The sun rose over the Shamshabad farm. Warm light slipped through the gaps in the curtains, hitting the floor of the ground-floor bedroom.
Opening his eyes to the quiet morning, Siddanth lay still for a moment before turning his head to the side.
Beside him, Krithika was already awake. Pushing her hands flat against the mattress, she tried to lift her body, but the heavy weight of the twins made sitting up a real struggle. Letting out a tired breath, she abandoned the effort and rested her head back on the pillow.
Slipping the blanket aside, Siddanth moved closer. Supporting her back with one arm and sliding the other beneath her knees, he lifted her from the mattress with effortless ease, holding her securely against his chest.
Krithika draped her arm around his neck. "I can walk," she murmured in a quiet voice.
"I know you can walk," Siddanth replied easily.
Carrying her across the room, he stopped at the bathroom door and set her down gently on her feet. After making sure she had her balance, he reached out and pushed the door open for her.
Once Krithika stepped inside and closed the door, Siddanth did not go back to the bed. Leaning his broad back against the hallway wall, he waited patiently. This had become their standard morning routine for the past few weeks. Staying close ensured he was right there if she happened to slip or need any help.
Ten minutes later, the door handle clicked.
Stepping out of the bathroom, Krithika spotted him waiting by the wall and offered a warm smile.
Taking her hand, Siddanth walked slowly by her side to guide her back across the room. She sat on the edge of the mattress, lifting her legs to lay back down as her husband pulled the blanket up over her shoulders.
"Come here," Krithika said, making a small space. "Cuddle me."
Climbing onto his side of the bed, Siddanth lay down right behind her. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he pulled her back against his chest and placed his hand flat over her large stomach.
They rested quietly together for a few minutes.
Suddenly, Siddanth felt a distinct push against his palm. It was a firm, rolling kick from the inside. A few seconds later, another push pressed against the opposite side of her stomach. The babies were awake and shifting around.
"I feel them kicking," Siddanth whispered in a low voice.
Krithika nodded against the pillow. "They just woke up. They move a lot in the mornings."
Moving his hand slightly over her stomach, Siddanth leaned his head forward near her shoulder.
"Hey," Siddanth spoke to her stomach, his tone taking on a playful, scolding edge. "Stop kicking your mother. You are causing her discomfort. Go back to sleep."
Krithika let out a loud laugh, placing her hand gently over his. "They do not listen to you, Sid. You are wasting your breath."
"They will listen to me," Siddanth stated stubbornly. "I am their father."
Laughing again, she turned her head slightly to look at him. "You act like such a strict man out on the field. But inside this room, you are completely soft."
"I am only soft for you," Siddanth replied smoothly.
They lay together, enjoying the quiet morning peace.
"You know," Siddanth teased softly, brushing a stray hair from her face, "I used to have a very quiet, predictable morning routine before I met you."
Krithika smiled, leaning into his touch. "Are you complaining about your current routine, Captain?"
"Not complaining," Siddanth whispered back. "Just adjusting to my new management."
Closing her eyes, Krithika let out a happy sigh. The room was warm, and his arm around her felt secure. They continued to whisper playful words to each other until their voices grew softer, slowly drifting back to sleep.
An hour later, Siddanth woke up again. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was eight in the morning.
Moving his arm very carefully, he slid out of the bed without shaking the mattress. Disturbing Krithika's rest was the last thing he wanted to do.
Walking out of the bedroom, he headed down the hallway to the empty kitchen. After washing and drying his hands at the sink, he retrieved a bowl of lentils he had soaked in water the previous night.
Pouring the drained lentils into the grinder, he flicked the machine on and let the blades work until the mixture broke down, adding a quick splash of water to transform the batter into a thick, smooth paste. He scooped the mix into a large metal bowl. Moving smoothly to the cutting board, he finely chopped an onion and two green chilies, tossing the vegetables, salt, and cumin seeds into the lentil paste before mixing everything thoroughly with his hand.
Placing a deep iron wok on the stove, he poured in the oil and turned on the flame. As the oil reached the right temperature, he assembled a pot of water, split yellow lentils, and freshly chopped vegetables, placing it on the adjacent burner. Tamarind juice, turmeric, and sambar powder went in next, soon filling the kitchen with the rich, tangy aroma of boiling sambar.
