*Navya Pov*
“Hey! I am leaving.” I said, brushing my hair, but I didn’t hear him saying anything.
So I turned around to see him lying on the bed with closed eyes. Just few minutes before he was awake right? I thought and walked towards him.
“Suhas!” I said, placing my hand on his shoulder, but he didn’t move at all.
Maybe he is really sleeping! I sighed and mumbled “I am leaving!”
After saying that I was about to move away, but was pulled down immediately within a second, and I shrieked closing my eyes.
I opened my eyes slowly to see him looking at me with an amused look. I took a few breaths so that I can come out of the shock and asked, “Why did you pull me?”
“So that you will not go anywhere.” He replied mumbling and pressed a small kiss.
I smiled into it and asked, “Do you want me to stay?”
For a few minutes, he didn’t reply at all but continued to kiss me. Then he released me saying, “Nope! You can go.”
I hugged him once and got down from the bed. Then I saw that my sari is completely ruffled so I again set it straight and left the room wearing a long coat he bought me when we went near the boat house.
I reached the mall using the cab as Divya message me and went inside. Then I immediately saw them, so I rushed towards them in relief because for one second, I got many doubts in my mind.
Like did I reach the wrong place or did the cab driver didn’t understand the address I gave him, or I didn’t understand the address I got in a message or she didn’t send the correct message. These doubts really know how to time pass settling themselves in our minds.
“What are we doing here?” I asked Divya when we walked inside.
“For shopping DUH.” She replied.
“It is good that you asked Divya but not Becks because you would have wished that you are not alive in this moment.” Mel said and looked in front of me to see Becks and Di walking little ahead of us.
“Why?” I asked her confused.
“Because she is shopping queen and on top of that she is pregnant, so she would have made pretty big deal out of it.” Mel replied, and I looked at her clearly that she is smiling brightly.
“Did something happened? You are looking so happy.” I asked her smiling.
“Yeah! Yesterday one operation got success, and now a kid can live her life without any pain in her heart.” she replied dreamily.
“Wow, that’s really a good news.” I said feeling so happy.
“Jack and I have been working on this case for a few months we thought it would become worse if even after two months she doesn't get it operated as there were some complications but now everything is fine. But I will just miss talking to her.” She said smiling.
“You will be a great Mom.” Divya said, and I nodded at her.
Nevertheless, then I saw suddenly her face becoming hard, and she turned away from us. I look at Divya to ask her what is happening, but she didn't even observe it.
“If your talks are over shall we start shopping? I am very excited today.” Becks shouted at us and everyone groaned, but I just looked at her smiling.
“Why are you smiling, Navya? She is going to drain us.” Divya said, pinching my hand.
“Ouch! I don’t know anything about shopping. It is just selecting the dresses we like and leave right and how I cannot smile, she is happy.” I replied rubbing my hand.
“Oh, I forgot you are the non-shopping girl right. Now I am excited how it will change completely today.” Divya said suddenly excited when I looked at her confused.
“She can’t be that bad.” I said, looking at Di.
“You are right, she is not bad. She is worse darling.” Di said, placing her hand on my shoulder.
After spending one hour in the child department, I understood what Di is saying. I just sat back and observed while they shopped. I saw that Mel is really uncomfortable staying in this department.
“Becks! There is still so much time for your baby girl to become five years old, so you need not to buy them already.” Mel pleaded her.
“Are you sure?” Becks asked, still holding them.
“Yeah! And by the time she comes to that age, there will be new models of clothes. You are a fashion designer Becks you need to know that.” Mel replied and finally Becks left them, and we all walked outside.
“Don’t you need to take a rest?” I asked her confused when we entered some other big store.
“I will! But now you need to do all the work.” When she replied, I turned around to see whom she is saying, but everyone is looking at me so it means it is me.
“I am bad at it. I mean I have very bad taste.” I said, shaking my head when Becks sat on the couch laid there.
“Who cares what taste you have? Just select anything, that you wish to wear.” Mel said smiling.
“No! You guys or anyone will not like seeing them.” I said frowning.
“Navya! You need to feel comfortable in your clothing. And for others not liking it, you shouldn’t think about that because they are not the one that bought those dresses right.” Di said explaining.
“But... I never selected I mean it has been so long since I did it.” I said scratching my head.
“Ok I have a solution for it.” Di said and brought so many dresses from different counters and placed them in the changing room.
