XXIV

Sunita revived gradually with her
mother's care and company. Rakesh was happy that Sunita looked much better now. He was also happy that his mother-in-law did not mention about any ghosts or spirits or shadow creatures or Babas.

Days passed, Sunita had now made peace with her IVF results. She was reliving her childhood with her mother taking due care of her. She resumed her school soon, the kids were really happy to have her back, and she was elated too. She started working enthusiastically and soon it was time for Mrs Devi to go back. Both Mother and daughter were not happy but Mrs Devi was sure that now her daughter had recovered, and will take care of herself. Also, her bond with her son-in-law had now strengthen and she knew he was there to keep her daughter happy.

Sunita and Rakesh bid farewell to Mrs Devi as her train left the station. Sunita was a bit sad, Rakesh hugged her and took her back home. They sat in the garden, laughing about the time Mrs Devi had invited that Baba. Suddenly they heard a friendly voice, "Hello!" Sunita turned back to find a young couple standing at the gate of their garden, "can we come in?" the
woman asked. Sunita got up and welcomed them. "Hi, I'm Shiela and this is my husband, Tarun. We have shifted in the house next to yours." "Oh you must be the new occupants, to whom Mrs Durani sold her house?" asked Sunita. "Yes, she shifted with her brother's family after her husband's death and they had no children" Shiela said. "Please have a seat" Rakesh offered Tarun a seat, and Sunita and Shiela sat next to each other.

"This neighbourhood is so unusually quiet!" exclaimed Tarun, "I appreciate the peace but its too dull" Rakesh nodded. "Have lunch with us, you must have not been able to unpack things yet" said Sunita. "Oh no thanks, but we shifted here a week ago, and now we are almost settled" Shiela said. Sunita remarked, "strange, we didn't come to know!" to which Tarun replied, "exactly what I me

ant, this society is quite lifeless, nobody came to welcome us or offer us help or even tea!" "I'm sorry for that, actually, my mother...." reasoned Sunita, but Shiela stopped her midway, "its okay, please excuse my husband, he has a habit of speaking up his mind, he didn't mean in a bad way". Soon the four of them started chatting and Rakesh and Sunita seemed happy to have found company.

XXI

"It's actually a very caring act on her part " Rakesh nudged Sunita bringing her back to the present time, " coming all the way down here, after how we treated her last time and how she had left the house in anger"

"I know that Rakesh, she is my mother, but I don't want to listen all that superstitious talk again, especially not now" Sunita replied, stirring sugar in the freshly prepared tea.

Sunita and Rakesh went back to the living room, carrying tea for Mrs Devi. "So Rakesh, how is your work?" "It's fine maa"  all three of them didn't know exactly what to talk about.

"Let's go to that new Chinese eatery nearby, that opened 2 months back" Rakesh suggested, a little excited. He thought it would be a good change for Sunita, and three of them might be able to get rid of the awkward silence also, for some time at least.

"Yes, let's try something new, I haven't had Chinese since years, it feels!" Mrs Devi agreed immediately giving Rakesh a wink, she had understood his plan.

"I'm not sure.....lets just stay indoors" Sunita tried to withdraw, she feared doing anything new. "Com'on Sunita, let me treat you both for the new hairstyle I got!!" Mrs Devi chuckled, "doesn't it look fabulous on me" Rakesh and Sunita both had smiles in their faces, and Sunita gave a little nod. Rakesh gave a sigh of relief.

XVIII

Delicious aroma filled the house. Mrs. Devi could smell her favorite gajar ka halwa (carrot halwa) even through the strong smell of her aroma candles. She wondered from where the strong smell of freshly made halwa was coming.

Rakesh paused his favorite song in his mp3 player, his mouth started watering as his nose tickled by the smell of his favorite kachoris. Since the morning, thanks to Guruji's arrival, he hadn't had anything to eat. His stomach growled by the enticing smell of kachoris.

Mrs. Devi couldn't resist further, she paced up towards the door of her room, but then stopped, she just recalled she was angry. "Yeah, I'm angry...still I can go to the kitchen....it doesn't stop me from going there" Mrs Devi said to herself, justifying her act of getting attracted towards the smell of halwa. She gave up her control and rushed towards the dinning hall.


Rakesh couldn't control anymore, neither his stomach nor his watering mouth, he had to have kachoris. He rushed towards the kitchen. As he stepped inside the living room, he stopped seeing his mother in law on the other end of the hall.


Mrs. Devi also stood on one foot, her left foot almost still in the air. She had hastily stepped towards the dinning table seeing the halwa, but then didn't set her other foot down seeing Rakesh. " The halwa is towards this end of the table, and Sunita is also sitting, I should join her.....also why was I angry at Rakesh, again" thought Mrs Devi, and without looking at Rakesh she sat down at one end of the table.

Rakesh also hurried along towards his end of the table, and gave Sunita a wide smile. Both of them attacked the kachoris and halwa. Sunita smiled to herself, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

X

"No....no... nobody else is to be blamed Rakesh, it's me, it's my fault.... nobody else...... I'm myself responsible for every damn thing" Sunita wept uncontrollably, "how can you blame yourself Sunita,..... for something which wasn't in our hands" Rakesh consoled her, "it's just..... our luck didn't favor us, it'll soon be alright! Everything will soon be fine" Rakesh pulled her head close his heart, stroking Sunita's head softly, like consoling a sobbing child.

