"Karishma," Jai warned, staring at me from opposite the dining table. I twiddled my thumbs, looking down.

I had called Jai from work, telling him that I had something important to tell him...but I hadn't said a word since he had gotten home. Now I was under his interrogation and scrutinising eyes.

"It's nothing," I said nervously, avoiding his eyes.

I could feel his gaze on me, but I refused to look. It was when I heard his breath of frustration that I quickly looked up, only to see him staring at me with a blank expression.

"If it was nothing, you wouldn't have called me out of work and worried me in the process," he stated, blandly.

I adjusted myself in my seat, feeling awkward. There was a part of me that felt bad for causing Jai to miss work; he was still in his suit but it was all rumpled with his tie loosened and his hair sticking up in random places as if he had been continuously running a hand through it. 

"Um."

I held the small white stick in my hand tighter, my heart beating against my chest like a wild horse ready to jump out.

My throat was parched and I was having a hard time getting the words out.

The only thing worrying me was how Jai would take it and what he would think.

What if he doesn't feel the same?

That thought caused my eyes to widen and I began to chew on my lip more rapidly.

A big part of me was sure that he'd be just as happy as I was...but at the same time, he was unpredictable and the other small part of me was unsure about his reaction.

Letting out a deep sigh and ignoring my sweaty palms, I opened my mouth.

"I'm, uh—"

Jai stared at me, impatiently.

"You're...?"

"—I'm," taking a shaky breath and letting it out, I said, "I'm pregnant."

It was as if I could finally breathe after that. A huge weight felt like it was off my shoulders, but now I was afraid of seeing Jai's reaction.

My whole body froze as I kept my eyes on my hands that were settled in my lap.

I stared at the two lines on the pregnancy stick tester in my hand, fear and excitement creeping up within me as the reality sunk in even further.

I'm going to be a mother.

"What the fuck?"

Jai's loud exclamation caused my head to snap up.

Instead of seeing his eyebrows pulled down and a frown etched onto his face, his eyes were wide with shock, accompanied by a gaping jaw.

"W—"

Before I even had the chance to blink, I was lifted up off the chair and spun around.

Squealing, I wrapped my arms around Jai's neck, burying my face into his shoulder to avoid getting dizzy.

Soon I was put down onto the floor, and I tilted my head back to look up into Jai's sparkling gold eyes that seemed to pierce through me.

His large, warm hands cupped the side of my cheeks encasing them in his gentle hold. He leaned down, placing a soft kiss on my lips.

"Are you serious?" he asked after he pulled away.

I nodded and he let out a disbelieving laugh.

The sound was a deep rumble from his chest and I smiled; it established that everything around me was actually real.

This was really happening. 

"Shit, I'm gonna be a dad?" Jai whispered, his warm, minty breath fanning my lips.

I nodded again, still revelling from the shock myself. I held out the pregnancy tester that I had in my hand, to show him.

He took it and stared down at it. I watched as his long eyelashes cast soft shadows on his cheeks as he observed the item in his hand.

"Two lines mean you're pregnant, right?" he questioned hesitantly. His brows were knitted as he glanced up, watching me carefully.

I nodded, hurriedly and he let out a sigh of relief before chucking the stick onto the dining table as if he didn't care about it anymore.

"Jai, wha—"

Ignoring my exclaim, he pulled me closer and kissed all over my face before I could even complete my sentence. At the sudden affection, a whole set of giggles left my lips.

My eyes, nose, cheeks, lips - nothing was forgotten and I could feel the immense love he always showed me, intensifying in this single moment.

"Stop!" I said through his kisses, the laughter bubbling up.

He pulled away and gruffly chuckled, his eyes trailing my features lovingly.

"I'm just so fucking happy," he said. "This—this is great news!"

Jai ran both hands through his hair in disbelief before a large smile, one I rarely saw on him, stretched across his face.

The rare dimples I'd always loved appeared, winking in and out of his cheek. It was a genuine smile that reached his eyes, causing the sides to crinkle slightly.

