Chapter 33
Kavya
“No... No... please, no. God, this can’t be happening...” I whisper in a shaky breath as I sit on the toilet seat, my legs bouncing nervously. Staring at the pregnancy test in my hands, a wave of fear and disbelief grip my heart, suffocating me .
Last night, when I bought the pregnancy test, I had no idea I was about to receive this shock. I had missed my periods for the last two months, but I blamed it on the stress I was going through. But something deep down kept nagging at me , so I secretly bought the pregnancy kit , convincing myself it was just to be sure . I didn’t get the chance to take the test last night, so I decided to do it first thing in the morning instead. But now, in the early dawn, I finally took the test. And when I saw the two pink lines, it… it felt like the world had crumbled beneath my feet.
Dropping my elbows onto my knees, I bury my head in my hands and grip my hair. ‘How could I be so careless?’ I sob, my negligence crashing down on me. Clearly, I didn’t think about anything. I crossed a line I never should have, and more importantly, I was so lost and carried away that I didn’t bother worrying about precautions. Stupid as I was, I didn’t think at all about the consequences.
My breath spirals out of control as another wave of panic washes over me. What will I tell Reyansh? How will he react? Is he even ready for this? And more importantly, am I ready for this, with so much already happening in my life? I don’t find any answers; all I hear is a voice telling me that this is one terrible mistake that will cause everything to go haywire.
Taking a few deep breaths, I try to calm myself, hoping my heart will settle back into place. I need to relax. Tests can be wrong sometimes, right? I need to see a doctor. I need to be sure before jumping to any conclusions.
I bite my nails , my mind spinning in overdrive . How do I make an appointment without Reyansh finding out? I’m sure with Karan constantly tailing me , any move I make is bound to reach Reyansh in no time . I need to come up with a plan, a way to distract them both from knowing I visited the doctor. But how? I murmur, my mind racing as my eyes dart around the bathroom, formulating a plan. Suddenly, an idea strikes me.
I step out of my bathroom and pick up my mobile from the side table. I quickly shoot Karan a text, saying I won’t be going into the office today because I have a stomach bug. I also ask if he could pick up some medicine for me and stop by my office to grab a few files for me . As expected, Karan’s initial response is that he couldn’t, as he’s been given strict instructions not to leave my side. However, when I reassure him that I won’t step out of the house and that the house is secure with all the cameras in place, he reluctantly agrees . With him temporarily out of the way, I know I’ll have enough time to make it to the doctor without Reyansh finding out.
Just as I let out a breath of relief, Reyansh’s name flashes on the screen and my heart skips a beat. Damn! How could I expect Karan to keep anything to himself? He must have immediately informed Reyansh. I should’ve added a line in my message asking him to keep quiet. That stupid robotic bodyguard always follows instructions so damn precisely.
With nervous fingers, I swipe to answer the call.
“Hello,” I say, trying to sound normal.
“Hey, Karan called saying you’re not feeling well,” Reyansh says as soon as he hears my voice.
“Yeah, it’s just a stomach bug,” I reply, trying to sound casual despite the nervousness bubbling inside me.
“I’ll be there in few minutes, and if needed I’ll take you to the doctor.”
“No,” I shriek out, then quickly quieten my voice, not wanting him to catch on that I’m hiding something from him. “ I mean, I just want to sleep it off . It’s just a stomach bug. I’ll be fine. And, I don’t want you missing work over something this small ,” I interject, hoping my explanation sounds convincing enough.
“You damn well know work isn’t my priority when it comes to you. I want to make sure you’re okay with my own eyes. So quit fighting me. I’m on my way,” he insists, sounding determined.
“Really, Reyansh, I just need some rest. I’ll be fine, I promise. I’ll keep you updated,” I hold firm. “Maybe you can drop by later after work. You did mention you have an important meeting. Please don’t skip that; it will only make me feel horrible.”
There’s a brief pause on the line before he sighs loudly . “Stubborn woman,” he mutters under his breath . “Fine, I’ll attend the goddamn meeting, but after that, I’m not staying back at the office. I’m coming to you,” Reyansh declares firmly.
“Okay,” I reply, opting not to argue, as I know I won’t win.
“Love you, sweetheart.”
“Love you too,” I say, ending the call.
An hour later, after completing all the necessary formalities and sample procedures, I sit in the doctor’s office with bated breath, bracing myself for the words I’ve been dreading to hear.
“You are pregnant,” the doctor confirms, her gaze lifting from the reports to meet mine across her desk.
My mind goes blank.
“Pregnant,” I repeat quietly, staring at her smiling face.
“Yes, your blood reports confirm it. Congratulations.”
“Umm, is the baby okay?” I ask shakily, my hands instinctively resting on my stomach, already feeling protective of the tiny life growing inside me, despite the chaos spinning around in my mind.
Seeing the look on my face, she gives me a reassuring smile. “The tests look normal. But if you want, I can perform a check-up just to be sure.”
With tears in my eyes, I nod silently.
With my heart racing, I follow her instructions and lie down on the examination bed. The next few minutes feel like an eternity as she conducts the examination, each second dragging by as I wait for her to finish . Finally, when I hear her words that everything is normal, a wave of relief washes over me. After thanking her and scheduling my next appointment, I step out of the clinic, my mind still reeling from the news.
I slip into my car, but I don’t immediately pull out of the parking lot. Instead, I drop my head onto the steering wheel, wrapping my hands protectively around my stomach. I need some quiet time to think, to figure out how I’ll share the news with Reyansh. I’m so damn nervous about it. But I know deep down that there’s no way I can keep this from him. It wouldn’t be right to hide such a significant part of our lives from him. Regardless of what his reaction will be, I need to be honest with him .