Wetting his fingers, he shaped a small amount of the lentil batter into a round ball in his palm, pressed a hole in the center with his thumb, and dropped it carefully into the hot oil. The oil sizzled loudly as he shaped and dropped five more vadas into the wok. Using a slotted spoon, he turned the vadas until they were fried golden brown and crispy on all sides, then transferred them to a plate. A quick blend of fresh coconut, roasted chickpeas, and green chilies completed the smooth white chutney.
Breakfast was ready.
In the ground-floor bedroom, Krithika woke up slowly. After brushing her teeth and a warm shower, she picked out a loose, comfortable cotton maternity dress from the closet.
Walking out of the bedroom, the smell of the food guided her straight down the hallway and into the dining room.
Siddanth was just setting a plate on the dining table.
Taking a seat, Krithika looked down at the plate placed in front of her. There were three hot, crispy vadas, a bowl of steaming sambar, and a bowl of fresh coconut chutney.
Breaking a piece of the vada, she dipped it in the sambar and took a bite. She closed her eyes.
"This is very good," Krithika praised.
Pulling out the chair next to her, Siddanth sat down with his own plate.
"You are spoiling me with this," Krithika told him, taking another bite. "After the babies are born and you go back to your cricket tours, I will be very mad. I will sit at home and realize I cannot eat your cooking anymore."
Siddanth laughed. "I will cook a lot of food and store it in the fridge before I leave for a tour."
"That is not the same," Krithika shook her head. "I want it fresh from the stove."
Vikram Deva and Sesikala walked into the dining room a moment later.
"Good morning," Vikram said, pulling out a chair at the head of the table.
"Good morning, Nanna," Siddanth greeted, standing up to bring two more plates of food from the kitchen for his parents.
Sesikala sat down, admiring the breakfast. "You made vadas today, Siddu."
"Yes, Amma," Siddanth replied, taking his seat again.
The family ate breakfast together, chatting casually about the weather and the farm workers. After finishing their food, Siddanth cleared the empty plates to the kitchen sink.
Walking back into the dining room, he looked at Krithika.
"Let's go for a walk," Siddanth suggested.
Stepping out onto the front porch, they found the morning air cool and fresh. Ronny was waiting for them near the steps. The dog barked happily, his tail wagging as he joined them on the dirt path.
They strolled peacefully among the trees, discussing baby names and the clothes they had bought. After a short distance, a dull ache began to settle into Krithika's lower back. She let out a short, tired breath, shifting her weight and placing a supporting hand on her hip.
"My back is hurting," she admitted quietly. "The weight is pulling me forward."
Stopping immediately, Siddanth turned and held her arm firmly.
"We will go back inside," he said.
Walking slowly back up the dirt path with Ronny trotting beside them, they climbed the porch steps and returned to their ground-floor bedroom.
Krithika moved to the center of the mattress while Siddanth arranged three large pillows against the wooden headboard. Leaning back, she found a comfortable position. Siddanth sat next to her, picked up the remote from the nightstand, and turned on the large wall-mounted television.
Opening a streaming application, they selected the comedy show they were currently binge-watching, The Office. They were on the fifth season. Ronny wandered into the room, curled up on the rug beside the bed, and rested his chin on his paws.
Pressing play on episode eight, they settled in to watch.
On the screen, the boss of the office, Michael Scott, was walking around the room making a clumsy plan to get a man named Toby fired. Michael bought illegal drugs to frame his rival. But when police came and checked it, they found out it was salad.
Krithika started laughing.
She laughed very hard, her shoulders shaking as she threw her head back against the pillows. Her joyful laughter filled the quiet bedroom. Hearing the sudden noise, Ronny lifted his head from his paws and let out a short, confused bark.
Siddanth smiled, simply watching her laugh.
Suddenly, Krithika gasped and stopped laughing, grabbing both sides of her stomach.
Reaching out immediately, Siddanth placed his large hand flat against the side of her stomach.
He felt it.
