Anaika

I couldn't sleep all night, apart from the jet-lagged on my body, my heart was burdened with desires and confusion. The most crucial part was when I regretted getting the room beside my cousin's because they were really loud. It's as if she's clearly mocking me purposely upon knowing my situation but I couldn't think much of it because they did rightfully spent their night together as a husband and wife.

"One freaking hallway were busy making loves yesterday night. Like mine, he took me on a wild ride all night." My other cousin giggled with a blush while she shared her details.

"Yes.....it's mind-blowing indeed, just like mine did. Ugh, he wouldn't even let me leave the bed to pee." They laughed when another relative sister of mine said.

No offense, I'm a lady myself but even though we were around the same age groups, sharing things like this seemed uninterested for me. Especially when you don't really have the experience and you couldn't leave the conversation because you don't want them to know that you hadn't even seen your husband half naked.

"Anai, you were quiet since then, what happened to yours? Or was it something unexplainable?" It was my next door cousin now who make a fun of me again and I smiled, shrugging awkwardly.

"Dear, you don't have to be shy with us. Come on, we are dead ass married to respectfully gorgeous men so talking about them or showing off their skills in bed would be our pride, isn't it?" Another said while nodding at all of us for a confirmation and the girls agreed.

"Unless he isn't satisfying you enough." My next door cousin said as everyone laughed at her.

"Go on, hun. Tell us all the juicy things." Added in by another sister of hers and it was time for me to be honest with them.

"I don't have any because we didn't....yet." I answered them in a go and their faces dropped into a surprise.

"Yet?" One asked.

"You mean never at all?" Another joined in.

"That's ridiculous, hun. You're joking aren't you?" The next one said.

"And here I was wondering how come you guys were so quiet yesterday? I thought you guys practiced to do it in silent or something." The next door cousin said with a look of unbelievable.

"It's been like what, two months and still no sex?"

"Girls that's enough. Yes, we didn't do anything yet but it doesn't mean that my husband's loving me any less. And I'm really lucky to have him, he's alone my pride. I had achieved my main goal when I get to marry that man." I flaunted about my husband and they looked me in awe.

"That's so sweet, dear. But you should know that our mothers would pop the question anytime so be prepared." The eldest among us said and we were looking at her with confusion.

"Ah, it's about getting them a grandbaby." She whined at us for our incompetency.

"Oh." We echoed equally but the next door cousin smiled shyly.

"I would give them a yes." She shyly mumbled while squealing with blushes.

The girls screamed and I was too happy for her. We hugged her turn by turn wishing her and she said that she's one month along, no wonder she was quite hyper all the ride. She restricted us from telling anyone else because she was planning to open up to my family and relatives as a surprise for dinner.

We then went to the beach and all the men went shirtless whilst Aditya was the only one didn't. He was moving around uncomfortably so I walked up to him and assured him that it's okay to dress up while holding onto his hands. We walked in the beach, hand in hand together as the waves covered our body. The elders refused to join the sea so it was us, the young couples alone with each other. Almost all of them were clinging together and some playing with their kids.

I went up to my husband and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He took the invitation and welcomed me into his embrace. He looked passed through me at the next door couple as everyone were gathering around them one by one.

"What's up with them? Her husband was going cuckoo talking about babies and stuffs." Aditya said.

"Because they are going to have a baby." I told him and he looked at me with surprise before staring back at them.

"She don't look pregnant, does she?" His question turned out to be very doubtful.

"She's just a month along. The difference in a mother will only be visible around 16 to 20 weeks. Or sometimes earlier but definitely not now." I said with some of my knowledge on pregnancy.

I caught my husband staring at me with some sort of emotion which I refused to know so I never bothered to connect my gaze with his.

*****

It was dinner time. My cousin was ready to share the news and as she did, everyone practically squirmed around her. Our parents were so happy that they made this happy dance as they were willing to throw a big party to celebrate her pregnancy. My family members always cherishes pregnancy and everyone were ensured to produce at least one generation after them. Which is crazy but precious as well to have a big family and this is why I always dreamed of a big family.

Everyone calmed down after that and all started popping questions to each other. It was unavoidable but I hate to be a part of this conversation after what I have been asked. "So, Anai. Qila is ready to be a mother and all others were already a mother. When can we expect you to join our motherhood?"

I was hooked on like an anchor and I glanced past my husband who was looking afar with a frown on his face.

"You're the next in the list, dear. How many of them are you going to introduce us?" My aunt asked with a laugh and my mother joined in the chat.

"Soon it will happen. I would be blessed with grandbabies, not one or two but many more than that....just like how my Anaika wanted." My mother cooed while squeezing my cheeks lovingly.

I smiled back at her and later the elders called it a day, leaving us alone.

"Anaika, aunty said you wanted many babies. How many are you planning to have?" My relative sister asked as they exchanged questions among each other.

"Urm....." I had an awkward smile, not knowing what to answer. ".....one, maybe. Having many children was only a dream with the man I love by my side but that's it. It was a dream, which came true with my man but might not be with the babies part. Handling one kid nowadays are over exhausting already." I made a fun while leaning onto Aditya's shoulder at the mention of my dream man and he tensed.

"Show love to each other first, not only mentally but physically as well. Then let us know, how many babies you were planning to make." My oldest sister said with an encouraging smile on me. I knew what she did there and I knew at the point, I was ready for my husband all this time. But that's not enough.

We later decided to descend to bed and while I was changing into our pajamas, his out of nowhere question stunned me.

"Why do you have to lie?" He asked and I turned myself around to meet his worried ones.

"About what, Adi? The girls are always like that, saying silky jokes and things. Don't take that to heart, will you?"

"It's not that, Anaika."

"Then, what is it?" I pestered him to answer me with my arms crossed over my chest.

"Your lie.....about having only o-one baby." He would stutter only if he find that topic unsettling.

"I'm barely even thinking about having one, Aditya. You think I need another one when I have you." I sweetly cooed, kissing his cheek before sliding into the comforter with my back against him.

"How many.....do you really wish to have?" He asked, even after I shoved him my answer but he seemed unstoppable.

"Please tell me, Anaika." It's as if he's pleading to know and want me to spill out everything my heart wailed.

"Three and more. I want my house to be full with my babies. Their laughter and cries all around the corner. I am a single child to my parents and in our big house, I will always feel lonely with no one to play with. Of course my cousins come by once awhile and it would irked me to see them happily tagging along their siblings. Since then, I wished to have so many kids and run a house full of children. My babies would always have each other and someone to look up to. But that's what it is, a childhood wish that remained as a dream. It's much easier to think of back then." I set out my wishes to him and since I'm looking away, I couldn't be able to see his reaction.

Maybe it's for the best. I don't want him sulking over the idea to share my wishes. It's mine and just like I said, I don't mind if it's always just a dream.

Soon I felt his arms circling around my waist, gently pulling me towards him. "It would be ours." I turned over to look at him in confusion.

"It would be our babies. Our home full of children, with their laughter and cries. I wanted to the best dad for them when every single one of them would be my miracles, my loves. Just like their mother do." My eyes was watery at the end of his conversation and he wiped it away before kissing my eyes.

He joined our forehead together. "It will be my honor to be a part of your wonderful wish, Anaika. I will cherish it, forever."