Chapter One Hundred Thirty One: The First Checkup
The morning after the double wedding, the mansion was quiet.
Too quiet.
Everyone was exhausted. Akshi and Chethan had disappeared into their room and hadn't emerged yet. Shreya and Mithun were still glowing, but also still asleep. Percy had cried so much he'd dehydrated himself. Honey was forcing water down his throat.
Jay woke up in Keifer's arms.
"Morning," she whispered.
"Morning."
"Today's the day."
He tightened his arms around her. "I know."
"The first checkup."
"I know."
"I'm scared."
"Me too."
She turned to face him. "What if something's wrong?"
"Then we face it together."
"What if everything's fine?"
"Then we celebrate."
"What if—"
He kissed her. Soft. Gentle. "One step at a time. We'll get through it together."
She nodded. "Together."
---
They told no one.
Not Akshi. Not Shreya. Not Percy or Honey or anyone.
This was theirs. For now.
They drove to the clinic in silence. Hand in hand. Heartbeats synchronized.
---
The waiting room was quiet.
Jay gripped Keifer's hand. "I can't stop thinking about last time."
"I know."
"Walking out of here with empty arms."
"I know."
"What if—"
He kissed her forehead. "Whatever happens, we're together."
She leaned into him. "Together."
---
The nurse called her name.
They walked in together.
The ultrasound room. The same room. The same cold gel. The same monitor.
Jay lay on the table. Heart pounding.
Keifer held her hand. Tight.
The technician moved the wand.
Frowned.
Moved it again.
Jay's heart stopped. "What? What's wrong?"
The technician smiled.
"There's the heartbeat."
---
The monitor showed a tiny flicker.
A pulse.
A life.
Keifer's grip tightened. "That's—"
"That's your baby. Strong heartbeat. Perfect measurements. Everything looks exactly as it should."
Jay burst into tears.
Keifer kissed her forehead. Her cheek. Her lips. "It's okay. It's okay. The baby's okay."
"Our baby."
"Our baby."
---
The doctor came in. Smiling.
"Everything looks perfect. Strong heartbeat. Good growth. We'll monitor closely given your history, but right now—everything is exactly where it should be."
Jay sobbed. "Really?"
"Really. Congratulations, Mama."
Keifer was crying too. "Mama. She's Mama."
Jay laughed through tears. "You're Papa."
"I'm Papa."
---
They walked out with photos.
Small. Blurry. Perfect.
In the car, Jay stared at them.
"Our baby."
"Our baby."
"Alive. Healthy. Growing."
"Strong heartbeat."
She leaned against him. "I was so scared."
"I know."
"But we did it. We're doing it."
"One day at a time."
"Together."
"Always together."
---
They drove home in a bubble of happiness.
Pulled into the driveway.
The mansion was waking up. Voices inside. Laughter. Chaos.
Jay looked at Keifer. "Do we tell them?"
"Not yet."
"When?"
"When we're ready."
She nodded. "Okay."
---
They walked in.
Akshi immediately pounced. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"
"Out."
"OUT WHERE?"
"Just out."
Akshi narrowed her eyes. "You're hiding something."
"I'm not hiding anything."
"YOU'RE HIDING SOMETHING."
Shreya appeared. "What's happening?"
"Akshi thinks we're hiding something."
"Are you?"
Jay smiled. "We're not hiding anything."
---
Percy bounced over. "YOU'RE GLOWING! WHY ARE YOU GLOWING?"
Jay touched her face. "I'm not glowing."
"YOU ARE DEFINITELY GLOWING!"
Honey pulled him back. "Babe, people glow sometimes."
"FOR NO REASON?"
"For lots of reasons."
---
C.N. looked up from his laptop. "Statistical probability of glowing for no reason: 2%."
Rakii raised her camera. "Smile for the album?"
Jay smiled.
Keifer put his arm around her.
The photo captured them—happy, glowing, holding their secret close.
---
That night, Jay and Keifer sat on the balcony.
The stars were bright.
"Hi, baby girl," Jay whispered up at them. "You're going to have a sibling. A little brother or sister. They're small now, but they're strong. They have a good heartbeat."
She touched her stomach.
Keifer wrapped his arms around her.
"She's watching."
"I know."
"They'll watch over this one too."
"They will."
She leaned into him. "I love you."
"I love you too. More than everything."
"More than this baby?"
"Different kind of love. Not more or less. Just different."
She smiled. "Good answer."
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Thirty One