Days run into another days. Shahrukh and Kajol live their life as usual. Every morning they would sat together in dining table for breakfast and then go separately to their work. Kajol decided to return to work after feeling much better. Meanwhile, Shahrukh went to several cities to promote his new film.
He is on the way to his last press conference when Pooja tells him something.
"It's been two days since your name is on the Twitter's trending list." Pooja said while scrolling her phone screen.
Shahrukh poked his head to look at Pooja's phone. "Because?"
Pooja shrugged. "Oh, with your wife also."
"That must be because of those fake news." Shahrukh rolled his eyes in disgust and then back to focus on his own phone.
"Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol are expecting their first baby soon?" Pooja read the headline on her Twitter's timeline. "Wow, is it true?"
Shahrukh sighed. "Don't you see the question mark at the end of the title?"
"Hmm ... Have you prepared your clarification statement for that?
"What clarification? There's nothing to be clarified."
Shahrukh's phone blinked two times. Kajol sent him a message. His face changed as he read the message.
"Riya asked us for a meeting. The result is out."
Shahrukh read the message once more. Without much thinking he typed a reply to her.
"Can't go home today. You just go."
Sent.
"They will get the answer today." Shahrukh said while handing over his phone to Pooja.
Pooja took a quick glance at him and then gets busy again with her phone. "The news? Then why you don't go there and hear the answer?"
"Not necessary. Kajol will do it for me." Shahrukh looked out through the car's window.
That's not why he rejected to see Riya. He hasn't ready to hear the truth. He still can hear Ajay's words on the phone that day. He thinks that what he had said were partially true. He isn't even remember when was the last time he slept with his wife. Even if it happened in Dubrovnik, he wasn't sure it would get her pregnant.
He was just decided to try to open his heart. But such things keep coming to him. And it is enough to make his heart hurt.
"Your flight is already arranged in 5 pm. Make sure you won't get late or else you would come back home in tomorrow morning." Pooja said.
Shahrukh just nodded, still busy with his mind.
**
After finishing her filming, Kajol immediately go to see Riya in hospital. She decided to come alone without Shahrukh. She knows he doesn't care with the result. It won't make a difference if he's coming or not. He will reject the truth. Whatever it is.
Riya welcomed her with a warm smile. They shook hands and settle down together.
"Should we wait for Shahrukh?" Riya asked as she pulled out Kajol's file and an envelope from her desk drawer.
"Not necessary. He's out of town for work." Kajol said with a smile.
"Oh, what a shame. He surely would be the first one to be overjoyed by the news."
Kajol frowned. She stunned for a moment while looking at Riya confusedly.
Riya laughed at her. "Why looking at me like that?"
"What do you mean? What happened to me?" Kajol still couldn't understand what Riya means. Her heart beats fast, waiting for Riya to state her test result.
Riya smiled. "The symptoms you've been feeling these last days are not a bad sign. Those are just your body's response to something growing inside of you." she said as she handed Kajol the envelope. "Congratulations, you're pregnant for five weeks."
Kajol gasped. She fell silent again, unable to say anything in response. She just stared blankly at the envelop. Riya's cabin, which wasn't too small, suddenly felt cramped for her.
Pregnant? I am pregnant?
She keeps repeating those words in her heart. Her mind drifted away to the time when everyone would ask about her condition. What should she says? Ah, what if Shahrukh find out about this? She doesn't know what to explain to him. She wasn't sure he even remembered that night. The night when this baby was created ...
"That's impossible. There must be something error in the observation. I'm willing to take another test." Kajol said after a long silence.
Riya shook her head. "There is nothing wrong. I've made sure of it."
Kajol rubbed her forehead, her head starts feeling dizzy. "Am I ... Well, you know ... at my age, is it possible?"
"Of course. You're just in early 40 and you're healthy enough." Riya nodded, trying to convince Kajol.
"But yes, pregnancy at your age is indeed risky." Riya continued. "It will be too risky for both of you and your baby. Moreover, you've had two miscarriages. So you have to be very very careful than before. And also, please warn your husband to not doing any stupid things like he did in the past. He should take lesson from that."
Kajol smiled bitterly then nodded. She looked down to her stomach. Her baby with Shahrukh is growing in there. After five years of waiting, God finally give her one more chance to win her husband's heart.
**
Kajol plopped down on the bed when she got home. She took a deep breath and then exhaled it slowly. She put her hand on her flat stomach as her mind drifted away. Over time, the baby she is carrying right now will continue to grow and will make changes to her body. Shahrukh will surely ask her, sooner or later. She had to prepare the answer from now on. But ... will the man change after hearing the truth?
She's starting to doubt. She knows exactly how much Shahrukh hated her. He doesn't care anything about her anymore. His stubbornness made the distance between them become even more distant.
But recently she realized that Shahrukh treated her differently. At the Holi celebration, he looked at her worriedly as her face turned pale. He was also willing to leave the party just to take her home.
