Hopes and aspirations and fears and anxiety.This was how me and Wife spent the previous night in between watching Veer Zaraa. Wife was visibly tensed and needed lot of comforting words from me. Hey Mr - where did you learn all that!
Early morning nurse gave her a timer to start counting her contractions and thats when the fun started. We both got involved in the game and Aryan was sleeping i think.He was lazy like his mom in the mornings. Whenever there was a kick - we would be excited and laugh out loud. This game did help our nerves. Time flew and by the time we could finish the game - ajjis stepped in probably bribing the gatekeeper.Yeh India hai boss.Sab Chalta Hai.
8:30 AM was the scheduled time to take wife to the OT. MIL had got some temple stuff and wife had the skiing look of Denver. I was camparitively brave as in India - husbands did not have to accompany wife to the OT. Whew! Saw her ever smiling face when she was wheeled in to the OT. I like this concept of not knowing what the baby's sex is till the last second. Give me this tension/suspense any day than any hitchcockian thriller. Lots of thoughts flying in my mind. So took a paper to divert my mind and sat in the OT waiting area. Saw the Doctor walk into the OT.So everything as per plan.
Just kept reading the paper and rereading it and time was not passing along.It was a long wait and i could hear 1000 thoughts trying to talk to me. What?When?Who?If?But? Around 9:10 AM, someone was shouting Wife and my name. MIL was also sitting there and she rushed to the person. He did not allow her inside. Priveleged status to Dad.Wish that did not happen.Could see the deliberate smirk on MIL face. Not fair i agree MIL.
Changes were happening around in my mind.Blankness started creeping in my mind. Where am i going? In a daze caused by mesmerising forces i was just walking. All around people were congratulating me.Not sure why? I was walking into a nursery.Feeling was a unique one. One end of my heart was pulling me to go and see the wife but majority of it was going towards the baby. MIL had already asked the doorkeeper what sort of a baby it was. And he replied back to her. I did not hear that.I could not hear anything though i was very much present in this world. I could hear shouts and oohs aahs in the background but still hear the numb silence in my mind.
Stepped in and a nurse came in. She asked my name and wifes name. Dunno, somewhere from the corner of my body i could hear my voice mumbling my name. And i could see the nurse talking something to me but this time - i was totally blank.No sounds also.It was like watching a movie with Mute on.My eyes were concentrated on something the nurse was holding. it was wrapped in a white piece and she placed it on the table. She unwrapped it and showed it to me. As soon as the nurse unwrapped the baby - i could see it was naked.Maybe the cold A/C stuck the baby as it had just come out of the warmness of the womb into this harsh world. It started waking up and it started crying. I was just looking at the babys face and the way it was crying. My heart was pounding against me. I just wanted to pick the baby up and hug it and make it silent. Its eyes were closed and it looked cute.
Then the realization hit me - I did not know if the baby was a boy or a girl. Nurse was busy doing something and i was dumbstuck. I could not speak a word. Images of "Father Of the Bride" flashed in my mind and simulteanously Larry's words of Lawn Mower. I was not decided and did not have any favs. I took my trmbling hands and tried to open the diaper of the baby and the nurse smiled and said its a Boy. I was like - Hey, i got a son. I got a son.
Then she wrapped the baby and gave me 1000 instructions and left with the baby. I wanted to see the baby for more time but was not allowed. I asked about Wife and they said she is still sleeping and will be brought into the room in few hours. I came out and i could see mom waiting with a huge smile.She congratulated me and hugged me. I became a dad. 
I just sat down on a nearby seat. Whew!That was easy. And then i realised that today was my birthday too. I think this would be the best birthday gift someone can give to me.
Thanks Wife for such an awesome gift.
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