Tanya and I woke up for the second time to the aroma of food.

"Ganga Tai?", she asked in a whisper, while removing her blanket.

"Yup", I answered, getting up from the bed.

"Shhhh🤫", She shushed me by keeping a finger on her lips, having a mischievous face on.

Looking at her face was enough to know about what she was planning, so I nodded while pasting a similar mischievous grin on my face.

We both tiptoed down the stairs. Tanya went and hugged Ganga Tai from behind, who inturn jumped in fright.

"Sia....What?", Ganga Tai stopped shut in mid sentence when she saw me standing in front of her and not behind her like she had imagined.

She furrowed her eyebrows and turned her face. Her expression soon switched to delight upon seeing Tanya standing there.

"Oh My God! Tanya Madam! How are you? You totally scared me", Ganga Tai exclaimed with happiness.

"I am good and please stop with this Madam and all, call me by my name", Tanya said, and came to stand beside me.

"When did you come? Sia, didn't inform me that you would be coming", Ganga Tai asked.

"Well she arrived 2 hours ago and about informing you, I forgot", I replied with a sheepish face.

Both Ganga Tai and Tanya shook their heads at me.

"You both go and sit, food is almost ready", Ganga Tai said.

"Yeah, we know. The aroma of your delicious food was the reason we both woke up", Tanya said while grabbing her seat.

"Is Raghav Sir still sleeping?", Ganga Tai asked while placing the plates on the dining table.

"Umm...No. I came alone, your 'Sir' would come later", Tanya replied while stressing the word Sir as Ganga Tai never stopped calling them Sir/Madam even after their constant requests.

"You came alone? How did Raghav Sir allow you to drive at such a late hour? It's so dangerous", Ganga Tai asked petrified of the fact that Tanya came alone while it was dark outside.

Tanya rolled her eyes and answered in a frank tone, "He didn't need to allow me because I didn't ask for his permission".

"Kids these days", Ganga Tai mumbled shaking her head before going inside the kitchen.

Tanya and I looked at each other and dramatically mimicked Ganga Tai, "Kids these Days", before bursting out in laughter.

Ganga Tai had forgotten her frustration and her cheerful face was back when she returned from the kitchen with our food in her hands.

"Why are you standing? Come and have breakfast with us", Tanya insisted when she saw Ganga Tai standing near the dining table after serving us.

After lots of No's and Tanya's continuous insistence, Ganga Tai finally agreed and sat on the empty chair.

"Sooo, is there any good news?", Ganga Tai asked to Tanya, wiggling her eyebrows teasingly while the latter chocked up on her food upon hearing the question.

I rubbed Tanya's back until she calmed down.

Getting over the shock, Tanya replied smartly "Good news? Well, the number of students for my dance classes increased this year".

"Don't dodge the question. You very well know that I was talking about kids. So are you pregnant? I mean you and Raghav have been married for almost 2 years", Ganga Tai asked again after not receiving a proper answer for the first time.

"No, not yet", Tanya muttered, poking her food around, loosing all her interest in eating.

"But...", Ganga Tai started to object but I interrupted her knowing she would further ruin Tanya's mood by speaking about the topic further.

Fortunately, Ganga Tai understood and the conversation was dropped out there and there.

Ganga Tai soon left to buy more groceries as now there would be three people living here instead of one.

"You okay?", I asked turning to face Tanya, as soon as Ganga Tai left the house.

She sighed in dejection and answered, "Yeah. It's just that everyone is expecting me to be pregnant by now".

"And you are not ready for it", I said in a knowing tone.

"I need more time. As you said I am not ready. Plus Mom's words keep ringing in my mind. Get pregnant so that Raghav won't stop sending money or he wouldn't think of getting divorce.

I know this won't happen but what if I turn like Mom in later stages. What if I try use my kid for money? What if I try to marry them off to a complete stranger just because we are bankrupt and in need of money.

There are so many fears and I don't want to get pregnant before I manage to get rid of each and every one of them", Tanya said, crying into her hands.

"Does Raghav know about all this? Are his parents forcing you?", I asked worriedly even though I know they were great people but one can never know when someone changes.

"What? No! No one has ever forced me. They asked about it but understood when we refused.

And Raghav doesn't know about my fears. He too doesn't want a kid right now but his reasons are different. So don't tell him anything about this", Tanya spoke in fright.

"I think you should inform Raghav about all this. Hiding all these fears, won't do any good. Infact it may create misunderstandings, later on when Raghav would be ready for children and you won't be anywhere near it.

Don't worry, I won't say anything to him as it is something you both should talk about", I said trying to assure her as well as make her understand that communication was really important.

She nodded and said, "You are right. I will tell him but not now. I need to gather some courage first".

"By the way, What is Raghav's reason for not wanting kids, right now?", I asked curiously.

"He wants to give me and the kids his full time and attention whenever they come into this world which is not possible right now.

Trisha is pregnant and gets tired easily. So she can't give her 100% in business even though she tries her best and Rishi is busy with forming bond with Jay and learning ropes of parenting.

So all the pressure of handling business is on Raghav right now. Hence, he doesn't want kids at this moment", Tanya replied letting out a huge breath, tired of explaining everything in detail.

"Good to know that he cares so much", I said smiling.

I had thought that Tanya had recovered and I was the only one suffering but that wasn't the case.

Even after having great family and friends, few wounds were hard to heal.