When she was sick, for the first time since that incident Shahrukh stepped back into their room which he avoided so much. He even sent a doctor to check on her. When she refused to eat he was there also, brought her a bowl of soup and managed to persuade her to eat it.
And when she went to the hospital to do further observation with Riya, Shahrukh was there too. He protected her from the crowd of journalists. He was willing to comply with her request to have lunch together. He was willing to hold her hand as long as it made her feel better.
Has he forgiven me?
She wanted so badly to assume that. But on the other hand, she couldn't take big risks. If Shahrukh hadn't completely changed, she is worried that he would do something that could harm her baby. She doesn't want her baby to receive the harsh treatment from its own father. She doesn't want her baby to be punished for her mistakes. She couldn't let that happen.
A knock on the door snapped her out of her thoughts. Rashika informed her that the dinner is ready. She quickly changed her clothes and went downstairs.
**
Shahrukh landed in Mumbai at 8 pm. Gani picked him up at the airport, greeted him with a big smile. All the way to Mannat he still hasn't let go of his smile. Shahrukh noticed his strange behavior and started asking him questions.
"Hey, I noticed you were always smiling. What's happening, bhai? Your wife is pregnant again?" he asked with a chuckle.
Gani laughed at him. "Wah, sir, but I think it's your wife who is pregnant again." he answered, looking at him through the rearview mirror.
Shahrukh suddenly stopped laughing. His face instantly turned into flat. He furrowed his eyebrows. "You mean?"
"Today madam is hosting everyone in Mannat with Hyderabadi biryani and Bengali sweets. But she wasn't telling us what she's celebrating."
Ravi, who is sitting beside Gani, smiled crookedly. "Wow, looks like a big surprise is waiting for you at home, sir."
Shahrukh just smiled awkwardly. Ravi and Gani talked to each other again while he is silent in his seat. Is it possible? Ah, it's impossible. Even if it was true, Kajol woud immediately call him with her loud voice. He pushed the thought away and convinced himself that it is not true.
But what if it's true?
When he got home, his house staffs greeted him with a smile. He smiled back at them but didn't know the meaning behind the smile. He walked straightly to his room to get some rest.
"Kajol?" he startled when he reached the doorway. His wife is already sitting on his bed while reading a book. Their eyes met as she lifted her head.
"Shahrukh?" Kajol, who is as surprised as him, immediately close the book and put it on the nightstand. "You said you won't be home today?"
"Why are you here? Go back to your room now! I don't want any of drama. I just want to rest." Shahrukh didn't answer and instead raising his voice while waving his hand in the air, gestured to Kajol to leave his room immediately.
Kajol put her index finger in front of her lips. "Keep your voice down. Maa is here."
Shahrukh grunted in annoyance then sighed heavily. He closed the door lazily. He took off his suit jacket and threw it carelessly as he walked to the bathroom.
Kajol got up from the bed and grabbed Shahrukh's jacket which was lying on the floor. She tidied it and hung it back near his closet.
There were several knocks on the door. She rushed to the door and opened it. Ravi stood in front of her with a tray of food.
"Good evening, madam. This is dinner for Shahrukh sir. He asked me to bring it here." Ravi said.
Kajol accepted the tray with a smile. "All right, thank you."
As Ravi left, she closed the door and placed the tray on a table. Shahrukh came out of the bathroom and had already changed. He sat down on the couch and stared at his food in surprise.
"What's with this biryani and sweets? Everyone is talking about it all over the house." he asked Kajol. She just smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
"Nothing, I'm just in happy mood. Why?"
Shahrukh shook his head and started eating his biryani. "Have you eaten?"
Kajol nodded. "Why did you lie? If I had known you were going home today I would've rescheduled the meeting with Riya. You can also know the result."
"What for? That won't change the result, will it?" Shahrukh smirked. "What's the result?"
Kajol fell into silent. She looked around while biting her lips nervously. She still have no idea to answer the question. Moreover, it is Shahrukh who asked.
"I already know the answer." Shahrukh stopped eating and turned to look at Kajol. "Nothing happened to you."
Kajol widened her eyes as she look at him in disbelief. She is right. Shahrukh doesn't remember that night.
"You aren't pregnant. You can't be. All of those observations are bullshit. How could you get pregnant? I never even touch you again. Even if you are, it wouldn't be mine. Correct?"
Kajol shook her head. Tears had gathered in the corner of her eyes. Her heart hurt so badly, it pierced deeply with those words. She was used to Shahrukh's harsh words. But why did it hurt more now?
"Please don't say things like that, Shahrukh. Listen to me—"
"What? I'm right, ain't I? So that's it. You don't have to make up another story. " Shahrukh said and then go back to finish his biryani.
Kajol turned her face away and wiped the tears from her eyes. She had never felt this pain before. But she had no other choice. She could only swallow it without being able to do anything.
"Yes, you're right. I'm just tired. Riya says there's nothing to worry about."
Shahrukh smirked while Kajol got up from the couch and lay down on the bed, hiding her sobs under the pillow.
~ TO BE CONTINUED ~