25 December 2015 - 8.00am
Bhalla Residence

Ishita sat on the edge of her bed, trying to suppress the wave of nausea that was threatening to sweep over her, as Ruhi looked at her through sleep drenched eyes.

"Aap theek ho mumma?
(Are you okay mumma)

Her sweet little-girl voice was full of concern at the sight of her mothers wan face and expression.

Ishita smiled at her daughter, then slid back into the covers of the bed she shared with Ruhi whenever Raman was away.

"Yes beta, mumma bilkul theek hai."
(Yes darling, mumma is absolutely okay)

She ruffled her daughters hair as the sleepy little girl closed her eyes again, and snuggled into her mothers arms.

Ruhi had started to call her mumma more and more during the past year, the Ishima tag now only being used occasionally. Ishita had been touched by the change - and by the implication behind it.

She had started out as a friend before she became Ruhi's mother, and had then graduated to her friend/mother, her Ishima, but she realized that for now, her little girl needed a mother. She needed to feel loved and cocooned in the special love that only mothers could give. They would become friends again later, when Ruhi became a teenager. Right now, she was just mumma.

She wondered how Ruhi would react to the new baby, and to being an older sister.

Ruhi was such a sweet child with a loving soul that Ishita had no doubt that everything would ultimately work out for the best, but would there be insecurity, jealousy and possessiveness along the way? Adjusting to Adi had been a challenge in itself, but Adi was a teenager who shied away from parental attention, and who himself showered his little sister with time and love - Ruhi was still undoubtedly the star of the Bhalla clan. 

But the baby - the baby would be a squawking squealing bundle of need who demanded attention. How would Ruhi adjust to having to share the attention of her parents and family with a younger sibling, with the baby? Her competiveness with Shravu showed Ishita that perhaps Ruhi might take some time getting used to the idea of having a baby in the home.

The baby. Ishita sighed and cradled her stomach with her free hand, the other still stroking Ruhi's forehead.

It was still so difficult to comprehend, to take in. She was actually pregnant, right after they had given up hope, right after she had reconciled herself to her, to their, dream remaining just that, a dream.

She had called her obstetrician after leaving Dr Sharma's clinic the previous day, still unable to accept what she had been told. Dr Asha had looked at the results she had emailed, and had laughingly and happily confirmed the news to her. She had then made an appointment to see Dr Asha on the 28th of December, the day after Raman's return to Delhi. There was no way that she would do this alone  - she needed her Raman with her, by her side.

Raman. Ishita frowned as she picked up her phone, trying her husbands number yet again. The phone was unreachable, as it had been half an hour ago.

She had last spoken to him the previous afternoon, but after asking her how she was, he had told her he had to return to his meeting when she assured him she was fine, and had cut the call.

He had sounded terse, and she had wanted to call him back later that night to check whether everything was okay with his new business deal, but then both parents and children had demanded her attention when she got home, and time had slipped away.

He had called twice that evening but she had missed his calls, busy with getting Adi packed for his visit to Shagun and Ashok's Barbados home for the new year holidays, trying to get Ruhi to decorate the Christmas tree, and dealing with the complaints of her mother and mother in law, who were enmeshed in their latest tiff.

And when she had called back, his phone was unreachable.

Amma and mummyji and their fights always took up so much of her time, she reflected with a frown. And when it led to her missing her husbands calls, then those petty tiffs weren't so funny or cute anymore. Something would have to be done.

But maybe the baby would bring them together, she mused. Their mutual grandchild. If anything could bring about a truce between Punjab and Chennai, it would be the baby. She could hope so, at least.

"Mumma"

Ruhi had opened her eyes again.

"Hmmm" she replied, caressing her daughters soft cheeks.

"Kya soch rahi ho? Papa ki yaad aa rahi hai?
(What are you thinking of? Are you missing papa?)

"Haan, papa ki aur Christmas ki" She replied brightly. "Aaj Christmas hai na, aur aap ne toh Christmas Tree decorate hi nahi kiya tha kal. Tree decorate nahi karenge toh Santa Claus ne jo presents laya unhe kahan rakhenge?"
(Yes, I'm thinking of your papa and of Christmas. It's Christmas today and you didn't finish decorating the Christmas tree last night. And if you don't decorate the tree, then where will we put all the presents that Santa Claus brought?)

