52. Mayavan

                                    

                                          
The rishis had been promised shelter by us, so they would stay with us all this while. 
In this time, I have successfully made more plans for the future. 
Because apparently I still haven't learnt that nothing goes to plan in life. 
The other day, Yudhishthir brought more fruits for me to try. 
I am pretty sure I was around sixteen weeks now, considering that my puking had thankfully stopped. Lucky me, since it doesn't for many people. 
" Here you go. " Yudhishthir said, handing me a leafbowl full of fruits. 
"Thank you, come sit. " I, said patting the ground next to me. 
"So, what's your verdict. A girl or a boy. " He asked, pulling my head to his shoulder. 
"How would I know? I'm not a doctor." I said nonchalant. 
" Yes, I know that. But mata says mothers usually know and they are right most of the time. " 
"Well, let's see then. " I said, popping six grapes into my mouth. 
"Hmmm... I feel very happy, so definitely a boy. My mind says boy. I want a boy. " I said, smiling at him. 
" I understand that you want a boy... Why not a girl? " He said and I laughed. 
"No no. I have no qualms about the child being a girl... Unlike many people in our time. " I muttered. If anything, it had become harder for me to control my emotions. 
" What do you mean by that? " He asked calmly, stealing a few grapes from me. 
" My food. " I said, moving the bowl away from his hands. 
"Our child. " He said, holding my stomach, where resided our baby in a nearly invisible bump. 
" Yes yes. Alright. " I said, handing the fruits back. 
" Anyways, what about those other people? " He asked, munching on a carrot. 
"Well, in many parts of Bharat, many families kill the girl child, either illegally before she's born or after. " I said. Now, as I said, pregnant equals me being an emotional wreck. 
"What do you mean? You can know the gender before the child is born? "
"It's not allowed, but yes, you can. Many people in the greed for a son kill the female child. Some, who are refused by the doctors do it later. " I said, now sniffling. 
" That's absolutely cruel! If you worship Devi Lakshmi how can you kill her own form! " He asked. 
" Well, that's how it is. Laws are made, but for a thief no law is too hard and no prison to difficult. They still do it, worst of all, many healthcare professionals do it, some under the fear of being killed off by goons and some under the greed for money. " 
"But why such a demand for a son, if there has to be one born, it will be born, either way. " 
"No one seems to accept that. It's as if the mother is wrong when she's not. If anything, the parents of the fathers should blame their own son for sending the wrong gene. " I said, scrunching my nose. 
" This is absolutely horrible. I'm glad we're having this child here. " He said, bending to hold my hand close to his." 
" Yes, but my family wasn't like that. We have two daughters in the family Yudhishthir. " I said, smiling. 
"But this is so cruel. Chemically altering a woman's womb. Doesn't that have repercussions? " 
"It does, no one is willing to listen. "