Birth Right

. Jasmine had gone to her mummy’s house for the delivery. It made sense as the hospital we wanted for the delivery was her aunt’s hospital right in the same building. And I am not too much of a stickler for tradition. I remember the doc saying that the delivery would happen at any time. We kept waiting and waiting. At the end on the 30th August in the morning Jasmine was admitted in to induce pregnancy. Jasmine called me to tell me such. The doc said that the procedure will take time and that any action would only happen in the evening. I finished my work and then went to boss to tell him that I would be not likely to come in tomorrow as my wife is admitted and is likely to deliver. He looks at me half agasht. What are you doing here is she is admitted. I say – chill, it’s Jasmine’s cousins nursing home and they say the action will happen in the evening. I was pretty cool. As predicted the action happened late at night. With my mom, mom in law, sister in law – all at the hospital. Jasmine’s cousin shooed them away by telling them that a lot of time is left. Then she got me in to the delivery room as I had requested. I was not going to miss this one for sure. I was by Jasmine’s head holding her hand. She squeezed it real tight. It hurt a bit afterwards. Jispa was born in the morning at around 2 am. The first thing I do after looking at the baby is I tell Jasmine “it’s Jispa”. We had decided the name long time back. Around a year back we had gone from Manali to Leh by road. Jispa is a small idellic village that we halted for a night. Dry weather, a river running through, high altitude and mountains around. I liked the place and I liked the name a lot. A name that is unconventional, not of a particular caste or creed and almost a global nationality.
We then called all the mothers in. We had some talk form them on wondering what the name would be. I let the banter continue for a while before telling them that the name is Jispa. My mom wanted to name her according to the rashi (celestial configurations). I told her to take a hike (in different words though:). Jispa is her name. A name with a dream attached. Someday I wish that she goes there, on her own (or with her partner), spend some time there, go for a trek around there, mediate and be one with her own air. A bit of inspiration.
Before she was born I used to sing to her, meri soni, meri tamanna, jhut nahin hai mera pyar. Jasmine and I used to laugh a lot saying my singing would make the baby cry inside. The morning she was born also, I have carried her singing the song. We realized that whenever she cried a bit and was inconsolable, singing this song would make miraculous quiet. It was her favorite song and I was a horrible singer. It worked!
Post delivery Jasmine needed me as well. She was made to eat all these stupid traditional stuff by her mother who thought it would be good. Ya sure. A lot of stuff is good for you but you just can’t eat it. Yuucckkk. I told jasmine to just throw it out of the window or in the drain. Normally I would not interfere too much, but once her mom pushed too hard. I got in and warned her “if you force Jasmine to have stuff against her will I will take her home” “butt…” she protested. “if you force jasmine to have anything she does not want, I will take her home” I firmly repeated with a dead pan expression. She got the point.
Just after Jispa was born, my office shifted from Nariman Point to Worli. I used to catch a bus from office and run to meet Jispa every day. Go in, wash your hands till your elbows, wash your face and then go real close. She would lick my face; eat (?) my nose. I would love to go in everyday, stay over at her place and play all day long. My mom didn’t like it. It was not proper. I didn’t care two hoots. My squash coach also just became a father. He was saying that he keeps going on and off. It doesn’t look too good if you go again and again. What shit? My wife, my daughter. I wouldn’t listen to any argument. I loved them; I would go and visit them. EVERYDAY.

THE song: