Two days after my Leila was born, I met DK.

Shalani brought him to the maternity ward. She also brought the most stunning pram/pushchair. It was a Bugaboo model – really classy and expensive.

“Thank you! That’s just the best,” I said, close to tears. I was close to tears often those first few days. The nurse said it was the ‘baby blues’ and it would pass soon enough.

“You can thank DK,” said Shalani. “He’s the one who funded it.”

“Thanks, DK,” I said.

I stared him while Shalani picked Leila up in her arms. Why did this DK guy look so familiar? Where had I seen him before?

Shalani carried Leila over to the hospital window, talking to her. “I’m your Auntie Shalani. And you are the most beautiful, beautiful baby in the world, little Leila,” she said.

From beside the bed, DK leaned over and whispered to me, “Of course she’s beautiful. She takes after her mother.” He stroked my arm lightly.

I felt uncomfortable. Why was this man flirting with me – after I’d just given birth? And when he was my best friend’s boyfriend? How creepy!

That’s when I realised who he was – Dumisani Katse! The geek from secondary school. Except he no longer wore those large spectacles. He seemed to have contact lenses now. But what was Shalani doing with Dumisani? Back at school we used to giggle about him behind his back. We used to whisper to each other about how creepy he was.

DK left the ward – to get coffee, I think. So I asked Shalani what was going on.

She giggled. “He’s a catch, Jane. He’s not anything like he was at school, trust me. He’s a real high-flyer now. You wanna see the places he takes me to. I have plans for DK, I promise you. Big plans. Haven’t you heard: geeks rule the world these days!”

And yes, when DK came back with his coffee, Shalani wrapped her arms around him like she was not ever going to let go. She was glowing again, eyes shining, looking so happy with life.

Just before they left, I whispered to her, “Be careful, Shalani. He seems to be a bit of a playa.”

She shook her head at me. “You aren’t jealous, are you? Not when you have such a beautiful little baby girl?”

The door closed behind them. I sat on the bed, holding my tiny new-born – and burst into tears. For myself and for my child. We were so alone and so unprotected. How could I care for her and keep her safe all by myself? How would I ever cope as a single mother? I’d tried and tried to get hold of Reginald to let him know about Leila. But he never answered.

The nurse walked in just then. “Oh my goodness! Have the baby blues got to you again, dear? It’s just your hormones sorting themselves out. It will pass.”

And then she had a good look at the Bugaboo pushchair and told me I must be the luckiest mommy in the whole maternity wing. No-one else had got a present that expensive and desirable.

***

Tell us what you think: Are the ‘baby blues’ a genuine psychological phenomenon?