International Woman of Mystery

The second child has lots of déjà vu around it. The same doctor, same nursing home and even the same labour delivery room only heighten the feeling. You are a little more relaxed about the process but as – if not more – anxious about the outcome!

And a planned delivery date (to induce labour) makes it a wee bit orderly, maybe? So, my brother-in-law, his wife and I allowed ourselves a few jokes with the attending doctor.

Doc: Any complications during last delivery?

Me: None during the delivery. But the boy’s growing up is a different matter altogether.

Doc: I will be there for the delivery.

My sis-in-law: Can we get Aamir Khan to do the delivery?

*********

The formal name (bhalo naam) was easier to decide this time. We had a girl’s name from last time, which did not lose its charm in the four years. And it also met the specs of my boss who messaged, “…and please to bless her with an easier name!”

The nickname (daak naam) was trickier. I thought it was settled when we named the son Joy. Like all Luvs have brothers named Kush, all Joys are destined to have siblings named Viru. Being a god-fearing Indian, I thought that is what the epics ordained.

Except my son – a Cartoon Network devotee – had other ideas. (Cartoon Network is to Sholay what Scientology is to Christianity.) In line with his favourite show’s names, he has named his sister Ferb. Yes, yes – don’t ask!

And since I remember an idiot called Roon who named his younger sister Moon (and no one objected), I stood around while this happened.

Ladies and gentlemen – meet Ferbie Chaudhuri.

Like most embarrassing Bengali nicknames, we are hoping this will sound less sillier with time.

*********

A girl child born on International Women’s Day is expected to grow up to become one hell of a woman. But then, why should women be special only on one day of the year?

Having as much faith in sun-sign based astrology as Dhoni has in Sreesanth, I am always wondering what a child will turn out to be. So, I always look for people born on the same day and want to believe that the child will turn out like that. Five years back, Roger Waters being born on September 6 was reason for great joy.

This time, we had a very bubbly young colleague who was born on the next day and the girl’s mother the day after. I was quite satisfied with that since Fardeen Khan is clearly not in the same league.

But I am happy now that there are no ‘famous’ predecessors on the same day. I just hope that a few decades on, some other father would search for famous birthdays on 8 March and feel very happy that Drishti Chaudhuri was born on the same day.