Chapter 6
The next day, Manisha sat nervously in Dr. Rocky’s office, waiting for him to arrive with her test results.
Her mother had arranged a “VIP visit,” as she called it, proudly stating that she had leveraged connections at the clinic to secure an appointment that typically required a year-long wait.
Although Manisha still felt uncertain about the idea of freezing her eggs, she had no choice but to attend this special visit—otherwise, she’d surely face endless nagging from her mom.
Ever since Meena Auntie’s visit, her mother had been pressing her more than ever to find a man and settle down.
Deena was right: if all the goris are doing it, why couldn’t she?
If Manisha were to take advice from anyone, it would be Deena—her very own dating guru!
Deena had a Ph.D. in romance, with a resumé that would put any matchmaker to shame.
Forget what Manisha’s mom thought she knew from her evening sessions watching Breaking Indian News; Deena had the real scoop on the dating game.
She knew how difficult it was to find the right man, so having a little backup baby plan wasn’t going to hurt anyone.
And visiting Dr. Rocky seemed more reasonable than downing Meena Auntie’s white seeds, which were now tucked away in Manisha’s nightstand.
She surveyed the room, noting its opulence.
The handcrafted fixtures and furniture exuded sophistication, and the comfortable leather chair she occupied enveloped her in luxury.
A state-of-the-art Sonos system filled the air with soft jazz melodies, epitomizing wealth.
Towering oak bookcases lined the walls, showcasing an array of photographs of Dr. Rocky with his celebrity friends, from musicians to actors to politicians, all framed in dazzling, diamond-studded surrounds.
Her gaze shifted to the wall behind Dr. Rocky’s glass-topped desk, where numerous accolades and awards proudly displayed his intellectual prowess, proving that he was as accomplished as he was stylish.
Manisha was well aware of his reputation as one of the highest-priced fertility doctors in California, but the glowing reviews she’d perused on her Uber ride over confirmed that he was worth every cent.
Manisha got up from her seat to peek at the more personal pictures on his desk. As she leaned over his desk, the door suddenly swung open.
“Manisha Patel?”
Startled, Manisha hustled back to her seat. “Here. I mean, yes. That’s me!”
Dr. Rocky strode in and slid into his own leather chair with an effortless grace, and Manisha felt her breath catch in her throat.
He was undeniably handsome—an Indian silver fox.
His smooth, golden skin seemed to reflect a morning ritual that involved a luxurious ghee-based moisturizer.
His hair, a glossy black peppered with distinguished gray, was styled to perfection, as though he had just stepped out of a high-end salon, the kind that required a battery of hot tools to maintain such a polished look.
She glanced down at her own unruly hair, frizzy and unkempt, a stark contrast to his impeccable appearance.
Frantically, she tucked strands behind her ears, fully aware that it would do little to tame the wildness.
Dr. Rocky’s plump lips drew her gaze, and she swallowed hard, reminding herself this was her mother’s friend—an uncle in the cultural sense—and she needed to act like a reasonable adult.
A normal person. Her mother’s stern words played over in her head: “Bandari…Don’t act foolishly when you meet him. ”
Taking a deep breath to calm her racing thoughts, Manisha was hit by the intoxicating scent of his cologne, a fragrance unlike anything she had smelled before.
It was rich and alluring, as if it had been bottled in a lab nestled among the Swiss Alps, meticulously crafted to seduce.
She shook her head slightly, trying to dispel the haze.
Focus, she told herself. The eggs. Her mother would kill her if she didn’t behave.
“Two kids,” Dr. Rocky said.
“What? Um, I’ve never really thought about how many I wanted,” Manisha stammered.
“It kind of depends on where I am, right? Am I living in Baskin, where my mom could help? And what if my husband is travelling a lot? Do we have a nanny?” Her words tumbled out in a frantic rush, and she felt the prickle of sweat beginning to form along her forehead.
Did someone turn up the heat? The room felt hotter.
Dr. Rocky looked up at her. “No, I mean, I have two kids,” he said. “You were looking at the pictures on my desk, weren’t you?” He smiled at her.
Busted, Manisha thought, but quickly shrugged off her embarrassment. He’d left her waiting for nearly thirty minutes. “Oh, lovely. Two kids.”
“Hop up here for a moment,” Dr. Rocky instructed, rising from his chair and striding toward the examination table to his left.