I take a deep breath to steady myself before shifting the car into gear and driving back home to face the inevitable conversation .
???
My heart jumps into my throat when I see Reyansh’s car parked outside my house. “Time to have the talk,” I tell myself as I step out of the car, my feet moving like lead as I make my way to my house. Reaching my front door, I insert the key and turn the knob, taking a deep breath before stepping inside.
“You are back home, baby!” Sunita Aunty’s voice greets me as she steps out of the kitchen. “Reyansh had been so worried about you. I told him you went out to run some errands, but he wouldn’t stop fretting. He’s even tried calling you several times, but you didn’t answer. I hope everything is okay,” she asks, studying my face.
I let out a nervous laugh. “Of course, Aunty, everything is fine. You know how Reyansh can be, so overprotective,” I say, trying to downplay it.
She nods, but I am not quite sure if she believes my excuse. “He’s waiting for you in your room,” she says.
“Thanks, Aunty,” I reply before heading towards my room to face Reyansh, my nerves fluttering.
As soon as I open the door, Reyansh springs up from the couch, his eyes locking onto mine. “Where were you?” he asks, his voice tinged with concern.
I glance at him nervously, my feet feeling like they’re glued to the floor. “I was out for a walk,” I fib, knowing I should tell him the truth but struggling to bring myself to do so. “Just needed a bit of fresh air.”
It takes him only a few strides to close the distance between us.
“What’s wrong?” he asks softly, cradling my face in his hands as his eyes search mine, concern etched across his features. Tears start to gather in my eyes, but I try to blink them away.
“Nothing,” I murmur, averting my gaze .
His grip on my cheeks tightens as he makes me look back into his eyes. “You okay?”
I bite my lip, struggling to hold back my emotions . “Yes,” I manage to say, my voice barely audible.
“Kavya,” his voice turns stern, causing my lips to quiver.
“It’s nothing,” I say, licking my lips as my palms grow sweaty.
“Talk to me, sweetheart. Don’t hide anything from me, please,” he urges, his tone full of worry, which weakens my resolve to keep things from him.
“I… I…” I start, my words stumbling over each other.
Reyansh notices my unease, and concern fills his eyes. “Breathe, sweetheart. I am right here. Did that asshole contact you again?”
I close my eyes and shake my head. “It’s not him.”
“What is it then? You’re starting to worry me,” he whispers, and I meet his gaze, seeing him swallow hard.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. “I... I have something to tell you,” I begin, hoping it won’t make him panic or run away.
“You can tell me anything, sweetheart,” Reyansh says, his gaze never leaving mine as he gently strokes my cheeks with his thumb .
“I’m... I’m pregnant,” I finally blurt out, my voice trembling as my stomach does a nervous dance.
His eyes widen, and for a moment, there’s silence as he processes the news. His expression shifts from surprise to a mix of emotions that I can’t quite decipher.
“Pregnant?” his voice rumbles as he looks down at my stomach and then back at me. The inscrutable look on his face sends a pang through my chest and makes my stomach feel jumpy.
“Reyansh, I know this is a shock for you, and I also know it’s not the right time for a baby. I’m sorry… I—” I start, my voice trembling slightly.
“What are you talking about?” he cuts me off. “You’ve given me the best news of my life,” he says as he gathers me into his arms and holds me tight.
I pull back from the hug and wring my hands. “We didn’t plan this... and...” I trail off, unsure of how to articulate my thoughts.
Reyansh’s eyes soften as he reaches for my hands, gently stopping my nervous wringing. “It doesn’t matter if it’s sudden,” he says earnestly. “This baby is a blessing.” He smiles as he continues, “I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life. Having a child with you is the most important thing in the world to me. I can’t wait to marry you, start a family, and build our future together.” He places one hand on my stomach. “You and our baby mean everything to me.” He then cups my face with his other hand . “We are getting married, sweetheart.”
Hot tears race down my cheeks as I look at him, feeling torn between my own fears and his dreams. “Reyansh, I’m not ready for marriage right now,” I say softly.
“What?” The horror is evident in his voice. “You’re carrying our child, Kavya. We need to get married. Don’t even think for a second that I’ll let you raise our kid on your own. I am in this with you, and I am not backing down. I want our child to have my name when he/she comes into this world.”
“Reyansh, you need to understand that with everything going on, I just can’t — ”
He cuts me off with a determined shake of his head . “I am not compromising on this, Kavya,” he asserts firmly. “I refuse to let anything take away my happiness, not even the chaos around us . Our child deserves to have both of us, no matter what’s happening around.”
“Reyansh, please,” I implore, “I need some time to process everything. Can we please keep this between us for now?”
“You know I hate saying no to you,” he says with a sigh . “Fine. I’ll give you a few days to process everything. But make no mistake — after that, I won’t keep our child or you a secret. I’ll ask my parents to set a wedding date. We are getting married.” His voice is firm and resolute .
“Okay,” I finally agree. It’s the right decision, and deep down, it’s something I’ve secretly longed for all along .
He gives me a smile that makes my heart flutter.
“I still can’t believe it,” he whispers, gazing tenderly at my belly . “A part of me, a part of you, is growing inside you.” His hands rest gently on my stomach. “I love you more than anything,” he says, his voice low and fierce.
I place my hand on his cheek, and he looks up at me. “I love you too,” I whisper softly.
“My life,” he says, dropping to his knees in front of me. “You are my life.” He gazes up at me, his eyes intense. “I am nothing without you, sweetheart.” He then kisses my stomach. “And I am going to take care of our little one and love him/her with all my heart.”
Smiling down at him, I run my fingers through his hair, feeling all my hesitation and fear melt away. In that moment, I realise our child will be the luckiest child in the world to have a father like him.