Short story-'Working deliveries'

Rabi and Sanya were a working couple.They were holding good positions in their respective offices.They not only cherished the monetary benefit that it brought them but, also the power and respect it gave them.


Everything seemed fine till sanya got pregnant.It was an unexpected pregnancy and sanya did not want to have the child.


Both rabi and sanya's parents promised to help them in bringing up the child.Though, half-heartedly, Sanya agreed to have the kid , she was concerned about her career .She managed to attend office till the due date.Finally, she delivered the baby.


It was a baby boy and they named him Kalil.


Sanya was back to office once her maternity holidays were over and Kalil was handed over to Sanya's parents.

Kalil grew up with his parents' parents-sometimes Sanya's sometimes Rabi's.Though Kalil was not lonely,he always missed his parents.But, his parents were very busy with their careers and were left with no energy for him in the evenings.


Days rolled by and Kalil grew up .


Rabi and Sanya had always bought him the finest of toys and clothes.He studied in the best school in town.
So, as usual they admitted him into one of the finest colleges.


By the time Kalil finished college, his grandparents had passed away one after the other.


It was time for Rabi's retirment too.He thought,"I can relax now,after all the years of toiling."


But, we cannot decide our fate.


Kalil fell in love with a girl named Banu,in college, and soon they got married.


Both Kalil and Banu were top ranking students so, they were selected into prime companies for employment.Their offices were close to each other,so Kalil dropped her at office everyday.


By this time,Sanya had retired from service.She was at home and so, she took it upon herself to run the house.Rabi also pitched in,now and then, to help her.


One night when Rabi and Sanya were alone,Rabi asked,"What about our world trip plans?We have retired,our son earns well and we have a sound finance now.Why don't we talk about this to Kalil?"


To this Sanya retorted,"How can we go?Both of them go for jobs and we are left to do all the care- taking of the house.Sometimes, I think we should move out and stay alone.Then we can go ahead with all our plans."


Meanwhile,Banu became pregnant and she delivered a beautiful baby girl on the due date .Three months flew away so fast and again it was time for Banu to join office.


Sanya and Rabi were more worried than happy,about their grand-daughter.


 Sanya told Rabi," If Banu joins office, bringing up the child will become our responsibility.We are weak now and taking care of an infant calls for lot of work.I am scared that Kalil will expect us to help them grow the child."Saying so, Sanya began to cry.


Rabi was scared too but, they were defenceless against their son.They had left him with Sanya's parents when he was just an infant.Sanya or Rabi had not shown interest in playing or talking to Kalil.


They were more into driving their careers up the charts and had not bothered about their relationship with their son, which was going down the drain.


With these thoughts Sanya and Rabi went to sleep.


It was the next day and all of them were having their breakfast.
Kalil began to speak."Mom and Dad,we wanted to tell you both about a decision we have taken."


Just as Kalil said this, all the thoughts of the previous night rushed through the minds of Sanya and Rabi.


Kalil continued,"Banu and I think it is more important that she takes care of the child, than earn money, at this juncture. If she joins office now,she will have to sacrifice all her precious time with the child.
I don't want my child to suffer like how I did.I missed dad and you in all the confusing and difficult stages as a child.


                         Secondly,dad and you are old now.You sometimes find it difficult to manage the household.We don't want to burden you additionally by asking you both to attend to our child.
I have seen how many difficulties my grandparents went through to take care of me. I don't want you to suffer in the same way."


Sanya and Rabi felt very guilty for having been very selfish in their life and for having been indifferent to the hardships of their parents and of Kalil.They realized their mistake ,when they are at the same threshold of life as their parents had been, years back.


They were very proud of their son for being sensitive of their plight.But, they cannot give back all the yester years in his life ,which he has lost,missing them.


But, they can surely do something and thats what they did.
They decided to stall all plans for their world trip.


They will stay with Kalil and his family and give them all the time and support that they had missed to give him before.


Medical note:

 According to developmental neurology(a science that studies the growth of a child), a mother should  take care of her child till it is 5 years old or atleast till it is 3 years old.This helps to give a strong physical and mental basis for the child for the rest of its life.It will also give a strong bonding between the mother and child.


The emotional component of a child is as important as its body.So,spending time to help the child grow emotionally is equally important spending time to help him grow physically. It is not very difficult-just listen to the child and believe in him.