CHAPTER 10 - JAMUNS AND JALEBIS

After 8 months of her marriage, being permitted to visit her parents for a few weeks was Aliza's biggest achievement yet. Though she couldn't get her in-laws to allow her to travel alone to visit Ahmed, she got contended that at least she earned two weeks of freedom. She could finally wander around her house without covering her head all the time. She need not cook or clean either. She was overwhelmed with joy that she packed for three weeks instead of two and forgot to pack Ahmed's gifted saree with her.

When her father came to pick her up, she jumped in joy like a kid and thanked her fortune. She reminded her in-laws of their medicine schedule and handed over her housekeeping duty to Sara, who faintly heeded what Aliza said. She kept chatting all her way back home, and as soon as she reached, she ran towards her mother and hugged her, who was overwhelmed with joy. After the day of her marriage, Aliza finally enjoyed her royal treatment again. She did not have to move an inch for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Her ammi brought everything to her bedside and fed her up, and she barely let her pick anything from the floor. Aliza felt she was not so carefree even in her childhood.

While Aliza was enjoying her newfound liberty when it lasted, her sister-in-law, who was fuming in jealousy, never missed an opportunity to take a dig against her.

'So lucky you, Aliza. You are living your best life. Look at me rot in this place. I wish I got a vacation too.'

'But Bhabhi. You visit your parents very frequently. Don't you?'

'Aha, how I wish. But my in-laws aren't as considerate as yours.' She smirked. She was completely aware of the Ahmed family rules and how her in-laws' place is so liberal as opposed to Aliza's. Yet she had to take a jibe at Aliza to see her wince at her comments. It gave her a strange satisfaction and a feeling of authority over her.

In a few days, Aliza would be packing again to return to her in-laws' house, and she had already started showing symptoms. She felt extremely nauseous about the thought of returning and started sweating excessively. She did not have an appetite, nor did she have her periods on time. She was feeling extremely lightheaded and anxious, which was unlikely to be just her apprehension about returning home. When Aliza spoke about this, her ammi brought her a pregnancy kit and instructed her how to use it. Aliza also knew that if it showed two red streaks, it meant all their wishes would come true, which it did. The streak, which faintly appeared pink, turned into a bright red line against another. She was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for confirmation, and the doctor confirmed that Aliza's baby was 12 weeks old and she was on cloud nine. That explains why she had only spotting for the last two months, which she had mistaken for her weak general condition.

That evening, a celebration broke out in Aliza's family. Her parents rejoiced, and even Humaira was elated.

'Congratulations, Aliza. I am going to be a Mami. I will make sweets for all today.' Humaira, who couldn't have her children, was finally truly happy for Aliza once. It was probably the yearning that she had inside her all those years. She made gulab jamun and jalebi to celebrate the occasion. Lost in her wonderland, Aliza finally returned to her senses and realised she now had new problems to deal with. Will her in-laws allow her to travel to Bangalore now that she is carrying their precious heir? And how long must she wait now? Probably, more than a year or never. Aliza will have to find a way.

To be continued…

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