Tapping her right foot anxiously on the brown marbled floor, Kusum pursed her lips and hoped that her manager would end the meeting soon; her eyes kept drifting off to her wristwatch.

'When will she get over with frying our brains for such a small mistake?' Kusum thought.

"I know, right?" her colleague, Rati, said.

Kusum smiled at her, shaking her head to herself as Rati read her thoughts.

Finally, their manager announced the end of the meeting, and Kusum dashed out of the conference room as if her life depended on it.

Usually, Kusum would wait for Rati and two of her other colleagues to wrap up and leave together, but it wasn't the case this time.

Kusum's Uncle and Aunt-in-law had arrived for a four-day stay, and today being their last night at their place, Kusum didn't want them to leave with a bad impression. It was the first time they had come.

Just as she reached outside the office building and hailed an auto, she received a text from her husband Naveen.

Hubby-nubby: Where are you?

Kusum: Just got an auto.

Hubby-nubby: Kusummm... You know what time it is?!

Kusum quickly typed out a reply when she read the time on the notification bar of her mobile screen: 8:10 p.m.

Kusum dropped her mobile back inside her handbag, jumped out of the auto on reaching the metro station, and joined her fellow commuters.

She cursed to herself as the time didn't seem to be stopping, making her anxious as she imagined her aunt-in-law's taunts and expressions for keeping them hungry beyond their dinner time.

Her husband, Naveen, would have helped her, but he was transferred to the second shift just one week ago after being put on an important project by his company.

"Please, don't be late today," Kusum pleaded silently to her next local train going to Thane, which she had to take after getting off at Ghatkopar station.

Ten minutes later, she was running down the stairs to catch the same train which had unfortunately arrived one minute before its arrival time, but somehow Kusum managed to jump inside it, dangling from the metal pole and thanking the universe for the small favour.

As she moved inside the train to make way for the women getting off at the next station, she checked her phone and sighed.

Naveen had messaged her again, telling her that he had convinced his boss to give him an early leave today. He would reach home earlier and handle 'his relatives', while Kusum could take 'all of her time' to come.

Kusum didn't miss the sarcasm in her husband's message but brushed it off. Their guests were none other than Naveen's maternal aunt, whom he loved a lot, and aunt's husband.

Thinking about the guests at home, Kusum took out her handkerchief from the bag to wipe off the dust and sweat from her face; she noticed the pregnancy kit peeking out from below the sanitary napkins in her handbag.

She had bought the kit one week ago as she had missed her periods for two months straight but always forgot about it. She decided to do the pregnancy test after her guests had left, leaving her enough time for herself.

If it hadn't been for her manager keeping a surprise meeting, Kusum would have left the office one hour ago only, just like she had promised her husband. Feeling dejected, she closed her eyes till the time her train reached her station.

Next station: Thane. Agla station: Thane. Pudhil station: Thane.

Kusum blinked her eyes open on hearing the announcement and quickly joined the queue on the left side of the ladies compartment while the women on the right scrunched themselves to make space for them.

Naveen would always advise Kusum to take a pass for local trains' First Class, but Kusum very well knew that it was of no use. Be it Second Class or First Class, there was never enough space for anyone.

Knowing that she had already gotten late, Kusum slowed down her pace as she walked to the auto stand. Her feet were sore, and the evil back pain had intensified by hundred folds since yesterday.

She shook her head to herself as she realised that she wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully tonight also. Only if her husband could give her a foot massage, some of her pain could be subdued.

Alas, Kusum's imagination was halted soon when she reached her home, receiving annoyed glances of her aunt-in-law, accompanied with the disappointed look of her husband.

Kusum looked apologetically at everyone and eyed the kitchen counter. It was super clean, signalling that her guests hadn't touched even one cooking utensil.

"I am sorry, mausi ji (Aunt). I was going to leave early, but my manager-"

Kusum had just begun when Naveen's aunt, Garima, cut her off. "Bahu, look at the time first. We don't need your excuses. Yesterday, you missed the train, and the day before that, your trains were cancelled?! And today, you are blaming your manager."

"I am sorry for arriving late, aunty, but I am not lying," Kusum said earnestly.

Garima twisted her face in distaste and glanced at the kitchen. "I get it, but will you please give us something to eat now, or are you planning on starving us?"

All this while, Naveen was silent and staring at his wife. He observed how Kusum wanted to reply and make his aunt understand her situation but kept mum because it was going to be fruitless.

Talking to uncle was futile as he was only interested in playing Candy Crush on his phone. As Naveen saw his spouse dragging her feet after dumping her belongings on the table, he got up and followed her.

"What took you so long?" Naveen asked as he took out some rice from the container and washed it with water.

Kusum thumped her feet on the floor, her soles feeling like butter being crushed down by a bulldozer. She didn't feel like saying anything as the task of cooking for four people felt like a world war she had to fight all alone.

The clock hands were nearing 10 p.m., and she had to prepare dinner at the earliest.

"Kusum..." Naveen nudged her.

Kusum looked at him tiredly. "My manager held us back because an intern messed up."

"I told you to take a leave. Garima mausi has come to our place for the first time, yaar."

"I didn't do it on purpose, Naveen," Kusum reiterated.

"I am not saying that you did it intentionally, but think of aunty and uncle also. You easily got a leave when your parents came last month, but you never happen to do so whenever my folks are over."

Kusum gripped the knife in her hands tightly, cutting the cabbage with more force. She wanted to snap at Naveen but held back as she didn't want to start a fight in front of her in-laws.

Naveen quickly realised his mistake, but he was still bothered about his aunt being inconvenient and complaining to his mother how he and his wife couldn't take good care of them.

"Kusum, I am sorry. I didn't mean-" Naveen said, but his aunt's voice stopped him.

"Naveen!" Garima called.

