Keeping it

"Preesha, its positive." Vedika said feeling weird sense of nervousness and happiness. She was going to be 27 in next 3 months and and had been on many of the adventures with her friends and vacations with her family but none of them equates to what has happened since she met Aditya. All the scenarios she faced were out of her imagination and now being pregnant was was a whole big thing.

"What are you going to do next di? Tell massi and masa." Preesha said.

"No Preesha I have talk to Aditya first and I can't do it on phone." Vedika said sitting down on bed.

"Are you considering abortion di?"

"No no Preesha I don't want to abort. It's my choice and I will keep my child even if Aditya want to end our relationship after knowing about this baby."

"What are you talking di? He loves you so much he will not leave you just because of an unexpected pregnancy,"

"You are right Preesha I don’t know maybe I am exhausted."

"Take rest di I have to meet Asad for dinner."

After Preesha left, Vedika just sat there thinking about her unborn child. She touched her belly gently and smiled as the wave of calmness and happiness crossed her heart. This was the baby of the man she loves with her heart.

Suddenly another wave of nausea hit her but this time it was intense and she ran to the bathroom and emptied the previous meal in the pot.

This was going to be new normal for a while now. She decided to visit a gynaecologist the next day for check-ups.

_____

"You are newly pregnant 4-5 weeks and the baby is healthy." Dr. Camila Rodriguez, one of the gynaecologist, suggested by her sister Sofia, said.

Sofia was the second person after Preesha who she told about her pregnancy to. Sofia was 7 years elder to her and married with a 4 year old son.

Vedika and Sofia now sat inside the office of Dr. Rodriguez getting instructed about taking care and diet during pregnancy.

"Doctor I had a plan to fly to Australia in next two days. Is that a problem?" Vedika asked.

"No you can fly Vedika but don't forget your medications otherwise symptoms would get worse." Doctor said.

After some more discussion they were on their way home.

"Don't worry about telling ma and pa Vedika they will support you like they did me." Sofia was saying while they sat in the auto.

"This is so unexpected di. I did not think about using pills when we started using condoms and now I just don’t regret it. Infact I am happy." Vedika creased her belly again the same belly that had a little life growing in it. Her and Aditya's baby.

"I feel it. You know if you would have decided to abort this child we'd have supported you too." Sofia said.

"I know di. Thank you." She put her head on Sofia's shoulder.

"About Australia, I told Jay to book my ticket. Yes I'm coming with you." Sofia said and Vedika jumped up.

"What really? How? When you decide that?"

"After Camila gave thumbs up to Australia. I need to take care of my baby sister with her baby."

"Thank you Sofia I love you."

"More than Aditya?"

"Yes more than Aditya."

_______

Vedika, Hema and Harish were on airport waiting for the announcement when they saw Sofia coming.

Hema and Harish were shocked as Vedika told them that Sofia wanted to watch the match too.

"Why didn't you tell us this before?" Harish asked.

"Wanted to surprise you both." Sofia said hugging both her parents at the same time.

A while later they were on plane along with Aditya's family.

During the whole flight Vedika was feeling nausea and dizziness but luckily except Sofia everyone was asleep or distracted. Sofia was sitting beside and kept checking on her.

At the end of the flight Vedika was on the verge of tears as fatigue and exhaustion and taking over.

Puking more than five times in flight and urinating the same number of times was not just annoying but also tiring.

To cover for Vedika, Sofia asked other to take a different taxi to hotel and herself got off the plane after others and helped Vedika with her luggage.

"I did not expected the flight to be this bad." Vedika said entering the taxi.

"Its just for-" Ringing of the mobile phone interrupted them Vedika picked up.

"Aditya?" Vedika said on phone in her lower than normal tone.

"Vedika are you here yet and what happened to you voice? Are you ok?" Aditya said. There were voices of clutter, he was around other people. Vedika had decided to tell Aditya about coming to Australia, she didn’t wanted to give him two surprises at once.

"Yes I am fine just had flying sickness." Vedika said.

