Arjun and Priya had been married for three years before the good news arrived. Ever since Arjun learned of his wife’s pregnancy, he’s been taking care of her every step of the way. She’s six months pregnant and her baby is growing. But recently, she’s become strange: she’s always in bed, rarely going out. No matter how much Arjun tries to encourage her, she just smiles awkwardly and says she’s tired.

At first, Arjun thought his wife was just having morning sickness or feeling heavy due to pregnancy, but he gradually began to find it strange. At mealtimes, she would just eat a little and then lie down. Even when she needed to go to the bathroom, she would stop. Arjun was worried and repeatedly urged her:

– You can’t just lie there; it will affect the baby.

But Priya just shook her head, her eyes red. The way she held the thin blanket made Arjun even more uneasy.

One night, Arjun came home late from his shift. He opened the door and saw his wife still in the same position: lying on her side, the blanket covering her from chest to feet. This strange atmosphere made Arjun’s heart race. He went over to her, sat down next to her, and called out softly:

– Priya… are you hiding something from me?

Priya was silent, her shoulders trembling slightly. At that very moment, Arjun suddenly felt an invisible fear. He reached out to touch the edge of the blanket.
– I’m sorry… but I need to know.

Saying this, Arjun lifted the blanket trembling.

The sight before his eyes left him speechless. Priya’s legs were swollen, her skin was pale, and she was covered in bruises. Her feet were cracked, red, and swollen, to the point where even the slightest touch would make her cry out in pain. Arjun was stunned, unable to believe it was true.

– Oh God… why didn’t you tell me? – Arjun’s throat choked, tears welling up in his eyes.

Priya turned away, her voice choking with sobs:
– I didn’t want you to worry… I was afraid you’d get tired and depressed. So I hid it…

It turned out that Priya had been suffering from swelling in her feet during pregnancy for the past few months. The pain in her feet had been increasing, making it impossible for her to walk. But she felt pity for her husband’s hard work, so she gritted her teeth and endured the pain, hiding it under the blanket.

Arjun embraced his wife, his heart filled with pity. He felt he was too heartless when he was only concerned with work and had no time to notice the changes in his wife.

The next morning, Arjun took Priya to AIIMS Hospital in New Delhi. Hearing the doctor explain that this was a warning sign of preeclampsia—a dangerous complication that can affect both the mother and the unborn baby—Arjun’s heart sank. If it hadn’t been detected in time, the consequences would have been unpredictable.

In the hospital room, as the doctor administered anti-inflammatory medication, Priya held her husband’s hand tightly, tears welling in her eyes. Arjun whispered:

—From now on, don’t hide anything from me. No matter what happens, we have to get through this together.

Priya nodded, her voice choking. At that moment, Arjun realized: true love isn’t just sweet words, but also about facing pain and fear together.

In the following days, Arjun took a long leave to care for his wife. She learned to cook, massaged Priya’s feet every night, and helped her slowly walk across the hospital courtyard. Many onlookers were moved and praised her.

Three months later, Priya gave birth to a healthy baby girl at AIIMS, Delhi. Hearing the baby’s cries in the delivery room, Arjun burst into tears like a child. He held his wife’s hand, kissed her forehead, and whispered:

Thank you… for being strong for this family.

And in his heart, the image of that evening—when he had lifted the blanket and seen his wife’s swollen feet and trembled—was forever a milestone. It was that moment when he understood more deeply than ever: love is to be shared, never to leave the one you love alone.