"Yes, mausi?"

"What are you doing here, beta?" Garima asked as she sauntered inside the kitchen.

Naveen showed her the rice cooker, and Garima huffed. Kusum sensed Garima's judgmental stare on her, but she focused on stirring the vegetables in the pan. She was well versed with what her aunt-in-law was going to say next.

"Navu, your mausi is leaving tomorrow, and you don't even feel like talking to me? You are in the office all the time. Come and keep me company; your uncle is of no use. Who am I going to talk to? Didn't I mention about my friend's niece on the phone?" Garima asked her nephew.

Naveen nodded slowly. On seeing his response, Garima grabbed Naveen's wrist excitedly. "Come on, I will tell you about what happened in her engagement ceremony."

"But, mausi, the dinner..." Naveen protested.

Garima's smile faltered for a second, replaced by anger. She masked it and looked at her nephew sadly. Naveen sighed and glanced at Kusum, who didn't interfere and acted like a robot.

"Bahu, can I please take my nephew with me? It is clear that he won't even move a single finger without your permission," Garima taunted playfully, followed by her laughter.

Kusum gave her husband a knowing look and then glanced at Garima with a forced smile, concealing her rage and tiredness.

"Why are you asking, aunty? Please rest; you too, Naveen. You must be tired."

Garima patted Naveen's back proudly and cooed. "Of course, my poor baby works so hard. Look at these dark circles."

Kusum internally laughed as she heard her aunt-in-law praise Naveen while taunting her at the same time.

Unlike Naveen, most of his relatives had stereotypical notions and pre-formed gender roles. That's why, even though Naveen helped Kusum inside the house, Garima couldn't bear to see her beloved nephew holding a broom or using a spatula in the kitchen.

"Dinner is almost ready," Kusum announced as she placed the last roti in the carousel and took out the plates.

As she wiped the plates with a clean cloth, her guests sat down on the dining chairs. Garima pulled Naveen to sit beside her when she saw him heading towards Kusum.

While eating, Naveen's uncle complained of the daal being a little bland, and Garima shook her head while mumbling how girls these days didn't know how to cook.

"Bahu, the rice is also soggy," Garima pointed out.

"I cooked it, mausi," Naveen said.

Garima raised an eyebrow at him as if he said something absurd. "So? She should have checked it, no? Isn't it her responsibility to make sure that the food is prepared properly? We already tolerate it, but what will you do when people from your father's side come? The least you can do is feed them something good."

"Should I cook something else?" Kusum asked.

Garima gave her a blank look. "You want us to be awake whole night?"

Kusum sighed and focused on her own plate. No matter how much polite she behaved, her aunt-in-law always found delight in ponting out her flaws. Kusum was aware that she lacked in cooking, but not to the extent that Garima had to find fault in everything she cooked.

She noticed that Naveen's uncle was having his third serving of the daal he called bland, along with the sabzi and rice his wife was continuously complaining about.

When Kusum's eyes met Naveen, he mouthed 'Sorry' to her, his eyes softening as he knew about his aunt's hostile nature towards his wife. Still, his wife tolerated it for his sake.

Kusum gave him a nod, and after dinner, he picked up the dishes and cleaned the dining table. On seeing her nephew work, Garima contorted her face and elbowed her husband.

"Do you see how she has him wrapped around her fingers?" she said.

Her husband shrugged. "Prepare the bed for me."

Garima grunted at her husband's disinterest and informed Naveen that they were going to their room. Once they left, Naveen went to the kitchen and cleaned the counter too.

"Sorry for what mausi commented earlier," Naveen said.

"Nothing new in that," Kusum replied as she did the dishes. "What should I cook for breakfast?"

"You don't need to."

"Why not?" Kusum furrowed her eyebrows, thinking that her husband was still angry about her coming late home. "I need to pack something for Uncle and Aunty's travel. I will wake up early and wrap up before they leave. Don't worry, I won't give a chance to Garima mausi to complain."

Naveen put the washing cloth on the side and removed the clutcher from Kusum's hair, making her waist-length hair dangle freely. He threaded his fingers in her hair, removing the knots.

"You can sleep till late because I am taking our guests out for breakfast and will drop them off at the railway station from there only," Naveen explained.

Kusum turned back and looked at him in disbelief. "Really?"

He nodded, and Kusum pecked him on his cheek. "Thank you so much, baby. Please don't feel that I don't like your relatives coming over; I will make sure to take some days off next time."

"I get it, and sorry for blowing off earlier," Naveen apologized.

Both of them completed the remaining chores and dived into the comforting silence of their room.

While Naveen got inside the warm covers of bed, Kusum went to the washroom and took out the pregnancy kit she had been carrying since last week. She wanted to wait till tomorrow but the curiosity was killing her.

'Please let it be positive,' she prayed.

Kusum and Naveen had been married for three years but didn't want to have kids early in their married life. But now both of them had saved up enough to extend their family, and when the pregnancy kit showed two red lines, Kusum squealed in joy.

Naveen got alerted and rushed to the washroom to check on his wife. Kusum called him over, and he hurried towards her with concern. She showed him the kit, and Naveen's eyes widened in surprise as his lips stretched up in a proud smile.

"We are pregnant!" Kusum yelled in joy and kissed her husband.

Naveen hugged his wife and carried her to the bed like a princess. She placed her head on his chest when he joined her, and both of them kept staring at the pregnancy test in awe.

"Let's go to the gynaecologist after I drop off Garima mausi and her husband tomorrow," Naveen said, kissing the top of Kusum's head.

Kusum nodded and snuggled closer to him. As she relaxed in his arms, a jolt of pain passed her right leg. She cursed as the cramps in her legs increased, but the exhaustion lulled her to sleep; the dreams of having their baby dissolved her pain into the darkness.