章 41: Congratulations and celebrations, we are so happy would be a mother.

|Innaya|

Clueless...

It was the state whole situation left me in. I did not mean to eavesdrop on their conversation but it happened eventually. The doctor after leaving the room had forgotten to close the door and that only resulted in me accidentally listening to whatever conversation or rather argument going inside.

I could clearly sense the longing and desperation in Eshan's voice as he inquired about me. His friends had grown fond of me and why would they stood up for me, or care about me more than Eshan, was beyond my understanding.

If it was Arjun, I would have understood but Ayush, taking my side was surprising. Why would he lie to Eshan? If Eshan knew that he gets sick after drenching in rain then why would he get drench in the first place? What was so important to him?

The sound of the door slamming shut pulled me out of my reverie. Ayush sat beside me on the bench sighing loudly.

"He is fine. Don't worry."

I nodded silently, relief washing over me like a first rain.

"You don't want to meet him?" Ayush asked when I sat instead of moving inside.

Was I ready to face him? Maybe staying away would be better for time being but I would like to know why Ayush lied to Eshan. With that thought in my mind, I had just started my question, "Why would you—" when Ayush stood up abruptly with his jaw almost hanging open.

I followed the suit and stood up; turning behind to check up on what had instigated such reaction from him. "What the-"

I stared wide-eyed at the commotion happening in front of me. Sahil, Barun, and Sameer held a big bouquet of red roses in their hands along with some shopping bags and Arjun had the big teddy bear of almost of half of his size in a combination of pink, cream and blue colour with him. What surprised or rather shocked me most was the identical biggest grin, all of their faces held.

'Am I hallucinating?'

That question was cleared as all of them approached with quick strides and Arjun engulfed me in a bear tight hug.

"Congratulations!"

"Congratulations, sister-in-law!"

"Let me congratulate her, Arjun."

I suddenly felt dizzy, unable to comprehend anything and moreover, not having anything from the morning was taking a toll on me along with all the tension of the whole day.

"Leave her, you dumb head." Ayush pulled me away from Arjun and briskly guided me somewhere, promptly asking me to sit down as he passed the bottle of water to me. Everything occurred so hurriedly that I had no time in registering anything.

"You okay?" Ayush asked once I gulped down the content of bottle that was orange juice not water to my utter surprise. I sighed as I closed my eyes to gather my senses together.

"What happened to her?" I heard Eshan's concerned voice and some rustling sound.

"Don't get up, she is alright."

I looked up to see Ayush rushing to Eshan's aid who was struggling to get up.

Sameer placed his bouquet beside me on the sofa that I realized I was sitting on before he walked towards Eshan. "What happened to you? Buddy, why are you all hooked up?"

"Excuse me?" Ayush asked what I wanted to.

I wondered why would he ask this, weren't they here to meet Eshan and aware about his condition?

"Oh, I get it. I have heard that it is a woman who suffers from dizziness, fainting, vomiting, but never heard of a man going through the same. God, you are like the eighth wonder," Sahil announced enthusiastically.

What the hell? Had he lost his mind?

"Did you hit your head somewhere?"

Exactly my thoughts, thank you Eshan.

"Shut up. Let us do this properly." Barun interrupted.

Sameer walked back and picked up the bouquet, followed by Sahil and Barun. They all stood in front of me forwarding all the bouquets towards me. Sahil gave annoying look to Arjun who had silently occupied the corner and was watching everything with amusement. Once he noticed Sahil's gaze, he too joined them with that adorably cute teddy bear.

What the hell? Had they all lost their mind? For the love of the God, I couldn't understand what was happening. Why were they behaving so weirdly? Instead of being concerned for Eshan, all of them were hovering over me like honeybees as if I was some sort of sweet nectar for them. Dumbfounded I stared each of their faces one by one.

"Congratulations and celebrations, we are so happy would be a mother."

They almost sang in chorus with so much enthusiasm that I almost forgot what they said until I heard the shocked gasp that came from Eshan.

"Congratulations sister-in-law. Thank you for this wonderful news," Sameer said, handing me that bouquet. Sahil and Barun did the same.

"Thank for giving me my very own niece or nephew," Sahil remarked holding my hands in his, with the childlike enthusiasm.

'Are they for real? Pregnant and me? Which biology class they took? Eshan and me, we didn't kiss yet and they are believing I am going to give them niece or nephew, like seriously.'

The cold water that landed straight on all five of us followed by the shout had me cringing back.

"YOU MORONS-"

Ayush held back the fuming Eshan before he could hurt himself, "What nonsense you all are sprouting. No one is pregnant here."

At his declaration, which I was thankful for, I heard collective gasps from the trio- that excluded Arjun.

"What?" Sameer glared at Ayush as if he lied.

"Ayush told us-" Barun trailed off, looking at Arjun in the end.

"I am not getting my niece or nephew." Sahil looked heartbroken with this revelation and I couldn't help but feel little sad at his fallen expression.

Arjun casually placed the teddy bear beside Eshan's feet on his bed before he pulled me back on the sofa, draping his hand across my shoulder. He accessed all of us with the serious expression before he busted out in loud laughter, with the only difference that no one joined him. I shrugged his hold from my shoulder and stood beside Ayush near Eshan's bed.

Only Arjun knew what was going on, and only he was the one who was having time of his life because no one else found it amusing.

I lifted my gaze towards Eshan's who had murderous look in them, that softened immediately as our eyes met. His brown eyes turned remorseful and he had guilty expression itched all over his face.

Why was he guilty?

"Mind explaining before I am forced to admit you in the mental ward of this very own hospital." Ayush tapped his feet impatiently on the ground, with his hands folded near his chest as he glared at Arjun who by then had sobered up.

"Yes, I will but not now, you will have to wait for a while as visiting hours are over long ago and extended limit we were given is now ending. Only one person is allowed to stay here, even if it is a special room. So people, can you make it fast? Eshan needs rest and he has to eat his dinner too. One more thing I am staying here so Ayush you go home."

"You aren't making any sense."

We all agreed to Sameer. Indeed Arjun wasn't making any sense.

Most importantly, what did he mean by, he would be staying here? Wasn't it obvious I would stay with Eshan if only one person was allowed to stay? Did Eshan ask him that?

I nervously glanced at Eshan to find him frowning at the wall as if he was in some sort of trance. I fisted my fingers tightly, as I fought to not to shed tears but it was proving impossible with each passing second. His sudden indifference caused my heart to clench painfully.

What was happening to us?