Baby and Child Care – “state-of-the art”

MODERN PARENTING and CHILDCARE

The Story of Mr. and Mrs. X and their Baby  

Short Fiction – The Story of a Modern Urban Couple

By

VIKRAM KARVE 

Mr. and Mrs. X and their BABY – Fiction Short Story by VIKRAM KARVE

Mr. and Mrs. X desperately wanted to have a baby.  

So – Mr. and Mrs. X tried very hard to have a baby.  

Poor Mr. and Mrs. X – they tried and tried – they put in a lot of effort – but they could not have a baby.

As time flew – and the biological clock ticked away – Mr. and Mrs. X became more and more anxious.

So with resolute perseverance – Mr. and Mrs. X put everything at stake to have a baby.

Mr. and Mrs. X made determined efforts to have a baby – they consulted the best doctors and fertility specialists in town – they spent huge amounts of money on the best and most sophisticated infertility treatments possible – they tried all sorts of things – exoteric and esoteric – they left no stone unturned – they struggled and struggled – with dogged persistence – till – at long last – at the age of 36 – Mrs. X conceived – and she got pregnant.

Then – after a difficult, delicate, gruelling, backbreaking, anxious, harrowing pregnancy – Mrs. X overcame all sorts of complications – and finally – after enduring for nine long months – Mrs. X successfully delivered a beautiful bonny baby.

Everyone was delighted.

The parents – Mr. and Mrs. X – were proud that they had proved their mettle.

The doctors boasted about the success of their treatment.

The grandparents were relieved that the family lineage was preserved.

The soothsayers, the relatives, the friends – everyone was happy that the much delayed and much awaited baby was born after so many trials and tribulations. 

3 months after the baby was born – I happened to be in town.

I decided to visit Mr. and Mrs. X and their Baby.  

On the way – at the jewellers – I bought a gold ornament as a present for the baby.  

I found my way to their classy house in an elite residential society located in the most posh and exclusive neighbourhood of the city.  

When I reached the deluxe apartment – I felt a tinge of envy – thinking about Mr. and Mrs. X – the young IT “Techie” whiz kids – who could afford such an expensive apartment – and an ostentatious living style – so early in life. 

The proud grandparents opened the door.  

The bonny baby – on her grandmother’s lap – looked very cute.

Yes – the baby was very cute and cuddly.  

The baby’s parents – Mr. and Mrs. X – 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.

In fact – the baby was so small – that I thought that Mrs. X would be still breastfeeding her baby.

I was curious why Mrs. X was not at home – so I asked the grandparents: “Where is the young mother...?”

“At work...” the grandfather answered.

“Oh. The young mother is already back at work...? The baby is only 3 months old and the mother has already started going to her office so fast...? Okay – no problem – it doesn’t matter – I want to meet her – I am in no hurry – so I will 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 6 months now...” the grandfather said.

“6 months...? Mrs. X won’t be coming for 6 months...?” I asked, confused.

“She has gone abroad – to America – on an important project...” said the proud grandmother, cuddling and mothering the baby.

“And what about Mr. X – the proud father of the baby – he should be coming back from work anytime now – isn’t it…?” I asked.

“He is in Singapore. He got a fantastic job offer on the same day the baby was born...” said the grandfather. 

“What...?” I said.

“You know – the Baby has proved real lucky for her parents. The Baby’s mother got promoted as project leader with a hefty raise and was sent abroad to America for this prestigious overseas assignment – and – the Baby’s father got this fabulous job offer in Singapore...” said the proud grandmother, cuddling the baby.

The Baby suddenly started to cry.

“It is the baby’s feed-time...” the grandmother said.

The grandmother handed over the baby to the grandfather – and she went into the kitchen to warm up the baby’s milk.

“It’s good. I feel happy for my son and daughter-in-law...” 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 she began feeding the bonny baby – while the doting grandfather lovingly looked on.

I looked at the grandparents – the “surrogate” parents – the glorified “nannies”. 

Then – I looked at the Baby.

Mr. and Mrs. X had indeed “produced” the Baby.

But – it was the delighted grandparents who would enjoy the joys of parenting the baby.

In fact – now – for the old couple – it was the Baby who was their “light of life” – their raison d’etre – their very reason for living – and certainly the source of all their present happiness. 

And – the parents of the Baby – Mr. and Mrs. X – both are busy in the pursuit of their careers – the mother in America – and – the father in Singapore.

Mr. and Mrs. X do not know what they are missing by “outsourcing” their parenting and child-care duties.

Also – I do not understand one thing. 

The “Moot Question”:

If “Mr. and Mrs. X” did not want to look after their own Baby – why did they make so much effort to produce the Baby...?

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

This story is a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

I wrote this story Mr. and Mrs. X and the BABY around 10 years ago in the year 2007 and I have earlier posted it online in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal and My Various Creative Writing Blogs a number of times including at urls: http://creative.sulekha.com/mr-and-mrs-x-and-the-baby_491037_blog  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/10/surrogate-parenting.html  and http://creative.sulekha.com/career-marriage-parenting_469617_blog and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/05/blog-fiction-story-no-39-mr-and-mrs-x.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/03/modern-parenting-mr-and-mrs-x-and-baby.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/03/modern-parenting-mr-and-mrs-x-and-baby.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/08/parenting-la-mode-mr-and-mrs-x-and-baby.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/07/modern-parenting-and-child-care-mr-and.html  and https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/01/baby-and-child-care-part-2-modern.html?m=0 etc

Housewife and Househusband – “Quid Pro Quo” Marriage

“QUID PRO QUO” MARRIAGE

A Spoof

By

VIKRAM KARVE

“Quid Pro Quo” Marriage – A Story by Vikram Karve

PART 1 

She: Why did you reject me?

