Staying Alone

I feel Happy to be free.
This is something which I had been yearning for quite some time.
For a change, I feel un-shackled. Though temporarily!

About an year ago, I was delighted on being congratulated for becoming a father. That day, when I first saw my newborn daughter, I felt surprised! Unlike the Bollywood teachings, she didn’t cry when I held her in my arms. In fact, her eyes were rolling and exploring the ‘new’ world around her. When inside her mother’s womb, I suspect all her eyes would have seen were a closed factory of organs. Outside, in the open world, she must have felt surprised (before I did) when suddenly the world around her lit-up.

But she did cry. Later. And she cried a lot.
She’d cry when hungry. Also when surrounded by my friends and relatives eager to catch another glimpse of her. And also, otherwise.

Little did we realize that for her, crying was talking.
This was her way of communicating with her mother and the rest.

My world changed as well.
In her initial days, she was content suckling her mother and dozing-off when her tummy was full. I had limited role except to keep my wife comfortable. To ensure that she took proper diet and that our infant’s routine requirements were regularly procured from the market and readily available in the house.

Slowly, the demands grew.
Firstly, my daughter started seeking more of both our attention. She’d need a 24-hour escort right by her side for her varied necessities – feeding, cleaning, playing, photographing, phoning parents for advice, … and all.
Secondly, as we all know, in a nuclear family the Home Minister looks after the HRD department as well. And an increase in headcount did lead to the shrinking of her free time.

To help maintain the balance, I started participating more in the homely duties.

As it turns out, there are a 100-things to be done at home, daily.
And the list only grows everyday.

Working in a private organization also does have its commitments. And at times, it simply overwhelms the schedule.

Luckily, we found a dependable housemaid. This did help offload some pressure from the extended household chores.

Today, my wife, with our little daughter, has gone to visit her far-away native. And for me, being alone at home is bliss.
After a long time, I found myself humming a song to me!

Mixed in this happiness is the un-mistakable longing for my family. Have I started missing them already?