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.

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!!!

The Morning Chat!!!

Devam doesnt want me to write this blog!!! He has pleaded me umpteen times not to put our conversation on the blog... but believe me... chatting with him is one of the biggest 'botox' like shot that i can give to my life. I woke up at 5am today to cover the annual rath yatra in ahmedabad. I got home and when i logged onto write my script... viola... i found devam online.

The morning chat started from life's philosophy, went onto global warming, to this road trip i want to go on, to not wanting to get married, to ruining amul's life after marriage and finally goodbye. It was time for him to go to sleep in Barack Obama's land.


He has asked me not to reveal much about him. He wants to enter films with a bang... as if he came from no where... :)


But thats not possible when he has an elder sister, who not only talks too much but can also write and has an exclusive rights to a blog. Dear Devam, you are still to have your fans.... I already have them. :) I have to live upto their expectations. I know you will understand this bit.

So here are some highlights of the conversation.... enjoy!!!

Devam's New Found Philosophy

devam: all u want is everythin.. is tht a problem

well yes it is

materialism is a enemy of time..

me: ohhh ya

someone is becoming very philosophical

devam: ofcourse

me: the thing is

i feel... i have one life to live

and why cant i have everything?

devam: if u have 1 life to live

find the true meaning to it

and contribute to the world

me: ohhh ya????

devam: theres more happiness in giving then taking

me: dont u think i have given enough

devam: nope

me: why dont other people give me anything

devam: the process will only begin when ull realise the true meaning to ur existence

me: true meaning of my existence is that i work too hard for kind of salary i earn

i need to take it a little easy

put my feet up

chill my heels

smile a little more

devam: yes

me: close my eyes

devam: u can do tht

me: and relax

and even go to sleep

if i can do all this by a beach in goa.... nothing like that

devam: yup

n once u r done attaining calm

go help the world

give give give

n get the pleasure of giving

Observation: I couldnt believe it was my own brother talking. A person who can buy a shirt worth Rs 13000/- without thinking of those lakhs who go hungry to bed everynight... has suddenly transformed into this 'giver' of the world.

Devam on Global Warming

devam: wid Industrialization, r they growing more trees?

me: yes they are

u shall be surprised

devam: ok very good

me: but our highways are fantastic

thy have grown trees in between

devam: im very concerned abt global warming..

i dun care abt highways.. i travel by air

all im concerned is abt India bein greener than ever

me: ya... and waste tonnes and tonnes of fuel... and someone just said he was concerned about global warming.

what a farce u are devam

devam: arre farce shu ema.. i dun have time

i have to save time, so i can reach to more and more ppl

me: yes... talk about flying and global warming in the same sentence

hahahahha

devam: arre!!

me: u still have a lot to learn chotta aadmi

devam: Al gore is a Green Revolution ambassador

does tht mean he shud stop flying and go by car everywhere

me: no... he should cycle

devam: mebbe next time when he crosses the atlantic, he shud build a highway in order to save fuel

me: or even better... conduct online conferences and save paper and fuel

devam: yeah rite

me: well... ppl who are concerned... can do things

devam: only 13% of the world population is internet savvy

me: people who just need to talk... will definitely find excuses

devam: it doesnt work liddat

dun talk like a chhota aadmi

think in terms of gore or me

devam: its almost impossible to reach out to common man, which is y we have to reach out to ppl like u

me: yaa yayayaaa...

devam: who can in turn spread our msg

me: ya right

devam: n we'll cover the globe slowly wid help of ppl like u

me: i have no time for your crap

devam: arre ... im tryin to save planet earth

me: yayaya yaaa

where am i denying it

devam: n u r bein ignorant juss like everybody else

me: hahahaha

Devam on my road trip

devam: u cool of ur heels in goa

ill try cool my planet

me: i havent laughed so much before 10am in ages

yeah... cool devam.... cool planet

why dont u send me some money

i want to take a road trip

devam: go walking.. its free n planet freindly

me: i m not into global warming

devam: but i am .... which is y i wanna contribute in my own li'll way n not encourage something which is gonna emit dangerous gases

