MB’s very own graphic designer Vishakha Khanolkar Palav, who is seven months pregnant, poses for our winter fashion feature. The 28-year-old mum-to-be gets her shy husband Nilesh to not only strike a pose but also talk about their first time experience…

So unexpected!
Vishakha and Nilesh first met when they were working at a publishing house. “I was just 20 years old,” says our graphic designer.

“Earlier, we never spoke to each other, but after a while, we became friends. After a couple of months, we decided to take our relationship to the next level,” she shares.

Nilesh reveals that he was always serious about this relationship. “It was never like ‘Let us date each other’. I proposed marriage to her and she accepted. That’s when we began dating,” he says. The couple saw each other for six years before finally tying the knot. “My family didn’t immediately take to the relationship. Maybe because they felt we were still young and immature. But I was sure about him and he felt the same way,” she affirms.

On the other hand, Nilesh had informed his family and they were pleased. “She had all the qualities I was looking for in my future wife. So, from my side, everyone was agreeable.” After years of courtship, the duo tied the knot on December 25, 2010. Their dream had come true. Post-honeymoon, both resumed work. But after three months, Vishakha realised something was amiss. “I am a very active person by nature. And suddenly, I turned into a sloth. My sister suspected that I could be pregnant. So, I took a home pregnancy test on her insistence. And BANG! The test was positive... After the initial surprise, I was thrilled,” she says.

While Vishakha had switched to an elated state, Nilesh was in deep slumber. “She woke me up and told me we were going to have a baby. I woke up with a start! It was like a shock. I asked her if she was kidding. After the initial shock, the excitement set in. I was going to be a father!!!” exclaims the soon-to-be dad.