Friday Feature: The Unborn

by Prateek Singh

She was happy and excited when she visited the doctor. A medley of emotions ran through her mind and drove her towards craziness. She wanted to tell him that soon she was going to be a mother and he, the father. He couldn't accompany her to the doctor but suddenly that didn't seem to matter to her. She wanted to  share with the world how blessed she felt. After all, this was going to be her first child. On her way home, she began making plans for his or her first birthday, his or her name and also for the future. Today, she didn't call him. Instead, he gave her a call and came home early where he was given the surprise. He, too, was overjoyed and that night they went out for dinner.

Weeks passed by, his sister came home so that she could have some rest. She did all she could so that her child could remain healthy. She ate nutritious  food, she looked after herself, she cherished every moment. She didn't feel the pain. She even enjoyed it when the baby kicked. It felt that it was a medium of communication between them. She keenly observed the growth of the baby from an embryo to a human child. Every night before going to bed, she would say a silent prayer for the well-being of the unborn. She blushed when anyone talked about the child. Her smile made her eyes sparkled with happiness. She even wrote a diary of all the events that were taking place during her pregnancy. Her life was perfect.

It was the seventh month but the excitement hadn't deteriorated by a single iota. In fact, it grew stronger as the wait was almost coming to an end. It was on one of her routine visits to the doctor that she was informed about the complication. The unborn was asleep. Suddenly, all the dreams shattered. She was numb. No light before her eyes, not a sound to her ears. She could hear nothing. Or perhaps, she didn’t want to hear anything. She remained silent for a few minutes before a teardrop rolled down her cheek. All of a sudden, resting was painful; food became poison and smiles turned into wounds. She wept for a few days. Didn’t talk for a few more. She never felt the way she felt before. He tried to get her back to her normal life but deep within, he too, was broken. With time, she 'appeared' normal. She began to smile. She began to respond. Her life was shaping up as it was before. This made him happy too. However, her smile no longer reached her  eyes. It never extended beyond her cheeks; a mere curl of the lips.

She lived with that 'smile' for almost three years. They now lead the same meaningless and monotonous life. Just when they were growing accustomed to it, their dream came to life once again. She was going to be a mother again. Images from the past started flashing before her eyes. The feeling was incomparable. Unlike the previous occasion, this time she didn’t smile or laugh. Nor did she make any plans. She cried. And this time, it was the tears that sparkled her eyes with happiness.

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Prateek Singh is a BMM student with a passion for theater and a developing love for the English language. Being the dedicated kind, if he likes something, he will put his heart and soul into it. Go on, say hi to him. Tell him what you think about his story.

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