Small milestones

1 week birthday!! My pumpkin is a week old today. This milestone slipped by unnoticed by most. No fanfare, no festivities. But no less momentous than India winning the world cup in my eyes! Yes, the sleepless nights are tough. Recovering physically with all this going on even more so. One would have thought it would all take a toll on you. And yes, it does. Sometimes it feels like one is alone swimming against the tide.

And then you look at me. With your eyes wide open, you gaze at me as if wondering why my voice seems so familiar to you. Your tiny fingers wrapped around mine, you hold on to me with complete and utter trust. Knowing that whatever happens, I will protect you and hold you close.

I always thought I understood the depths of love. I have loved with abandon, unconditionally and utterly. But when I hold you close, what I feel is not something that simple. Sometimes a wave of emotions overwhelms me, leaving me dazed that it is possible to love someone so much without even knowing them. But then, I know you. I created every pore of your being. Every inch of your skin, every beat of your heart, every whispery breath that you take, I made it all. And yet, it is not pride I feel when you look at me wonderously… I feel humbled and honoured that you are mine!!

Happy 1 week birthday my love.

My water nymph…my Nyda…

They say, there is only one perfect baby in this world…and every mother has it! Cynical me often questioned how one could be so attached to a new member in the family so fast…think it to be the most beautiful thing in the world….always thought that new borns grew good looking only after a few days.

And then I had you. My biggest fear in life has always been childbirth…never thought that I would have the guts to go through it. So when I lay there recuperating, in a trance, and the doctor brought you to me for a quick look….you had me at first glance! You were the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen in my entire life. And I could not believe that you were mine.

It’s been 4 days now, and each morning when I wake up and hold you in my arms, I marvel at the miracle that you are. Your perfect little nose, fingers that wrap themselves around mine…your chubby cheeks, a lil frown when you don’t like something…and a smile that you bless me with when you’re dreaming of your past lives as a princess. You make us all dance around you trying to get one little nod of appreciation….and you have us wrapped around your teeny tiny little toe!

I’ve  not done many things of significance in my life. But in creating you, I redeem myself. There is only one perfect baby in this world…and if you look in my heart, you will realise my doll that she is you!!

The Latest Turban Uproar

The latest controversy about racial profiling in Europe concerning Pro Golfer Jeev Milkha Singh’s coach has me a little confused and frankly a tad embarrassed.

You can read the story here but the gist of it is that the sikh gentleman was asked by the airport authorities in Milan to remove his turban during the security check. Offended by the same, he has accused the country of stripping him of his dignity and being racist.

Being a sikh myself, I do understand where he is coming from. The turban is supposed to be the pride of a sikh and its removal is interpreted as a gross insult. Having said that, one does need to be a little more outward looking and see the context of the incident. To an airport security personnel, who gives orders for all passengers to remove jackets, shoes, headgear etc. as standard procedure, it wasn’t a case of deliberately maligning someone. If I were to go through a security check wearing a helmet, I would most certainly be asked to remove the same and this is probably how the person saw it.

In my opinion, this is most certainly not a case of Racism. To build it into one and embarrass the diplomatic relations of a country would be  hasty and unnecessary. It is important for us to see things from the other point of view and choose one’s battles wisely.  

Euthanasia–Legalized killing or a long overdue blessing?

Euthanasia is a tough call. I can just imagine the dilemma that the Supreme Court was forced with with the recent Aruna case. In a country where suicide is a criminal offence, is it possible to legalize Euthanasia? And if it is, how does one draw the line between them?

Personally, I agree that these need to be evaluated on a case to case basis. In the case of Aruna, I don’t agree with the verdict. Having been sexually assaulted and throttled with a chain 37 years back by a janitor in the hospital where she worked, she has spent the past 4 decades in a vegetative state. Being cared of by the staff of the same hospital, I believe she has become more of a trophy that they believe they have a right or moral duty to keep alive. But how does one define keeping alive? Just because her lungs can still breathe and her heart still beat, is she justified in her indignity? Isn’t another few decades of not being able to move, communicate or express far worse a punishment than what Euthanasia may be?

It’s a tough call. Can be argued either ways. Especially in a country where poverty is high and medical expenses can urge many to opt for the same instead of spending life savings down a road of no recovery. But in that case, hand in hand with a relook at the Euthanasia laws, our courts also need to relook at the healthcare programs provided by the govt. They need to formulate schemes where such patients may be taken care of by giving subsidised aid so that the decision of the family to move the courts for Euthanasia is not built on lack of funds but rather on a ground of compassion for the dignity of the individual.