Ma ji, Ma, Raj ji and me waited in our usual gynaecologist's clinic for our turn to come. Raj ji held my hand throughout our waiting period and I just leaned my head against his shoulder.

"Mrs. Pavithra Rajeev?", called the nurse.

"Yes-"

"The doctor is ready to see you-"

The four of us walked into he familiar chambers and the doctor welcomed us warmly.

"It's nice to see you, Mr and Mrs Shukla."

"Thank you doctor."

"How is your medical student life treating you?"

"Finished my first year doctor. Will be commencing with the next semester shortly."

"Oh, that's nice. Well, what's the occasion of your visit?"

"Doctor-"

Even before I could share, she looked at Ma ji and my mother and politely requested them to leave during the consultation.

"Sorry Pavithra, some questions that I may ask is not suitable for everyone to know."

Raj ji and me exchanged glances and nodded.

"Are you expecting?", the doctor asked.

"My period is delayed doctor and during my 12th day, we had consummated. I took a pregnancy test doctor and it showed positive-"

"Hmm! Can you lie down?"

I adjusted myself on the examination table and laid down, loosening and lowering my saree.

She took her time to examine, with stethoscope, with her hands and then she went onto using the ultrasound machine. Since I was the patient, I tried not to play doctor at the moment. I just prayed and wished that my baby is healthy and fine.

After being done, I came back and sat on the chair next to my husband. He reached out his arm to me.

"Pavithra and Rajeev-"

"Yes doctor-"

"I am so sorry to say that you have been alarmed with false pregnancy-"

What?

Hmm okay, I am a medical student, and I know that it is possible. Whatever the doctor spoke next was just blur to me. I heard the footsteps of my mother and Ma ji entering the chambers and well, they did sound shocked and disastrous. I felt Raj ji looking at me with utmost concern but I felt fine.

She gave me a set of medicines and we left back home. Ma and Ma ji continuously kept talking to me but I just didn't know what to say.

My brain was just processing what can be done next.

We have a business to take care of.

I need to enroll Dev into a play-school.

Rekha should finish her education and Sushant's matter must be discussed at home.

We need to make arrangements for Manish and Sindhu's engagement.

I have to excel as a doctor.

While thinking of the logistics of the above matter, I fell asleep during the ride. When I opened my eyes, we had reached home.

"Raj ji, I just want to sleep for sometime-"

"Bahu, yes, you look very tired. Raj beta take her and go to your room."

As we reached our bedroom, Rak ji closed the door behind and pulled me into the tightest hug possible. I tried my level best not to break but my husband, my most handsome man just broke down.

"I am so sorry, Pavi-", he whispered.

"Baby it's all right-"

"Pavi- honey! You are in denial. Please mourn with me."

"Ji, it was just a false-"

I really couldn't finish those words. I was talking for the first time after I got to know about it. And yes, that hit me hard. I just shoved myself in my husband's chest and cried with him. He is all I have. He is all that I will ever have.

"Pavi- it's okay. We still have a lot of things to achieve-"

"Yes and we need to do it for Dev."

"Yes baby!"

"I am so sorry-"

"Hey, are you mad-" and with those words he reached gently but fervently to my lips and just kissed me as if his life depended on it.

"I love you, beyond my body, mind and soul."

I didn't know what to say. I just unbuttoned his shirt and reached the left side of his chest and placed a kiss.

He hugged me closer than ever that I could hear his heart pounding.

Fresh tears befriended us. We knew we had a lot to do from now on. We had to be even more planned, focussed and responsible. But right now, we took a personal moment, to accept and deal through this.

***

A/N:

Dedicating this chapter to all the headstrong women and their supportive husbands in the world.