Nicknaming "Gotu"

Did u ever wonder, why have u been nicknamed "Gotu"? Why do Poonam, Amma and I not only call you gotu, but also the variations of the names (gotanna, gotru, gotgundu). When u arrived on July 9th, u gave a shocker to amma who had already decided male names and nicknames for you... phew, she had to contemplate over new names.

So, when you were at the hospital after birth, people called u different names - sonali, sonu, betu, monu, gundu and my all time favorite (amma called u while in hospital) "bablakki" - this name lead to uncontrollable laughter the moment it was uttered. We have no idea why and how she thought of this name, but she did. Well, thats amma for you!.

Poonam was called betu at home since childhood, and I was called mithoo, so for the new member of the family, we needed a name that rhymes and hence Gotu arrived.

Amma named you gotu! Actually she named u Goti - inspired by your huge goti-like eyes, which you've inherited from mommy.

Inititally I laughed at this nickname, later enjoyed calling u the same. Somehow goti appeared too feminine to me (when u'll know me, u will understand why I hate stereotypes) and hence I started with GOTU.

Poonam started calling u same, and so did some of ur relatives from ur paternal side. Pinki bua has also created an album on her Facebook profile - named Gotu :). So ur now gotu :D (for most of us).

Punnu, Payu, Gotu or Betu, Mithoo, Gotu :)

And I love this trilogy.

PS: the photo - one of my favorite - shows ur goti like eyes :)

Just born.....

You were anticipated to be part of our world any time soon. While in tummy, you kicked and played hide-n-seek. Poonam looked over-fed. I guess pregnancy was perhaps the only time, ive seen Poonam a little healthy and chubby!.

Everyone from your maternal family expected Poonam to have a baby boy. Except me :) . Not because of any gender bias, more so due to certain non-scientific signs Poonam displayed during pregnancy and her super blown tummy forced them to think so. But, little did they know that the tummy had a super intelligent brain inside, hence the large space it occupied. Your grandmom (amma) in fact, had chosen names for you - Ram! (based on her idol -Baba Ramdev) Hilarious!. We called you Ramu and spoke to you while you were cozying inside - did u hear us?

After my constant utterance that you would be indeed a baby girl, Amma challenged me regarding your gender, her confidence forced her to bet rs 10000. Needless to say, i won the bet :).

July 8th, evening 9 pm, Poonam complained of labor pains. Amma had all the hospital related bags/luggage packed since a week :P, we were all ready -well prepared. Umesh ajja came to pick us (amma, poonam, prashant and I). And we went to the Kalyanpurkar maternity hospital. It was 10.30 pm - an almost empty, silent hospital greeted us. Poonam was taken to the labour room. We could hear her scream. and scream more.... after some confirmation that it was THE time, the nurse shifted Poonam to a room where-in your mom screamed, shouted, cried for the next 23 hrs. While rest of us could only walk up and down, at times consoling Poonam, at times each other....

Finally on July 9th evening, Poonam was taken to the OT. We all waited outside, eagerly!. We saw nurses walking up and down with weird looking objects, then with cotton and cloth. Later, I spotted a nurse walking towards us with you. You were tiny, with loads of hair and blood allover. The nurse dint allow us to come closer. She took you into a room, cleaned your body, wrapped you in a towel and opened the door towards us. The door, I believe was the door of Joy and happiness. One look at you, and we all had a change in our status' - mom ,dad, grandmother, grand dad, aunt.....

The nurse ushered in, and said its a girl!. Prashant and I jumped with elation! the rest smiled.... you were beautiful, pure, soft, pink, elegant, charming..... you were indeed Khushi - Our happiness!

The pictures are your first 2 days in hospital! You have no idea how many people visited you! neither do I remember. Let me show you - you!

pic1: your first pic! resting besides your tired mom :)

pic 2: Day 2 - your eyes are already curious about ur new world! U are positioned on ur great-grandmother's lap. And hey! ur smiling :)

From Ur 'grown up' aunt.....

Sometimes stories, sometimes anecdotes, frequently observations, often pure random thoughts... let me tell you dear Khushi, about life as I am living it.....

My little princess!

My little princess born on July 9! 1 week later than anticipated. I took her into my arms, tiny n slimy, immediately after she was born

(by c-sec).

They say she looks like her father. She has his broad chin and smile, but her eyes are like her mom, curious, strong and confident- from the day she stepped into this world.

Guess what little girl, even in the 21st century, things aren't going to be easy if you are a girl in India.

There will be impossible expectations of you. Paradoxical expectations...

Khushi, my love and my life! You will be an independent and responsible woman.