Life was all about Downs than Ups for our family of three.
Yes, we had to stop at being three, as our first progeny had let us down. The word ‘Down’ had inflicted deeper scars on our souls than being just a place to be. It was a malady creeping up our lives and burrowing holes in our hearts.
Ruhana, our only daughter, was born a Down’s Syndrome Baby. We had fervently prayed for some extra hair on her scalp, some extra glow on her skin, some extra intelligence to outdo the world, and here she was with an extra chromosome marring our extra greedy ambitions. For moments, I couldn’t believe what I held in my shivering arms. The bundle of joy just looked perfect.
‘There must have been some mistake, doctor. The anomaly scan must be someone else’s.’
I aimlessly fought with my doctor, who merely patted me and walked out of the room. I felt betrayed, cheated and stabbed in the chest by destiny. Three years of IVF had begotten me a defective child! I wanted my money back. I wanted my patience back. I wanted the smiling baby on the poster hung outside the IVF clinic. I wanted everything else apart from this baby.
Days rolled by and my maternal instincts took over my illogical reasoning. I began loving my daughter the way she was. I began locking my eyes with her, melting in her innocence, multiple times a day. Sushil was supportive, but as the breadwinner of the family, he spent less time with her.
From special needs schools to special needs changing rooms, everything was special for my child. She was indeed the chosen one.
‘Ruhana’s mom, your daughter, is very empathetic. She cares for people around her.’
Ruhana’s teachers were full of praises for her. She had a very normal childhood, apart from that abnormal diagnosis. As she started growing up and we turning grey, the anxiety of what would happen to my child after me gnawed us. We had sufficient to fulfill her financial needs. More than what that simple child could splurge on.
But what about her emotional needs? Who would hug her when she felt let down? Who would kiss her when she was up and about? The python of such worries coiled and throttled our living. Ruhana, now a youth, in her own effortless way, had tried to pacify our wrecked life.
She had turned out to be an excellent baker and worked in a cafe run by Specially Abled kids.
We very often visited the Cafe to pep her up and from a corner watch our child offer her best hospitality to people. The other children, also affected by Down’s Syndrome, nevertheless remained enthusiastic about life.
Of late, Ruhana had become great friends with one of her colleagues named Juvan. The two of them bonded over cake recipes and silly banter. He surprised her with red roses and she reciprocated with her cupcakes. Was my daughter falling in love? Was this really possible? Was the extra chromosome playing some dirty games?
Juvan’s parents’ weekend visit allayed my hyped anxieties.
‘Mr and Mrs. Sahani. Oh sorry, let us put it this way. Ruhana’s proud parents, we would like to ask your daughter’s hand in marriage for our son Juvan.’
It was beyond my fragile imagination to acknowledge this proposal.
‘Not only hand, I want an entire Ruhana!’
Juvan’s reaction cracked up the entire room.
The wedding took place at a quiet church amidst some soothing jingling of bells. My Ruhana glowed a little extra. The extra veil that embellished the blushing bride attracted the guests. We were extra happy.
And then the moment arrived.
‘You may now kiss the bride!’
The priest’s words felt magical. My daughter locked her lips with the love of her life. Those lips which took three years to say Mamma, those lips which couldn’t go beyond Mama Baba till five, those lips which smiled foolishly at strangers, those lips had now met its purpose and meaning.
Back home, I told Sushil that now I could die peacefully. There was someone to kiss my Down’s daughter when she was up and about.
She had not let us down. I threw a flying kiss in the air to the Almighty. I had received my compensation.
The IVF was successful.
Aparna Salvi Nagda
Dr. Aparna Salvi Nagda is a consulting homeopath by profession and writer by passion. The Labyrinth Of Silence is her first full-length novel while previously she published Not So Grave, a novella, on Kindle. You can reach out to her at aparnanagda04@gmail.com
Facebook Comments