Imperfectly Perfect -short story UPDATE 6/30, Pg 8

Episode 2, chapter 2, whatever you want to call it, the 2^nd part

Shravan gasped and grabbed the test out of her hands.  Saachi walked over to the bed and sat down.  She was calm and smiled.  Shravan couldn't believe it.  He was going to be a father.  The big fat "+" sign looked back at him.

'Saachi, oh my God, we are going to become parents!  Move over, I have to sit down or else I am going to faint.  Holy cow!'

Shravan's head was spinning.  A child.  He was going to have a child.  He was thoroughly frightened.    The more Shravan thought, the queasier he felt.  He didn't have a job, well not one that he went to regularly, he didn't have any savings, he didn't know the first thing about babies - starting with how he ended up with this one.  How did he end up in this position?  Literally, how ' he couldn't remember how, but it definitely happened, that was confirmed.   Papa was right, potent bunch on honeymoon equals baby.  But all that didn't matter anymore.  The baby was coming.  It was uncharted waters, but he would have to cross it.  The only solace and saving grace that prevented him from having an all-out panic attack was Saachi.  He was in this with her and she would help him through.  She would support him as she always did, like he always had secretly appreciated but never dared to admit in front of her.

Saachi looked at Shravan.  'Shravanji,, you are not happy?'  'No, Saachi, it's not that I'm not happy but to be honest, I am scared.  It's so much responsibility.'

'Oh achha.  Yes, Shravanji, it's a lot of responsibility.  But we have a lot of time to prepare and I know when you face a challenge Shravanji, you always win.  We will be fine.  I can't believe this time next Karva Chauth, we will have a little one.'  She was holding his hand, her eyes lit up.  It was unabandoned joy.  She thought to herself, this is my chance to give a child the childhood I was never given.  Shravan smiled back.  This is how she does it, he thought.  Every time I falter, she quietly restores my faith in myself. 

Saachi excused herself and went to change.  After she came out in her lavender nightgown, Shravan went in and changed for bed.  When he came out in his standard tee shirt and shorts, he saw that Saachi had taken the sofa.

'Saachi, get up.  You can't sleep on the sofa anymore.'

'No Shravanji, I will be fine.  I'm used to it and besides it's my turn.'

'Get up.  You are pregnant and there is no way you are going to sleep on that sofa anymore.  I will sleep here.'

'But Shravanji, you cannot sleep on this sofa until the end of days.'

'I will have to Saachi.  How would that look to everyone if we asked for another bed in this room?'

'You know what Shravanji, if it's okay with you, I don't mind if we share this bed.  We could do it like we did in Mumbai.  Waise, our relationship has already leapt into a place we never intended for it to go.  You just have to promise not to drink.  If you want to put up a deewar of pillows to save your virtue, you may.'  She chuckled.

Shravan laughed, 'Are you sure you won't mind?'

'No, I won't.  As it is, we are such deep sleepers,  we won't disturb each other.  It is okay.'

Shravan walked over to the bed and took the side closer to the door and Saachi took the side closer to the hand shaped chair.  They looked at each other and said good night.  A new era in the bedroom began.

In the morning, Saachi woke up to find that Shravan had already gotten up.  She went over to the washroom and saw that he was not in there.   Hmmm, interesting, where has he gone?  Saachi went into the washroom to get ready for the day.  When she emerged, she saw Shravan standing at the door with a tray.  'Breakfast is served.' , he said.

'Shravanji!  You brought me breakfast!  I can't believe it.  It's even harder for me to believe that you got up before me!'

'I am capable of many surprises!  I'll make sure to give you a couple more during the next couple of months before our contract ends.'

'Contract ends?'  The color drained from Saachi's face.

'Yes, you know, our contract, it ends in a couple of months.  Here look.'

Shravan left Saachi on the bed, sitting next to the breakfast tray.  He walked over to the calendar pinned to the wall and started flipping the months.

'NO SHRAVANJI!  STOP!  I said, stop, no, nahin, stop, NAHIN!'

'Saachi, are you okay?', Shravan asked.  Saachi looked at Shravan, his hair all tussled, over the tops of the wall of pillows.  She was still in bed and so was he.

'Saachi, are you okay?  Stop what, no what?  What happened?  Shayad, you were dreaming.  Were you dreaming?'

'I am okay. It's okay.  Yes, dream, it was a dream.'  Saachi looked at him with a concerned furrow on her brow. 'It was nothing.'  She reached for the glass of water by her nightstand and took a couple of sips.  This dream brought out the subconscious concern that had been eating at her.  She would not be able to fall asleep again unless this got sorted.  Saachi bit her lip and looked at Shravan.  'I want to talk to you though Shravanji'.  She took a deep breath, 'What are your intentions regarding our contract?'