The morning of her Journalism Ethics examination began badly.
She woke before sunrise.
Pain twisted sharply across her abdomen.
Not the usual discomfort.
Something stronger.
Something that made her sit quietly on the edge of her bed for several minutes.
Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach.
She smiled weakly.
"Tandri..."
The Telugu word escaped naturally.
A father's word used for a child.
A word full of affection.
"Please be gentle for a few hours."
She closed her eyes.
"After the examination, we will visit Doctor Aunty immediately."
She rubbed her stomach carefully.
"Just help Amma finish today's paper."
For several seconds there was only silence.
Then...
thump.
A soft movement.
Almost an answer.
Alankrita smiled.
"Good child."