‘So from what I can see, everything is fine. The amniotic fluid is a little on the low side. The doctor will advise you on what to do,’ he said, handing Ma a paper towel to wipe off her stomach.

Ma looked tired but better than she had been before. Papa had tears in his eyes.

‘What advice?’ I asked, my voice down to a whisper.

‘That’s how doctors talk,’ Aunty V said. She looked drawn.

I looked at the tiny screen, at the blob-like image of my sibling that remained frozen on it and felt overwhelmed.

The doctor who had met us before came inside the ultrasound room. ‘I only want one person in the room now. The rest of you can leave,’ he said.

Reluctantly, all of us trailed out, except for Papa.

The first floor and the floors above were on a mezzanine floor that looked out over the central atrium. I walked up to the balustrade and Raghu joined me. Aunty V lingered near the door of the ultrasound room.

Papa emerged a little later, looking relieved. ‘The gynaecologist has advised complete rest and wants Chitra to stay tonight for observation. Tomorrow, she’s going to see her. They’re preparing a room now.’

Aunty V burst into tears. Papa looked at her, shocked.

‘I’m sorry. This is all my fault! I shouldn’t have organized the stupid reunion party. All that stress and excitement did this to her.’

Raghu and I looked at each other for a moment before looking away quickly.

Papa was shaking his head. ‘No, these things happen, V. It’s nobody’s fault,’ he said, but I knew he probably blamed her a bit.

Aunty V shook her head. ‘The three of you go home. I’ll stay here with her tonight.’

‘No, I’ll stay,’ Papa said.

They argued back and forth until Raghu intervened: ‘I think we should all stay.’

‘You should go back home and get some sleep,’ Papa said to me and Raghu.

I shook my head. ‘No, I want to be here with Ma.’

‘Uncle, none of us are going to get any sleep if we go home anyway,’ Raghu added.

I nodded. Aunty V looked conflicted, but she nodded too. ‘They won’t allow all of us to stay with her. We’ll be with her in turns maybe. The rest of us can be in the waiting room.’

Ma was going to be in a room on the third floor. Raghu and I walked up the two flights of stairs slowly instead of waiting for the lift.

‘Are you okay?’ Raghu asked me as we reached the second floor landing.

‘I guess. I was worried for a while though.’

‘We all were. But I’m glad it’s all fine,’ he said.