Sunita sat next to window staring out towards the garden, the same place she had imagined her blissful future before the test. A tear rolled down her cheek. "Your coffee is getting cold dear" Rakesh tried taking her mind off the failed IVF procedure, recalling Sunita's face when she tested negative.

He wondered if the stars were playing a dirty game with him and Sunita. Or if he or Sunita weren't trying their best to fulfill their desire of extending their family.

He got up and switched on the TV, on the cartoon channel, Tom was chasing Jerry. " Sunita look our all time favorite!" Sunita turned towards the television screen and gave a weak smile to Rakesh. Rakesh knew it would take some load off the mind for a little while. He himself needed to clear up his mind for sometime.

A few moments passed Sunita had a little smile on her face watching Tom and Jerry's naughtiness. Rakesh smiled looking at Sunita, a little relived. Suddenly Sunita's lips curved towards the darker side, Rakesh turned towards the Tv and saw the commercial break showcasing baby products and a mother and baby cast showcasing their love. Rakesh got up and turned the Tv off and hugged Sunita.

"What could I possibly do to make you feel even a little better......" Rakesh sighed

ix

"Here we go" said Sunita taking a deep breath, "keep your fingers crossed, I have mine!" Rakesh smiled at Sunita 's innocence. He was well aware how tensed she was, but still trying to pose normal for him, to keep him calm and positive.

"I glued mine in the morning itself! They are inseparable now!" Rakesh winked at Sunita with a light chuckle. Sunita smiled, thinking about the turbulence in her head and the butterflies in her stomach.

One second she would imagine herself with a cute baby, the very next second she would see a distressed Rakesh consoling her for their loss, and would immediately brush the second image aside; such was her state of mind. Just like ocean waves crashing and calming down alternatively.

The click made by the key brought Sunita to her present self. She entered the house with mixed feelings, since returning from clinic. Rakesh was on phone with her mother-in-law. "Just hope things go well" muttered Sunita as she sat on the rocking chair thinking about the day's IVF session.

Staring out from the window of her room, she saw two cute little kids playing in the little lawn outside their home.From the translucent white lace of the window curtain, hazy faces filled with bright smiles appeared with pearly teeth shining in the light of sun. There was Rakesh too, looking younger and more handsome than ever playing with the kids. "Sunita...Sunita..." Rakesh was calling her, "hey, its time for the test" Rakesh nudged her by her arm, "common...wake up, its time". Sunita looked at the window, the same curtain was opaque now.

Rakesh looked at his watch impaitently, waiting for Sunita and the result of the test.

VIII

"I'm sorry, I had no idea!" Sunita said nodding disapprovingly. "It's fine dear, neither did I" Rakesh said consoling Sunita. The couple had visited a nearby Doctor's clinic to gather details about IVF, but after the discussion with the doctor, they were both a little disappointed.

According to the doctor, each trial would cost them a huge sum of money. Sunita was worried if they weren't successful the first time, they couldn't afford another trial. She was startled at the pricing of an individual trail, leave aside multiple trails. She was disappointed as the whole case solely dependent on her womb, on which she had obviously no control.

Rakesh tried to instill positivity in her, "Maybe we won't need another trial!" patting her head friendly. But Sunita was worried, "All our money will go waste if the trial is unsuccessful". " So what, I had never thought you would be such a great lifepartner before marrying you, we all have to take risks, haha!". "Huh!! Rakesh" Sunita swirled a pillow at Rakesh and smiled. Rakesh laughed at his success of making Sunita smile.

Sunita smiled seeing Rakesh laugh, after many days had she seen him laugh carefree. She somehow sensed positive vibes from his laugh. She felt maybe things things will turn positive now.

Sunita wasn't sure if she wanted to go for IVF, walking back from the clinic, after she had heard the doctor's conditions. But now, she thought they should give it a try, maybe this was the last struggle, maybe the outcome would be positive enough to make them forget all negativity in the world.

VII

Whenever Sunita saw Rakesh' s desolate face, she felt a little guilty. Also she desperately thought of things and idea that could make him happy. But all these materialistic things were temporary, his smile faded much quickly than it grew on his lips.

Sunita had always loved kids, and had always wanted one of her own. Now she felt it was the most important thing missing in her life. She decided to opt for IVF methods as it was high time Rakesh and she had been trying for a baby.

She knew Rakesh wouldn't agree initially as he had his favorite quote as 'nature has solutions to everything', and never believed in any thing which wasn't as per natures' ways. But nevertheless she decided to pursue the matter. She spoke to Rakesh about the same, Rakesh thoughtfully paused for a moment and then agreed.

There was a sudden spurge in Sunita's feelings, such a mix of surprise, happiness, but little disappointment too. She wasn't sure what she exactly felt, but was startled for sure. Surprised because she hadn't expected Rakesh to agree with her on such a sensitive and important issue so quickly. Happy obviously, but disappointed because she missed Rakesh's true self, who would have fought and argued with his nature's solutions philosophy which would have irritated Sunita so much, but now she missed it.

So Sunita and Rakesh decided to give IVF a try.