Just before Shreya was wheeled in for delivery, she clasped both my palms and sniffled, "If something untoward happens, promise me you will take care of the baby.” “This sounds so filmy,” I chuckled.

Seeing her tear-stricken face, I lightly patted her shoulder and wet cheeks. "Don't worry; you will be fine. I will always stand by you."

Maa was still upset with Shreya for marrying without her consent. 

I walked to the canteen for a cup of coffee. I needed something to wake up my senses. As I sipped the bitter brew, my mobile buzzed. And before I could even utter ‘Hello,’ her voice boomed.

"This is just not fair, Shreyas. You had promised marriage in a year—first, your dad's issues, your illness, and now this. I can't wait any longer. Please understand. Pappa is not keeping well and he wants to see me married. I am calling this off." Her words seared into my heart like a double-edged dagger.  I knew this was coming when Nidhi deleted all our pictures from her Instagram account.

My fingers rolled into a ball as I closed my eyes. A lone tear escaped my eye. I wiped it away but couldn’t resist the tightening sensation in my throat.

 Nidhi’s oval-shaped face, round expressive eyes and the way her hair fell on her face as she tilted her head kept flashing in my mind. We had hit it off together at college and had gone steady for eight years. Life’s googlies kept me from committing to her. I pressed my temples hard as my head began to throb. I downed another cup of strong coffee. It helped me wash down my thoughts, albeit temporarily. 

Now my agitated mind drifted toward Shreya’s wayward husband. My nostrils flared up. “I will deal with him later.” Cracking my knuckles, I paced up and down the corridors.

Papa's sudden demise had shattered me. I loved him immensely. The way his aquiline nose scrunched up at my antics and his thin upper lip almost disappeared when he smiled proudly at my achievements will stay with me forever.

The stressful work added to my bundle of woes. I didn’t realize when I had slipped into depression. It took me almost a year to come out of it.

Nidhi had patiently waited for me to untangle my knots. However hard I tried to free myself of the tangles, their hold only got firmer.

"It's a boy", the nurse chirped, holding up the little bundle, breaking my chain of thoughts.

My hands trembled as I held the baby. The aquiline nose scrunched up and the thin upper lip almost disappeared as the baby yawned. “Papa!” A gasp escaped my lips.

His tiny pink fingers coiled around my finger. I watched in awe as he moved his legs in circles. A sudden feeling of warmth enraptured my senses making me smile and cry.

“Sister, please click a picture of me with my life’s best googly.” I bubbled with excitement.