A Short Story (R.K.Chhabra) So What If It’s a……….? I was in to two minds….Yes or No. I know work is worship, but sometimes exceptions are also there. It was our annual conference and I had to go. Then I met the doctor, she said, no problem you go. I took the flight to Mumbai. ….the Hotel, Ramda Palm Grove, which was booked for me, was on the Juhu Beach, a lot of people were there on the Beach, but it wasn’t Interesting for me. Mera Mann nahi lag raha tha. Next day, the conference started, as I was to present my Achievements, I had prepared my OHP sheets. I did more than 100%. All appreciated, but, as I said, I was still very tense. She was alone at home, with, one and half year old daughter; it would be difficult for her to manage. It was a three day conference, and today was the second day, My G.M asked, why I am not in that “Jolly mood” as I used to be, always. I just smiled. It was 12 noon, and in the middle of the conference, all of a sudden, a Security guard came inside the hall. Generally we are not disturbed during the conferences, I just looked at him. Whoh Ghabraya hua tha. He looked at our General Manager….uske kaan me kuch kaha, and waited. Buss mera Dil Ghabra gaya, kaheen ye mere liye to nahi kah raha, Jis baat ka darr tha kaheen who hi baat to nahi ho rahi thi… Our G.M Looked at me, aur Ishare se mujhe bulaya. Dhak Dhakk, Dhak Dhak I could listen to my heart beatings..Oh My God…kaheen Garbad na ho gayi ho.. I just went to our G.M. he whispered in my ears…It’s urgent! Take a first flight available and go back to Hyderabad. Mujhe laga , main vaheen gir jaoonga..apne aap ko sambhala aur room me jaa kar packing ki, aur Taxi lekar sedha Airport pahunch gaya. I called my mother also, and told her to come immediately to Hyderabad. Luckily seats were available in the flight ,and the 1 hour journey to Hyderabad looked very long journey. I was sweating. I reached Hyderabad, took an auto, and went straight home. The home was locked. Mera pahle hi bura haal tha. Ghar locked hai, Oh My God. I was cursing myself, why I went to Mumbai. From Home I took my bike, and went straight to the Hospital. When I saw her there, I had a sigh of relief. “Sahi time pe a gaye aap,” Doctor said. She was taken to the operation theater, and, I was sitting outside very tense, Kuch der baad doctor came out side and said “come inside.” I saw a small angel, with blood and membranes around her body, Doctor said “Congrats, it’s a baby Girl” I was very happy, very very happy. I saw, the new born baby was looking at me, rather staring at me. I smiled…then she turned her head here and there, closed her eyes ,then again opened , and again looked at me, I smiled again…I cannot forget this scene. Doctor said, Dekho kaisey Papa ko dekh rahi hai!..Papa ki lovely girl. Abhi aap ki beti ko saaf kar ke ….le ke aati hoon, aur madam ko bhi clean karna hai…aap buss bahir wait kijiye. As Usual I kissed her forehead….her eyes, and her cheeks….I always did like that whenever I was happy….she was then conscious, kaya hua? She asked in a feeble voice. Beti hui hai…Congrats, I said. haan?....Beti ? kaisi hai?. She was expecting a baby Boy. I said, bahut khoobsurat hai……mujhe bade payaar se dekh rahi thi… Aur maloom?..uskey bhi sar pe bade bade baal hain Nurse hairaan thi , newborn baby ke itne lambe baal mostly babies are bald. Then teasingly I said Kaya teen din aur nahi rokk sakti thi?.. Kiyon? She asked Bhool gayi? I said Your’s birthday is on 29th July 26th July ko hi deliver kar diya?.. And you promised, ke aap Mumbai jao 29th July takk ,Rokk ke rakhti hoon… Dono ka birthday ek saath manayenge maine kaha tha na tumhe! Main bhi kaya karti….she wanted to see us early….she smiled. I too smiled and tapped her cheeks and, came out of the room. Now, one problem was over, but the “Second problem” was there to be solved. That was not a less small problem: My Mother…How to tell her: It was a baby girl. She expected a baby Boy this time, as, my ,first baby was also a daughter. I was sitting outside in the chair thinking again, kaya kahoon?..kaisey kahoon…mere liye to beti bête me koi Farq nahi…I was happy that both were healthy and well, but old ladies think otherwise. Beta Hona jaroori hai… main soch me pareshan tha ke , she was brought out ,from the operation Theater, and was being shifted to a private room. Baby was wrapped in a white clean cloth, a strap around her wrist. (Which Still I have) She was very pretty daughter…….my angel. Main bahut khush tha uss ko dekh kar. I kissed her, and kept it on the chest her mother. Biji (My Mother) kab ayengey? She asked. Yaar, main bhi Biji ke bare me hi soch raha hoon Shaam ki train hai, abhi do ghante hain baaki , Tumhare liye Kuch laoon?.. Haan, Please Garam Garam kuch khaane ko mann kar raha hai.. kaya laoon?...maine poocha ,uske sar ko sahlaate hue Chai pila do Garma garam..Desi ghee daal ke abhi aya..And I kissed her again. I went home as it was nearby… I made Doodh-Patti waali Chai, and added Pure Ghee, within fifteen to twenty minutes I was there again. She was feeding the baby…. I waited, and then gave her the Hot Tea.. Kuch khana hai kaya? No, abhi nahi… I took the baby in my lap….she was again looking at me…. Ye beti bhi aap ki laadli banegi….pahle wali to hai hi aap ki laadli.. I smiled, but I was looking at her, the little angel. Ab station jaata hoon Biji ko le ke aata hoon…….. I was praying ke train late ho jaaye aur bhi late ,But Train was on time. I touched the feet of my Mother….. Jeete raho, Sukhi raho…..my mother said And then she looked at me. Kuch hua?... Abhi nahi I said, hiding my voice in confidence… nahi ho gayi hai delivery teri Shakal se to ye hi lag raha hai.. Nahi hui abhi…..i could’t see in her eyes. Nahi tu chupa raha hai, I can see your eyes Ab maa to maa hai..Experienced lady.. Very confidently I said abhi nahi….Chalo chalet hain My mother was not convinced, I knew. On the way to home too, she asked few times, but I changed the topic. After keeping the luggage at home, straight we went to the Nursing home. Just, before reaching, meri himmat bhi jawaab de gayi….kab takk Chupaata. aur maine eek hi jhatke me kah diya “beti hui hai” bahut Khoobsurat hai , gori chitti hai… maathe pe Zor se haath maar kar maa boli “hai oye Rabba”…..Phir Beti… Ab ke baar to beta de hi deta…. Biji ,to kaya hua?......jo nahi hua uss ke baare me kaya sochna , jo ho gaya hai uss ke bare me socho.. Kaya sochoon?...pahle bhi to ek beti hai..Ab do, do betiyaan ho gayi.. Khandaan aagey chalane ke liye beta jaroori hai Tum nahi Samjhogey… I could see she was sad, and upset. We reached the nursing home…….Now I was thinking, how my Mother will react…. We entered the room. My new angel was sleeping…. My wife said Nameste Bibi ji… My Mother kept her hand on her head, for blessings.. Then she lifted the baby, cautiously…..looked at her There was silence, but my heart started beating fast again Suddenly, I could see a little smile on my mother’s face I thought payaari si beti lagi hogi , who thi hi payaari Biji ne Apne gale se lagaya… then I could see tears rolling down in my mother’s eyes… I had a big Sigh of relief when, she said, “SO WHAT, IF IT’S A FEMALE BABY?”
Posted on: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 05:59:56 +0000
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