Chapter 6 : Life takes an unexpected turn

Sarah’s earth shattering scream as she fell, drew the entire crowd to the patio.

Thanks to her billowing skirt with flowing fabric, Sarah’s fall to the ground two floors below and imminent death were prevented with her skirt being stuck in a window sill below, which left her hanging. She was immediately rescued by a super swift navy team joined in by her agile brother Henry and rushed to the hospital as she was nonetheless injured and unconscious.

“She slipped. Sarah is not accustomed to wearing high heels. I was not near enough to get hold of her before she fell”, Jessica rattled out many excuses nervously. Navy officials quickly apprehended her. “The police will look into the CCTV footage and decide whether you are guilty or nor Miss”, Admiral Collins thundered. He glared at Robert murderously as two women invited in by him to the Annual ball had caused major embarrassments in what was supposed to be a prestigious event. Unable to avoid answering questions this time, Robert had to accompany the police to be questioned as well.

Meanwhile Sarah was rushed to the best super multispecialty hospital of the town Pride HealthCare, owned by Henry’s friend and hugely celebrated doctor, Dr Samuel Martinez. The entire Hill family reached the hospital with family head Theodore Hill himself tirelessly pacing up and down the corridor and tiring the doctors and nurses out with his relentless questioning. Henry had rung up Dr Samuel and ensured that he himself led the expert team of doctors attending Sarah.

Finally after Sarah’s injuries were attended to, required medical tests conducted and her fractured arm was put in cast, Dr Samuel announced that Sarah had regained consciousness and was ready to meet the family. However, she would require another day of hospitalization as a few more tests were to be conducted.

“However, I have a joyous news to share. Sarah is pregnant”, he beamed, expecting the family to break into raptures.

However instead of the ecstatic response he saw the Hill family looking at each other with shocked faces. “What?”, Sarah herself exclaimed, “ There must be some mistake Dr Sam. I have PCOS. I am infertile and incapable of becoming pregnant”, she said.

Sarah knew Dr Samuel Martinez as Henry’s close friend who was a frequent visitor to her home in their growing up years. They had however lost contact when Samuel went abroad to study medicine and Sarah moved to a college far from her home to pursue a degree in Communications and Creative Writing.

“There is no mistake. I have myself rechecked thrice as I too had doubts initially. All the tests were conducted in my presence”, he confirmed. Sensing embarrassment and unusual response, he requested the male family members to leave the room for a few minutes. Only Nancy and two nurses remained inside apart from Dr Samuel.

“When did you last have your periods?”, he asked, smiling and adding that since they were childhood friends, Sarah was free to call him Sam.

Sarah put her head down in embarrassment before answering that her last period was two months ago, but since she has PCOS and generally does not have more than eight periods in a year, she did not find anything amiss.  

“Yes it is difficult for a person with PCOS to conceive but it is not impossible”, Dr Sam smiled, before asking her to tell him frankly why she is not excited as this was a precious baby.

Sarah told him about her divorce and also about Robert cheating with her friend Jessica. “I don’t think I can carry on with this pregnancy Dr Sam”, she mumbled, tears flowing from her eyes as though floodgates had opened.

All through her married life she had been subjected to jibes about being infertile, half-man and a curse to womankind. Over the years, she had resigned to believe that she would never have a child of her own, even though she would have climbed mountains had someone assured her otherwise. But now after her divorce, would it be prudent to give birth and bring up the child alone? Surely Robert would stake his claim and take away the child if she was to go ahead. What kind of trick was fate playing on her?, Sarah turned to look heavenward in a bid to ask the Almighty.

“You should not even think of aborting Sarah. This is a precious pregnancy, a miracle. As you said and know very well yourself, the chances of you becoming pregnant with PCOS are slim, so you may never become pregnant again if you abort, so I will advice you against any such decision”, Dr Sam said.

“I and your bother Edward will adopt your child and no one will be able to take him or her away”, Nancy announced. I am just going to call the family in.”

As the Hill family trooped in Dr Sam looked at Sarah deeply and proposed, “Will you marry me Sarah? I will happily be the father of your child and will cherish you lifelong.”