A few days later,

Gauri sat stunned in one of the waiting chairs of the hospital, looking at the medical report in her hand. Pregnancy report positive... it said.

She could barely register her sister in law Anika and her daadi saas Kalyani jumping and cheering at the good news hugging her from either sides.

She has been feeling nauseous since a few weeks which worsened in the last few days. Kalyani noticed her stumbling her way into the kitchen the previous morning and quickly held her stopping her fall. Post the incident, the elder woman asked a few questions and the next she knew, she was in the hospital with Anika accompanying the duo.

When Kalyani put forth her most probable diagnosis, Gauri just laughed it off shaking her head in a no. She did not consider the probability, since she knew they always took precautions... They were not planning to have kids anytime soon. But today, when she returned to the hospital and the reports were handed over to them, she understood her daadi saas was right all along.

"Gauri...puttar... I haven't heard such a good news in an exceedingly long time... thank you so much beta... Om would be so happy" she said still hugging her granddaughter in law and placing a loving kiss on her head.

"Khidkitood news Gauri... Let me inform Shivaay" Anika said to no one in particular, taking out her cell phone when Kalyani snatched it away.

"Shhh... Anika... Omkara should be the first one to know.. he will return from the business trip this afternoon... let her tell him first then everyone can know" she said and Anika pouted.

"I am bad at handling secrets daadi... what if I blurt it out? Shivaay will call now to know if everything is fine with Gauri"

"As if you did not lie to him before... tell him something... dare you slip it to anyone before Om knows" she warned and Anika gulped making an action of zipping her mouth close.

"Gauri... come we need to meet the doctor" said Anika.

"Gauri!!" Kalyani called a bit louder when she looked zooned out.

"What happened are you alright?"

"Huh?... Yeah Daadi ji" Gauri mumbled with a smile which did not reach her eyes.

Taking it as nervousness and anxiety, Kalyani assured her that things will go smoothly and that she has her whole family to take care of her during the time of gestation.

Gauri numbly nodded her head before getting up and walking into the cabin of the hospital's gynaecologist.

************************************************************************

As expected Omkara returned to the mansion in the late afternoon but he soon became busy having had to attend a few more video conference calls. So, the breaking news had to wait till the night when he finally settled on his bed, though he still rummaged through the files in his room.

"Go... and tell him" Kalyani whispered pushing Gauri inside the room while she and Anika stayed at the room entrance.

Gauri looked at her husband seriously studying the files with a pen ready in hand. She gave a glance again in the direction her daadi ji and sister in law who gestured her to move forward with their plan.

Clearing her throat loudly to get his attention, she called him

"mmm... Omkaraji"

"Hmmm"

"Do you think I have gained weight?" she asked trying to keep her tone casual.

"No" he replied not even looking her side and she sighed.

"Psst.. how can you tell that without looking at me.. look here" she said in irritation.

Omkara raised his head from the file, gave her a glance said "No" and returned to his work.

Gauri glared at his head before turning to the secret sharers who already had a deflated look on their faces.

"But... Omkaraji.."

"Gauri... please I am in the middle of something here... can we talk later?" he said dismissing her and she huffed walking outside their room.

**************************************************

Same day, at night.....

"He understands you even before you speak right? What happened to him today?" Anika wondered loudly and Kalyani sighed in disappointment.

"Can't we tell it directly daadi?"

"No... I want something dramatic"

"You want?"

"Anika... It is the news of arrival of the first baby of the current Oberoi generation... it should be special right? My first great-grandchild" Kalyani said dreamily.

"Okay... but the thing is...Om..."

"Stop your questionnaire and if possible suggest some ideas.. will you?" Kalyani said irked and Anika pouted turning to Gauri who was silently watching them bickering.

All of them pondered over the ways to present the news in dramatic ways for a few minutes.

"Idea...!!" Kalyani exclaimed suddenly making the other two jump in their places.

"What is it daadi?"

"Anika after dinner gather everyone in the living room... I will organize a game" said Kalyani and Gauri looked at her doubtfully.