Manisha clambered onto the padded surface, her heart fluttering slightly as she watched him work with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. Dr. Rocky was methodical, his touch gentle yet precise as he monitored her blood pressure and listened to the rhythmic cadence of her heartbeat.
“Good stuff,” he said, offering a reassuring smile that momentarily eased the tension in her shoulders. He gestured for her to return to her seat as he returned to his.
“So, it’s just you today,” Dr. Rocky noted.
Manisha paused, searching for the right words. “Well, yes. I mean, for now,” she replied, her voice wavering slightly as she considered what that meant—both for herself and for the journey ahead.
“I had hoped your mother would be able to join us today,” he said, looking at her with what seemed to be disappointment.
“Anyway, plenty of women embark on this journey solo,” he continued, flashing her another encouraging smile.
“Let’s get right to your results.” With that, he opened the folder, the pages rustling softly under his touch.
“It’s a busy day at the clinic—everyone seems to be on a quest for a baby or two.
This year has been especially fruitful for twins.
” He winked, a playful glimmer in his eyes.
Manisha reciprocated the wink before realizing he was just attempting to remove something from his eye.
She felt the weight of her nerves pressing down, threatening to unravel her composure.
She cleared her throat. “Thank you for arranging this VIP…this very important visit for me,” she began, her voice slightly unsteady. “I know it means a lot to my mom.”
“How is your mother?” Dr. Rocky inquired, his tone casual yet attentive.
“She’s doing great. Really great. How do you know each other again? She never really got into it,” Manisha replied, trying not to sound too curious.
A flicker of something crossed his face, too fleeting to read. “Let’s just say we have some history,” he said, his words trailing off into an enigmatic silence.
“Oh, okay, but I’m just curious—” Manisha began, eager to delve deeper, but Dr. Rocky deftly cut her off.
“I appreciate your patience today. It’s essential for us to ensure every detail is accounted for to achieve the best results,” he said, his demeanour shifting to one of professionalism.
“As I’m sure you noticed, our advanced facility is equipped to provide you with the outcomes you need efficiently.
Those days of endless back-and-forth visits are over; we offer a one-stop solution that puts immediate results at your fingertips. ”
“Advanced, indeed,” was all Manisha could manage to reply.
He continued, “Thanks to this technology, I have good news—we received your test results back right away.”
“That’s wonderful to hear,” Manisha said, her relief evident. “Good news is…good.”
Dr. Rocky nodded slowly. “Yes, good news…along with some other information. It all hinges on a few things.” He leafed through a few more pages, eyes skirting across the results. “Tell me, Manisha, how committed are you to the journey of starting a family?”
Her head tilted to one side in confusion. “What do you mean by that?”
“I’m asking if you genuinely want this now, or if you feel obligated to be here because your mother urged you to come.”
“Of course I want to be a mother. It’s always been my dream.” Manisha adjusted her blue Hermès skirt, wishing it was a little longer.
“That’s wonderful to hear. Many women visit me due to the pressure to have children, rather than out of their own desire.”
“Dr. Rocky.” She waited until he looked up at her before continuing.
“As an Indian woman, there’s always some level of pressure.
Pressure to excel in school, to marry by a certain age, and yes, there’s pressure to have a baby.
But I’m here because I genuinely want this.
My mom and I had an open conversation about it, and that’s why I’m sitting in front of you today. ”
He dipped his chin slowly in understanding.
“You’re fortunate, Manisha; not everyone enjoys that kind of bond with their mother,” he remarked.
“From what I’ve seen, these conversations aren’t something many Indian mothers and daughters find easy to have.
” He looked past Manisha for a moment, lost in thought.
“But your mother was always truly exceptional—progressive for her era, and…” His voice faded away.
Manisha stayed quiet for a moment, unsure whether to break the silence or let Dr. Rocky come back from his trip down memory lane on his own.
“Yes, my mom is quite exceptional,” she finally said.
She acknowledged the truth in what the doctor had said, feeling fortunate to have such a close relationship with her mother—even on those days when her mom dragged her to a milk and butter sale.
Dr. Rocky cleared his throat before continuing. “Alright, let’s dive into your results. Manisha, after reviewing everything, I believe egg freezing is a great option for you, especially if it’s done sooner rather than later.”