Chapter 4: When the Body Betrays
The third trimester began with restless nights and swelling ankles. Meera often found herself awake at 3 AM, lying in bed with a heavy belly and heavier thoughts. The baby kicked frequently now — some days soft, like a flutter; others, strong and almost painful.
Her doctor warned her about gestational hypertension.
“Your blood pressure is slightly elevated. We need to monitor it carefully,” she said during the check-up.
“Should I be worried?” Meera asked, her hands resting over her bump protectively.
“Not yet. But keep checking your BP at home. Rest more. Stress less.”
Stress less — the phrase felt like a cruel joke.
At home, the tension was constant. Shanta Devi’s dissatisfaction loomed over everything.
“You sleep too much. How will you manage when the baby comes?”
or
“Tumne toh sirf complain karna seekha hai. Pregnancy koi bimaari thodi hoti hai.”
One evening, after climbing a single flight of stairs, Meera collapsed onto the sofa, breathless. Her heart raced. The world tilted slightly.
Aarav rushed to her side.
“We’re going to the hospital. Now.”
The doctor diagnosed it as preeclampsia — a condition Meera had read about but never imagined she’d face.
“You’ll need to be on bed rest from now,” the doctor said. “And we’ll likely induce labor early, depending on your blood pressure.”
Meera nodded, her throat dry. The thought of delivering early terrified her.
She was admitted the following week for monitoring. The hospital room was sterile and quiet, but in its silence, Meera found a strange sense of peace. Away from judgment, she could breathe.
Aarav visited every evening. He brought her books, fruits, and once — a small frame with their wedding photo.
“Home will wait,” he whispered. “Focus on yourself now.”
And for the first time in weeks, Meera let herself cry. Not from fear. But from relief — that someone saw her, truly saw her.
Outside, the world remained loud and demanding. But inside this room, Meera was learning to listen to her own voice.
The body may have betrayed her. But her spirit — was still fighting.
