Naina sat on the hospital bed, nervously fidgeting with the edge of her blanket. Her heart raced as she waited, the faint sounds of the hospital humming around her. Moments later, the door opened, and a woman with kind eyes and a professional demeanor walked in.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Kumari. I'm Dr. Evans," she introduced herself with a warm smile. "How are you feeling now?"
Naina managed a weak smile. "A bit better, but I'm still feeling lightheaded."
Dr. Evans nodded thoughtfully, pulling up a chair beside her. "You fainted due to a combination of fatigue and what might be an underlying issue. We'll need to run some bloodwork and other tests, but before we proceed, I need to ask you a few questions."
Naina braced herself as the doctor began.
"When was your last period?" Dr. Evans asked, her tone calm but clinical.
Naina frowned, mentally calculating. She had always had irregular cycles due to stress, so she hadn't thought much about it. "I think... maybe a month and a half ago?"
"Have you noticed any changes in your appetite, nausea, or unusual fatigue?"
Naina hesitated. "Yes, actually. I've been tired all the time, and the nausea has been on and off. But I thought it was just stress."
Dr. Evans tapped her pen against the clipboard before asking the next question, her tone gentle but probing. "Have you been sexually active recently?"
Naina froze. Her mind instantly flashed back to that one impulsive night-a decision she had convinced herself wouldn't lead to anything more. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and guilt.
"Yes," she admitted in a whisper.
The doctor offered her a reassuring look. "Given your symptoms, I'd like you to take a pregnancy test. It's a routine check when we see signs like these."
The words hit Naina like a thunderclap. "Pregnancy?" she repeated, barely audible.
Dr. Evans nodded. "It's just to rule it out. I'll have the nurse bring a test."
Minutes later, Naina sat in the small restroom adjoining her hospital room, clutching the pregnancy kit in her trembling hands. She followed the instructions, her mind racing. This can't be happening. It was just one time.
When the test was done, she forced herself to glance at the small window.
Two lines. Positive.
Her breath hitched, her chest tightening as the enormity of the situation hit her. Numbly, she returned to her bed, clutching the test like a lifeline.
Dr. Evans entered shortly after, reading her expression before speaking softly. "It's positive, isn't it?"
Naina could only nod.
The doctor handed her a prescription for anti-nausea medication and prenatal vitamins. "You're in the early stages of pregnancy. It's important to take care of yourself. We'll schedule follow-ups to monitor your health."
As the doctor left, Naina sat in silence, staring at the test.
Her life was about to change in ways she couldn't comprehend. How would she tell him-her boss, the man who was the father of her child?
Unknown to her, a pair of watchful eyes had seen her leaving the gynecology office, and her secret was no longer entirely her own.