumbling from her hands...how had this happened? She couldn't digest it. She absently touched her belly and shivered; she had a baby growing inside her... and she didn't even know how.

Once they reached home and safe inside, Ranjit locked the door and faced her daughter who was already crying in fear.

"Papa I swear..." she began but not before a hard slap fell across her face.

"I can't believe this!"he yelled, his roars echoing everywhere "you've been sleeping around all this time".

"I don't know papa...I swear!"she cried, turning to her mother "please mama! Believe me! I didn't do anything!"

"Oh really?" Ranjit gritted his teeth in fury "you just magically popped a baby then? You filthy liar!"

"I swear I don't know how!"she cried over and over again, unable to understand her predicament.

"Oh you don't know how!" Ranjit slapped her again "stop lying to us! Were you so drunk that don't even remember?"

"Papa I..." she suddenly stopped, the realization hitting hard like a rock.

"Oh God!"she collapsed on the couch as her mother rushed to her "please tell us the truth beta...your father won't spare you!" Soumya cried "it's not good...for your condition".

"It must have been that party mama" she sniffed, trying to remember the night which she had never bothered to remember. That had to be the only explanation.

"What party is she talking about?" Ranjit, who was right behind them had heard every word and directed the question at her mother.

"The one Amit took me to" Sakshi answered as her mother was too tongue tied to speak.

"The engagement function?" Ranjit asked gruffly "what happened there?"

Sakshi could feel all the energy draining out of her; secrets did have a way of coming out, no matter how deep or hard they were buried.

There was no point in hiding further as she had to prove her innocence. "He lied to you...it wasn't an engagement function.." she explained "it was a beach party".

Haunted silence filled the room as both her parents tried to digest the horrifying information their daughter just revealed.

"A beach party? You went to a beach party with him?" Ranjit growled in anger "I refuse to believe! You're involving the poor guy now that he's dead!"

"No papa! I swear he told me later after we left..." she slowly explained everything as he listened in shock.

"He brought me home late night....he said that I might have..drunk a little too much. And then..." Sakshi remembered the most painful part.

Amit hadn't called her the next couple of days...he knew something. As she tried to remember their last conversation, she realized he had sounded angry. He wasn't too happy.

Did she get too drunk that she had ended up randomly with...? The thought sickened her. And now Amit wasn't even here to prove anything. She was left with a huge question mark. What exactly had happened?

"See?" Ranjit pointed towards Soumya who was dumbstruck "you keep grilling me that I'm too strict with my daughter!"he snapped "see what she had achieved with my strictness...let's celebrate!"

Soumya didn't dare look at him and looked at her daughter "is it true beta? Because Amit is no more..and you don't even remember anything..."

"True?" Ranjit snarled before Sakshi could reply "you still believe her? She's cooked up a nice story!"

"I'm telling the truth!" Sakshi yelled, wiping her tears "I have proof!"

"What proof?" Ranjit demanded. Sakshi faced him in anger "Aman was there at the party....."

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