Sia’s life looked complete in every sense of the word. In the cosy shelter that she called ‘home’, she nurtured a loving family – the centre of her existence. Though everybody vied for her attention, Sia managed it all with deft hands.
“What have you packed for lunch today, Mamma?” Her five year old son, Kartik, questioned excitedly, just before the school bus arrived at the gate. It was a daily ritual, when he would enter the kitchen, and survey the kitchen table in delightful anticipation. Sia revelled in these precious moments, holding on to the tenderness and innocence in her son’s voice.
Bidding him farewell, she ventured out to tend to her greens, yet another routine that bound her with Nature. Her husband Kshitij, would mostly be out on tours, and Sia would make the most of her ‘Me time’., juggling chores with her passions.
Thrice a week, Sia dropped her son at a neighbourhood tennis academy, where Kartik had just joined as a beginner. Sitting in the shade, as she watched the little ones play, she could hear her son’s cheerful and boisterous laughter from the distance.
Lately, Kartik had started making a plea which perplexed Sia, as she uncomfortably looked for an answer.
“Mamma, have you seen Rohan’s little sister? She looks like a doll, no? Mamma, please bring me a doll like her!” Kartik almost pleaded to her with folded hands, as Sia disguised her emotions.
Giving him a peck on the cheek, Sia quickly changed the subject. This had become a routine, until one day she discussed it with Kshitij.
“Sia, how can you ever forget what the gynaecologist advised? Your endometriosis has advanced, and we can’t take a chance, honey!”
Kshitij rested her head on his shoulder, as Sia yet again fought with a grim reality that she often hid behind her smile.
Next morning, As the house became quiet, Sia started decluttering her space. She rummaged through all the cupboards throwing away unused items. There, she discovered a gift box with a pair of Adidas Baby pink shoes. A flood of memories flashed back as she held the shoes to her bosom…for a while. Sia recalled how her childhood friend, Mayuri had gifted these from the U.S. on her baby shower. Sia had longed for a baby girl and had disclosed this desire to her closest friend, who got these shoes as a token of good luck.
Her eyes moistened as she tucked the shoes under her arms in a bid to sell them to the scrap dealer, who was waiting at her doorstep.
“These baby shoes were never worn. They are brand new.” she declared wistfully to the man at the door.
That afternoon Kartik returned home with a fever and chills. As she nursed her sick child, Sia was reminded constantly of the yearning in Kartik’s eyes as he pleaded for a little sister.
Over the next weekend Sia and Kshitij sealed the decision about which they had been toying for a while.
“Your adoption papers are ready. Your little princess is waiting for your abode. Good luck!” With these words, Rosie Fernandes, the manager at the adoption centre handed over the beaming bundle of joy to Sia and Kshitij.
On the way back home, Sia spotted the scrap dealer sitting by the roadside. She waved at him fervently and managed to get back the pair of pink shoes with much cajoling.
Kartik was ecstatic and began dancing in circles upon the arrival of his ‘doll’!
He pecked at her chubby cheeks and inadvertently whispered “Lakshmi” in her ears, until the little one started kicking and cooing!
Sia kept back the baby shoes as contentment gleamed in her eyes… a second time!