A House for Happy Mothers: A Novel by Amulya Malladi Page A

shoulder. Noma was seven and slight and couldn’t quite compete with the full-bodied JoJo.
    Nikhil, their five-year-old son, followed, eating a bar of unidentified chocolate. “My belly hurts, Mama,” he said, and sat down on Latha’s lap.
    “We should go,” Priya said then, and stood up.

    They were in their car when Athar came running out. Madhu rolled down his side of the window, but Athar spoke to Priya.
    “I’m so sorry, Priya. I know you wanted to keep this a secret . . .”
    “It’s OK, Athar,” Priya said without looking at him, and turned the key in the ignition.
    “ Yaar , I’m really sorry,” Athar said to Madhu, who just nodded. “Call me, OK?”
    Madhu waved to Athar and rolled up the window.
    They drove home in silence. Priya was the designated driver, but whatever buzz Madhu had acquired had quickly disappeared.
    “I’m so sorry,” Madhu said as soon as they were inside their house. “Priya, I’m really sorry.”
    “You lied to me, Madhu, to my face,” she said. “How the hell am I supposed to trust you?”
    “I should’ve told you that I had talked to him. I made a mistake, and you’re saying that you don’t trust me anymore?” Madhu asked. “I needed to talk to someone, and I did. You don’t have to insult me. I said I was sorry.”
    “And that’s supposed to make it all OK?” Priya demanded.
    “No, but you’re supposed to let things go once in a while. Life isn’t supposed to be so damned serious,” Madhu said.
    “Serious? You told him and he told her and she told everyone. I asked you, I pleaded that we keep this quiet, but you just don’t have any common sense,” Priya said, and regretted it immediately. Calling him stupid wasn’t fair, she knew, but she didn’t feel like giving an inch or even half an inch.
    “You know, we are just where Tarun and Aditi are. They’re just more honest than we are,” Madhu said once they were in their living room.
    “You’re kidding, right?”
    Madhu didn’t say anything and went into the bedroom.
    Priya followed him, now ready for a good fight.
    “I love you,” she said. “But you don’t really love me, do you? Otherwise—”
    “So now I’m untrustworthy, without common sense, and I don’t love you. Anything else?” he demanded.
    Priya took a deep breath.
    “No, that’s it for now,” she said, and slammed the bathroom door shut as she went in.
    He was sitting on the bed in his underwear when she came out brushed and scrubbed. She was still wearing the dress she had gone to the party in.
    “Can we make up now?” Madhu asked.
    Priya looked at him. “Are you offering monkey sex?”
    Madhu smiled and then nodded. “I did promise that, and a promise is, after all, a promise.”
    “Oh, please,” Priya said, and pushed him onto his back to straddle him.
    “We’re nothing like Tarun and Aditi,” Madhu said, and pulled the zipper of her dress down.
    “No,” Priya said, kissing him on the mouth. “I love you too much.”
    “Just so we have no misunderstandings and we’re on the same page on this,” Madhu said, “can you tell me what your definition of monkey sex is?”
     
    Transcript from message board www.surrogacyforyou.org
     
    Trying1Time: I am so scared about having left the baby there. I feel so anxious. What am I supposed to do?
     
    Prietysmommy: First thing, take a deep breath. This is very normal. I didn’t start sleeping until a week ago. We just got through the first trimester, and it has been rough. But my DH has been very supportive and that has helped a lot.
     
    NobuNobi: I have to say having DH’s unstinting support (despite his horrible parents) has been so great. I don’t think I could get through this without him.
     
    Mommy8774: My DH was also wonderful. I cried and cried and cried the first time when we came home. But he was a rock; he told me everything would be fine. My advice: Talk to your husband. You’ll feel much better.
     
    MummiBest24: I don’t understand what the big