Once we settled down with the coffee mugs, Nikhil happily took charge of the baby, giving us enough space to empty our hearts. Seeing me looking at her imploringly, she smirked and casually remarked, “I am loosing my sanity. It’s like I am dealing with a hurricane of very conflicting emotions! And very soon I might end up in an asylum, and suck Nikhil into it too.” “What?” I freaked out. Is it something at work? Is it Nikhil? Is it motherhood? Was Brishti your choice or a family enforced decision? You are not even 30! You could have surely waited! Don’t you have any support?….. etc. etc. Sneha patiently looked on while I blurted out my worst fears. When I stopped for breath, she handed the mug back to me. “Tina, the homecoming of this tiny life has changed everything in our life! Our priorities, our lifestyle, our schedule, our financial planning… everything that you can think off has changed. I really can’t say if it’s for the good or bad. But one thing that I do kn
From the moment I entered the house, I could sense it. Mutilated toys were scattered all over the floor and a stripped off mattress laid naked at one end of the room with the bed-sheet dangling somewhere on the couch. There were scattered cushions near the gaping main door (giving anyone a free access to the house). The TV was playing some silly “parivaar” drama. The washing machine rumbled from the balcony and the micro oven in the kitchen kept on beeping, trying to draw the attention of its master on completion of its job. To me it seemed nothing lesser than the remnants of a battle field! I could hardly move without stepping on some squeaking toy. “ But, where were the owners of the house? Have I reached the correct address? ” I wondered and undoubtedly if it wasn’t at broad daylight, I would have rushed out of this obscure house to make a call to 100. However, concern for my beloved friend overpowered the inner fear and I managed to walk towards the bedroom. The room was