On a day in her finally-back-to-peace personal life, she realised something was missing. With quite a great hunch, she opened her health calendar. There it was, ‘Period late by 2m 22d’. And she made the weirdest face of her entire life. She ran to the hospital and 2 days later, she called the perpetrator.

He didn't pick up the phone. She thought about texting but she had to tell him personally. A call was already a great compromise, thanks to her busy schedule. She patiently waited for the call to be returned.

Instead her assistant called her and she was very busy for the next two days. During lunch, when she remembered the issue, she called him again. No response, no call back. She messages him, 'Call back soon.'

At night she checked on him. Her message was read, but nothing came back. What was the meaning of that? Hadn't they parted on friendly terms? She just wants to know if he filed for the divorce and what progress there was. She would share the news in any case.

Looking at the phone, she fell asleep unknowingly. In the morning, she called him first thing. This time, he cut her call!

'Are we divorced yet?' she messaged.

This time, it was left unread for days. She was sure he saw the message, but did not open her chat. It was a short message that didn’t need one to open the chat, after all.

She called her mother-in-law saying she could not reach him.

After two days, the call finally came in.

"What?" He snapped at her right after she picked up.

"What about our divorce?"

"Why? Someone caught your eye?"

"... there will never be anyone and you know that."

"I didn't file it. I... I won't!" The first to fall in love is on the losing end, someone said. And he lost his spine and his self esteem in her presence. There'll never be anyone, not even him. And yet, knowing that, here he was.

"Then let's rethink it."

Surprised and hopeful, he asked, "I... Then, will you let me stay with you?"

"Well, I'm pregnant. What should we do?"

On the other side of the phone, his face changed quite a bit. First, he was angry, then frustrated. Why did he think she changed somehow? So, this was the reason. Then he felt hopeful and happy. This was the god given chance to turn things for better. He had one final thing to know.

"What are your thoughts? Will you let it be born?"

"Honestly, I don't want to. But if you want, I'm willing. I've taken enough from you." Although you are to be blamed more for your own sadness, she thought. She was not insensible. She could perceive his feelings well. Only, she failed to understand their significance.

"I want."

"Okay. Then tell your parents and mine."

"Also, I... left the job. I want to completely concentrate on Hidden. But I don't want to ask my parents for help. It's getting hard to pay for maintenance. If I rent my condo, it'll be great." The maintenance getting hard was the only lie.

"You want to stay at mine?"

"No! We should rent it out too. Let that money also go into the investment. I'll pay you back later. Just no interest."

"Where are you going to stay? And where should I go when I come back? Are you doing this just so you could convince me to live together?"

"No... I was thinking about what you said that day. I want Hidden to grow big. This is what I want for my second life. Moreover, if I don't come, my parents will ask you to come back. It's reasonable enough for your safety. What will you say then?"

"Then where will you live?"

"You are the best option I have. All you should do is just give me one room. I'll cook for you instead of paying for any extra rent."

"You don't have to cook. But... I want ⅕ of whatever ownership you have,” she said after a moment. She rented a flat only for one person. She should see if the owner agrees.

"I'll give you ⅓. I'll live rent free for 3 years. It'll be a very profitable investment."

"Okay." She said after a very long pause, 3 minutes.

"Then I'll be there in a week." He hung up right after lest she change her mind.

The conversation just now felt all air-headed. And this was the most important conversation of their lives.

Over the next week there were congratulations and blessings and pregnancy diet and tips as one after another relative called her. She spoke to all of them for as long as they were willing.

...

The next week he was at her door. And as soon as she opened it, she kissed him. But he controlled himself and walked in as if uninterested.

"This room is for you." She had spoken to the owner over the phone and the old man agreed as long as she paid 10% more. He hiked seeing the opportunity. She did not have to tell him, but he was helpful when she came to Paris in the beginning. She flew over here just a month after her marriage and it was more than a year since she knew him. He had taught her most of her French during their initial meetings. She knew very little of the language when she had come, but now she was fluent.

"Isn't this the bedroom?" Almost everything was the same except that her vanity was missing. He opened the two big cupboards and sure enough, her clothes were also missing.

"I don't want to do anything to my study room."

"Where will you sleep?"

"Anywhere..." Often in your room probably, she thought. With how they nuzzled during his sister's wedding, it wasn't a far fetched thought for her.

"How can you sleep just anywhere? Especially now that you're pregnant?"

"Ah... but don't worry."

He took her to the bedroom and they both sat down to talk.

"About the divorce... I don't want to anymore."

"Sure." Sure, keep it that way until the baby grows to 2 years maybe? That would be almost 3 years from now. After that any of them can take care of the child alone.

He caught the indifference in her voice, but smiled anyway. At least she wasn't frantically asking him why he'd changed his decision. Maybe he should thank his future child, he thought. He took out the equity transfer agreement and handed it over to her. She went through it quickly, signed wherever needed and kept the document carefully in the folder to hide it away from him. She nodded and said, "Alright, ask me if you want any help any time."

He nodded back. She left the second set of keys besides the lamp and walked out. If only he knew she had such a soft spot for money earlier. Looking at how she hugged the folder, he shook his head with a smile. Little did he know there was a slight mismatch in his conclusion. She loved having a lot of time. And money translated well into time. She did not bother about having her own house or saving well for the future. She’d always sign up for extra insurance cover and spend her money and because she lived pretty much in a one person family it was well enough. If spending money on something could save her some time, she’d do it generously.

…