The babies were kicking aggressively. It was not a soft push this time. It was a series of rapid, strong thumps hitting exactly where his hand was resting. The sudden bursts of loud laughter had woken the twins up completely, and they were moving around wildly inside.
Keeping his hand steady, Siddanth felt the constant movement. He looked up at Krithika's face.
Her eyes were wet with tears of joy, a massive smile resting on her lips. Looking down at her stomach, she moved her hand to cover his.
"They are moving so much," Krithika whispered.
"They feel it when you laugh," Siddanth said in a quiet, serious tone. "They know you are happy. Your joy passes directly to them."
"They like the sound of your voice too," Krithika said softly, looking into his eyes. "When you talk in the room, they always kick and move toward your side of the bed. They know you are here."
A tight feeling settled in Siddanth's chest. Looking at her hand covering his, feeling the small lives kicking against his palm, the reality of the moment hit him. He was going to be a father very soon.
Leaning forward, he pressed his lips gently against her forehead. "I will always be here," Siddanth promised quietly.
They stayed in that position for a long time, holding hands over her stomach, watching the rest of the episode. The babies continued to kick and move.
Once the episode finished and the screen faded to black, Siddanth paused the auto-play feature.
Glancing at the wall clock, he saw it was one in the afternoon.
"It is time for lunch," Siddanth noted. "What do you want to eat today?"
Leaning her head back, Krithika thought about it. Her pregnancy cravings were very specific and unpredictable.
"I am craving something specific," she declared. "I want Gobi Manchurian. I want the cauliflower pieces to be very crispy, the sauce to be dark and very spicy, and I want soft, warm phulkas to eat with it."
"I will check the pantry," Siddanth nodded, standing up from the bed.
Walking into the kitchen, he opened the large vegetable basket resting on the floor near the counter. Moving the onions and potatoes aside, he found it empty of cauliflower.
Stepping out the back door onto the rear porch, Siddanth spotted Ramu, one of the estate workers, wiping dust off a wooden chair.
"Ramu," Siddanth called out.
The worker stood up straight. "Yes, Anna."
"Take the keys to the caru," Siddanth instructed. "Drive to the main city market. Bring back three fresh, large cauliflowers right now."
"Okay, Anna," Ramu said, grabbing the keys from the wall rack and jogging to the driveway.
Walking back to the bedroom, Siddanth informed Krithika of the delay. She closed her eyes to rest, while Siddanth pulled up a chair near the window to read the news on his phone.
An hour and a half later, the sound of the car engine signaled Ramu's return.
Entering the kitchen with a plastic bag, Ramu handed over the fresh vegetables. Siddanth thanked him, took the cauliflowers to the sink, and washed them thoroughly. Using a sharp knife, he cut away the thick green leaves and chopped the white head into bite-sized florets.
After boiling the pieces for exactly three minutes to soften them, he drained the water. Mixing refined flour, cornstarch, red chili powder, salt, and black pepper into a smooth batter, he dropped the softened cauliflower inside to coat every piece perfectly. Once his wok full of oil was hot, he fried the florets until they turned a deep, crispy brown and placed them on a paper towel.
Moving quickly, he minced garlic, ginger, green chilies, and spring onions. Heating a flat pan with oil, he tossed the minced aromatics inside, letting the sharp, strong smell fill the kitchen. A pour of dark soy sauce, red chili sauce, and vinegar went in next, thickened instantly by a splash of cornstarch water.
Dropping the crispy cauliflower into the dark sauce, he tossed the pan aggressively until the spicy glaze coated every piece. A handful of spring onions finished the dish.
At the next counter, he kneaded wheat flour and water into a soft dough, rolling it into small flat circles. Cooking them briefly on an iron pan, he placed them directly over the open flame until they puffed up into round balls, brushing them lightly with ghee to keep them soft.
Placing the spicy bowl of Gobi Manchurian and a basket of hot phulkas onto a wooden serving tray, he carried the food down the hallway to the bedroom.
Krithika turned her head toward the door as he walked in, smelling the strong aroma of garlic and soy sauce. A massive smile spread across her face. "You made it."
"Sit up carefully," Siddanth advised, arranging the pillows behind her back before placing the heavy wooden tray directly onto her lap.
