It has been a month now, and my tummy has finally started to change. Today is our prenatal check-up.
We are going to see our baby for the first time.
I was so excited that I woke up at five in the morning — and of course, I woke Sarthak up too.
He groaned, half-asleep, pulling the blanket over his face.
"Why are you waking me up so early?" he complained softly. "Please let me sleep. I worked on a project last night and slept at three. Please, baby… let me sleep."
"No," I said firmly, jumping onto the bed and sitting on him. "You have to wake up. Today is our prenatal. Yay!"
He turned to the other side, pulled me into his arms, and hugged me tightly.
"Sammy, we'll go at ten. Why are you waking me up so early? Don't be childish," he murmured, already drifting back to sleep.
I just stared at him — like he was a baby himself, completely helpless in front of sleep.
---
We woke up at nine-thirty.
I rushed to the bathroom, freshened up as fast as I could, and shook Sarthak awake. We hurried downstairs, got into the car, and left for the hospital.
At the hospital, we started quarrelling like always.
"This is your fault!" I said angrily. "You wanted to sleep, and you forced me to sleep too. Now we're late!"
He suddenly grabbed my waist, pulled me close, and whispered with a teasing smile,
"It's okay, baby. I already booked the appointment for eleven. That's why I told you we'd leave at ten — so you'd get ready early."
He laughed like sunshine.
I punched his chest lightly because I couldn't reach his face, and I blushed.
---
When we entered the doctor's room, my steps froze.
The doctor was Kartikeya Malhotra — my best friend who left me in 11th grade.
The boy I had grown up with.
The one I laughed with, cried with, fought with, and trusted blindly.
People once thought we were in a relationship, but we never were. I loved him like a brother.
The moment we saw each other, we both smiled. We ran toward each other and hugged tightly, tears spilling after meeting again after so long.
But before I could say anything, Sarthak grabbed my collar and pulled me back toward him.
I was shocked — but somewhere, I smiled.
Kartik was the one who had held me when I broke down thinking about my brother's death.
Seeing him again made my heart ache.
My tears started falling uncontrollably.
He came closer, hugged me tightly, and said softly,
"Stop crying, trouble."
He smiled, then added,
"I'm getting married soon."
The moment I heard that, my heart stopped.
I thought of Lavanya — who had loved him since childhood.
You see, Lavanya, Kartikey, Jai, Anvi, Manya, and I — we were all childhood friends. We had been together since we were four years old. We knew everything about each other.
I loved Sarthak.
Anvi loved Uncle.
Manya loved Jai.
Lavanya loved Kartikey.
We all got our people — and they loved us back.
Except Lavanya.
We never knew whom Kartikey loved. Not even her name.
And now, it felt like her love was about to die quietly, buried forever.
I forced a smile.
"I'm happy for you. Who are you marrying, cook?" I joked weakly.
"You don't know her," he said. "I'll bring her to meet you all tomorrow. You must come."
"Okay ,we will " I said softly.
"Sarthak bro is not allowed," he teased.
"Me and my baby are allowed," I giggled.
"What?" His eyes widened. "You're pregnant? I'm going to be an uncle!"
"Yes. Then what do you think I'm here for ?" I laughed.
Sarthak sat beside me.
Kartikey started the check-up, but my mind was stuck on Lavanya — and the pain waiting for her.
When the scan appeared on the screen, my breath caught.
"That's… my baby," I whispered, tears streaming down.
"We're really going to have a baby."
Sarthak held my hand gently.
"Don't cry. Let's go home."
When we reached home, everyone was already waiting.
The moment they heard that both the baby and I were healthy, Maa hugged me tightly.
"See? I told you nothing would happen," she said, kissing my forehead.
"My child and my grandchild are both safe."
Grandpa smiled proudly.
"God has finally blessed this house again."
Their happiness wrapped around me like warmth.
I had just sat down when a sudden call came.
The smile on everyone's face faded.
Advait rushed out immediately.
And just like that… peace slipped away again.