67. CHOCOLATE
AAROHI:
When I wake up, the room is quiet, and soft sunlight is already slipping through the curtains in thin golden lines.
For a moment, I stay still because he is still asleep beside me.
Veeransh rarely sleeps this late. His arm is stretched across me protectively, his hand resting over my stomach like even in sleep he needs to make sure we are safe.
A small smile forms on my lips at the sight.
He looks different while sleeping, less strict, less intimidating, softer somehow, more human than the controlled man everyone else sees every day.
I gently shake his shoulder. "Veeransh," I whisper softly.
He only murmurs something under his breath and tightens his arm around me slightly.
"Wake up," I try again. This time he opens one eye halfway before closing it again immediately.
"Let me sleep," he mutters lazily. I sigh dramatically and glance at the clock.
"It's already eleven." His eyes snap open instantly at that.
"What?" he asks sharply while sitting up quickly and running a hand through his messy hair.
I try not to laugh while nodding innocently.
"You looked tired," I explain simply when he asks why I did not wake him earlier.
He exhales slowly before looking at me again carefully.
Suddenly I remember something important.
"Veeransh..." I call again. "What?" he asks suspiciously this time.
"I want chocolate." He freezes for a brief second.
Something strange flickers across his expression before disappearing just as quickly.
"Chocolate?" he repeats slowly. "Yes," I say immediately.
"I want chocolate right now." He rubs his forehead tiredly before replying, "First go freshen up. "
I immediately make a face. "No." He ignores my protest calmly.
"Then breakfast." "No." "Then medicine." "Absolutely no.
" His eyes narrow slightly. "And after that, chocolate.
" I cross my arms stubbornly against my chest. "I am not eating chocolate after that disgusting medicine.
" He looks straight at me without blinking.
"You are taking it." I groan loudly in frustration.
"It tastes horrible." "Still." "It's bitter.
" "Still." "It should be illegal." He almost smiles but controls it carefully. "Nice try."
After arguing for nearly ten minutes, I finally drag myself upstairs to get ready.
When I come downstairs again, Maa is already sitting in the hall with her morning tea.
"Good morning, beta," she says warmly. "Good morning, Maa," I reply softly while sitting beside her.
Just then Veeransh walks in carrying a huge hamper in his hands.
The moment he places it on the table, my eyes widen completely.
Chocolates. So many chocolates. Imported ones.
Different flavors. Different wrappers. My entire mood brightens instantly.
He folds his arms calmly while watching my reaction.
"Did you take your medicine?" he asks. I immediately point toward the hamper.
"Chocolate first." "Aarohi," he warns quietly.
I pout dramatically. "I cannot find my medicine.
" His expression changes instantly. "What?
" "I looked everywhere," I continue innocently.
Maa looks confused now. "Beta, I kept it in the drawer near your bed yesterday.
" Veeransh turns toward me slowly. "Did you check properly?
" "Yes." "Then where is it?" His voice grows calmer, which somehow feels more dangerous.
I quietly move closer to Maa and hold her hand tightly.
Now he is definitely suspicious. "Aarohi," he says again slowly.
"Yes?" I reply weakly. "Where is the medicine?
" I look down immediately. Maa gently pats my hand.
"Tell us honestly, beta." I swallow nervously before mumbling, "I threw it away.
" Silence fills the room instantly. Heavy.
Sharp. Uncomfortable. I slowly look up at him, but his expression is completely unreadable now.
"You threw it away?" he repeats quietly. I nod once.
"Why?" he asks. He steps closer slowly, and I immediately hide further behind Maa.
"She got scared," Maa says softly. But he keeps looking directly at me.
"Why?" he repeats again. I pout slightly.
"I don't like it." "You threw away important medicine because you don't like the taste?
" I look down stubbornly. "It's disgusting.
" Maa smiles faintly despite herself. "Medicine is always bitter.
" "This one is horrible," I complain dramatically. "I don't want it."
Without another word, Veeransh suddenly picks up the chocolate hamper and hands it back to the servant.
"Then you are not getting chocolate either.
" My jaw drops instantly. "That's unfair!
" "No. That's consequences." "I want chocolate.
" "And I want you healthy." "Maa, look at him," I complain immediately.
"He is being cruel." He snaps sharply, "Quiet.
" I fall silent at once, my eyes filling slightly with tears.
Maa sighs softly while he pulls out his phone and calmly calls the doctor.
An hour later, the doctor arrives smiling warmly.
"I was coming for your checkup anyway," she says while sitting down comfortably.
Then she looks at me kindly. "How are you feeling today?
" I answer honestly without hesitation. "I want chocolate.
" She laughs softly at that. "Strong craving.
" Veeransh folds his arms beside her. "She is not getting any.
" The doctor looks confused. "Why?" "Because she threw away her medicine.
" The doctor slowly turns toward me with raised eyebrows.
"Aarohi..." she says knowingly. I immediately lower my eyes.
"It tasted bad." She chuckles softly. "Medicine is not candy.
" "Then why does pregnancy already feel like punishment?
" I mutter dramatically under my breath.
Maa laughs quietly from the sofa while the doctor begins checking my blood pressure.
"A little low," she says calmly, "but manageable.
" Then she presses the stethoscope gently against my stomach.
I hold my breath instantly. A soft rhythmic sound fills the room. Two tiny heartbeats.
The doctor smiles gently. "Heartbeats are strong.
" Relief crashes through me immediately.
My entire body relaxes at once. She writes a few things in the file before saying, "I'll change her medicine slightly.
The taste will be milder now." I immediately glance at Veeransh triumphantly, but he completely ignores me on purpose.
"You still have to take it," he says firmly.
I roll my eyes dramatically while the doctor prepares another blood sample.
"Again?" I groan weakly. "Routine," she replies calmly.
After finishing the checkup, she closes the file and looks at both of us seriously.
"Come back to the hospital after two days.
" Veeransh nods immediately. She turns toward me gently.
"No stairs, stay hydrated, and do not skip medicines again.
" I slowly glance toward Veeransh. He is already staring at me in warning.
"Okay," I mumble reluctantly. "Good girl," the doctor says warmly before leaving.
The moment the door closes behind her, silence settles over the room again.
I look at him carefully. "Chocolate?" "No.
" "Please?" "No." "I promise I'll take the medicine this time.
" His eyes narrow slightly as he studies my face carefully.
"No drama?" "I'll try," I reply honestly.
Maa laughs softly again from the sofa. "Give her one at least." He sighs heavily before finally giving in.
"Only one." My face lights up instantly.
"Okay." He signals the servant to bring the hamper back.
The moment the chocolates return, I grab one happily and begin unwrapping it immediately while he watches me carefully from beside me.
"Medicine after lunch," he reminds me again.
I roll my eyes but cannot stop smiling. Because despite everything, he still bought all these chocolates before I even asked.
Maybe he already knew I would crave them.
Maybe he always knows. As I take the first bite, sweetness melts slowly across my tongue, and somewhere deep inside me, I feel those tiny heartbeats again.
Two little lives already making me argue about vegetables, medicine, injections, and chocolate.
I sigh dramatically while leaning back against the sofa.
This pregnancy is going to be exhausting.
Complicated. Emotional. Completely chaotic.
But as Maa smiles softly nearby and Veeransh keeps pretending not to care while watching whether I finish my water properly, I realize something quietly.
Maybe complicated things can still feel beautiful.
And maybe sweetness is not just in chocolate anymore.
Maybe it is here too.
Inside this house.
Inside these tiny heartbeats.
Inside the way he still remembers every little thing I need before I even say it aloud.