Tearing a piece of the soft phulka, Krithika scooped up a piece of the glossy cauliflower and took a bite.
She let out a very satisfied sigh. "It is perfect. The spice level is exactly what I wanted."
Pulling his chair next to the bed, Siddanth picked up the remote and pressed play on the next episode. They sat together in the quiet room, listening to the television as Krithika finished the entire bowl of cauliflower and all the bread.
Putting her hand down, she let out a long, heavy breath. "I am full."
Removing the empty tray from her lap, Siddanth placed it on the desk. The heavy, spicy food made Krithika sleepy very quickly. Yawning, she slid her body down against the pillows and lay flat on the mattress.
Siddanth pulled the blanket up over her chest, tucking the edges under her sides to keep her warm.
"Go to sleep," he said softly.
Closing her eyes, her breathing soon became slow and steady as she fell into a deep afternoon sleep.
Picking up the wooden tray, Siddanth returned to the kitchen, washed the dirty bowls in the sink, and placed them on the drying rack.
Wiping his hands dry, he walked to the blank wooden panel in the hallway. Pressing his thumb against the hidden glass square, he waited for the green light to flash before stepping into the concealed steel elevator.
The doors opened to the massive, cold basement. Thick pipes ran along the ceiling, keeping the server racks cool as blue lights blinked steadily in the dry air.
Sitting down in the leather chair at the central desk, Siddanth looked at the wide monitors.
"Veda," Siddanth spoke into the empty room.
The monitors turned on immediately, displaying the slowly spinning blue shape.
"I am listening," the clear voice answered from the ceiling speakers.
"Open the company reports," Siddanth ordered. "Show me the progress of the projects."
Words and files quickly filled the screens. Leaning back in his chair, Siddanth read through the information.
The new stadium in Nagole was nearing completion. Thousands of chairs were bolted in place, and the green grass in the center was cut perfectly flat, ready for the boundary lines to be painted. The other athletic stadiums he ordered for the Olympic Games were also moving forward, with workers clearing land and pouring foundations for new running tracks.
Finally, he checked the Sports Foundation report. Thousands of young athletes from small villages were receiving their monthly bank transfers, using the money to buy proper running shoes, punching bags, and healthy food.
Reading the files for three hours, Siddanth made sure there were no delays in his plans. Everything was correct.
Rubbing his eyes, he checked the clock on the screen. It was past five in the evening.
"Close the files," Siddanth said. "Turn the screens off."
"Closing files. Screens turning off," the voice replied as the monitors went black.
Taking the elevator back up to the ground floor, Siddanth returned to the bedroom just as Krithika was waking up.
"Did you sleep well?" Siddanth asked, helping her stand up from the mattress.
"Yes," Krithika said, pushing the blanket away.
Walking out to the living room together, they found Vikram and Sesikala sitting on the sofas with cups of hot tea. Taking their seats, they joined the conversation, discussing the farm work and the water pumps while Sesikala poured them tea.
As the sun went down and the house lights turned on, Sesikala went to the kitchen to prepare a very light dinner of soft white rice and hot tomato rasam. Gathering at the dining table, they ate the simple, warm food, which was easy on Krithika's stomach.
After washing their hands and saying goodnight to his parents, Siddanth and Krithika returned to their bedroom.
After brushing their teeth, Krithika sat on her side of the bed, lifting her legs carefully to lie down on her back.
Before turning off the lamp, Siddanth opened the small drawer of his nightstand. He pulled out the yellow tailor's tape and the small notepad.
Krithika smiled, lifting her arms slightly so he could wrap the flexible tape around her waist.
"Forty-three inches," Siddanth read aloud, a soft smile breaking across his face. He noted the number down below the previous entries, looking at the rapid growth they had charted over the past few months. The twins were getting bigger every day. He returned the items to the drawer and clicked the lamp off.
The room went dark. Siddanth moved closer, wrapping his arm over her waist and resting his hand on her stomach.
"Goodnight," Siddanth said softly in the dark.
"Goodnight," Krithika replied, placing her hand over his.
The twins were quiet inside. The house was silent. They closed their eyes and went to sleep.