My Womb Diary - Part II

Its Dad's birthday!!! We celebrate with all my uncles, aunts and my grandparents!!! Doctor takes a look at me and tells mom that your baby needs to put on more weight. My Momma quietly tells me to stop jumping around and relax... But i am so excited!! Its only going to be a matter of few weeks before I pop.

Treats keep flowing. Love my daily dose of Vanilla Icecream. I swiftly put on weight. But the downside is that there's hardly any space to move around. Cant do my length and breaths anymore. I am floating. I guess my mom has tightened her belly. Its a conspiracy so that I dont roam around. All the food is going to my hips. :) And the weight has forced me into upside down position. Now who lives like this? With his head below and legs above??? But I am super-talented, you remember???

- August 2012

Things are moving fast. Preparations are in full swing for my arrival!! My grandparents have re-arranged Momma's room for my arrival. My dad is on stand-by. Wont be going out of town for business meets. Just when I was about to go to sleep, I over heard Mom instructing Dad what to do if she went into labour. I thought she was already into labour. Otherwise why would she take instructions from Delhi all the time and work long hours??? Maybe they are talking of some different kind of labour. I found it too boring so i dozed off. 

Then one fine evening, when Momma was driving Nani to a cultural program, I felt like peeping out. So I pushed my way out but the umbilical cord entwined around my neck rendered me breathless. I so much wanted to get out. I tell Momma that I cant do it on my own. My Momma tells me to relax... says she will handle it all!! 

I smile and relax... Afterall, thats what Mommas are for! They can handle it all!

Its Ganpati time! But Momma takes ill. She is down with flu. I behave myself. But it only gets worse. Once Momma recovers, my grandparents too take ill.They have to be administered glucose. And then... Dad fell ill.  I help in my own way. I dont trouble Momma. And every once in a while, I knock on the womb walls, so that she knows I am with her!!! Momma smiles and shares this with Dad. Dad too is smiling now. They both respond and tap on the belly to say Hi!!! And in all this, Daddy got well. I have magical powers to heal, you see!! 

Its 23rd September. I was due today. But Momma is relaxed. In no hurry for my arrival. Instead she proposes to go for Barfi!!! So I go on my last outing inside her. I must say, I loved the Choco-almond cone and Ranbir Kapoor....

On 24th September, Mom and Dad visit Dr Banker! He is not too keen to wait. Says lets get the little one out. So everyone goes into frenzy. Both grandmas' start looking for auspicious time. Mom is asked not to have any food. From that moment on, she only thinks about food. To make matters worse, Dad orders Dominoes for everyone. Chintan kaka, Vrushti Kaki, Aara, Arjun Kaka arrive at hospital. Everyone is super excited!! I hear my Devam Mama too is rushing to Ahmedabad. All this activity tires me out. I decide to take a nap as I will be finally facing the world in some time. 

And before I know it... My arrival is announced. At 4.34, I finally meet my Momma. She's beautiful. Just as i imagined. She has the broadest smile on her face. Just as i imagined. I hold her fingers. The same ones she said hi!! and caressed me with. She holds me tight in her arms as everyone arrives to take a look at me. Dad is speechless... almost with tears in his eyes!!! Afterall, I am his duplicate. The same features, same traits and in love with the same girl. We both thank Momma. :) 

And this time, as I go into Daddy's arms, Momma dozes off!!!

- September 2012

An ideal wife is any woman who has an ideal husband.

Yup. Am married. :) To none other than Mr. Amul Jani. Thank you all for who made it to the wedding. I will always cherish your presence. Special thanks to Anu, Anuja, Raksha, Janki and Smita. You girls kept up with my nonsense for a long time and excused it all just because i was the bride. Also to Devam. You have been an incredible host and an inspiring one. Also you surpassed all my expectations of being a helpful hand. You kept my spirits alive and smile intact. Thanks to Mom and Dad for keeping up with my stubborn demands. Be it minimizing the guest list or letting go off a ritual. Thanks for allowing my wedding to be my way. Be it choosing a simple blue invitation card or not calling relatives who didnt mean anything to me or not going overboard with gifts, decoration or food and allowing it to be a simple wedding. I would also like to express my utter happiness for one who flew down all the way to attend the wedding. And for all those who couldnt attend my wedding... let me tell you... you missed "the event" of the last decade. :) 

While i took no time to fall in love with amul back in 1998, i took over a decade to marry him. When the wedding date was finally announced, most of my friends and cousins heaved a sigh of relief. "Finally" was what i heard before "Congratulations".

