After two days of my birth, I caught jaundice. To make it worse, my mother and me were at a far away village in Kutch with my grandparents, on their insistence. Like most villages of that time, it had just one government run hospital.
"I wasn't happy when you were born", my mother told me one night. I was surprised. I wondered if my parents exchanged no kisses or happy glances when I was born, like they do in Bollywood movies. They hadn't. "Your father wasn't present when you were born. Two days after your birth, I realized your grandmother had made arrangements for your Dudhpiti.", my mother went on. "Why?""Because she didn't want a baby girl""How will my son alone take burden of a girl? He has other responsibilities to take care of!", my grandmother had said, justifying her plan to my mother.
And it was the same day I caught jaundice. Something quite common for newborns. My mother had no option but to escape the place with a 2 day old to Baroda with my dad. But like she tells me, my father couldn't hold his tears when he saw me. They had just kept their luggage in the room and he left with me to see city's one the best child specialist.
My treatment went on for 2 years by the end of which, I was a healthy child. However, everything that happened in the middle is what matters to me the most today.My dad quit his tea to save milk for me. He often skipped his lunch. My parents shifted to a smaller house to cut the rent expenses. This, with a lot of things I can assume, that demanded one thing called Sacrifice from my parents. Everything, for my treatment. For a healthier me.
"But you were very lucky for your dad. His career grew with you", my mother tells me. Ever since I have cognitively started understanding things, I cannot recall a single time if I had to compromise on something, thanks to my parents. He has been very particular about my health always. "You are his happiness. Everything about you makes his happy. Anything wrong with you makes him sad", my mother tells. And my parents' happiness makes my home happy. While I write this, I am realizing how important is my happiness and well-being to my parents and that it is my duty to ensure that no mosquito has the power enough to take their right to a healthy child.
Taking me for morning walks, making me drink hot lemon water every morning, followed by one glass of milk and Dabur Chyavanprash are a part of my father's daily schedule. Even if he is touring, he calls and ensures this "mandatory" schedule is followed, which has now become my habit - A part of my healthy and happy life. :)
This post is written for Indiblogger in association with Dabur Chyavanprash.
