Chapter 32 : Terminate the Pregnancy
Chapter 32 : Terminate the Pregnancy
'You have to terminate the pregnancy. You should have been more careful in the first instance', he had
said to her shocked disbelief.
'I am not hearing this! Are you blaming me for this? Did I get myself pregnant all by myself?'
'No but you should have known better than to have allowed it. We just started being intimate and you
have already ruined it with this pregnancy!' he said furiously.
'By your words, I should take it that you are not happy about the baby then?'
'You ate right, I am not!' he stormed.
'But why is that, you said you loved me and I love you too, very much. What could be bad about the
pregnancy then?
'Everything. For one, I am not ready for it now and neither are you'.
'Says who? I am ready if you are ready. This is a part of you and a part of me. It is the symbol of our
love. We should cherish it and not kill it. We were going to get married afterall, so what if we have to do
it earlier than we had planned, it is still for our good, don't you think'.
The look in his eyes had been enough to strangle her and Nancy had taken a few steps back.She had
been holding him pleadingly. Not understanding what the problem was. If they loved each other the
way she was sure that they did, what was the harm in getting married sooner to give their baby a
home? She had been gloriously happy when she had found out that she was pregnant but why was
Robert reacting this way? He was acting as though.... no it couldn't be. Robert loved her and the news
of her pregnancy must have come as a surprise to him and everybody reacted to surprises in different
ways.
'Robert, I am aware that the news has come as a surprise to you. You had been taken unawares and
so have I but it is a good news nonetheless. Pull yourself together and let's reason this out. What are
you so afraid of?'
'I am not afraid of anything!'
'Then what is it? You have the money to care for me and our baby. You and I are both adults and in
love. What is there to stop us getting married? You can definitely not be unsure of my love for you are
you?' Nancy asked perplexed.
Robert had kept silent. And then brought out his wallet and drawn out some amount of money.
'Here, take this.It should cover the expenses for the abortion. If you need more, let me know. But do it
quick before it becomes too late. By the time I call you this evening, I want to hear you tell me that you
have successfully terminated this pregnancy. We need to get to know each other more before
welcoming any pregnancy'.
Nancy could have been blown down by a feather as she stared at him, with her mouth agape.
'Take it!' he commanded and she came out of her stupor.
'I won't!'
'And why not? You have enough money for the D&C?'
'I don't but I won't take this money from you because I shan't be aborting this baby'.
'But you must!'
'I won't!'
'If you do not do it, then consider this relationship over!'
'What did you say?'
'This relationship is over if you will not terminate this pregnancy!'
Nancy had thought she had heard it all but this was as shocking as it was brutal.
'She decided to change her approach, trying to make him see her point of view. Most probably, he was
reacting this way because he felt that she was trying to impose the pregnancy on him or force him into
marriage before he was ready.
'Darling', she started, 'Think about it. The baby is the symbol of our love. You had asked us to be
intimate even when I had not wanted to. But I did to prove love to you and I must assure you that I do
not regret it. But now that it has turned out this way,we have to be mature about it and do the right
thing. And the right thing is not ending the life of an innocent baby that never begged to be conceived in
the first instance. If you are not ready for marriage just yet, then I will understand but please don't make
me kill this bundle of joy. It is a part of you and how can I kill a part of someone I love dearly? We shall
get married whenever you want but we shall not get rid of this baby. Please try to understand'.
While speaking, she had held his hands, looking into his eyes with love and plea but he pushed her
away and the shocked pain in her eyes was a sight to behold.
He wished that she had had an abortion as she fell but there had been no such luck but he knew that
the fall from his push must have caused her immense pain both physically and emotionally and he
derived an immense pleasure from it and his face transformed from fury to a devilish smile. Nancy went
white seeing his smile and he caught but recollected himself and decided to take a softer approach with
her.
He went to her, pulled her up and spoke gently to her.
'Oh, honey, I am sorry. I didn't mean to push you and definitely not that hard. Hope you were not
injured? please forgive me'.
He made her sit down, trying hard to hide his impatience. He was really running out of patience with
this foolish girl. He had just wanted to have fun with her but she had gone and got herself pregnant. Did
she think that she could trap him that way?
'You see, I might be travelling on a business trip like I usually do and you know that these trips take
months before I return. I do not want to leave you alone. Pregnancy is not a time to leave you alone to
fend for yourself. Who will take care of you while I am gone?'
'My parents!'
He waved away her answer impatiently.
'No. I do not want that. You will become pregnant again when we are ready for it but not before and that
is why you should get rid of it. I have left the money on the bedside table. Do it before I call this
evening. That will make me immensely happy and I know you want to see me happy right?' he asked
and Nancy shook her head mechanically, barely aware of what was going on around her. Her brain was
processing the information she was receiving but her heart was denying it. She remained in a state of
denial even after he left her promising to call her back that evening.
'Nancy. Nancy? Are you okay?'
Nancy was brought back to the present by Anna calling out her name.
Nancy blinked. She had been relieving the experience of having to convince Robert in vain to accept
her pregnancy. It still shock her but she had other things to do and could not afford dwelling on the past Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
or on what happened afterwards.