"What is this daadi... why are you getting diverted? We can play tomorrow also... For now we should plan about how to break the news to Omkara"

"He will know it in the game" Kalyani answered and her daughter in laws raised their eyebrows... yet they nodded agreeing to the plan.

"What game daadi ji?" Anika asked curiously.

"You will know"

***********************************************************************************

"What is the occasion today daadi? You seem to be in a bright mood" Rudra commented sitting beside his grandmother who smiled at him.

"I heard a very good news after years"

"Oh... what is it darling?" Omkara asked settling beside his wife who was unusually calm.

Leaning to her, he whispered to her while the rest of the members took their respective places "Gauri... everything okay? You are not angry that I dismissed you earlier right?"

Gauri gave him a small smile shaking her head in a no.

"Really? But you don't seem..." he started but Kalyani called for attention.

"We will talk later... okay?" he said moving closer to her and placing his arm around her shoulder while she nodded turning to the matriarch.

"So... we will play 'pass the pillow'... I will play a song and stop it randomly... whoever has the pillow in hand at that time will have to do a task" Kalyani explained and the group nodded their heads.

"Shivaay.. start the game... take the pillow" she ordered and her eldest grandson obliged.

The song stopped at Rudra first who was asked to take a chit.

"Solve the riddle" he read out aloud.

"Anika... you read the question loud" she said giving her a paper and Rudra looked on with interest.

Giving a wink, Anika started reading the puzzle.

"Jab bhi aapko dekh vah muskurayega, aapke chehre par bhi Muskaan ayega (whenever he smiles at you, you will return it with one of your own)

Aapke roothne par vah aapko manayega, kabhi shararato se aapko satayega (When you are angry he will make your mood better but sometimes he might irritate you with his pranks)

Ishaaro se karega vah aapse baat, bachpane se karayega aapki mulaakat (He will talk to you in sweet gestures and he will remind you of your own childhood)

Kabhi puure din masti kareega to kabhi jagayega saari saari raat (Sometimes he plays for the whole day and sometimes he steals your sleep at night)" Anika completed waiting for the answer.

" Jagayega...saari saari raat?...OMG daadi... What are you asking...?" Rudra said gasping loudly and got a wack from his grandmother.

"You only asked me such things and now you are beating me... the answer is "your lover" ... right?" he said and Kalyani rolled her eyes.

"It is a baby... Rudy" Omkara said shaking his head and Rudra pouted feeling bad at his failed attempt.

Kalyani smiled at her middle grandson "Very good... now continue"

The next turn was Shivaay's who had to say the name of the movie name hearing to the jinx of the story.

"In the story, there is a child suffering from a reading and writing disorder, always getting scolded by his father... He has the passion to paint but gradually loses interest and gets closed off when his parents admit him in a boarding school... Finally his schoolteacher understands him and helps in overcoming his problem" Kalyani said and Rudra smiled raising his hand eagerly.

Shivaay and Omkara tried to remember the name of the movie while Rudra continued to pester his grandmother to give him a chance.

"Don't know Shivaay?" Kalyani asked.

"I watched the movie.. I can't remember the name though"

"Okay Rudra.. tell us"

"Tare Zameen par" Rudra hooted cheerfully making the rest of them chuckle at the enthusiasm.

"Uhh... Daadi? Is the theme on children and babies today? Why is that so?" Shivaay asked doubtfully and Kalyani turned to Omkara who had an equally confused look.

"Sit Shivaay... the game has to continue" she said.

Anika nodded her head at her daadi saas before the next song played.. This time when the pillow reached her, she held it for a while longer and just when she knew the song would stop, she passed it on to Gauri who sat beside her.

"Cool... it is Gauri then... come take the chit" Kalyani said handing over the box and she took one, giving it back to her for reading the challenge loud.

"Give a kiss to the person you love the most right now" Kalyani read out, something that was entirely different from what was written on the chit.

"What? Why wasn't I given that chit?" Rudra whined while Gauri silently sat back in her place.