“Now go and change into each one of them, but look at the mirror after changing. You will know what will be useful and what will be not. Then click some images of yourself and then shortlist the selected even more.” Di said smiling.
“There is a small problem.” I said after a few minutes.
“What is it?” She asked confused.
“I never wore those types of dresses.” I replied.
“Uff! Like I always say there is always a first time for everything. Don’t worry, you need not to buy the whole lot, but just select some best from them.” Divya said and I went inside the changing room.
Like Di said I started doing everything she said and finally surprising myself. I selected three after looking at all the pictures.
When I came outside I saw that they are looking at me shocked, but I looked at them confused.
“You already finished? I thought it would take so much time.” Divya said amazed.
“Di’s solution is kind of easy, and I selected these.” I said showing them the three dresses.
“They are awesome! Becks is just shopping some dresses along with Mel.” Di said, and I nodded at her.
After a few minutes, they came holding little bags. Becks looked at Di and patted the bags saying, “We got it.”
“What are they?” I asked them confused when they are all looking at each other, grinning.
“Surprise! And you will know it later, but now I am very hungry.” Becks said and then I saw that it is already afternoon.
We all went to a small restaurant and had our lunch. They even made me order food for us, and it felt nice actually.
I even felt fine when I realized that I just shopped for myself without anybody’s help. If Mom and Di know it then they will be so happy that I finally did it.
“What are you thinking?” Di asked bringing me out of my thoughts.
“Just about my Di and Mom. They were always behind me to choose my own clothes, but I never did and they end up doing this for me. But now I finally did it.” I replied smiling.
“You would have done it before when they have tried to find out your problem in this and when they didn’t just buy them for you giving up so easily.” Di said, and I looked at her confused.
“No! They pressured me so much.” I said, assuring her and also myself because I don’t remember completely them doing it.
“Did they? Then it is ok.” She said smiling, and we all reached her house as it is getting dark.
We just lounged in the living room, then heard the footsteps. We looked up to see it is Matt, Will and Jack along with Di’s kids.
“Did Suhas meet you all?” Di asked, and they nodded.
“It is getting late. I will go now.” I said, looking at the watch.
“Missing him already?” Divya asked teasing me.
“Wait! Did he call you Navya?” Becks asked frowning.
“No! But why?” I asked her confused.
“Did he ask any of you about her or us as a group?” Mel asked Jack.
“Nope! He didn’t even talk about any one of you.” he replied shrugging.
“Why are you all asking these questions?” I asked them frowning.
“We got our husbands calls at least three times today when we were outside.” Di replied.
“So?” I asked her again.
“He should have called you at least one time. I mean it is already 8, but he still didn’t call you.” Becks pointed out.
“But I too didn’t call him right?” I asked her smiling and I suddenly heard three people laughing.
"Finally, someone thinks that all these duties are not only for husbands.” Will said, and the wife’s here looked at their husbands with raised eyebrows.
“I have the best idea! We are going to have a girl’s night too.” Becks said excitedly and Di and Mel nodded.
All those three guys just looked at their wives shocked. I controlled my laugh along with Divya.
“Ok! I will leave then.” I said, getting up and started taking the bags.
“Where do you think you are going? I said girl’s night, and you are certainly a girl so let’s just go.” Becks said and dragged me towards the stairs.
She didn’t leave my hand even after reaching some room, which must be a guest room because it was really simple. She made me sit on the bed and finally three others entered the room holding the bags and also the kids.
“I will go and bring comfortable clothes for us, and Divya go and bring some snacks for all of us.” Di said again leaving the room along with divya.
Becks started playing with the kids, and they all changed into comfy attire Di brought from her room one after the other, and I too changed.
“Now Navya, message your husband that you will not come today, and you will be there tomorrow.” Becks said munching on the snacks.
“What? I will just call him.” I said, taking my mobile.
“No! Just message him and then we will tell you why we are doing this.” Mel said and I finally nodded after a few minutes and message him.
I waited for some time thinking he would call me or reply to my message, but he didn’t. They all sighed when I continued to look at the mobile.
“A husband must call his wife when she goes outside that too for the whole day, and it becomes major if it is on their honeymoon. That just shows that they are thinking about us.” Becks said.
“But I too thought about him and didn’t call him right. Maybe he is also doing the same.” I said defending him.
“We girls just think of all good reasons and stop ourselves from doing it, but men don’t do that. They always act as they wish and do what they want.” Mel said sipping her cold drink.
