The Curve Between Fairy Lights

By Anna Aneeta Clement

When Kevin and Ann decided to keep it warm between the fairy lights.

It has been one year after our marriage. Kevin and I haven't felt any great difference, other than the news of a new addition in our family; Yes, I am Pregnant.

One year of marriage was a joy ride, settling abroad in London came as a surprise. I wasn't sure of this idea of settling away from home initially, but everything happened so fast, from meeting Kevin through a marriage website and eventually getting married. To be corrected, happily married in the month of October. Ever since our first meeting, there was an instant connection, maybe that is what people call spark; text messages and phone calls soon became an intricate part of life, the spark had us together and we could feel its magic on us.

One year into the marriage and I found my best friend, my comfort zone in him. It was hard to believe that it's already one year, I mean I have never counted days or seconds with him until and unless Facebook reminded us of our first anniversary. However, anxiety knocked in within a week of my pregnancy. I remember asking Kevin, is he ready to be a father? He answered, "Absolutely! It would be fun, I was watching cute baby videos since last few days, and was wishing for one." He asked me, "m I excited?" I replied, "Yes, I am excited, but I am also worried"

He slowly held my hand, gave me his re-assuring, comforting look and with a warm bright smile said, "I can understand, you are not alone in this journey, we will make this world a better place for the little one with you by my side as my forever constant." 

Kevin knew how to handle stress and bring peace in a matter of a second. His eyes spook more than words, and that day they were talking. My reassurance, contentment was right there in him. In his eyes, in his words, in his embrace. I felt blessed.  

During the first trimester, Kevin, who is not at all a reader, was overtly occupied with journals, magazines, books on baby, motherhood, parenting, children and what not. He use to teach me whatever he read on pregnancy or parenting. Even though I am a nurse, but his small efforts made all the difference. I treasure his efforts to make this special for both of us in every way possible. However, inspite of all his efforts, I was badly missing my mom, her level of understanding, and what I was craving the most was her food, especially her special Aviyal, yellow moors curry, and sambhar. Kevin was already doing so much, that I couldn't ask him more.

We as a couple had decided to never compromise our quality time. It could be walk in park or a cup of coffee together, anything which we like doing, we will do it every day. However, after work, I use to get exhausted so instead of going out, we tarted relishing our coffee date in our balcony. Balcony was one what we were looking in an apartment, I still remember how patiently Kevin waited for finding the perfect apartment, apart from finding, he also helped in decorating home, his patience, as well as persistence, has made this home beautiful that is the reason, why every nook and corner of our new home holds lots emotions and memories. The balcony is the one which has been decorated with lot of attention, there is a vertical garden on the right corner, a small white round table with two zebra coloured chairs placed facing the city view. The glass door to the balcony is decorated with fairy lights, and our random silly pictures which we take often for no reason at all helps in changing the pictures on the fairy light strings every month. We also write a special thank you note mentioning something special about each other, those notes are kept in a box, burnt after every three months.

Well, now you may think why so formal, both of us believed in gratitude, we never knew how to be romantic, as we never had any idea about how to be in a relationship until we got married. The arrange marriage system is quite different, but we both believed in little moments of joy, love & gratefulness can help us in building our relationship.

One day after reaching home from work, I was feeling very exhausted, Kevin rushed to the kitchen, prepared some hot coffee and brought it to the balcony.

Kevin: Here is the hot coffee and the man.

Ann (Me):  (Smiles)

Kevin: So, how was your day?

Ann: It was alright, I had few episodes of emesis and I was shifted to Opd for my rest of the duty, by god's grace the warden in-charge is so understanding. So, after 12noon I didn't have any kind of distress.

Kevin: That is great!

Ann: And, you?

Kevin: Well, it was ok, My boss runs with artificial intelligence he doesn't know emotions, he speaks and express in binary numbers.

Ann: You exactly sound like a Robot.The software engineer with a soft heart and hard-hearted computer.

Kevin: Waah! I thought your sense of humour eloped with your pregnancy. (Giggles)

Ann: Yeah, it just came back for a minute to say bye to your bad day.

Kevin: Haha, that wasn't funny at all.

Ann: Is it?

Kevin: Well, it's our off tomorrow, what is the plan?

Ann: I am sorry to inform, my duty got changed with Rita, she urgently had to go to her hometown.

Kevin: What (annoyed) It was our movie day.

Ann: Just for one day. Her mom is sick it seems and is hospitalized.

Kevin: Oh! That is pretty sad.

Ann: I know, right, Rita loves her mom a lot, she goes speechless whenever we speak about parents and family.

Kevin: What happened to her?

Ann: Well, I couldn't exactly ask her what is it? Or I didn't feel it right.

Kevin: True, Moms are truly an emotion we can't see them in pain.

[Ann suddenly slows down, and pause for a moment with watery eyes].

Kevin: Hey! Ann are you alright

Ann: Yeah, weeps slowly

Kevin: calms Ann

Ann can't just stop her rolling tears

Ann: Kevin! I miss my mom

A puzzled Kevin

Kevin: Yes! I can see that. You can talk to me when you feel like sharing, do you need some time?

