Even after eight years they still
looked out for each other. Their breakfast was always their ‘us- time’. Pheroze
talked of his job at the airline as cabin crew... He told Delnaz stories about
people who were rude to him and also of people who were thankful. Delnaz
enjoyed all that banter. She was a fashion magazine editor. She secretly wanted
to be a writer and Pheroze’s stories provided the dose of imagination that she
needed to make up stories in her head.
Her job required her to travel.
She tried to book a flight on the airline Pheroze worked in so she could spend
some time with him on flights. There was no shortage of love between them. All
they needed was another person to share the love with.
They loved kids and wanted at
least one of their own. They had tried all methods but without any success. They
didn't let it affect them.
After much deliberation, they
decided to go for adoption. They registered themselves and were placed in the
waiting list after all the checks about their character were completed.
They waited and waited. It had
been two years.
Pheroze could see the toll the
prospect of adoption was taking, on her face. He never left hope. He knew they
would make excellent parents and the baby was just waiting for the right time
to arrive.
The phone rang one October
morning, while they were at the breakfast table. It was the adoption agency.
They had a young mother who wanted to give up her unborn child up for adoption.
The toast slipped from his hand and he grabbed Delnaz and gave her the news.
Her face lit up and they both couldn't stop the tears from flowing. They had to
go the next day to meet the woman who was going to give them what they wanted.
They were at the hospital, where
Khushi had come for a checkup. As they looked at her, they couldn't help but be
alarmed. Khushi was barely 18 years old. She was a teenage mother who had made
some bad choices. But she was smiling as she approached them, and held out her
hand in order to greet them. They introduced themselves even though the adoption
agency would have shown their file to her. Pheroze asked if everything was
alright with the child and Khushi nodded. They met several times after that.
And then the day came when Khushi went into labor.
The labor was intense. Khushi’s
frame was small due to her age. Both Pheroze and Delnaz were pacing outside the
delivery room like nervous parents should. They heard a wail and stopped pacing.
Their child was here. The doctor came out after what seemed like an eternity
and told them it was a girl. They asked about Khushi and how she was, the
doctor assured them that she was stable and she would be coming out shortly
with the child.
Khushi was tired and woke up late
in the evening; both Pheroze and Delnaz had been there for her. The doctor came
and certified that everything was normal and the child could be discharged the day
after tomorrow. Khushi had two nights with her. It tore her heart that the
child she wanted, she had to give up. That night she held her. Oh how stupid
she had been to fall in love with that moron Rohinton. He had promised her the
world; made false promises. Not once had he inquired about her health or that
of the baby in the last nine months. She held her love in her arms, and
imagined her life with her child only if she had her after 5 years or so. She
was having second thoughts and wanted to keep her. The day of discharge
arrived. Khushi held her for the last time. She didn't want to let go but she
knew Delnaz had waited for this day more than her. Her child had chosen Delnaz
.She kept her promise and gave up her love once again.
Such is the way of life. Neither
Abortion or Adoptions are not always so simple. Adoption is not always about
whose child you receive. It’s also about giving up a child who you want to hold
on to but can’t.
Nurture
K
1/16/2014
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