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

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!!!

Aara!!

Its been so long since i wrote here!! But a lot has happened. And one of the best things to have happened is Aara. Yes, thats Chintan and Vrushti's baby girl. She was born on 23rd Feb this year and since then has been an apple of everyone's eye. Especially, Chintan and Vrushti's. Well, their world has changed completely... a team of two now have a new team mate and they both are working hard to create their influence on her. If she eats and sleeps like Chintan, she has a pretty face and long fingers like her mother. She's herself too. She loves attention and doesnt allow Vrushti to talk on phone or with anyone else when she is in her lap. She wants undivided attention. And while she manages to grab lots of hugs and kisses from her parents, even after taking away their freedom to move around... Aara has become the goddess of cuteness in just a month's time.

And Aara has changed Chintan and Vrushti. "Aara makes them act like parents. With Vrushti cleaning her up and Chintan putting her to sleep on his chest," says Amul. 

For Chintan, Aara is amazing. The thought of her doing potty on his new shirt and the challenge of putting her to sleep when she's cranky, lights up his day.

For Vrushti, Aara is an incessant feeder and wetter. Aara's recently developed skill of smiling in recognition of the 'mama' factor has made Vrushti's life worth living. Her screams when sleepy or hungry can be heard for miles and then when she falls asleep with the warm milky smile on her face, its impossible to associate the 'angel' that she seems to be with her howler alter ego. 'Mini-me' is how Vrushti likes to think of her. :) Its all the good things life could ever possibly offer.

Aara - our tangible little bundle of joy is very difficult to put away once she's in your arms. You feel like delaying that meeting of yours or sacrificing a little of your sleep so that you can spend some time with her. I am just waiting for her to grow up so that we can dance together on ABBA songs and have endless conversations... :) 

Our cute little Aara...