To be true to all of you, i was scared of getting married. I didnt want to leave my house even for Amul. I didnt want to move into another house. I wanted to live with my parents forever. But somewhere down the line, i told myself, "Dont protest. You will get use to the change."

So though i wasnt jubilant when the date was announced, i quietly started telling myself to get prepared. I had no logical reason to refuse marriage. I loved my baby. He was a nice guy. We had been together for 11 years. Afterall, it was the next step. How long could i have avoided it? I wasnt scared of living in another house with another set of family. I was scared of leaving my own comfort zone. I have been terribly homesick before. I have cried buckets when i had to move to London briefly to pursue my Masters. I have been a terrible guest when i was dropped over at my relatives' when i was a kid. I would cry and cry till Mom or Dad came to fetch me. Knowing myself, i was a little apprehensive about how would i feel when i moved - if i may add, permanently - to Amul's place.

But to my discovery and to my relief, i am not homesick. I do miss home terribly. Everytime i need little things like cello tape or a rubber band... it immediately reminds me of that drawer or that stationery box back at my place. Everyday when i finish work, i feel like going back home. And every night... when the clock strikes 11... i think of mom. Before marriage, if i wasnt home at night... my mom would inevitably call at the strike of 11 to remind me that my time was up. I miss my old life terribly. But i love my new life.

I still wake up late. I enjoy my long sleep. And its funny to wake up with Amul. Every morning when i wake up and i see this guy all cuddled up in his favourite quilt... i cant help but smile. He refuses to give up his single quilt. :) After 11 years of being with him, i have now realised that he loves his quilt more than me.

I still enjoy reading my papers first thing in the morning with a hot cuppa coffee. And to my great happiness, aunty makes coffee just like my mom. Its fun to see Amul running around the house before he leaves for work while i am sitting on the sofa, reading my paper, sipping my coffee and in no hurry to go anywhere.

So while i thought marriage would bring sweeping changes to my life, i only have god to thank for blessing me with Amul, Uncle and Aunty. I cant be thankful enough to the almighty. My mom and dad are hardly a kilometer away. Amul is a cute husband. And uncle and aunty are gems.

And as i begin my new life... i only hope i build a strong nest i never feel like leaving behind.

Endnotes!!!

• Poor Hrithik Roshan!!! He has to dance even to sell biscuits. Dont get what i am saying?? You will have to watch the latest Bourbon Biscuit tv advertisement. Saw him gyrating to his histrionic moves fervently for some few seconds... and then suddenly from nowhere emerges a biscuit packet from his hand... and he mutters something... it happens really quickly to even register anything. What hits you though is that poor Hrithik is being typecast as a dancer... and he has to break into his fervid item everytime he endorses a product. Come on Bourbon ppl... you guys can do much better... so can Hrithik. Spare his flexile body.

End Note: Has anyone seen Hrehaan??? He is Hrithik's elder son. Recently saw him perched in his mumma's lap at some award function. Cute is the word. But think no further.... Have booked him for Aara. Aara too broke into giggles when i put Hrehaan's photo in front of her. She broke into her little chiggy wiggy dance as soon as she set her sight upon him. Double thumbs up!!! :)

• Irrespective of all the hype and hoopla that surrounded Jaswant Singh's book 0n Jinnah... its a delight to read it. Its a well-researched, well thought out and well spaced book that documents how Jinnah went onto become Quaid e Azam of Pakistan. This well researched book has been put together with great care too. It has references to several books and has brief explanation on various events and people who made history as end notes. Someone who enjoys reading history and is curious about India, should read this book.

End Note: Just as a precaution... dont hold the book with one hand and lie on your back, while you read it. Its heavy. My wrist is furious with me and is making its feelings evident since two days.

• Just as Ishrat Jahan encounter case grabbed the headlines, driving both the central and the state government into a frenzy... stories from all quarters started coming in about various other fake encounters carried out by police officers across India. While Gujarat Government dug out records to show.. how poor seventh or eighth Gujarat fared at killing people in encounters, compared to UP or Rajasthan, Chidambaram took the matter on international stage. Made a comment on Gujarat Government and Ishrat killing in the Washington. CNN and BBC which hadnt bothered so far, too took attention. Better late than never, CNN too has reported about it now. Its an interesting report from an international point of view. Can be read at: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/11/india.shooting.probe/

Talk about going international Mr. Modi!!!

