“SURROGATE” PARENTING
Everyone was delighted – the parents, having proved their mettle, the doctors, on the success of their treatment, the grandparents that the family lineage was preserved, the soothsayers, the relatives, the friends – everybody.
“At work,” the grandfather answered.
“Oh… the young mother is already back at work…? She’s back to work so fast…? Okay, doesn’t matter, I want to meet her, I am in no hurry so I’ll wait for her - she should be back home soon, isn’t it…?” I asked looking at the wall clock.
“No! No! She won’t be coming for at least six months now. She’s gone abroad, to the States, on an important project,” said the proud grandmother, cuddling and mothering the baby.
“And Mr. X, the proud father, he’ll be coming…” I asked.
“He’s inSingapore
“It’s good,” the grandfather said lovingly fondling the bonny baby, “for all these years when they were trying so hard to have this baby, they had put their careers on the back-burner; now that they have got their baby, they can focus on their careers once again.”
The grandmother came out with the milk bottle and began feeding the bonny baby while the doting grandfather lovingly looked on.
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Mr. and Mrs. X and the Baby
Short Fiction Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE
From my Creative Writing Archives:
A few days ago I visited an old Navy friend of mine who has recently become a grandfather.
When I asked him why he was not seen anywhere anymore, he complained that he and his wife were stuck in the house 24/7 as they had to look after their six month old grandson since the baby's parents, both IT Techies, were busy with their careers and the young parents did not have time to look after their own baby. So the grandparents had no choice but to become surrogate parents to their grandson.
I suddenly realized that a fiction story I had written a few years ago had come true.
Yes, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.
Mr. and Mrs. X desperately wanted to have a baby.
So they tried very hard to have a baby.
Poor Mr. and Mrs. X, they tried and tried, put in a lot of effort, but they could not have a baby.
And as time flew, and the biological clock ticked away, Mr. and Mrs. X became more and more anxious, and so with resolute perseverance, they put everything at stake, made determined efforts, consulted the best doctors in town, spent huge amounts of money on the best and most sophisticated infertility treatments possible, tried all sorts of things, exoteric and esoteric, left no stone unturned, struggled and struggled, with dogged persistence, till, at long last, at the age of 35, Mrs. X conceived, and after a difficult, delicate, grueling, backbreaking, anxious, harrowing pregnancy, she overcame all sorts of complications, and finally, after enduring for nine long months, successfully delivered a beautiful bonny baby.
Everyone was delighted – the parents, having proved their mettle, the doctors, on the success of their treatment, the grandparents that the family lineage was preserved, the soothsayers, the relatives, the friends – everybody.
Three months later I happened to be in town and decided to visit Mr. and Mrs. X and their bonny baby.
On the way, at the jewellers, I bought a gold ornament as a present for the bonny baby.
I found my way to their classy house in an elite condominium located in the most posh and exclusive neighbourhood of the city.
I felt a tinge of envy thinking about Mr. and Mrs. X, the young IT whiz kids, who could achieve such expensive luxuries and an ostentatious living style so early in life.
The proud grandparents opened the door.
The baby, on her grandmother’s lap, looked cute, very cute and cuddly.
The baby’s parents, the young mother and father, were conspicuous by their absence.
It was late evening and I had expected Mr. and Mrs. X to be at home, doting upon their adorable little baby, so curious I asked, “Where is the young mother?”
“At work,” the grandfather answered.
“Oh… the young mother is already back at work…? She’s back to work so fast…? Okay, doesn’t matter, I want to meet her, I am in no hurry so I’ll wait for her - she should be back home soon, isn’t it…?” I asked looking at the wall clock.
“No! No! She won’t be coming for at least six months now. She’s gone abroad, to the States, on an important project,” said the proud grandmother, cuddling and mothering the baby.
“And Mr. X, the proud father, he’ll be coming…” I asked.
“He’s in
“You know, the baby has proved real lucky for them. Her mother got promoted as project leader, a hefty raise and this foreign assignment and her father got this fabulous job offer in Singapore
“It’s her feed-time,” the grandmother said, handing over the baby to the grandfather, and she went to the kitchen to warm up the baby’s milk.
“It’s good,” the grandfather said lovingly fondling the bonny baby, “for all these years when they were trying so hard to have this baby, they had put their careers on the back-burner; now that they have got their baby, they can focus on their careers once again.”
The grandmother came out with the milk bottle and began feeding the bonny baby while the doting grandfather lovingly looked on.
I looked at the grandparents – the “surrogate” parents.
Then I looked at the baby – the light of their lives, their raison d’etre, their very reason for living and certainly the source of all their present happiness.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Did you like this story?
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COCKTAIL ebook
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Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
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About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
vikramkarve@gmail.com
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
vikramkarve@gmail.com
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
4 comments:
this is the actual trend that is happening though!!!
@ Sahi - yes, I have seen this all over especially in metros
I am sure you have spent some time to give this high quality article to us. I don't know how to thank you.
Mr Karve, you have depicted a valuable point but here are my two cents, I joined back work when my baby was 3 months old. I felt going back to work not only made me stand on my two feet but also made a better mom. The time I get with my baby is priceless and I try to make every second count. As a teenager, I always regretted my father didnt do enough professionally so I try to balance out working and personal lives. I hope people have that perspective in mind as well when they judge young couples working when their children are being taken care of by others.
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