Sent at 10:17 AM on Wednesday

devam: be it ur road trip resulting into gas emission or be it tht table full of indian dishes tht u'll ultimatey turn into poisonous gases

me: so u want everyone to stop driving, flying and manufacturing

ohhh... that misal pau was brilliant

devam: read before consumption - misal pau

after consumption - missile pau

me: you owe me money...can i have it now please?

devam: y

me: i want to go on a road trip

devam: hahaha

now not possible

it takes time

me: why not now???

i want to go on a road trip before my wedding

alone

take wagon r

devam: u dun wanna start me again on global warming

r u goin to singapore in ur wagon r tht u need 2 lacs?

it'll be cheaper to go by air then

me: stopover at baroda, surat, mumbai, matheran, ratnagiri, sindhudurg, goa, bangalore, mysore, chennai, pondicherry and hyderabad, nagpur and bacck

devam: go by train

abbe save money for ur wedding

Devam on pursuing me to marry...

devam: before ur wedding, we acharyas we'll definitely go to a undisclosed holiday for 3-4 days

me: i dont want to get married...

devam: haha

abbe chal hawe ghar khaali kar.. bau rahi tu ghare..

now wats ur new excuse?

me: is there any need to change wagon r's colour, tyres, music system, garage, seat covers???

devam: i dunno.. i havent even seen tht car

me: same way... why do i need to change my name, residence, family, room, priorities....

devam: bcos car is a commodity and u r a person

me: but i am fine where i am

infact iam great where i am

devam: yes u r

me: why change it

devam: bcos u made the choice

we all have the choices.... ppl like d**** didi were successful daughter, professional..

but she never enjoyed the status of a successful wife or mother

or a daughter in law.. bcos they din choose to do so

they din choose to welcome new life..

uve made the choice, so stick by it and enjoy the ride

luckily u have a companion wid u on tht ride whom uve known for yrs n grown fond of

me: it sounds challenging...

infact i hate amul

he told me he would remarry the moment i died and i was out of his path

devam: haha

everybody waits for tht

me: why should i marry someone who's waiting for me to die so that he can remarry

devam: but majority of times the guy passes away before.. seein the ataychars from the so-called abla-naari

me: hahahahaha

devam: hahahaha

me: yes... i think i should marry

i want to do all the atyachaars on amul

devam: be peaceful, loving and giving

me: i will call him to get limbu and bateka

every evening

at 6pm sharp

even if he gets a kilo everyday... i will throw them away and remind him to get limbu

devam: dun throw them away

make limbu no ras

feed him

so tht gives him energy to bring some more limbus

Well... that was the end of it.... Devam finally was tired of talking to me... and called for a 'pack up'... He's off to sleep... while its time for me to check where Lord Jaganath along with his brother Baldev and sister Subhadra have reached in Ahmedabad.

Chao!!!

My World This Week

I want: Weekends off and a pay hike

This Sunday: Spa and Deep Conditioning

Never will: Smoke or dope

Yearning for: Devam to come back and a Goa Trip

Dreading: Nanavati Commission's Part II report and Diwali Sweets


Want to: Go on a Vacation (like right now) and make a documentary (just need a little push)

Hate it: When Mom reminds me how much (very little in this case) time i spend at home and when people ask: When are you getting married?

Love it: When Amul pampers me and showers me with attention and Sunday is approaching.

Would like to thank god for: Strong Digestive System, Shahrukh Khan and inventing the concept of Sleep

Recent Discovery: I suffer from short term memory loss. (cant recall what was said just a minute ago) But i have execellent long term memory

Wish to control: Sensex and Mom's temper

Looking forward to: Diwali gatherings and Anu's wedding

Current Favourites: Jasuben Pizza and Shambhu's cold coffee

Last Expense: L&T's 5 shares

Pending Expense: Wagon R's service and getting rid of the scratch

Currently Reading: Exodus by Leon Uris, Scarred by Dionna Bunsha, Descent into Chaos by Ahmed Rashid.


Want to indulge in: A watch for myself and Amul, a trip to New York, egypt vacation for parents, Diwali party for friends, diamond earrings, Hyundia Verna or a Mitsubishi Lancer.................