Chapter One Hundred Thirty Five: The Pregnancy Announcement That Broke Everyone
The morning after Shreya's pregnancy reveal, the mansion was buzzing.
Everyone was still riding the high of the news. Akshi was already planning the baby shower. Shreya was eating for two. Mithun was hovering like a nervous father-to-be.
Jay sat at the kitchen table, her own belly round and full, watching the chaos with amusement.
Keifer kissed her forehead. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I'm carrying a watermelon."
"You're beautiful."
"You're biased."
"Your biased."
---
Percy walked in.
He looked terrible.
Honey followed behind him, looking concerned.
Percy slumped into a chair. Put his head on the table. Groaned.
Honey patted his back. "Babe, you need to tell them."
Percy groaned louder.
---
Akshi noticed first. "Percy? You okay?"
"No."
"What's wrong?"
"Everything."
Honey sighed. "He's been like this since yesterday."
Shreya looked up from her plate. "Is he sick?"
"I'm not sick." Percy's voice was muffled. "I'm... something else."
---
The table went quiet.
C.N. lowered his notebook. "Percy, you're concerning me."
Percy lifted his head. His eyes were red. His hair was a mess. He looked like he hadn't slept.
"I have to tell you something."
Rakii raised her camera. "Should I be filming this?"
"Probably."
---
Percy took a deep breath.
"I'm pregnant."
---
The table went silent.
Akshi choked on her juice. Chethan patted her back.
Shreya's fork clattered onto her plate.
Mithun raised an eyebrow.
Jay stared. "What?"
Percy nodded solemnly. "I'm pregnant."
---
C.N. adjusted his glasses. "Percy. That's biologically impossible."
"NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!"
"Men cannot get pregnant."
"THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK!"
Honey buried her face in her hands. "Babe, please."
---
David was wheezing. "Percy. PREGNANT?"
Percy pointed at him. "IT'S 2024! ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!"
Freya patted David's back. "Breathe, babe."
"I CAN'T! PERCY IS PREGNANT!"
Felix was trying very hard not to laugh. Bridget wasn't trying at all.
Mica was bouncing. "A BABY! PERCY'S HAVING A BABY!"
Calix grabbed her. "Mica. Men can't have babies."
"PERCY CAN!"
---
C.N. stood. "Percy. Let me check your vitals. You might have a fever."
"I DON'T HAVE A FEVER! I HAVE A BABY!"
He pressed his hand to his stomach.
Jay stared at him. Then at Honey.
Honey shook her head slowly.
Jay bit her lip.
---
Keifer leaned over. "Is he serious?"
"I don't know. I can't tell anymore."
---
Percy continued. "I've been having symptoms. Nausea. Fatigue. Mood swings."
C.N. frowned. "When did these symptoms start?"
"Yesterday."
"Yesterday?"
"AFTER I ATE SEVENTEEN SAMOSAS!"
The table lost it.
Akshi was on the floor. "SEVENTEEN SAMOSAS!"
Shreya was crying with laughter. "THAT'S NOT PREGNANCY! THAT'S A FOOD BABY!"
Mithun actually laughed. Out loud.
---
Percy looked offended. "A food baby is still a baby!"
"It's not!"
"IT IS IN MY HEART!"
Honey finally spoke. "He ate seventeen samosas at 2 AM. Then he couldn't sleep. Then he Googled his symptoms."
"GOOGLE SAID PREGNANCY!"
C.N. pinched his nose. "Google also says that swallowing gum takes seven years to digest. It's not reliable."
"BUT IT COULD BE TRUE!"
---
Rakii lowered her camera. "So you're not pregnant?"
Percy paused. "Well... no."
"Then why did you announce it?"
He gestured dramatically. "FOR THE DRAMA!"
Percy collapsed back onto the table. "I'M JUST TIRED AND FULL OF SAMOSAS!"
Akshi patted his head. "Poor baby."
"I AM A BABY! A BABY FULL OF SAMOSAS!"
---
Keiran ran in, Rex in hand. "TITO PERCY IS HAVING A BABY?"
"No, baby. Tito Percy is having indigestion."
"Oh." Keiran looked disappointed. "Rex wanted to see baby."
Rex seemed equally disappointed.
Percy looked up. "Rex, I'm sorry. There is no baby. Only samosas."
Rex nodded solemnly.
---
C.N. made a note. "Percy. Not pregnant. Diagnosis: Samosa-induced food coma. Treatment: Water. Sleep. No more 2 AM snacking."
Percy groaned. "Worth it."
Honey sighed. "I told you not to eat seventeen samosas."
"YOU TOLD ME TO EAT FOUR!"
"I SAID FOURTEEN!"
"SEVENTEEN IS CLOSE!"
---
Jay leaned against Keifer, laughing so hard her belly shook. "Our family."
"The best family."
"I love them."
"I love you."
She kissed his cheek. "I love you too. Even when Percy thinks he's pregnant."
"Especially when Percy thinks he's pregnant."
---
The rest of the day, Percy slept on the couch.
Honey brought him water. Akshi brought him a blanket. Shreya brought him antacids.
He accepted them all gratefully.
"I'm not pregnant," he whispered.
"We know, babe."
"But I could be. Someday. If science advances."
Honey kissed his forehead. "I'll be the first in line."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
---
That night, everyone gathered for dinner.
Percy was still recovering.
He ate carefully. Small portions. No samosas.
Jay watched him. "How are you feeling?"
"Empty. But not with baby. With samosa."
She laughed. "Get some rest."
"I will."
He paused.
"But if I wake up with cravings—"
"No more samosas."
"FINE."
---
Percy raised his glass weakly. "TO NOT BEING PREGNANT!"
Honey sighed. "Percy, that's not a toast."
"IT IS NOW!"
"TO NOT BEING PREGNANT!" everyone echoed.
Jay leaned against Keifer.
"Best family ever."
"Best chaos ever."
She kissed his cheek.
The chaos continued.
But for one moment—
Everything was perfect.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Thirty Five