Seemanantha - Baby Shower

The last few months had been a nervous and yet happy moment for Spoorthi's father. His little sister was on the family way and it was an anxious moment as the sister was to come to his home for the delivery of the baby. Spoorthi's father and mother were busy in preparation for the homecoming and to celebrate the Seemanta for the to-be mother. Spoorthi was equally excited that she would get to see her aunt Vijaya or Viji atte after a long time. Viji atte used to stay with them before her marriage and used to pamper Spoorthi all the time. Spoorthi was a chubby girl as a kid and wherever Viji atte went she took her along. Viji atte would make her sit on her lap on the verandah, enjoyed feeding her curd rice showing all the animals roaming around in the street. Spoorthi knew that if she needs attention all she was required to do would be to tug her favourite aunt's dress and make a sorryface.. it was a bond Spoorthi would never let go. Suddenly Hari mava came in their lives and had stolen Viji atte from Spoorthi. She had cried the most when Viji atte left her father's home after marriage. Now after a couple of years, atte was coming back and was a reason to enjoy.

Spoorthi eagerly waited in the verandah. At noon a white ambassador car stopped in front of the colony gate. As she wondered and hoped that her atte had come, Vijaya slowly and carefully stepped out of the car, Spoorthi ran to the gate and suddenly stopped. She was confused and wondered what had happened to her favourite aunt, she was now looking huge and her stomach looking like a balloon inside. Spoorthi's father and mother also joined, she slowly went behind her mother and asked her if it was really Viji atte who was here. They welcomed the would-be mother home with an aarthi and showered flowers onto her as she walked in. The room in which Vijaya used to sleep was still undisturbed and clean, she went to rest tired from the long travel from her husband's place. Spoorthi still unsure of things kept observing things hiding behind her mother. Spoorthi's mother understood her dilemma, she asked Spoorthi to bring an album from the cupboard in their room. She showed Spoorthi some of the photos that were taken when she was pregnant with Spoorthi in the stomach. It resembles how atte looks observed Spoorthi and her mother explained that the baby was inside her atte and that's why she looks chubby and huge. Spoorthi was now more comfortable and sat next to Vijaya holding her hands in a comforting manner. As Spoorthi curiously watched her atte's stomach something moved and it was as if the stomach changed its shape. Shocked she stood up and let out a cry for her mother who came running to the room. Both watched in excitement on the changing shape of Vijaya's stomach. Mother again calmed her down and told her that the baby must be rolling inside. Spoorthi could not believe as she touched Viji atte's stomach and could sense the foot of the baby pressed against the stomach. Spoorthi promised to take care of the baby just like Viji atte took care of her when she was little.

In the evening a few more close relatives had arrived for the function the next day. Spoorthi and cousins were sent out to play in the ground. All the ladies gathered in the kitchen and were preparing the various spicy snacks like chakkuli, kodubale, nipattu which were favourites of Vijaya and also in parallel few were busy in making the sweet dishes like Puri, kadalekai unde from jaggery, Mysore Pak made with pure ghee. The aroma filled the house and almost the entire colony, the kids could not wait to be called back inside. Spoorthi's father and uncles sat in the verandah and caught up on the happenings, discussed politics as they were served coffee and even samplers of the snacks. Kids tried to enter the house from various sides but were each time shooed away. Later in the night, all gathered for dinner and the huge hall now looked small as dinner was served. Spare bedspreads were pulled from the attic and all the kids slept together as pulling and tugging each other, it was a lot of fun.

The next day sharp at 5:00 am the eldest of the uncles announced that it was time to wake up and that the hall should be cleared for cleaning. It still looked as if it was midnight and kids protested to move but were slowly dragged out by the parents one by one. The house wore a festive look, decorated the front of the house with mango leaves toran hanging on the door, flowers neatly arranged to give a pleasant feel for the to be a mother. Spoorthi's father had arranged for a grand chair which was placed in the center of the hall. All the snacks and sweet dishes were laid out in several thalis on one side. Fruits of all different kinds, Apples, Banana, mango, grapes, oranges, etc were also placed on the other side. Bangles which were the prime attraction for the event mostly green in color were placed in the front. Once all preparations were done, Vijaya was decked up in beautiful green silk saree with red borders and made to sit on the chair in the center. Spoorthi was wearing a silk dress and sat next to her atte. Some of the elderly ladies sang bhajan and Keerthans of gods. As part of the ritual, the ladies performed arati, applied turmeric around her cheeks put Kumkum on the forehead and put on the green bangles to Vijaya's hands. She was also given all the snacks and goodies. As Spoorthi sat next to her, she had the privilege to taste the goodies as they were being passed back after giving it to Viji atte. She enjoyed this privilege and wished for her atte to have kids often so that she can enjoy this kind of an event. After the ceremony, it was lunchtime and this as well presented another round of fun with a full-blown menu of mouth-watering meals. Post lunch the kids went out to play.

Slowly as time passed, the relatives wished good luck and left for their home. Spoorthi asked her parents a thousand times if it was time for baby to come out as the function was done, to her disappointment she was told to wait a couple of months before the arrival of the baby. By late evening Spoorthi, her parents, and Vijaya were all tired and retired to sleep early. All in all, it was a fun-filled and exciting day for Spoorthi.