69. Opening Up To Her!

Arjun’s PoV

The moment she stood up from the chair and came running to me with a beautiful smile that always took me off guard, I forgot the past week where I literally had to keep seeing her picture at least to get my day going. Her absence in the house was terrible not only to me but also to granny. Though Anika said her goodbyes to granny, she doesn't remember that well and kept asking me about her which added to my agony. Everytime, I had to explain to her that Anika had to visit her parent’s place.

For the whole week, I wanted to call her, hear her voice, or atleast message her to know if she is settled but I restrained myself from doing it. I thought to give her space to breathe just like she said. Though I wished to know her status out of care, I don't like her thinking that I am breathing on her neck. I had done enough damage and she had said enough hurtful things to me. I wish atleast from now on, we should try not to hurt each other, especially now, as she is pregnant with our baby.

In the floral print floor length skirt and the vibrant blue blouse with a 3/4th sleeve, she looked like an angel. I have always seen her in saree, salwar and pajamas, and this new look completely made me drool on my wife. But we are now trying to be friends, remember? I made sure that she doesn't notice me ogling her. I tried to be casual in the talks and I hate it that it is a ladies hostel as I could not go in anywhere near her and was bound to sit in the reception.

She came back to me in less than ten minutes after having her breakfast and almost immediately pulled me out to the car. On the way, I wanted to look at her and talk to her but was afraid to do so as I may say the wrong thing and upset her mood. But eventually, after so many tries, she started talking to me. It was actually funny to see her look at me, then turn to the window and then look at me again, lean towards me and all this to make a conversation with me. I really like the time I am with her. She made me feel like a teenager and I love it, for once I dont have to worry about the business and this complicated relationship we have but to just enjoy the moment and live in it. I saw her super jealous side and it was kinda cute.

In the clinic, as we had a prior appointment and the doctor is very close to our family, she called us as soon as the receptionist informed her about our arrival. She took some blood from Anika for a blood test. As the doctor poked her in her arm on the vein, she grabbed my hand and squeezed it, closing her eyes tight. I held her hand and stood near her loving her more every passing minute. The doctor checked her blood pressure and after everything was normal she asked Anika for her urine sample to confirm.

“Congratulations, Arjun. I am so happy to see you happy.” The doctor told me as soon as Anika went out to the restroom.

“Thank you, doctor. Is she fine? Everything ok?”

“Haha, relax, Arjun. I am yet to see her. But looking at her, she looks perfect. Let the blood work come in and the urine test too.”

“Ok, we are five weeks in, is there anything special I should do to take care of her?”

“Pregnancy is not a disease or condition. It happens to every female on this planet. You don't need to do anything special, Arjun. Let her be normal. That should do!”

“Come in!” The doctor said as she heard the door knock. Anika came in.

“Did you leave the sample at the desk with your name on it?” The doctor asked her.

“Yes, doctor.”

“Let’s look at the baby through a scan and see how many weeks the baby is.”

“The baby is five weeks old, doctor.” Anika said.

“Oh, if it is so, let's see if we can hear the baby’s heartbeat first.” The doctor made Anika lie on the bed and applied a gel on her tummy.

“This is called Fetal doppler, it is an ultrasound fetal heartbeat monitor. It will help you hear the baby’s heartbeat.” The doctor explained as she rolled the device on her tummy. The device was connected to a speaker-like thing and when she pressed it on a particular spot, we heard the heartbeat of our baby. It was wonderful to know that there is a little heart that is inside of her and I am the father of the little heart.

“Hmph, it is 135 beats per minute. Your baby is very active, fast and healthy.” The doctor said.

“Thank you, doctor. Is that it? We don't need a scan?” Anika asked.

“No, we will scan the baby three time in a pregnancy. Once in every trimester. We have three trimesters, twelve weeks per trimester. We consider the baby full term when you hit 36th week. But the baby may not come until 40 weeks.”

“Ok!” We then went to the lab downstairs for the scan. The nurse practitioner showed us our baby and all I wanted to do was to kiss her on her forehead for giving me all this divine feeling which I thought is impossible even in dreams in this life.

“The blood work came in, Arjun. Anika, you are very anemic, you need to take in iron tablets until our next visit to boost it up. We will check for your iron level in blood next time and if it has improved, you may stop the tablets and start eating iron rich food. Other than that, you are perfectly alright and normal.”

“Thank you, doctor.” We took leave from the doctor’s office and walked to the car as our shoulders rub, making sparks fly around us. I had to try hard to keep my hands to myself.

“Anamika, is everything alright?” I took the phone as soon as I saw the number.

“Arjun, are you busy?”

“No, tell me.”

“Arjun, I want to see you. This procedure is too much for me and I always go back and forth in my mind about this decision.” She sounded worried. Her counselor is in constant touch with me updating her state of mind.

“Anamika, listen to me. You deserve a life and I am here to make sure you get it without any judgement. Stop thinking about the money I am spending on you. It is nothing. I can make that money in a month or two. Also don't concentrate on the pain you are going through now. Just think about the bright life waiting for you after you are done.”

I know how harsh these procedures are on her. She has already been through vaginectomy, hysterectomy and mastectomy. Precisely, removal of all the girl parts from her body. Now they are prepping her for a phalloplasty. The testosterones are making her voice break and turn it more like a man’s voice. The doctors told me that her body is accepting everything well and she is even starting to get facial hairs.

“I know, Arjun. But do I really deserve this? I made your life miserable and stained your reputation. I feel so guilty to accept this from you.”

“Shhh, relax, Anamika. I am now happily married with my wife and I have happy news to share with you. Anika is pregnant. So, you see, I am happy. Nothing has happened to me or my life. I think things happen for a reason. Maybe you came into my life to bring Anika to me. Don't be hard on yourself. Your mental strength is very important.”

“I am really confused, Arjun. I am feeling lost. The fact that I am finally breaking out of this body and changing to my original self is overwhelming but at the same time I am afraid of this society. What would my mom and dad do if they knew this?”

“Stop fearing for this society, Anu. Don't be afraid to be yourself. This is your life and you don't have to live a life that you don't like just for the sake of your parents. You don't need their approval just because they brought you into this world.”

“Thank you, Arjun. How long do I have to stay here? Will you come with me to see my parents?”

“You still have to stay there for a week to complete the procedure. Then you need at least six weeks for your recovery. You need to visit the doctors more often in those six weeks to make sure that you get no infections. Then you will be a complete man. And yes, I will come with you!”

“So I can see my parents next week?”

“No, Anamika. You will have to stay there until you finish all your follow up check ups. So two more months to see your parents.”

“Ok, thank you again, Arjun. You are my savior.”

“Don't mention it, Anamika. Choose a name for yourself. We shall do the name change in the gazette.”

“You name me, Arjun. I am born out of you. Only you have the right to name me.” I can hear her get emotional. At this point I really feel him as my first son!

“Anand! You will be Anand! Do you like this name?”

“Yes!” I heard him sniff.

“Alright, Anand. I have to go. Call me anytime! Bye.” I hung up on him and turned to Anika. I spoke to Anand on a loudspeaker in the car with Anika sitting by my side. Her eyes were pouring and she saw me with a stoic face. I think she needs time to process this information and maybe some explanation from my side.