End Note: The encounter feeling engulfed the city to such an extent that even local cable operators put up 'Ab Tak Chappan' - a hindi movie on the backdrop of encounter killings by police officers, featuring Nana Patekar, in their prime time movie slot.

• And when the encounters, war and crimes are grabbing headlines all over the world... and one is tired of listening to all the noise that comes with the chaos... here's a break. Photographs by Emilio Morenatti. He has travelled extensively in the middle east and has captured Afghanistan and Pakistan for Associated Press. He has also been conferred the award of Newspaper Photographer of the Year 2008. Once while on an assignment in Gaza, he was kidnapped by gunmen but later released without any harm. The reason why i am building up so much is because the photos that he took left me spell bound. These are riveting photos... something that will linger on even as you move onto the next one. "A picture says a thousand words." - it was never so true before. You can take a glimpse of his work at http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2009/03/23/photographer-collection-emilio-morenatti/

End Note: Its 12th September. My Momma Jani In Law's birthday. But even as we set out to celebrate her birthday today evening... Amul just mentioned in the car today morning saying: 'Mos, exactly three more months to go." 12th Dec is nearing. The countdown is drawing close. :) The room is under construction. Clothes and venue and functions are decided. Navarati is approaching and Diwali will be here soon. And within no time... it will be time to get invitation cards printed..... phew.... God!! Be there!!!

Till the next post.... tata!!!

August Diary

There's always a reason behind everything. I have many behind not blogging in the month of August. Inspite of it being one of the longest months of the year, i was too busy and hassled to even drop in a word. Imagine... how occupied i must have been.

So i am going to pen... rather type... my August Diary in September.

• Work has been defining my life these days. Have been extremely busy with work... so much so that sometimes i feel i am doing a job of four ppl put together. Follow ups, confirming a report, reporting, travelling, special stories, forward planning and day plans and events... god, its been too much. I have fed NewsX so much in last month that i am not only tired of cooking but am sure they have developed an indigestion too. I have had no time to send bills, reimburse my expenses or even take Sundays off. Swine flu deaths, book ban, spurious liquor and poor BJP...

• When i am not working... i am occupied with Amul. His birthday falls in August and we took a three day off to go to POLO forests. Its one of the most beautiful landscape in Gujarat. It was a good break... a much needed one and it couldnt have come at a better time than his birthday. Wont reveal the details too much... but it was high time i put aside work and spent time relaxing... and thats exactly what i did. Packed, took three days off, spent two days in forest, laughed at heart's content, played with Aara and spent three whole days with Amul.... Fabulous is the word.

Amul with a beer on his birthday... what more could he ask for?

Vrushti and Aara... Aara's first holiday

Janki, Amul, Chintan and Arjun... at Vijaynagar Palace... a heritage place where we stayed in Polo

Chintan and Aara... Aara had a blast on this holiday...

Mos and Amul... and the reservoir behind....

• It was a month of return too. Devam is finally back from the US. Though he hasnt turned up home and has a lame excuse for that... i hope i get to see him again. He has bluntly told me how i figure last in his list but in the same sentence assured me that he loves me equally. I dont understand diplomacy and therefore didnt exactly understand what he meant. This month also marked the first anniversary of Vrushti and Chintan's return to India. The biggest differentiator between the last year and this year has been.... Aara... who's growing leaps and bounds everyday.

• Another small yet significant thing about August was festivals. It started with Rakhi. I didnt send any rakhi to my NRI brothers... i was so occupied with work and travel that i didnt find time to send any. But still took two hours out on Rakhi to tie rakhi to a few cousins who live in Ahmedabad... :) i love the tradition of tying a rakhi, exchanging sweets and receiving money as a gift... majja aavi gai. And if Rakhi marked the beginning of the month and was celebrated at my maternal grandpa's house.... the month's end was marked by Ganpati at in-laws. For the first time, i sat in ganpati pooja... prayed to Ganpati to remove obstacles from two ppl's paths... and the most exciting stuff was wearing a sari on the visarjan day... :) looked like an aunty.... :)

So August is over... September arrived with a bang. On the first day, stood four hours in a queue at beauty parlour to book myself for the wedding day. Frustrating, hilarious and a tiresome experience it was. All ladies in Ahmedabad want to get ready at the same parlour.... so they all land up here early in the morning to get an appointment. It was worse than a visa line. After waiting for so long... i finally got an appointment. I havent worked so hard for getting amul as much as i did for get that appointment. But its finally done... Its also a reminder that wedding is just three months away.

