Mere ghar aayi ek nanhi pari

When my close friend M broke the news that she is expecting, I was overjoyed. I so wanted it to be a girl, and yes god and the baby listened to all our prayers, and a baby girl decided to enter the life of my close friend and her husband. The extended family of friends and relatives was eclectic too. On 26th January 2020, a baby shower took place, and on that occasion, I wrote a letter to the baby who will come into this world in 2 months. The would-be mother and the father and all her friends and relatives loved the concept. I was quite emotional when I penned this letter and even more nervous when I read out to the audience there. Read the letter here and let me know how you like it!

Dear Manasvi,

Yes, I have already selected this name for you. 

Your mom and I share many common things. The name, our anniversaries, and also the month of your birth, which coincides with the birth of my son. We both worked in the same company, worked in the same city in India, and moved to Karlsruhe with a gap of around 1 year. My parents were present for your parent's wedding, and most importantly, we are from the same city, from Mumbai! So, you see, I share an extraordinary bond with your mom, and I took this opportunity to write a letter to you. Your mom will read it out to you when you are of a suitable age!

The name Manasvi has many facets to it. It means intelligent. It also depicts someone who wins hearts. You have already won our hearts by deciding to come into our lives. So this name is very apt for you, I think. I had done a course on Garbhsanskar when I was pregnant with Tanay. And there, I got to learn a new philosophy. The baby’s souls search for families to take birth. In a sense, they chose their parents and not vice versa. They want such a set of parents whom they think will fulfill their quest for life, such parents who will encourage them and give them optimum conditions to flourish and prosper and do well in this life. And you have already selected these two lovely people, M and S, as your parents. You are lucky to have them, and they are equally fortunate to have you. 

Do you know that it's a special day today? It's a celebration of your mom's pregnancy, and after you arrive, all the focus and attention will be heaped on you, and your poor mommy might be a little sidelined. That was the reason why baby showers were done before the baby arrived. The mommy is treated like a queen, dressed up in beautiful clothes and given gifts and food that she loves. Indirectly it also reaches you, and you are a part of this celebration too.

You will soon be amongst us, and you will be surrounded by a lot of sounds, faces, and a new environment. You will take some time to adjust as mom's womb is the best and secure place in this whole world, and you will wonder what happened to that place. But don't worry, your parents, your grandparents, the friends of your parents are all here to make you feel safe and comfortable. They will help you grow up as a human being, which is more important than being a man or a woman, I think. 

You will start babbling, crawling, then walking and running. These stages are so amazing to watch. Your parents and their near and dear ones will enjoy every stage of your life. You will start school, and then you will go to the college of your choice and learn something that you really like. You will have crushes, heartbreaks,, and go through different emotional and physiological changes. Do not be wary of any change. Change is constant, it is the only thing that's permanent. 

A woman's life in the 21st century is quite different, yours is going to be too! You are going to see and experience a lot of things that your grandmothers perhaps never dreamt of. You are going to have a lot of choices and a lot of exposure to the world. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes help us learn, they make us strong, they change our outlook and view towards the people and the world. Don't get into the cycle of falling in love, getting married, having kids if you don't really want to, and definitely not for the sake of the society. Travel a lot, explore different cultures, see and meet a lot of people, gather experiences, savor the moments, enrich your life. Do something different, something creative, something that will make a difference in your and other's life. Share, care, and, most importantly, never lose self-respect. Don't let anyone else decide how good you are. You are going to be a strong girl, girls are born leaders. I am sure you will also grow into a powerful, self-conscious woman. A woman who respects others, yet sets her own boundaries. A woman who doesn't get bogged down by everyday pressures rather enjoys dealing with them.

Most importantly, be yourself!

With these words, I end my letter written to you, Manasvi. We are very excited and can't wait to meet you. 

With lots of love and blessings,

Your Lini Mavshi