Chapter 2: The First Hurdle
It started with a dull ache in her lower back. Meera assumed it was because of the long hours standing at school. But when the pain persisted into the weekend, joined by a sudden wave of nausea and an unusual heaviness, she decided to call the doctor.
“Some backache is common,” the doctor said over the phone. “But if it gets worse, come in. Don’t ignore even small symptoms during the first trimester.”
Later that night, Meera noticed a faint stain on her undergarment. She froze.
Blood.
It wasn’t much. But it was enough to terrify her. She sat in the bathroom, hands shaking, heart racing. Her thoughts spiraled into panic. Was she losing the baby? Was this a sign?
She called out to Aarav.
Within minutes, they were in a cab to the hospital.
After an emergency ultrasound and a tense hour of waiting, the doctor finally spoke.
“It looks like a threatened miscarriage,” she said, gently. “But the heartbeat is there. You need complete rest for now. We’ll put you on hormonal support. No stress, no lifting, no travel.”
Meera felt the blood drain from her face. She had imagined pregnancy to be glowing cheeks and baby shopping. Not this. Not fear at every turn.
The next few days were a blur. Her school granted her leave. She remained mostly in bed, supported by cushions and propped on one side. Her mother-in-law didn’t take the news well.
“Kya zamana aa gaya hai,” Shanta Devi muttered. “Hamare zamaane mein toh auratein kheton mein kaam karti thi, aur yeh… bed rest?”
Meera bit her lip. She knew better than to argue.
Aarav tried to help but was often caught between his mother and his wife. He worked late. He checked in with calls. But Meera missed him. She missed being seen.
The loneliness of it all began to sink in.
She avoided looking at baby clothes online. She stopped scrolling through pregnancy tips. Each day, her world shrank to the size of her room.
But she never stopped praying.
Every night, as she lay on her side, she whispered, “Stay with me. Please, stay.”
And in the silence, she hoped the baby could hear her.