"Santa ne mere liye presents laya? Kahan hai? Kya hai?"
(Did Santa bring presents for me? Where? What?)

Ruhi shook off her mothers hand and sat up eagerly, all signs of sleep gone.

"Chalo na mumma. Presents kholte hai."
(Come mumma, let's open the presents)

Ishita laughed as she got out of bed, shooing Ruhi towards the bathroom.

"Presents after lunch, jab Vandu periamma aur periappa Shravu aur Shritija ko lekar aayenge. Now its time for brushy brushy, shower and breakfast young lady."
(Presents after lunch when Vandu aunty and uncle bring Shravu and Shritija. Now its time for brushy brushy, shower and breakfast young lady)

Her gaze strayed again to her phone, as Ruhi ran into the bathroom. Where was Raman?

*****************************************
25 December 2015 - 11.30am
Delhi International Airport

"Thank you Joseph" Raman smiled at his chauffeur as he got into his waiting car, relieved to finally be in Delhi. "I know its Christmas today, and I'm sorry I took you away from your family."

"Koi baat nahi Sir" Joseph replied, as the sleek car purred into life, inching into the teeming Delhi traffic. "Mihir sahib ne call kiya toh mein ne kahan ki mein zaroor aap ko pick karoonga. Church toh mein subah hi chalagaya aur hamari Christmas dinner ka abhi plenty time Sir."
(It doesn't matter Sir. When Mihir sir called, I said of course I will pick you up. I went to church already this morning and there is plenty of time to our Christmas dinner)

"Thank you" Raman repeated. "You can just drop me home, and then go back to your family. Phir aaj zaroorat nahi padegi" (I wont need you again today)

Raman turned to his phone and then muttered in annoyance. The battery was dead. He had not spoken to Ishita since soon after Dr Batra had called him, when she had pretended she was fine. He had ended the call quickly, not wanting to betray Dr Batras confidence, and annoyed with her for hiding her ill health from him. After that, they had kept missing each other's calls, and then he had been in his flight since early this morning.

He hoped she was okay, but a sense of dread would not go away.

Why did she faint? Was it related to her previous head injuries - to the concussion in New Zealand, and then the bump she had received while saving Ruhi from Ashok's bumbling kidnappers? He had been so worried about her then - she had lost her usual chirpiness, her zest for life, had looked so wan and so weak. What if it was a delayed consequence of that?

Please God, he prayed fervently, let it be nothing, please let her be fine.

He looked up as he realised that the Chauffeur was talking to him.

"Kya kaha Joseph? I'm sorry, mein ne suna nahi."
(What did you say Joesph? I'm sorry, I didn't hear)

"Aap ne presents liye hai kya sir? Bachon ke liye. Madam ke liye? Aaj Christmas hai na. Yahan aage mall hai agar aap chahte hai, toh mein rok doon?"
(Have you bought presents for madam and the children for Christmas sir? I can stop at the mall ahead of you want to shop)

"No, no its okay Joseph, thank you. Mein ne shopping kar li hai. Presents hai mere paas. Bas ghar chalte hai."
(No, no its okay Joseph, thank you. I've done my shopping. I have presents. Let's just get home)

He sat back again, and thought about the special present he had for his wife. An appointment at the top fertility clinic in New York.

Only if she agreed, of course.

He knew the unsuccessful fertility treatment she had already had, had battered her physically and emotionally, had taken so much out of her. He absolutely respected the decision she made three months ago not to proceed with further treatment. But he had also seen, since then, the unhappiness that she had been unable to hide from him.

He had felt the sorrow she would mask with a smile at the sight of a baby or toddler. She had missed out on Ruhi and Adi's babyhood, their first steps, their first teeth, the first word, that special baby smell, the joy and pain of carrying a child in her womb, the miracle of birth.

She had so wanted to experience that, and he had so wanted to give her that joy. To wipe from her life forever the disgusting tag of baanj that even now caused her to shudder in remembered pain.

Yes, she said she was content, but the pain in her eyes told  a different tale. To everyone else she appeared content, happy and whole, but he, and he alone, could see the anguish that laced that happiness.

This fertility clinic offered the very latest in technology, had achieved amazing results and he had pulled some strings and had managed to get an early appointment.