The nervousness is creeping in gradually. Amul and i often point out what a relief it is to go back to individual houses every night. We often ponder if we will be able to stay together all the time? But i guess we will know it all in just a matter of few months...

September meanwhile.... is going to be fun. Its Navarati time.... garba, dandiya, late nights and honest ni paubhaji and pulao... :)

But till Navarati begins... its time for me to leave for Kutch... I am going to Lakhpat (the kanyakumari of west) on the border of india and pakistan. Should be fun, hot, tiring and a memorable experience. If its worth writing and sharing... will blog about it when i am back...

Till then... to you all... Happy September!!!

Headlines!!!

• Back from a whirlwind trip to Delhi and Surat. Delhi was fun. At company expense, enjoyed a five star stay for a crash course in NewsX and got a bit of information on upcoming events in our company. Cant give out more information. :) In surat, i went to cover the total solar eclipse of the century. I cant describe it in words. Even if i didnt see the Solar Eclipse because it was very cloudy and raining... i saw the effect... it was a early dawn sky... and then at 6:21... it went pitch dark... like it was night... and then... three minutes later... the light came back. I was completely detached from it as i took it as just another reporting assignment. But when i reached the venue (from where we were going live) at 4am in the morning... i couldnt believe the crowds. People were there early in the morning waiting to watch a celestial extravaganza of the century. People from Romania, Japan and Germany had come. Not to forget our our Indian Brothers and Sisters. I did some good work... good lives... interviewed so many people and after 27 years on this planet... i finally discovered some curiosity for this planet, our existence in this milky way... brilliant.

• Also i went to Delhi after six months. The discovery that i made was the Delhi International Airport. SEXY is the word. :) Its world class, hep and classy. Had an awesome double shot expresso with a mediterranean sub at 5.30 in the morning. Classic. One thing is for sure. Next time, i wont crib about Delhi Airport. Next time, i will go a little early to enjoy the airport. Next time, i will be a little better dressed when i am at the Delhi airport. :)

• Amul picked me up from Surat. He was in Silvassa for work. So on way back, he picked me up. He showed his true love for me by co-ordinating his offical trip with mine. And i showed my true love for him by treating him to nice, hot and awesome Italian lunch in Surat. In return, he showed his true love by giving me his eye mask for two hours sleep while he drove in heavy rain. I, in return, showed my true love by allowing him to listen to Des Pardes songs composed by Rajesh Roshan.. some songs i had never heard in life but still kept smiling through. He, in return, when i woke up, showed his love by kissing my hands every 10 secs and i in return... smiled coyly and had some wonderful moments i will cherish for life... the love exchange continues... but lets not get into details please... :)

• Now i am back home. My mom had two best days of her life recently after she took a break from work to spend time with my mama and mami who came visiting from Mumbai. She was so happy when i spoke to her over the phone from Delhi and Surat. She usually is grumpy through the day... because of her school principal who gives her a lot of grief. But my Mama Mami's visit, with some nice sandwiches at Freezeland and some shopping therapy with my Mami, gave my mom some great reason to be happy. But always expect something bizzare from my mom. As part of my wedding preparations, my mother has bought a nice fancy double bedsheet with pillow covers. She plans to gift that to me. Now, how bizzare is this? Amul's house has enough bedsheets and pillows.. Why do i need to carry a bedsheet from home? Next thing you know, my mom will pack me soaps and toothpaste... God Forbid!!!!

• Must mention a line or two about the weather. Its been awesome since a week. Its been raining cats and dogs in Surat and South Gujarat. In Ahmedabad, its been decent. Its raining in favour of employers. I say so because it rains at night... through the night... instead of through the day... giving poor employees like us to skip work on the pretext of rains. Common clouds... you can do better than this... be kind to poor people like us. :)

• Ok!! Hooch tragedy refuses to die down. One more arrested. One more police press conference. One more story. And one more headache. As they say, every good thing must come to an end. Gotta go. Goodbye.