His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 72

One. And. A. Half. Month. Later.

“You’re thirty-three weeks pregnant, Luna’s voice chimes through my earphones, because I get too tired too fast to be able to hold the phone to my ear, “You shouldn’t be out all by yourself. What if you have contractions?”

Thirty-four, I wanted to correct her, but I don’t because it would only freak her out more. I chuckle while adding strawberries to my grocery cart. “I’m just at the supermarket, and I’m completely okay. I remind her, “If everything goes well, I’m not due for another few weeks.”

Anytime after the thirty-sixth week is considered okay, my doctor had told me, but we prefer waiting till the fortieth week.

I could almost hear Luna frowning through the phone. “If you were really craving strawberries and that st*pid whipped cream so much, you could’ve told me. I would pick some up for you after work.”

“You already do too much,” I reply, “Besides, I’m already done here. I will bill this and be home in like the next fifteen.”

“Hm..” She buzzes, “My shift is almost done. I’ll see you home?

“See you” I disconnect the call, putting on some old Beyoncé music, letting it play through the earphones as I walk through. the aisle of junk foods, and the urge to grab a packet of cheetos overcomes me.

I couldn’t though, because it wasn’t a necessity, and it definitely wasn’t healthy for the babies. I was awfully over budget and despite the little job that the old couple who owned the lodge had offered me, to make calls to previous customers and gather feedback. I think Sam had something to do with it, because I had mentioned my finances to him in passing the day he came shopping with me, and one week later, this couple offered me a job out of good will, something I can do from home and earn a little extra money.

I didn’t complain at all. I jumped at it. The money wasn’t a lot, but I surely needed it. Who knew giving birth in America was so expensive?

I didn’t

and that was leaving aside the anticipatory NICU stay one of my babies would need because of the complications I

kind. Too

he had made effort in the past few weeks to earn my forgiveness and I had no option but to let go of it. But I couldn’t

he said still stung, but more because of the fear of his words being

really being

thoughts, I accidentally bump my cart

I realise, when I

familiar stranger’s eyes widen when they set

her eyes

put my arms around her, holding her close. “Alice… I missed you.” I didn’t know why she was crying, but hearing her sob made tears

1/3

pulled away. She sniffed, holding my face between

reminded her softly. “Sam told you, remember? And you told him I had hurt you and you didn’t

She blinked. “What?”

said he told you I was

the past month. I… I took a job in the city remember? He stopped picking up my calls, he dodged my texts and I thought he’s taking your disappearance hard, we

me that I shouldn’t call you because you asked for that for space. I was rambling, and she just stared at blankly before her expressions turned into one of a sympathy I didn’t

painfully, “Did he

so

we need

me