She knew what she was supposed to do... they expected her to plant a kiss to her belly so that her husband would get the hint. She looked at Kalyani who gestured her to play her part.

Gauri thought for a moment before turning to her husband who was closely watching her.

"Bhabhi... come... I am waiting for your kiss" Rudra said and the brothers rolled their eyes.

Surprising everyone, she kissed her husband's cheek giving him a small smile and Rudra dramatically clutched his heart.

Anika who couldn't hold her mouth any longer blurted out "Yaar Gauri... you are supposed to kiss your baby.. not Om"

Kalyani gasped loudly before clutching her forehead in irritation while Shivaay raised his eyebrow muttering "baby?" turning to Rudra who sat there equally shocked.

Anika closed her mouth with her hands "Err... sorry?" she mumbled.

Omkara sat stunned finally understanding the meaning of the drama "Gauri?" he whispered to his wife who was looking everywhere except his face.

"Gauri... look at me" he whispered again and she turned to him.

One look at her and he smiled happily, tears making way to his eyes. If his tears were not a proof enough, Gauri felt his very body trembling with so much love as he hugged her tight...indicating how much the news meant to him.

Once the news sank in to the brothers, they cheered for the couple, incredibly happy with news.

Gauri could feel her husband's happiness radiate in waves which essentially hit her hard, as he conversed happily with his family when they were congratulating both of them.

He loved their child so much.... She understood... How could she deny him that happiness?

The feel of unease in her stomach had begun to dull and the fear of unknown along with thoughts of jeopardy of her career in consequence to the news, appeared to lessen considerably, after receiving his charming smile.

As she watched him laugh at some joke Rudra made, she genuinely smiled for the first time since she knew of her motherhood. Her husband's hand securely held her waist, though he was looking at others and talking to them. Still smiling, she leaned more onto his side.

Omkara happily turned to her and kissed her forehead pulling her closer to him when her sister in law started her usual teasing game into which Rudra shortly joined.

Later at night when they retired to their room, Omkara pulled his wife for a soul consuming kiss, the very first thing he did after he locked their door.

"This feels like a dream" he said as he kissed her eyes "I wasn't even expecting..." he started and then stopped pulling away from her, his eyes wide open in realization.

"Shit... I am so sorry Gauri... is this okay for you I mean... it has been just days after your launch... how will you..."

"It is okay Omkaraji... we can manage" she said caressing his face which now showed worry.

"Really? You are not getting emotional right? I can talk to daadi"

"No... I want this... true that for a moment I was worried... but we can tide through this... you will be there with me right?"

He sighed relived "Do you even have to ask? We are in this together" he said hugging her and she smiled in his embrace kissing his chest.

***********************************************

Things did not go as smoothly as planned for the next few months with Gauri frequently falling ill, the morning sickness troubling her through the entire first trimester.

Her decreased working hours were compensated by Anika and Richa who tried their best to manage and keep the ship sailing until waters became favorable and she could only thank them for it, not being able to do anything else.

But staying at home and being pampered all day made Gauri turn crankier.

Gayathri who was angry at her grand-daughter happily rushed to her when she heard of the news of her pregnancy... with Shakti following tow this time.

The minor difference between the grandmother-daughter grew into a full blown fight when Gayathri asked Gauri to come and stay with them during the entire period of her childbearing but Gauri refused owing to work reasons.

Kalyani tried to reduce the damage by giving a promise to Gauri's parents that she will send her grand-daughter in law home after completion of the first six months. Until then they will try and manage her work-place since the new venture needed the assistance of its head.

****************************************************

At night, Gauri grumpily sat on the bed eating a kesar kulfi to brighten her sour mood waiting for her husband to bestow her with his presence.

"Is the weather stormy?" she heard her husband's jibe as he lazily walked to her and took a seat beside her smiling.

"Very much... there is a tsunami waiting to drown you" she replied and he laughed.

"I feel like running away to some place where nobody can find me"

"Ohh... am I allowed to accompany?"

"No... I want to go alone... you would be too busy with your office" she said munching on her desert.