He: Because I do not want a working wife.

She: Is that the only reason?

He: Yes.

She: So – otherwise – you like me?

He: Yes – I like you.

She: My parents are very upset that you rejected me.

He: Even my parents are angry with me – they liked you a lot.

She: So – the only reason you do not want to marry me is because I work.

He: Yes. I told you that before.

She: Why?

He: Because I want a full time housewife who will look after me and our children. I do not want nannies to look after our children when they are small. And later – I do not want our children to come back from school to an empty home – their mother must be there to welcome them. And – most important – I want my wife to welcome me home with a cup of tea when I come home from work in the evening.

She: So you want me to give up my career permanently? Tell me – if I do not work – won’t all my professional qualifications be wasted – if I have to just sit at home...? I might as well have done a course in Home Science.

He: That is why I feel that marriage between us is not practicable. You want to pursue a full-time career – and I want my wife to be a full-time housewife.

She: You are a big MCP – a “Male Chauvinist Pig” – but I like you – so I am willing to compromise – if you are also ready for a little quid pro quo.

He: I also like you – so tell me how we can work it out.

She: I will take a sabbatical from my career for 10 years – maybe more – and I will be a full-time housewife and mother. Then – we will review the situation.

He: Okay. We will see after 10 years.

And so – the “MCP” and the Girl got married.

12 YEARS LATER

PART 2

She: Do you remember the conversation we had just before we got married about you wanting to have a full-time housewife – after which I took a sabbatical from my career for looking after you and our children.

He: Yes – of course I remember.

She: We are married for 12 years now – I have dutifully followed you everywhere on all your postings and I been a full-time housewife. I have looked after you – and I have brought up both our children well – one is 11 – the other is 9 – and both are doing well in school.

He: Yes – that is true.

She: Now it is time for a ‘review’ – a Quid Pro Quo.

He: Review…? Quid Pro Quo…?

She: I have decided to start working again – to revive my career – in fact – I have received a very attractive job offer – very promising career prospects and excellent pay package.

He: That’s good.

She: Yes – that’s good. But you will have to quit your job.

He: Why should I quit my job?

She: Because I want a full-time ‘househusband’...

He: ‘Househusband’...?

She: Yes. I want a full-time househusband. 

He: What...? Full-time ‘Househusband’...? I don’t understand.

She: Remember – you wanted a full-time housewife to look after you and the children. You wanted your wife to welcome you home with a cup of tea in the evening when you came back from work – and you did not want the children to come back to an empty home after school. Now – I want the same things – yes – I want a full-time househusband who will welcome me home with a cup of tea when I come home from work in the evening – and who looks after the children too.

He: I hope you are not serious? Do you really want me to quit my job and become a full-time househusband?

She: Of course I am serious. I want you to quit your job and become a full-time househusband.

EPILOGUE

And so – I quit my job and I became a full-time “househusband” (aka “Stay-at-Home Husband”)

Early in the morning – I wake up my “breadwinner” wife with a cup of tea.

Then – I make her a hot breakfast – help her get ready for work – and kiss her goodbye.

Then – I do all the housework – followed by shopping for groceries and daily use items.

In the afternoon – after doing all the housework – I welcome my children home – and – when they come back from school – I give them a snack – and – I supervise their homework.

And – in the evening – when my wife comes home from work – and I welcome her with a hot cup of tea – and – then – I ask her what she would like for dinner. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR “FAUJANS” (Military Wives) 

Dear “Faujan”:

I recommend “Quid Pro Quo” Marriage for all “Faujans” (Military Wives and Girls keen to marry Officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force).

Let your “Fauji” husband work in the Armed Forces till he completes 20 years “pensionable” service. 

(After 20 years military service your “Fauji” husband will be entitled to pension and this will be an “insurance” for him for his survival in case you decide to get rid of him).

At this stage of your life – like in the story – you would have completed around 12-15 years of marriage – and – you are still young enough ready for a full-fledged career. 

Go ahead and realize your career ambitions – while your “Military Veteran” husband performs his role as a full-time stay-at-home “Househusband”. 

It works – you can take my word for it.

Of course – I was a bit late in assuming the role of a full-time stay-at-home “Househusband”.

Yes – I took more than 33 years to become a “Househusband”.

This is because I got “enlightened” a bit too late in life – otherwise – I would have become a full-time stay-at-home “Househusband” much earlier. 

Of course – if you are 100% sure that your “Fauji” husband will become a General/Admiral/Air Marshal – and – your career ambition is to become the President of AWWA/NWWA/AFWWA – then it is a different ballgame altogether. 

Wish You All the Best

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. This story is a spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.

2. All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

 

This story was written by me Vikram Karve on May 21, 2015 titled QUID PRO QUO and posted by me online in this blog at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/05/quid-pro-quo-story-of-marriage.html and revised and re-posted by me again at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/08/mcp-story-of-male-chauvinist-pig.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/01/mcp-househusband-story.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/04/the-quid-pro-quo-marriage.html