Ann: I am sorry, Kevin. Since last few days I am missing her badly.

Kevin silently listens to her.

Ann: Ever since the pregnancy report I occasionally feel sad and also I do feel good when you take care of me, still I miss my mom badly.

Kevin: That is alright, my mom also felt the same when she was carrying my brother, she used to feel alone at times. I know how it feels.

Ann: it could be tough to bring her here right, especially for her home is where there is Dad, dad will not come here leaving his estate and rubber.

Kevin: Right, so what can we do now?

Ann: Nothing as such, right!

Kevin: Mmm, I think you should take some rest, we will find some way to sort this out.

Ann: Mmm, but I feel better now.

Kevin: Are you sure?

Kevin's thoughts on Ann And Pregnancy

"After a cry -breakout usually Ann feels better. This was the bitter and sweet part of her mood swings, reactions are too fast. Usually, she prefers sitting alone but somedays she just love being surrounded, the best way to translate her mood is that she is just perfect with any mood after the test result is positive, Ann has perceived her carriage a big fat responsibility all minute tic and toe can make her react hormones and psychological stress. Its first pregnancy, and she might have studied, heard and saw many things about this phase. I had no idea how to make her feel better. Mostly she may be missing her mom and the food, her favourite food is Aviyal, sambhar, and mooru curry typically the sadya. So tomorrow is her duty day and my off. I think I can make her feel better.

After the dinner, she slept early, the morning I prepared her some dosa and dropped her till her workplace. I could feel that pain behind her smile, her eyes are special they are expressive whatever is there in the heart just comes right on her eyes. I smiled and waited until Ann entered the entrance. Going back home now I had to think about two people in different roles one the baby the mom, my wife, and my best friend. I am an ok cook, I can prepare chicken and some vegetable curry. Usually chucks of all recipes which have too many process and ingredients, but I don't want to see her in that face again. I decided to call Ann's Mom. Ann's mom and I have a buddy connection, we make fun, and talk a lot."

Kevin picked his phone and dialled Mom's number.

Mom: Hey, buddy(On the other side of the phone).

Kevin: Hey buddy so how is the pepper and hen farm.

Mom: Pepper is growing, last day Teena and family took 5kg.

Kevin: Oh! Such trade.

Mom: Teena is our kid, I just gave it from our store.

Kevin: For free, Saint.!

So what about the chickens, ready to fry?

Mom: Ayeeda! (A colloquial term used sarcastically)

Kevin:(Laughs) Mom

Mom: Yes! Now there is something serious.

Kevin: Yeah! Ann needs you now, how could you just be there and care only about pepper and chickens. She is like mustard in the oil when she cries

Mom: oh! Did she cry?

Kevin: Yeah, how did you know it?

Mom: You know her well, she is a cry baby.

Kevin: And your cry baby is gonna have a baby.

Mom: So, she is not only pregnant lady, we all have carried, and you are not the only man who is excited to see the first baby. Chill!

Kevin: It's already cold here. not any more!

Mom: OKEY, let us get into the matter. Do you know to bake a cake?

Kevin: No, I don't think so, she may prefer having it.

Mom: Then what do you think, she likes most.

Kevin: I was about to ask that question to you MOM.

Mom: Well, ya gotcha Rocha,aviyal, sambhar, mooru curry, thorran, pullishery the sadyya.

Kevin: Now, you speak like her mom.

Mom: Once a mom will be always a mom. I may sound like beating around the bush but I know to cut the bush too.

Kevin: Like mom, like daughter pathetic humour sense.

Mom: mmm,

Kevin: Well! you have the solution can you just tell me how it is? For sure. Shall I turn on to a video call?

Mom: Okey, anything for my daughter.

Ann's mom's instructions were perfect, she despite her age and body pain spend her precious time to bring her daughter's favourite dishes on the table before she arrives. Everything was perfect but the most important home feeling was still missing. I could make the dishes but the ambience isn't complete.

Ann arrives after work. She opened the door with the spare key, lights were off.

Ann: Kevin, where are you? (Looks out eagerly)

Ann a familiar voice calls her.

Ann: Mom,

Mom: Yes, just look behind on your TV.

Ann looks behind and sees her mom on the PC.

Ann laughs and says

Ann: Mom, this isn't TV. It's a PC.

Mom: Whatever, why did you cry yesterday.

Kevin interrupts: she didn't cry, she was just cutting onions.

Ann looks Kevin annoyingly.

Mom: Stop looking at him like that Ann, you are gonna be a mother and you were crying for your mother.

Kevin giggles, Ann pinches Kevin.

Kevin: Ah that pains.

Ann stares Kevin again angrily.

Mom: Ann! Stop doing that to my son, go be fresh, and let us have dinner together.

Ann: OKEY! Mom.

Kevin's (thoughts) now the ambience is lite. Because home is where Mom is.

Ann freshens up, though the time-zone was extremely different, for that day we prepared the same dishes, sat & dinned together, as usual we clicked a picture together to frame it between our fairy lights.

---

#Pregnancy #Relationship #Marriage