Meanwhile, as Vivian's furrowed brows suggested her determination to uncover the root of her illness, Grandma Celia conceded defeat and resolved to share her suspicions. "Alright, alright," she surrendered, "I think I know what's been making me so sick," she finally admitted.
Grandma Vivian's gaze sharpened, realizing that Celia's words corroborated her own suspicions. "Well, don't keep me waiting. What's been causing you to vomit so frequently?" she inquired, eager to hear any insight that could provide relief. After all, if Celia truly had an idea of what was afflicting her, Grandma Vivian was all ears.
Grandma Celia took a deep breath, the weight of her words heavy on her chest. She exhaled slowly, gathering her thoughts as she prepared to reveal her secret. She repeated the revelation to herself a few times, each utterance bringing a mixture of fear and uncertainty. Finally, with a sense of resolve, she parted her lips and spoke the words that had been swirling within her. "I am pregnant."
Grandma Vivian's response was initially dismissive, "Sigh! You see, it's not really hard t--," but as the meaning of the words sank in, her voice trailed off into silence.
Grandma Vivian's eyes grew wide with shock and disbelief as she slowly uttered the words, "What did you just say?" Her voice quivered with uncertainty as she struggled to process the weight of Grandma Celia's revelation.
Grandma Celia bit her lip, feeling the weight of the words she had just spoken. Despite having already revealed her secret, the thought of it still seemed inconceivable, even to her. "I am pregnant," she repeated, the words sounding almost bizarre to her ears. Strangely though, as she repeated the phrase, she felt a sense of relief wash over her. It was as if by saying it out loud, she had finally accepted the truth and could stop avoiding it any longer.
Grandma Celia was lost in thought when suddenly she felt a pair of hands gently gripping her cheeks, pulling her back to reality. She turned her gaze to Vivian, whose eyes were still widened with disbelief. A deep gulp preceded Vivian's question, "What... did you say?"
Frustrated with repeating herself, Grandma Celia let out a sudden outburst, her voice ringing through the room, "I SAID THAT I AM PREGNANT!".
Grandma Vivian's grip tightened around Celia's cheeks, her mind reeling with the enormity of the news. She turned her face from side to side, searching for any sign that this was all just some twisted joke. When she found none, she let her hand fall limply to her side, the weight of the news seeming to sap all her strength.
Just as Grandma Vivian was about to respond, the creaking of the wooden door shattered the silence. The sound of a clay pot shattering on the ground echoed through the room, as several kalna fruits spilt out from the broken shards. The sudden noise drew the attention of both of them in the room, their eyes turning towards the doorway in unison.
Grandma Celia's heart leapt into her throat as she saw Derry standing in the doorway. Her mind raced as she tried to comprehend what this meant. She had heard everything. It was clear now that Vivian wasn't the only one who knew her secret.
Meanwhile, Grandma Derry's eyes darted back and forth between the two women, taking in their expressions and body language. As she focused on Celia, her eyes widened in realization. "You're pregnant," she said, the words hanging heavy in the air. It was clear that the gravity of the situation had not escaped her, and the shock on his face mirrored that of Grandma Vivian's from moments before.
Grandma Celia winced at the sound of Vivian's question, feeling a pounding headache coming on. She rubbed her temples in frustration, trying to push away the pain as she let out a deep, exhausted sigh. She turned her head towards Vivian, the weariness etched on her face.
"I need to rinse my mouth," she said wearily. "Can you handle this for me?" Without waiting for a response, she turned and headed towards the backyard.
Grandma Vivian was still at a loss for words, her mind racing as she struggled to process the news of Celia's pregnancy. So, she was caught off guard by Celia's demand, unsure of where to even begin.
Meanwhile, Grandma Derry sprinted after Grandma Celia, determined to catch up to her. "Wait, Celia!" she called out. "Is it true? Are you really pregnant?" She caught up to her in the backyard and continued to shout, her voice growing louder with each word. "How did this happen, Celia? Tell me everything!" she demanded, her curiosity and concern getting the best of her.
Grandma Vivian felt like the weight of the news had knocked her off her feet, quite literally. She dropped to the floor on her buttocks, feeling utterly overwhelmed as she tried to wrap her head around the situation.
"Ugh, this is too much," she muttered, exhaustion creeping into her voice as she stretched her arms behind her and leaned back, her eyes fixated on the thatched roof of their hut. The weight of the situation was beginning to take its toll on her, and she couldn't even fathom how Celia was managing to handle it all.
...........
Gina winced in pain as she watched her brother deliver a firm smack to her mother's bare buttocks, as a means of teaching her a valuable lesson.
"SMACK!"
"UGH!"
Gina's instinctive wince returned as she watched the anguish spread across her mother's face. Despite the discomfort, she couldn't look away, finding an odd sense of satisfaction in seeing her mother receive the same treatment she had inflicted upon them during past punishments. It was a rare and strangely satisfying moment, refreshing in its own way.
"SMACK!" Orion's hands came down hard on his mother's round buttocks, giving them a tight squeeze before he released his grip and asked, "Will you do it again?" There was a hint of amusement in Orion's voice, as if he found the situation to be somewhat entertaining.
