Babies from the heart....

"You were born from my heart"...this was the answer that Sushmita Sen had given to her daughter Renee, when the later asked her if she came from her mother's tummy.

Babies from the heart or adopted babies is not a new concept in our country. But still somewhere deep down they are not accepted as openly as biological babies are. Oprah Winfrey once said, "Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother". Anyone can give birth, but what is important is how you grow up to be a mother. I was reading a book by Nandini Sengupta called 'Babies from the heart'. The writer who is an adopted parent, talks about the joys and anguish of adoption in India.

Adoption is still predominantly seen as the only option for parents who are unable to have their own biological children. While reading the book couple of questions kept bothering me. Why can't parents with their own biological kids adopt? Why does adoption always have to be the last option for childless couples? When will we be able to sit on the other side of the table and think beyond our own selfish interests? We bring home a baby because we cannot have our own, not because we want to give the baby a loving & secured life, and the warmth of a family.

My maths may not be that great, but I can confidently deduce that if out of 10 couples in India, 2 chooses to adopt 1 kid, we will not need orphanages in our country. We will not have kids without adequate food, shelter and education fighting alone in this 'big bad world' world for no fault of their own.

Well, I accept its easier said than done. The entire process of adoption is a complex roller-coaster ride, both emotianaly and socialy. Our society is still not matured enough to accept adoption. I still remember something my mother told me when someone in my family went for adoption. She said "You cannot fit in a skin of some other tree onto your own". At that point, I revolted, and gave her a long gyaan. But now when I sit back and think, I realise that revolting is not the right thing to do. What we have to do is to educate people around us. 

Babies are god's gift to mankind whether they are born bilogically or are from the heart....

  

The day Santa fulfilled my dream...

Many of you reading this might not believe in Santa...but I do. And maybe after reading this you will know why.

On 25th December 2011 my dream came true. The day started like any other Christmas day. My beloved Santa (post marriage I have 2 Santa-s) very religiously kept a present at my bedside. We had a lazy morning, followed by lunch with my uncle, aunt and cousin. The afternoon was spent chatting and catching up with all of them. Post lunch we went to our brother's place at NIBM, to see my niece who was not keeping well. We had no plans of going to their place, but thought that the little girl had been not keeping well for couple of days and maybe will feel better if we go and see her. 

I still had no idea what surprise was waiting for me....

Tubuni (my niece) was very sick and down with viral fever. We spent couple of hours with her, and just while we were about to leave my sister-in-law told me that Pandit Birju Maharaj ji will be coming to perform in their school that evening. I couldn't believe my ears! He's the person I have been wanting to see since I was 3 years old and went for my first Kathak class. Everytime I used to hear his name or even see him on screen I would feel the blood rush through my veins. Maharaj ji will be performing in Delhi Public School as part of a workshop for the young students. I knew I could not miss this opportunity...and so I requested Kunal to stay back till the function gets over....and he obliged (as usual).

It was 8 PM and we went to see the dance recital. I still couldn't believe this was happening to me...till the time I saw Maharaj ji coming on stage. I do not know how you feel when you see God in front of you....may be just like how I felt when I saw him on stage, just a few meters ahead of me. All I knew was my vision became blurred and tears kept rolling down my cheek. One after the other he performed the 'Thaat', 'Gat', 'Ladi', and 'Tihai'....in his mesmerizing style. I had learnt Kathak for almost 20 years, and at that moment I felt like my years of dedication has finally yielded result. At the same time, somewhere deep down I felt bad about being completely detached from something that was so close to my heart & soul.

Once the performance was over I ran back stage, and somehow slipped through the authorities and touched Maharaj ji's feet. Could I have asked for more....not only did I see my God, I touched him too.

I must have been a real good girl last year, and hence Santa gave me the best gift I could dream of!