Two days passed with her mind dwelling on the disturbing speculation. Rakia decided to go to the doctor for a check-up and got permission to leave early on the pretext that she wanted to go to the hospital to see her father. It wasn’t a complete lie, but she had another purpose. Upon arriving in Oregon, she immediately headed to the gynecologist’s office after registering herself for today’s examination.
“Do you remember the last time you had your period?” asked the doctor who was preparing to check Rakia’s blood pressure using a blood pressure monitor.
“A month ago, and I think it’s late this month.” Rakia said her speculation. The female doctor gave her a pregnancy test kit and told her to go to the toilet in the room. With her heart pounding, Rakia went to the toilet and used the test kit properly. Not daring to look at the result after she used it, she handed it to the doctor.
Rakia looked at the doctor with a sense of apprehension, the pounding of her heart she could now hear in her ears. The doctor smiled and lifted the test pack and showed it to Rakia.
Congratulations, ma’am, you are pregnant.”
The statement instantly made Rakia speechless and shocked as she stared at the bag which showed two red lines clearly.
“Madam... Are you alright?” The doctor jolted Rakia from the shock she was currently experiencing. Rakia blinked a few times then nervously responded to the doctor’s question.
“Yes, I’m fine.” Her tone was weak and still showed surprise.
“Then, let’s check the gestational age first.”
Rakia just nodded obediently and followed the doctor’s instructions to lie down on the hospital bed in a half-lying half-sitting position. A large flat screen was displayed beside her and the doctor told her to expose her abdomen. A gel was applied to the surface of her abdomen after the doctor turned on the ultrasound equipment. Rakia’s heart did not stop beating comfortably, in fact now it was beating even more. She swallowed several times and tried to clear her mind.
As the ultrasound device examined her fetus and projected it into a 4-dimensional image on the flat screen, Rakia, who was initially worried and anxious, calmed down. When her fetus, which was still the size of a peanut, was still very small, she felt it was real.
“My little peanut,” she said and smiled at the screen, the sense of peace instantly replacing the anxiety she felt seconds ago. The doctor smiled at the nickname Rakia had given to the future fetus. After the examination, the doctor scheduled the next check-up and prescribed some vitamins. Rakia used this opportunity to ask detailed questions about things she should avoid and do during her young pregnancy.
After the consultation session was over, Rakia stopped at the door of the doctor’s office and stared at the photo of her future fetus. She was happy at the moment, but when she remembered Dashtan and their agreement her happiness ebbed away instantly, replaced by anxiety again. She planned to keep this from everyone, especially Dashtan. She had to get him confession in earnest before she revealed the pregnancy.
“But, what if he doesn’t admit anything? This child will-“
Rakia reflexively placed a hand on her stomach and she was again struck with anxiety, but this time the pressure was many times greater. She could not imagine the divorce and the baby being born without a father. Tears quickly gathered in her eyes. But Rakia quickly wiped them away and rushed to the pharmacy to exchange her prescription.
**
She massaged her sore calf when she got home and went to her room. Sitting on the side of the bed alone. However, a few minutes later Dashtan walked into the room and approached her. He squatted down in front of her.
“Why did you come home so early?” Dashtan’s question was not immediately answered by Rakia. Her brain was suddenly stuck for an answer.
“I came from the hospital to see my dad.” Rakia knew that excuse wasn’t enough.
“But it’s three o’clock, are you sick?” Dashtan looked up as his hand lightly massaged his wife’s calf. Rakia shook her head.
“No, just tired. I don’t know... Maybe it’s lack of blood. Why are you home at this hour?” Now Rakia tried to keep the topic off of her.
“I had a meeting, but it ended quickly so I came home early.” Dashtan spoke without looking at Rakia, but the woman felt something was wrong with the man.
“Hey, everything okay?” Rakia lifted the man’s face by holding both sides of his head. Dashtan sighed then changed his current crouching position by resting on his knees, then hugged Rakia’s slender waist. The wife was quite surprised by the action.
“Don’t leave me.” That remark made Rakia ponder for a moment.
“I’m here,” Rakia replied softly.
“But you will divorce me.” Dashtan said again which only made Rakia turn sad. She was giddy now.
“You have to be honest with your own feelings towards me, Ash.... That way you will decide something that comes from the depths of your heart.” That was all Rakia could say. She was hoping for the last piece of her marriage right now, Dashtan’s confession of his feelings for her. Hearing Dashtan sigh heavily he broke hisq embrace and looked at Rakia sadly.
When their eyes met, Rakia again saw Dashtan’s fragile and insecure figure. Rakia smiled trying to give the man the confidence he needed.
“I know it’s not easy, but you must try to bring your heart back to this world.”
Rakia pecked the man’s lips briefly, but Dashtan was not satisfied with the peck. He immediately repeated it and soon brought them to a situation that required the release of their desires. Rakia, who was currently in a half-lying position on the bed, was soon busy unbuttoning one by one the white long-sleeved shirt that Dashtan was currently wearing until it came off perfectly revealing the man’s perfectly formed and sexy muscles. Rakia caressed every muscle on Dashtan’s body in slow motion. They let go of the passionate embrace and stripped off their clothes. Then took positions on the bed with Dashtan acting as the dominant.
“I love you, Dashtan Al Ghani.”
The confession took Dashtan by surprise for a moment, something inside him that had been frozen slowly thawed. His fragile self filled with prejudice and fear of abandonment slowly faded away. Rakia caressed the man’s face with a smile, thinking that if she revealed it, it might help the man to be honest about his own feelings.