BONUS 4
There's a specific kind of fear no man warns you about.
It's not the fear of death, failure, or heartbreak.
It's the fear of a pregnant wife with mood swings.
And today I needed backup.
Veer and Raj were lounging on the Singhania mansion balcony, sipping cold drinks, arguing about which cricketer had better stats, when I walked in haggard, hollow-eyed, and broken.
Raj raised a brow. "You okay, Professor Bhaiya? You look like you just came back from war."
"I did," I said solemnly. "It's called Week 17 of Pregnancy."
Veer chuckled. "Mood swings?"
I sat down dramatically. "That woman just cried because I sliced her mango the 'wrong way.' Then two minutes later she kissed me for bringing her coconut water... then yelled at me for giving it in the 'wrong glass.'"
Raj blinked. "What's a wrong glass?"
I stared at him. "That's the question of the century, Raj. Apparently, the yellow one is too cheerful."
Veer tried to hold in his laugh and failed. "You've got a long way to go, bhai."
"I can't even breathe around her," I said helplessly. "Last night she told me my breathing was 'annoying.'"
Raj wheezed with laughter. "Didn't she used to say she liked your deep breathing? It was part of the whole professor fantasy thing."
I scowled. "She evolved."
Veer shook his head. "Wait till the baby kicks start. One wrong word and she'll make you sleep on the floor."
I flinched. "She already did."
Both of them stared.
I leaned in, whispering like I was sharing government secrets. "She told me I talk too much in my sleep. Then threw a pillow at my face and told me to 'shut up in her dreams.' Her. Dreams, Raj!"
Raj looked genuinely terrified. "She's powerful."
"She's terrifying," I corrected. "But also adorable. And glowing. And weirdly emotional. She started crying at a baby ad last night and told me we're going to raise a feminist king or queen who can eat mangoes however they want."
Veer choked on his drink.
"I nodded and cried with her. I didn't know why. I was just... emotional too, okay?"
They both burst into laughter and slapped my back in sympathy.
Raj grinned. "You're a goner, Professor."
I sighed. "I've accepted my fate."
Veer smirked. "You know what's funny? You used to scare people in university. The cold, ruthless, grumpy professor. Now? You're scared of a five-foot-two hormonal hurricane."
"And I'd fight anyone who messes with that hurricane," I said proudly.
Because truth be told?
For every glass-throwing, roti-burning, midnight crying, mango-hating moment...
...I loved her a little more.
Even if she made me fear for my life daily.
After Veer and Raj finally stopped laughing at my expenseβand wiped their tears, the traitorsβI sat there silently, eyes focused on the horizon. The wind was cool, but inside me, a storm brewed. A mix of love, fear, and... utter helplessness.
I used to think being a professor was hardβmanaging back-to-back classes, checking 50 exam papers in a night, listening to endless excuses about late submissions.
But that was child's play compared to living with pregnant Maya Raichand-Singhania.
Or as I now call her Hormonal Hurricane No.1.
Yet, here's the part no one tells you:
Even in the chaos... I wouldn't change a damn thing.
Because in between the crying and cursing, the mood swings and cravings, the weird dreams and late-night rants there's a version of Maya I've fallen in love with all over again.
The way her hand automatically goes to her belly when she laughs. The way she talks to our baby like they're already best friends.
The way she demands hot chocolate at 2:36 AM and glares at me until I'm out the door in my boxers with car keys in hand.
She's fire and softness.
Drama and devotion.
A storm and the calm after it.
And every time I see her struggle with her swollen feet, or when she suddenly panics about becoming a mother I just want to pull her close and whisper:
"You've already given this baby the best mom in the world."
But of course, I don't say that out loud. Because the last time I called her "soft," she threw a banana at me.
Veer nudged me, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Scared for life, huh?"
I nodded, smiling faintly. "Terrified."
And in my head, I added:
Terrified of how much I love her.
And how much more I will every single day.
*Target vote 70