He did not know how she would take it when he told her- whether she would accuse him of insensitivity, of not respecting her decision - but he  knew that if there was any chance whatsoever of being able to give his wife the ultimate happiness she craved, then he would fight anything and everything, even Ishita herself, to make sure that her dream came true.

So he would broach the topic and incur her wrath. But first he needed to see her and find out why she had collapsed. Needed to reassure himself that she was fine. That she was healthy. The alternative was unthinkable.

"Let's just get home Joseph" he repeated.

**********************************************
25 December 2015 - 12.30 pm
Bhalla Residence

"Mummma - Shravu aa gaya, present nooow."

"Ishima - Dekho yeh Ruhi sabkuch mess kar rahi hai." (Ishima, look at this Ruhi she's messing up everything)

"Chithi, what did you get for me?"

"Rinki, I cant eat anymore, really. Ishu, tell Rinki please."

"Puttar, yeh madrassan ko dekho jaise koi shaadi mein aa rahi hai. Red red sari mein." (Child, look at this madrassan. Looks like she is going to a wedding. In her red saree)

"Because its Christmas, you stupid panjaban. Ishu, tum isse keh do, haan. Purinjida." (Ishu, you tell her. Stupid)

"Toshiji . Mehmaan hai hamare."(Toshiji, they are our guests)

"Mihika dance with me. Mihir isn't here so why worry? You know you want to."

"Get away Romi. Idiot."

"Madhu please."

"Bhabhi koi kuch kha nahi rahe hai." (Bhabi, no one is eating anything)

Ishita stood bemused at the entrance to the living room, watching the special Bhalla and Iyer chaos unfold.

Ruhi and Shravu were poised in front of the Christmas Tree, with poor Adi trying his best to hold them back. Ruhi was already wearing half the decorations from the tree, and her frequent kicks and lunges at Shravu, who was teasing her from behind the fake pine, were threatening to bring the beleaguered tree down alltogether.

Rinki was standing determinedly in front of Vandu, who was trying to hold back a squealing Shritija, and Bala, shoving plates of snacks at them, while Romi was trying to pull the unyielding Mihika up to dance to the Bhangra beats that were competing with all the voices.

To top all this off, her Amma and Mummyji were facing off across the dining table, hands on hips, while their husbands were trying in vain to hold them back.

"Akka, please, " Mihika ran up to her. "Stop all this noise na. Aap ki baat sunenge yeh sab "(They will all listen to you)

"I don't know if they all will Miku" Ishita shook her head with a smile, as she walked up to catch hold of her Junior Bruce Lee, pulling her back from the tree and her long suffering cousin. "But let me try."

"Adi, Romi, Mihika, you are in charge of presents please. Please start before yeh Ruhi chuhi ghar ko sar par utha le." (Please start before Ruhi makes a even bigger mess)

"Aur Rinki"she called as the children settled in a heap with their presents. "Bas bhi karo beta. Vandu akka has to maintain her figure." (And Rinki, stop it now sweetheart. Vandu akka has to maintain her figure)

"And now for the biggest challenge " she laughed, as she moved towards her warring elders. "Amma, mummyji..."
She had just touched her mother in law on the arm when yesterdays lightheadedness assailed her again.

"Oh" she gasped, clutching at Mrs Bhalla, as the ceiling dipped ominously toward her.

"Ishita, kya hua Puttar?"Mrs Bhalla turned around in concern.
(Ishita, what's wrong child?)

"Nothing"Ishita whispered. "Mein baith jaaon, I think..." (I think I'll just sit down...)

Her words tapered off as the door was thrust open.

"Raman" she cried out, astounded to see her husband framed in the doorway.

And then as Raman Bhalla strode up to her, she fainted into his arms.

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
And I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas Tree

I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas Day

I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas
Is you
You, baby

Oh I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow
And I'm just gonna keep on waiting
underneath the mistletoe

I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for a Saint Nick
I won't even stay awake to
Hear those magic reindeer click

Cause I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do?
Cause baby all I want for Christmas is you
You

Oh-ho all the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere
And the sound of children
Laughter fills the air

And everyone is singing
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa won't you bring me the one I really need?
Won't you bring my baby to me?
Yeah

Oh I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just wanna see my baby (Yeahh)
Standing right outside my door

Oh I just want you for my own

For my own
Baby

More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby, all I want for Christmas is
You baby

All I want for Christmas is you baby
All I want for Christmas is you baby
All I want for Christmas is you baby