In a matter of moments, however, his expression changed to one of curiosity.

He bent his head down to meet my eyes and tilted it, eyeing me. There was no malice or anger in them - just confusion.

"Why were you so hesitant in telling me this?"

I was caught off guard by his question and froze. Tearing my eyes away from his gaze, I bit the inside of my cheek as I racked my brain for an answer.

It was when I felt Jai's gentle but firm hold on both sides of my arms that I relaxed. He ran his hands up and down softly, encouraging me without words to tell him the truth.

"I was scared that you would get mad," I muttered, staring at a point on his chest, feeling a little silly to look up.

Silence.

I looked up just when Jai pulled me into his chest. His hands slid down my arms and to my waist, holding me tightly.

"Scared that I'd get mad?" he repeated against my hair, his voice sending shivers down my spine.

"What did you think I'd do? Kick you out of the house for getting pregnant which was a result of my decision to not use a condom? We both decided that we wanted a child soon so why in the hell would I be mad?"

I frowned. "You really need to stop saying stuff like that!" I said, pushing at his chest in irritation.

He let out an amused chuckle as he raised an eyebrow, staring at me with his intense, piercing eyes.

"What? It's a fact. You'd rather I lie?"

"I'd rather you didn't say anything," I mumbled under my breath and Jai snorted.

"Oh, so you have a tongue now?" he teased and I knit my eyebrows together, glaring at him.

"Stop being a jerk!" I said, trying to pull out of his strong hold.

Jai, chuckling rambunctiously, easily held me back, holding me close to him. Placing a gentle kiss on my cheek, he sent me a lop-sided smirk, the side of his lips tilting up.

"If you stop being a child, maybe I'll think about it."

"Excuse me?" I frowned, not fighting against his hold. "I am not a child."

"You're right," he smirked, "children don't have se–"

"SHH!" I slapped my hand over his mouth, eyes wide.

I could feel myself heating up with embarrassment, but Jai seemed to be enjoying teasing me.

His eyes practically blazed with mischief. Grabbing my hand softly, he pulled it away from his mouth.

I shook my head in fake disappointment, holding back a laugh.

"I can't believe I have to deal with you. Maybe we should settle for a divorce later."

Jai raised an eyebrow, snorting.

"Oh ho, so that's what's running through that head of yours huh?" He narrowed his eyes and grabbed my waist, pulling me closer to him. "Unlike you, I wouldn't even think of leaving you."

I melted at his words but guilt also pooled in me.

"I don't want to leave you either. I was just joking," I clarified.

Jai chuckled. "Well, that's good. I mean, I'd be concerned otherwise."

I rolled my eyes, biting back a smile.

"Hey," his soft voice came from above me.

I looked up to see his eyes suddenly tender and filled with raw affection aimed at me.

To my shock, his pupils dilated right in front of my eyes and I was too mesmerised by that to notice that he was leaning in. Just when he was mere inches away from my lips, he paused.

"I love you," he finally breathed out, a boyish smile making it's way onto his face as he raked my features intensely. "I love you regardless of whether you're childish or not. That's who you are and that's who I fell in love with."

He abruptly stepped away from me, allowing me to release a breath I didn't know I was holding.

I watched in confusion as he bent a little to look at my stomach. With a hand, he rubbed it and kissed it gently.

"And I'm already in love with you, kiddo, so hurry up and grow quickly for your daddy and mommy so we can spoil you."

I didn't know if what I was feeling was normal. My chest began to tighten and lurch - it was an almost sickening feeling but it made me so happy.

I wanted to hug Jai all day but I wanted to cry in my room, fear engulfing me and reminding me of the next step in our lives.

Jai straightened and suddenly looked up, meeting my eyes. To avoid his passionate and lustful gaze, embarrassed, I quickly buried my head into his chest. 

"I love you too. More than anything," I mumbled against the fabric of his suit.

The sound of his chuckle vibrated against my ears as he tightened his grip on me.

"Oh, I know," he whispered. "And next time when you want to tell me something important, try not to make it sound as if you're dying."

"Jai!"