20th July 2017

Lewisham, United Kingdom.

"I like this place better than your campus hostel." Devi says looking around Shree's newly rented apartment in Lewisham, a quiet and peaceful suburb outside the busily bustling London. It was a slightly warm day when Devi, Lakshmi and Shyaam had visited Shree in her new apartment, unannounced.

"Yeah and you have like one whole room for yourself!" Shyaam says stretching on the sofa.

"The old 2-bedroom apartment had four occupants: two girls in each room. I had to share my hostel bedroom with another girl. It was already well occupied. You'd probably need more space for the baby's things and a baby isn't going to be quiet." Shree says as she brings a plate of cookies from the kitchen.

Shree was almost six months pregnant. Her stomach was round but rock hard, with over a million nerve endings. Her body was now curved in places where it never had been. Her baby bump was very visible through her clothes- which hardly fit her anymore. Thankfully, she had enough money to buy a few maternity tee-shirts and stretchable jeans. Shree had also cut her hair short, very short much to the shock of Lakshmi and Yashoda.

"So, somewhere around May, I did a favour to all of them and moved out. Olivera moved out with me as well. She needed space and I needed some form of company- also I don't have to worry about paying the full rent. She pays half and I pay the other half."

"True. It's a bit expensive than the campus rent but we have so much space and independence. And peace! I no longer need to tolerate my roommate's snores. The entire apartment wakes the second Helga Thornberry starts snoring." Olivera says bringing a tray of hot cocoa.

"Ma, you remember Olivera right?" Shree asks Lakshmi as she takes a seat beside Shyaam.

Olivera Jiménez was one of Shree's old roommates. She was a twenty-three-year-old Spanish lady with dark curly hair and a fair complexion. Her protruding nose and the emerald green eyes are the most significant features of her large rounded face. She had a passion for sea life and is currently doing a degree on marine biology at the University of London.

"Of course! You've told me so much about her!" Lakshmi says eating the cookies laid out on the coffee table. "These cookies- God! They taste so good! Where did you-"

"Shree made them!" Olivera says. "She has a business of her own, Happy Cookies, and she supplies cookies to almost all the groceries of Lewisham."

"It's nothing. Just a temporary business venture to earn more money!" Shree shrugs. "Do you like the cookies, Ma?"

"Like?" Devi exclaims with a mouthful of cookies. "They are fucking amazing! Devuda, we were wrong to label you Maharashtra's worst chef! What else can you make?"

"I can make a good Gazpacho soup and a traditional Spanish paella. Olivera's mother thought me when she visited us two months ago. A decent turkey soup and some tortillas too." Shree says shrugging. "I made some rice with minced chicken and a spicy lamb stew for dinner."

Shree struggled in the first few weeks at the campus hostel in London. She no longer woke up to a warm cup of tea near her bedside table. She had to make it herself- and that too she struggled a lot. It took her several failed attempts before she could make a fine cup of tea. She realized that she herself had to provide herself with everything.

She would call Madhav so many times per day; sobbing and hoping he would pick up. He declined most the calls, while he let the a few calls ring until it got cut. He didn't see her emails or the messages she sent on Whatsapp, Facebook and Instagram.

Three months later, on a stormy night, something in Shree snapped. She decided that there was no point in trying to reach for him- he would never speak to her. She wiped her wet eyes and took a deep breath. That was the last day his number was on her phone. She blocked him everywhere else on social media.

"Boy! That's a lot of food you can cook, bhabhi!" Shyaam says impressed.

"Indeed!" Remarks Lakshmi. "How is the baby, Shree? Are you going for your check-ups regularly?"

"Yes. The doctor said the baby is healthy. I'm due on October, a few days before my birthday." Shree says smiling. "She revealed the baby's gender too."

"Is-is that legal?" Lakshmi asks surprised.

"Apparently, it is." Shree says. "It's illegal only in India and some other countries. But not here."

"Don't tell us, right now!" Devi exclaims. "Shyaam and I have a bet running. He says it's going to be a girl, but I think it's going to be a boy. Whoever is right gets 1000 Rupees."

"You're going to lose!" Shyaam murmurs drinking a mug of hot cocoa. "It's a girl!"

"Yeah, as if Akka's doctor told you in person!" Devi whips at him.

