Chapter 6: New Ties, Old Fears

A month crawled by—lawyers, paperwork, endless cups of chai. Finally, the divorce was official. With the certificate in hand, the heaviness lifted.

Neha, three months pregnant, needed weekly checkups. Ma and Dad came along, fussing over her. At the high-end hospital, Ma tried to bribe the nurse for the baby’s gender. When the doctor confirmed it was a boy, the house erupted in celebration—laddoos, sweets, Ma placing a coconut at the tulsi.

That afternoon, sunlight danced in the house. I proposed to Neha, promising a grand wedding. She hesitated, biting her lip, worried—“What if the baby isn’t healthy?”

She feared birth defects, replaying the night we drank too much. I laughed, hugging her. “Pagli, doctors would have told us.” Still, she was anxious—“What if we’re unlucky?”

Her fear that I’d abandon her and the baby broke my heart. I realised she wanted security. After some thought, I offered her 20% company shares. She stared, eyes brimming, “You gave Priya everything, but me only 20%? Am I that worthless?”

She didn’t care about money—she wanted to know who mattered more. I upped the offer to 40%. She still looked sad—“It’s all just numbers. I envied Priya because she got a real home.”

I offered her my bank card, but she shook her head, remembering Priya’s words: “You have no right to enjoy this bungalow.”

I realised her pain was deeper—humiliation, not money. I promised her my parents’ bungalow. She gasped, protested, but I insisted, pulling my parents aside. After much grumbling, they agreed—“Sab kuch beta ke liye.”

Ma comforted herself—“Once she has a child, her heart will be tied down. The bungalow will still be Sharma family’s.”

With the house and shares in her name, Neha brightened, singing around the house. I felt at peace—everything was perfect, just waiting for our son.