Author - Jui Purohit.

  Pavitra pulled her ear lobes and set the ears free. She joined her hands, still looking at the sky from the window. Her baby was in her her lap, yet her heart sank. Her womb felt dry, once again, just like past years. She got lost in trance....to that day, few years ago. Pavitra was feeling nauseous. She had been vomiting since morning. "Kuch kha le", Pratap handed over a bite of paratha dipped in dahi. "Mann nahi hai", Pavitra pushed aside his hand. MIL was watching their conversation and she stepped in. "Pavitra come here", she called her close. "Have you missed your periods this month?", she asked in a low tone. Pavitra nodded with a yes.  MIL hugged her and blew her a flying kiss. "Pratap you are going to be a father soon", she announced clapping her hands in joy. Pratap's father, on hearing this, rushed in too, "Kuldeepak ayega!", he shouted gladly. Pavitra covered her head with her pallu and held the corner in her ...

  "Congratulations! It's a boy", the nurse informed a gang of relatives waiting outside the labour room. The hallway was filled with celebrations.  The catchphrases of "Badhai ho, badhai ho" permeated through the hospital corridors. The weather outside was sunny and bright, as if welcoming the new life. The novel father, Pratap, was overwhelmed with all those wishes. "Saare gaav mei baatne honge", Pratap joyously handed over a bundle of cash to Raghu and sent him to the market to buy kilos of pedha. "Ladka hua hai, kuldeepak aya hai!", said Pratap's father, proudly looking at Pratap's mother. His mother had tears in her eyes. She wiped them with her pallu and again adjusted her pallu over her head. She asked the nurse if she could meet her daughter-in-law. The nurse suggested to wait for an hour, so that patient's stable in order to meet. Later, Pratap and his mother went in, to see the baby boy. Pavitra was sleeping on the bed an...