Congratulations !

November 14, 2006.

She lies on her back on an examination table in a clinic in Borivili while a middle aged doctor whose name she found in the Yellow-pages inserts his speculum and takes one final look.He turns to the sink and washes his hands.

"Congratulations! he says"You are pregnant"

Dull incomprehension...turns into gradual realization  like the lifting of a fog.

She gets dressed."I'll want to see you in a month and please convey my congratulations to your hubby and your family"the doctor says smiling "isn't this your first time?" He is writing a prescription , vitamins and other supplements while saying "you got to be very careful mommy"

" Mommy "?

 Rage threatens to explode.

' If he congratulates me or calls me Mommy , I swear to god I'll kick him in the nuts, then in his sagging belly .If I have to , I'll bury my foot in his disgusting flesh '  she thinks.

Its a hot sunday afternoon.They came to borivili all the way from Vashi so that no one would ever find out.

She walks through the glass doors , out of that clinic.Karan Singh , her boyfriend , refused to come in.

It feels weird in a gyno's office...What will people think ? '

He simply couldn't believe this is happening to him.Her boyfriend of three years  waits anxiously , puffing furiously at a cigarette.

"You're not are you ? he asks

"Yes"

"Yes , you are not?" his eyebrows rise , so do his hopes...

"Yes , I am ! Idiot !"

His feelings are hurt , but she doesn't care.She's numb ,  a bit catatonic.

He persists "I just don't think you are .I just don't see how you could be"

Classic state of denial.

He, her boyfriend of three years , has a theory on the correct use of condoms , but after all he is just an MBA student , and so is she.So what better do they know?

Statistics clearly indicate that condoms have a failing rate of 10 %.  Having majored in statistics , she should have taken it into account.

Even emergency contraceptives occasionally fail.Who the bloody hell knew that ?Why was everything going wrong only with them?

This was the third period she has missed , so this isn't just a missed period due to pre-exam jitters.She knew.

He still persists on expounding his theory for the millionth , no , zillionth time , as they head back to their respective hostels , in a train , which is more or less empty.

' What difference does it make now? Why won't he shut up?If I have to listen to him anymore ,I'll have to kill him, too.'  she  fantasizes a double homicide...

At last , even his arguments wear thin against the irrefutable fact.As he leaves her at the gates of her hostel , she can see that his eyes are deep with fear.

"But I'll stand by you" he promises before turning back and leaving.

She knows he will.

To be continued