The blue sky

A trip to Dombivli was planned 2 months in advance as my brother-in-law was getting married in Novemeber. Train bookings were done, well in advance and everything was planned for that 1 week stay. I was happy that I will be meeting all the relatives on Atul's side and will be able to enjoy the wedding before the baby arrives. Once the baby arrives, I may not be able to concentrate on social activities as earlier, at least till he/she grows well enough to understand such celebrations. But suddenly, Atul had to go to Germany for a month and all my enthusiasm and plans seemed to be fast vanishing in thin air. How was I going to travel alone and who would have accompanied me to Mumbai from Bangalore. As usually happens, the rock in my life, of course my dad came running to Bangalore and took me to Mumbai for the wedding! And I was going to be there till Atul returned to Bangalore and then to Mumbai to fetch me. That means I was going to be there for 1 good month!...

This year has been a year of babies. At least 10 people of my acquaintance have a new addition to their family and 8 of them have been blessed with a baby girl. The very mention of her makes me so happy. Arrival of a baby girl in one of my close friend's life set me thinking.  I have been the only child to my parents and was born after 11 generations of boys in my family. My grand-parents were very happy and they named me Deepa very lovingly because I was born around the time of Diwali and supposedly I brought light to their home and lives. My family spared no means to educate me and they encouraged me in everything which I took up. Without them, I wouldn't have been where I am today. The relationship of a daughter with her father is totally different and the daughters who share a wonderful rapport with their fathers can very well identify what I am saying. This is one of the reasons, I want a baby girl because I want my husband to experience that bond and make him re...