"I don't need a doctor to tell me." Shyaam says. "I mean look at your sister. The bump is close to her chest, which usually implies it's a girl and she's probably craving for sweet things than spicy ones. Aren't you, bhabhi?"

"Is this competition even necessary? I really want to reveal the baby's gender!" Shree says smiling.

"No! It's important! I need to prove this little madam that she can go wrong." Shyaam says eying Devi.

"And I want to remind Shyaam what a sad loser he is." Devi says smirking.

"Okay, find out in another three more months." Shree sings as she drinks her hot cocoa.

Lakshmi laughs. "Did you get that nursery bed Mr. RK sent last month." Shree nods. "Good, because he later realised that it would be difficult for you to assemble it given your condition and your lack of-"

"No. I assembled it." Shree says wiping her lips. "Oli and I finished assembling it last night itself."

"You did?" Lakshmi asks in surprise. "Are you sure you assembled it properly? No lose nuts? Nothing placed wrong?"

Shree shakes her head.

"Why don't you get someone to check? Shyaam?" She turns to Shyaam. "It's the room to your right. The one with the beige door."

Shyaam gets up and goes to into Shree's room. Devi stands up.

"I want to see your room, may I?" Devi asks and as Shree nods, she excitedly walks into her room.

"Whoa!" She gasps as she enters Shree's room. "This place is so tidy. I've never seen her room this tidy. Look! She has all her notes in place and her dirty clothes aren't on the floor."

Their messy bedroom in their Chembur Apartment comes to Devi's mind. It was a real mess, with notes, comics, lying all over the room. Washed and unwashed clothes would be piled up on the chairs, or the bed or on the floor. Their makeup and perfume bottles were scattered throughout the room.

Devi says and plops down on the bed. "The bedsheets smell so good. It's so neat and tidy!"

"I'd say perfectioned." Shyaam remarks looking around. "Look at how the things in her study table is positioned! Books stacked according to height order, laptop on the epicenter, cordless mouse perpendicular to the table's side, and all the freaking pencils are sharp! Damn she's changed a lot. Even bhai'saab isn't this perfect!"

"She's changed a lot." Devi remarks looking at the bedside table. "She's cooking and tidying, doing her own laundry and did you look at her hair? She just chopped it off to a tomboy cut!"

"She's a very different person." Shyaam says as he looks at the nursery bed Shree had assembled. "Maybe it's that period of transition everyone goes through, where they get rid of their flaws and imperfections to emerge as a new, more competent person; sort of like an improved and upgraded version of themselves."

"Everyone is changing. Akka is neater and more responsible. She's going to become a mother soon. Amma is more tired and weak- her hair is graying and she's reaching menopause. You are working at Mumbai's best law firms and you are starting to make a lot of sense." Devi murmurs as she sits up on the bed. "But I'm still the same old me."

"I disagree. You are spending more time with me than never before, you aren't getting irritated whenever I'm around, and you are voluntarily talking to me!" Shyaam adds as he sits on the bed beside her. "Are you falling in love with me, Ms. Prasad?"

"You wish, Mr. Ramakrishna!" Devi smirks, as she tries to stop herself from blushing.

"Darling, that's the one thing I wish for every single day." He says as he holds her hand.

"You're wasting all your wishes on one woman." Devi whispers.

"I know, but she's worth it." He whispers back and sees her smile. "But am I of any worth for her? Will she love me or keep me waiting forever?"

"We'll have to wait and see I suppose." Devi says and pulls her hand from his.

"Okay, imagine this. I am the last man on this planet. Will you then consider falling in love with me?"

"Hmmmm, we'll see about that when that happens." Devi says smiling.

"I'll take that for a yes, then." Shyaam whispers smiling.

"Again, that's your wish!" Devi says getting off the bed. 

To be continued....

This is where everything changes. This is the turning point for everyone and everything is bound to change from here. Also, prepare yourself to meet Shree and Madhav's baby- another important main character.

Stay in touch! I'll see you in London with Chapter 34!

Glossary 

Devuda- (in Telugu) God 

Gazpacho- A spanish cold soup made of raw, blended vegetables. 

Bhabhi- sister in law

Paella- One of the best-known rice based dishes in Spain

Tortilla (Spanish omelette or Spanish tortilla)- A traditional dish from Spain and one of the signature dishes in the Spanish cuisine. It is an omelette made with eggs and potatoes, optionally including onion.) 

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