"Gauri... how can you think of going on a vacation leaving me" he said moving closer trying to hug her when she hit his arms angrily.

"You are always busy enjoying your work... and I have to stay at home with this large belly" she said as an angry tear escaped her eye.

"How is it fair?? You said we are in this together right? Then why are you not staying at home?"

"Gauri..." Omkara said trying to hold her hand while she swatted it away.

Sighing, he moved his hand back staying silent and just when she relaxed against the headboard finishing her kulfi, he managed to pull her into his arms settling her against his hard chest.

Gauri struggled not liking his cheating, as he caught her when she was not prepared to fight him.

"Please...." he whispered close to her ears and she looked at him angrily.

"Please..." he said again pecking her lips and she frowned at him before she stopped her struggle.

"You look cute today" he said kissing her red cheek.

"You mean fat" she said and he shook his head in a no kissing her other cheek.

"Just cute" he reassured and she leaned against him satisfied, making him sigh relieved.

"You changed your cologne" she said smiling sniffing in his scent.

"Of course...my cute madam did not like my smell yesterday and she cried for an hour and a half asking me why I dared change the brand" he quipped embracing her and she grinned.

"I am troubling you so much" she stated without regret and he just hummed kissing her hair.

"Sorry Omkaraji... I could only sketch one design today... just when I sit down to do some serious work, my mind shifts to unwanted things... I am not able to concentrate" she said and he nodded understandingly.

"What unwanted things ?? Are you afraid of something?"

"Hmm... daadi is irked with me..."

"What is new in that?"

"Am I a bad granddaughter and daughter?"

"You just said you need to be here because your work needs you to be here... I don't understand why is that a big issue... you can go later right?"

"Hmm... but it is a custom in our family that women have to go to their maternal home when they are pregnant... it seems my maa did not go because she did not want to leave my papa and you know what happened later... Daadi has these weird superstitions" she explained and Omkara frowned, his heart suddenly feeling uneasy.

"Really? Is that required.. I mean..."

Gauri looked up at him in shock "When did you start thinking ancient?"

"I don't know.. when it comes to you... I just freak out" he said truthfully and she smiled.

"If you told me some months back... I would have laughed at such beliefs but ...." he sighed hugging her and she gently caressed his arms which were rubbing her belly.

"Can you believe it? I fasted every Monday for weeks...when daadi told me it will decrease your morning sickness?" he said in bewilderment.

"Like seriously... how will my vomiting decrease if you fast? It was just a coincidence that it decreased the moment you started doing it"

"Not coincidence Gauri science... you remember? You were in the last weeks of your first trimester when I started doing it..."

"During the initial months of pregnancy, your body secretes HCG whose levels increase drastically and it causes that feel of aversion to certain foods... a protective mechanism. In the second trimester when those levels reach a plateau, the sickness decreases" he explained and she gaped at him.

"We can only try and avoid those dishes which cause that aversion...I used to note all the things which triggered you like my morning coffee, your Bareilly laddoos, jalapenos in pizza...and a few others" he said thinking again "I religiously kept them away, lest your stomach flips" he said.

"When did my husband become a doctor?"

Omkara rolled his eyes "I read a few books and contacted a bunch of doctors... you worried all of us" he said and she grinned.

"Troublemaker" he accused her, kissing her neck.

"It is your baby which created trouble... not me"

"Hey... no one accuses my baby" he said caressing her belly lovingly.

His wife immediately sat up straight, glaring at him "You love your baby more than me?"

Omkara bit his tongue and smiled "Nope... I always love you more" he said secretly crossing fingers behind his back.

She stared at him for a moment, giving him an assessing look, before she resumed her earlier position, leaning against him and resuming the main topic from which they deviated.

"Do not worry Omkaraji... I will go to my village next month... then Daadi will calm down... she appears strict from the outside but she cannot stay away when her one and only granddaughter is with child" she said with belief and he smiled nodding.

***************************************************************************************************

Vote and comment if you liked reading.

Signing off yours Soujanya.