The baby
M Sadatcharam
Translated from Tamil by A M Parouque
Parvathy is an expectant lady. She felt her belly's burden. It is to
be the third one. Earlier she had two male children and was happy for
that. Sathasivam Master, his mother, his sisters and all his relations
were also happy because of male children.
Sathasivam Master's expectations were absolutely fulfilled because of
male children. Elder one was called Ananthan and younger one was called
Naveenan. Both are playing happily in the yard. The third one, if being
a male, would be named Vikram.
Parvathy worried, thinking her body condition and she was approaching
her month for delivery. She has been praying to the God for her safety
to avoid her husband's curse and hatred.
God save me, she prayed amid tears. Nowadays she frequently thinks
about Mr Baliah, the neighbour and enjoying it in her heart and mind.
Whenever his wife is giving childbirth he asks the midwife what sex the
child is and she tells him: "this time also a female child," hearing
this he would get more angry and unhappy. Then he starts his journey
towards his workplace with his belongings in his shoulder; he keeps
himself in exile for seven or eight months. After and lately forgetting
and moderating his anger and foul slogans, he returns home to see the
'newcomer'.
Days gone by, her spouse again bears a child. Totally Baliah had got
continuously six females. Seeing his unkind, reproachful look and
hatred, his spouse Poomani confronts untold sufferings and grisly
ordeals. Is it her destiny?
Realizing all these Parvathy felt happy because she has no female
child. She came to a decision that her husband's sayings are to be true
and correct. Sathasivam Master never uttered any words for cause and
statistics. He says that the king would also become a pauper, if he got
more than five female children. Thus he annotated history and realistic
stories in this respect.
Further he said, looking at his spouse that until the socialism
prevailed, male children are required. And he convinced her of his
arguments as well. And she also believed his expressions as holy words.
She liked to go in pilgrimage even this year to Kannakai Amman beach
temple to get the divine blessings for a male child. She worshipped by
her heart and mind.
"O mother Kannakai! This time, I must get a male child. If not, I
would be cursed by my husband. If I got a male child, O mother! I would
offer my greatest presentation to you."
She got up from the ground planting her hand and worshipped the deity
turning to the Eastern direction.
"Parvathy! Your belly is too big. So you will deliver a female
child." The nextdoor and neighbouring woman expressed their views
towards her.
Hearing these words, she was angry and made ado with them.
"We need male children. Look! cousin Ilayapillai and her all children
are males. She is spending her life joyfully, because of male children.
She is demanding dowry money in several lakhs whenever she meets nuptial
party.
Females are burden and we have to give lot of money, land and
properties, and we have to wander for bridegroom. We cannot bow down to
them." Parvathy disputes with them.
O my God, you are facing many difficulties. Nowadays Che Guvera hurly
burly... and curfew prevailing... what will you do? How can you face
them? You lost your mother too. So go to the hospital so early. It will
benefit you.
The neighbours and relatives who came to her doorstep expressed their
views and opinions. Hearing all these, Parvathy felt worried and sad.
She wept.
Last week Mrs Rani was admitted to the hospital for delivery and she
died there. And this incident created mourning at the village as well.
Hearing this incident Sathasivam Master also became reckless. Some
people told it is a first childbirth to Mrs Ravi and she died without
childbirth. Meanwhile Sathasivam master felt sorry for the lady doctor
who went on transfer to another place.
The lady doctor was famous and kind-hearted personality. She earned a
good name from the village people. Sathasivam master brought her spouse
by the car to the DMO.
Name? Parvathy. Age? Twenty-five. It is? Third child. Attending
clinic? Yes doctor. OK, I give prescription for drugs. Doctor, we like
to know the delivery date.
"Don't you know the calculated monthly period? When did you have your
last periods?" DMO asked.
"July 23."
Doctor gazed at the desk calender and said today is April 10.
"Madam, is it male or female?"
"No. Can't say. Anyway master why are you concerned?"
"Her belly is big. Everybody is saying."
"Don't worry. Go have medicines."
Sathasivam master sighed a relief.
The black coat astrologer also told me I would get a male child this
time too. I will be happy all three are males. No female child.
She is saying: "No pulsation. Both male children kicked my belly
earlier. But now no kicking."
We have no enough property like Thambimuthu Mudalali. Master
approached his wife.
"What are you doing?"
"I am cooking."
"I am hungry. Serve the meals."
"Your elder sister sent us fish and it's boiling in hearth. Please
wait."
They had a nap after lunch. "It's paining," There was sweat on her
face, "take me to the hospital."
"Now it's seven. How can we hire a car at this hour?" Parvathy was
murmuring on Sathasivam master's sister.
Through the land route, Master's sister fetched the midwife and the
Vaithiyar at once. Parvathy was given pills and the Vaithiyar cut
coconut by chanting. Cry of an infant was heard from the room.
"Grind the coconut shell into the mortar and open the gate." Someone
said. All were seen in distress and... Sathasivam master went to open
the gate.
"All right. That's enough."
"What child it is?"
"Female," said the midwife.
After relieving from the faint, Parvathy asked: "Is it female?"
She expressed her unwillingness. Sathasivam master did not touch the
cigarette packet. The midwife and the Vaithiyar were paid money.
Next day he christened the newcomer Haripriya and made his journey on
walk along the road towards his school situated beyond three miles not
expecting the bus. |
