Tuesday, March 15, 2016

A teenager is born today


13 years back, in a dimly lit hospital corridor, a tensed up expecting dad walks his paces up and down. His wife has been in labour for more than twelve hours. The doctor hasn’t come yet and there is no word from the nurses on when he is expected. This doctor is the final word in gynaecology in that town, so all he could do was to wait. All of a sudden there is activity around the labour room, the delivery has started and the doctor is on his way. He reaches, and goes swiftly in without talking to anyone. News comes out that the baby’s head is out, but since the mother is tired, they are trying the suction now. Suddenly the doctor rushes out, and tells the waiting man, that it has to be a caesarean now, shift her to the operation theatre immediately. Even through the utter disbelief and shock, he didn’t realise that he was about to go through the most nerve racking few minutes of his life. There was no attendant to move her to the operation theatre, so he and her cousins carried the stretcher, with a semi conscious expecting mother in it. The biggest shock was yet to come, the elevator of the popular hotel- turned hospital would not fit the stretcher. They can’t move her in the wheelchair with the baby’s head almost out. All they could do was run and hope they do not tumble, and make her fall. They ran up 3 floors through the narrow staircase and moved her into the operation theatre. There was anger despair and absolute helplessness. As they gasped for air, the news came that a baby girl was born. I and Kavitha were thus blessed with our baby girl Anandita. 



Today as I remember those tense moments where we almost lost our baby due to sheer non-competence, I have no anger. I realise today that we have a fighter of a daughter, who would make her mark one day, fighting her way up, as she did on that night. It makes her even special, and everything she achieves on her grit and will, makes me feel special to be her dad. 



Today, she turns a teenager, the next phase of her life.  Yes, I miss her childhood, I miss her running up my arms as I would reach home, I miss her sleeping on my chest, I miss her crawling up to be cuddled on my tummy, I  miss feeding her, I miss bathing her, I miss carrying her in the middle of the night when she would refuse to sleep, I miss playing insane childish games at two in the morning, I miss rushing back to home in the mid of a work day when she refuses to go back home without me, I miss myself crying when she would fall sick, I miss my baby . I realise, I may never be able to do any of that with her again. Because, today she is a teenager.



Girls grow up differently, and I wonder why they grow up so fast. Today she tells us to be mature, expects us to have more realistic discussions with her. She writes her blogs about parenting. And I think, I have not grown up beyond that nervous man outside the dimly lit hospital corridor, but she has grown, and will continue to. 


Happy Birthday to my teenage sweetheart. 


Happy Birthday Ammu.





21 comments:

Unknown said...

Realistic experience of a loving father

NIthya said...

Wow that was emotional

Unknown said...

A lovely feel.. a recap.. Sweet memories of 13 years.. Let God bless her with all she wishes. "Manogadangal yellam Satyamayi teerattey"... Many more happy returns of the day to the lovely one..

Unknown said...

A lovely feel.. a recap.. Sweet memories of 13 years.. Let God bless her with all she wishes. "Manogadangal yellam Satyamayi teerattey"... Many more happy returns of the day to the lovely one..

Unknown said...

Wonderfully written!!
Happy Birthday Anandita.

Unknown said...

Happy returns of the day. Ammu. Reminds me of my own expedition which has happened recently when shaila was getting delivered.

Parvathy Gopi said...

So touching......it jus tooked me to my childhood days...and I miss my dad....I do remember after so many years he hugged me on my marriage day...as I was about to leave....Irealised d strength of his arms was so tight...that he dont want t o leave me....so touching...happy bday ammu....and my dad also call me ammu....

Unknown said...

Fantastic articulation. Happy birthday baby

Unknown said...

So touching that u saw us all in tears today ct.. A very happy first teen bday to ammus.. Let her make you a proud dad at all phases of her life !!!!

Roshni Suresh.

Anonymous said...

CT...you can really proud of her ... Ammu was always having her individuality...Let me wish her many many happy returns of the day !!!

Unknown said...

Happy birthday ammukutty

Unknown said...

Happy birthday ammukutty

D said...

This is the best dedication of love to a daughter a father can ever write... u are am awesome Dad CT ... God bless u Ammu n wishing u all the happiness as u become a teenager. ..Happy Birthday dear

D said...

This is the best dedication of love to a daughter a father can ever write... u are am awesome Dad CT ... God bless u Ammu n wishing u all the happiness as u become a teenager. ..Happy Birthday dear

vijaybhutan said...

Beautiful peace...HBDay Nandu

vijaybhutan said...

Beautiful peace...HBDay Nandu

Unknown said...

Nicely written, Manoj. Guess Ammu has got your skills in writing and her mom's traits in social activism. God bless her!

Unknown said...

When I read this, I was thinking of my dad.even after 14 years since he passed I can still feel his love and support. he lamented the same about not being able to hug me and let me sleep on his chest.after reading this I realised how much I missed his hugs.there will be a time when daughters realise it . but for me it is too late.i hope you have given a thought for your daughter by speaking out your feelings. You will never be less of a man for showing your emotions. your daughter will love you all the more and will be proud of her loving father. Well written manoj.

Unknown said...

When I read this, I was thinking of my dad.even after 14 years since he passed I can still feel his love and support. he lamented the same about not being able to hug me and let me sleep on his chest.after reading this I realised how much I missed his hugs.there will be a time when daughters realise it . but for me it is too late.i hope you have given a thought for your daughter by speaking out your feelings. You will never be less of a man for showing your emotions. your daughter will love you all the more and will be proud of her loving father. Well written manoj.

Unknown said...

So precious that she's got a Daddy like you and Mommy like Kavita....

nenapina sanchy inda said...

A very beautiful post