XXIX

 Sunita was traumatized. All those moments of her want and failure revolved in front of her eyes now. She felt as if she was the one on the ICU bed right now. She clutched the rim of the steel bench by both her palms tightly on which she was sitting and leaned forward with her head bent. Rakesh was running from pillar to post with his neighbor. 

Sunita looked up and saw herself begging the doctors to not take away her child. She crept on her knees and folded her hands. Suddenly Rakesh came and she almost shrieked with terror. Rakesh was taken aback, what happened to Sunita, he thought?! Sunita's eyes were all red and strained and she was continuously staring at Shiela and her monitor. Rakesh immediately realized she had got reminded of her past. Rakesh hugged her tightly and asked her to hold herself. He couldn't  sit beside her as his neighbor needed him at the moment. Tarun was all pale. 

They are stayed at the hospital that night. In the morning, the doctor called upon Tarun and took him into his cabin. Rakesh and Sunita sat on the bench. Sunita had fallen asleep on Rakesh's shoulder. Rakesh saw the doctor walking away from his cabin, but Tarun didn't come out. He nugged Sunita to wake up, and went to the doctor's cabin to check on Tarun. He was sitting with one hand kept on the other. He shook Tarun by his shoulder. He looked up towards Rakesh and hugged him by his waist and started crying. Sunita covered her face with her hands, she couldn't bear to look at Tarun.

XXVIII

" Sunita, are you okay?! " Rakesh nugged Sunita who hadn't spoken a word since they had returned home, she had just got into bed. Rakesh made get turn and she stared blank onto Rakesh's eyes. Rakesh stroked her hair lovingly and said, "say something.... Please"

Sunita closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and opened her eyes again to look into her husband's, and said, " I'm not sure if being jealous of your own friend's happiness counts as being normal Rakesh. " She finished the whole sentence in one breath.  Rakesh hugged her tightly.

"Sunita! ... Sunita....! "Sunita turned on hearing her name being called, to find Shiela in her garden shouting and waving to her.

Sunita skipped a heart beat but smiled and waved her back. Shiela rushed towards her. She wanted to know when Sunita could join her for some baby shopping. Often one becomes blind in one's happiness. She didn't even once think about Sunita's feelings. Sunita had decided to be strong. Rakesh had also councelled her to not be emotional and wear a smile and be happy for Shiela. She told Shiela she was always ready for going shopping.

Months passed, Sunita had found peace for herself. She had almost forgotten her past, and was more engaged in Shiela's future. Sunita had also planned for throwing baby shower for Shiela. She had no other friends in the colony so she took it as a chance for extending relations as well. Unfortunetly no neighbours turned up for the event and only a few close friends of Shiela and Sunita's were present.

Time flew and Shiela's delivery time was near. One day Sunita got a call at 2 am in the night. It was Shiela's husband on the call. He was crying badly, Sunita couldn't make out exactly what he was saying. Rakesh and Sunita rushed to the nursing home, Shiela was admitted to. Apparently she had slipped in the bathroom and had to be taken immediately to the hospital. Now doctors were 50-50 on baby's survival chances!

XXVII

Time flew as Sunita found company in Shiela. She didn't feel alone or miserable any more, nor she missed the presence of a kid in her life so much. They used to go shopping together, go for evening walks. Even everybody at Sunita's school now knew Shiela.

One day, Shiela invited Sunita and Rakesh for dinner. Sunita kept on asking her what was the occasion, but she just laughed and said she would tell her at dinner itself. Sunita asked Rakesh what should they do, as going empty handed didn't look good but they were not aware of the occasion to buy any suitable gift. Rakesh suggested they could buy a bouquet, as it is apt for every occasion and also as just a thank-you-for-dinner gift.

Sunita and Rakesh reached Shiela's house for dinner. Tarun opened the main door and welcomed them inside the house. " Shiela you are glowing!" exclaimed Sunita, as she met her. Shiela just blushed in response. Tarun took rakesh to the drawing room and they sat and waited for the ladies. Sunita helped Shiela with glasses and snacks as they moved to the living room. Tarun and Rakesh were discussing politics.

As Tarun paused on Shiela's insistence for taking some snacks, Sunita popped up the big question, " now...now, what is the suspense? I mean what is the occasion...tell me now...." Shiela blushed again. : Come on guys, I'm loosing patience now!!!" Tarun smiled and said, "Okay, okay...Shiela??" Shiela smiled and rose from her seat and stood next to Varun and they said together.." we are pregnant!!" Sunita was stunned. She kept the smile on her face but her mind was blank inside.

Shiela came to her and they hugged. Shiela looked towards Sunita, happily and Sunita murmured the very obvious words, "I'm so happy for your dear" but neither her expressions changed nor her voice had any modulations. No body in the room noticed it except Rakesh. He knew Sunita was smiling only from on the outside. They had dinner, Sunita and Rakesh could barely eat and came back home.