"Ok take rest Vedika I will come by tonight. Love you" Aditya said.

"Love you Aditya. " Vedika said and ended the call.

"So?" Sofia said raising eyebrows.

"I will tell him di but not today. Let this series be over first." Vedika said, she didn't wanted to worry about telling now, there was time.

"He is coming to meet us tonight." Vedika told Sofia.

"Enjoy you time Vedika and don't let Aditya wait for long before telling this news. Its important, he is the father."

——

"We should all visit that sometime." Aditya was saying as his and Vedika's family were sitting in lounge area discussing their trip and travelling Australia.

After chatting up for a little more Aditya decided to get back to his team hotel and Vedika walked him out.

We haven't got a chance to talk since you came here. I missed you." Aditya said turning towards her outside in the parking lot.

"I missed you too Aditya."

"Vedika you have been a little off since you came. Is everything fine?" Aditya asked.

"I am fine, I think just jet legged. Aditya can I ask you something?"

"Of course Vedika anything."

"If things somehow changed between us by arrival of someone. Would you still love me?"

"What are you taking Vedika? Why would things change?"

"Just if there was a new person who just suddenly appears an-"

"Vedika.......are you....are you pregnant?" Aditya interrupted in shock and Vedika nodded.

"Aditya I know you are not ready for the baby and there is no pressure on you."

"Are you kidding me Vedika? I'm going to be a father." Aditya smiled, tears in his eyes said everything that was needed to be said. He took her face in both his hands and kissed tight on the lips.

Tears of happiness were flowing from both of theirs eyes as they hugged for eternity.

"This is the best day of my life. I love you so much."

"Aditya I haven't tell anyone about this except Sofia and Preesha."

"Okay we will tell others only when you are ready."

"I'll see you tomorrow during the match. Love you." Vedika said and turned to leave.

"Vedika wait, I don't want to leave." Aditya pleaded with puppy eyes.

"Go Aditya." After giving a quick peck on the lips, Aditya left.

_______

"Vedika stay out of the crowd." Sofia said to Vedika as they made their way into the stadium along with Hema and Harish.

"Why is it so crowded?" Vedika said panicking hard.

"Dont worry, we will be fine."

Sofia carefully guided her in the less crowded area as they finally reached the benches and sat there looking over at the accumulating crowd on the other side of the stadium.

After a few minutes the players came into the ground and hence, the match began.

India batting first Jaz and Sahid were on the field.

An hour into the match and Vedika was already feeling the early pregnancy symptoms. She was fatigued beyond thought.

"Di I'm going to go to the washroom." She said to Sofia.

"I'll come with you." Sofia was going to get up but Vedika denied, “no you stay I'll be fine."

Vedika asked a guard for the way to the washroom and made her way in the hallways.

"Vedika," an unknown voice startled her as she was coming back from the washroom and she turned to see an unfamiliar group of 2 boys and 3 girls.

"Yes?" Vedika asked.

"You are the one. Aditya's girlfriend." Vedika was surprised, none of them have exposed their relationship to anyone other than close friends and family but these strangers knew.

"How do you know me?" Vedika asked.

"You are all over the internet. Pictures of you and Aditya in the parking lot. Sweet." One of them said surprising Vedika to her guts. She didn't wanted to be exposed on social media. She wanted to be private and low key.

Leaving that area she almost ran to the stands and sat beside Sofia, opened the Instagram and saw 100s of messages with pictures from last night.

Her and Aditya hugging,

Both kissing,

Laughing and intimate pic.

With every scroll tears were building up in her eyes.

"Vedika what happened?" Sofia looked into the phone and realised the truth.

There were all sorts of comments, some good and some filthy and shaming. Some were even body shaming and sexuallizing her. Her relationship was almost turned into an abusive game by these strangers.

This was too much for her, her current condition couldn't keep up as she tried to control the tears.

"Why di?" She said.

"Everything will be fine Vedika." Sofia said consoling her.

What they didn't realise was that this was just a little snippet of a larger picture.