“I heard that not every man is the same.” I said still not accepting their words.
“She is right, you know. Not every man is the same, so we actually don’t know what Suhas is thinking.” Di said nodding at me.
“You are right! But this will help with all the situations. If he really didn’t think about you, then this will teach him a lesson, but if he did think about you, then...” Becks didn’t stop her sentence and winked at me.
“She means to say you will get to know his feelings for you.” Mel said hitting on Becks shoulder.
“Yeah, that too...” Becks said grinning.
“So let’s just enjoy until tomorrow evening.” Mel said, plopping herself beside me.
“Evening?” I asked her shocked.
“Yup evening! Now stop all the questions.” Divya said scolding me.
“But he will be all alone.” I said after a few minutes.
“Don’t worry Navya! We will send our husbands near him tomorrow as they all need some lesson too.” Becks said assuring me.
After some time the topic kind of diverted to kids as they are sleeping peacefully on the bed. Nevertheless, as usual, I looked at Mel because I can see that she is very uncomfortable.
“Mel! The snacks are finished. Will you come with me to bring them?” I asked her and she immediately nodded.
We both went inside the kitchen and started getting the snacks into the bowl. I looked at her and asked, “Do you want to talk about it?”
“About what?” she asked confused.
“About the thing because of which you are getting uncomfortable or sad.” I replied, thinking she will understand, and she did.
“There is nothing!” She immediately said, and I nodded at her.
After filling the bowls with the snacks we were about to leave the kitchen, but she stopped me saying, “Wait! I want to talk to you.”
I nodded, and we both sat at the kitchen counter. I know she is thinking how to tell me whatever she wishes to say.
“I can’t get pregnant.” She blurted out.
“What?” I asked her shocked.
“Yeah! Jack and I got to learn that when we were newly married. Then I immediately took over the treatment because of which there will be possibilities, but a few months back we got to know that it is a waste.” she replied shaking, and tears were falling from her eyes.
I held her shoulders but didn’t say anything. Because I am sure, they don’t want to hear those words now.
“It is paining us both more than we thought. We both are children specialist right. So each day when we look at all children there coming for any problem we feel thinking what if we have a kid of our own.” She said looking at me with teary eyes.
“When we see the parents worried that their child got a small wound or fever or anything we feel, how we would feel when our kids get that small wound playing some sport and winning something or just enjoying the time with other kids. It is damn hurting every time Navya.” She continued and hugged me tightly.
My own tears are falling hearing all this from her. I rubbed her back so that she can feel a little calm.
Releasing me, she said, “I can cry like this sometimes and release the pain but Jack, he can’t even do that properly. I am more scared about him than me.”
I nodded and rubbed her tear strained cheeks. After she calmed down I slowly started saying, “Do you know the way you are feeling is felt by so many people I know but in a different way?”
She looked at me confused so I continued by saying, “When they get some wound or fever they just think how it would feel to see someone of their own getting worried because they were hurt. They wish all the time how it feels to be held by someone and to consider how it feels to belong to some people. And also wish for someone on whom they can depend thinking they will take good care of them no matter what happens.”
“Are you telling me about…” She didn’t finish her sentence, and I nodded at her.
“I saw so many kids, Mel. I saw the longing in their eyes for something special, and that are nothing but having parents. So you know you both can do something and can fulfill yours and the wish of someone in that crowd of kids.” I said smiling.
“We never thought about that option.” She said mumbling to herself.
“You guys are just recovering from that news Mel so you would have just thought about this later. And I am confident of it. Just talk to him about it ok, so that you guys can reduce your pain as soon as possible.” I said holding her hand.
For a few minutes she looked at me and said “Everyone gets a feeling that you are a naïve or innocent girl. But what they don’t know is you are just a good person.”
I laughed and said, “I will believe it for now as you are saying.”
“They only know about me getting the treatment, but not the failing of it. I will tell them later, so don’t say anything.” she said, and I nodded at her.
We both smiled and walked towards the guest room where those three are still talking to each other.
We both sat down and suddenly Becks turned towards me and asked, “Did he call you?”
I shook my head and said, “Maybe he is just tired…”
I couldn’t finish my sentence as Di said, “Don’t think of a good reason for their behavior until they tell them.”
They all nodded to it making me look at them in shock. Still in shock, I said, “You guys should meet my Mother-In-Law. You all will be best friends.”