The Adoption

Paru’s eyes swelled up with tears when she held the documents in her hand. It was an adoption deed of their daughter of nearly 21 years old. Come summer her eye of the apple, honey dew, Seema her daughter would turn twenty-one. Seema has not been told that she was adopted. Now her husband has been pressing her that they must inform Seema about her adoption. Paru wasn’t just ready for it. She was never been ready in the past twenty-one years or so.

Paru had an arranged marriage with Shashank, a mutual friend’s son. When she had turned twenty -five her father was soliciting proposals for her. Then her father’s friend suggested this proposal with Shashank. When Shashank and she had met privately in their house when Shashank came along with his parents and his aunt, the emerging modern values in tradition Indian families had permitted boy meeting girl privately in a room. So, they had met for about an hour or so and their first meeting went well. They had decided to meet more without telling their parents. They had met more often and they both realized that they were falling in love with each other and gave their nod to the families for the marriage.

Both were career minded and time flew after marriage. They never talked of getting into a family way. It was then Shashank mentioned about their class mates who had adopted a girl child. Could they also do so? The idea sounded good. Adoption in Indian families was no more a taboo. It so happened that Shashank’s friends soon dropped in on a visit to Mumbai en-route to Poona. Talking with the couple convinced her of this way of getting into a family way without disturbing her career. Her career was flying high and she was considered one among the top business women in the country. They both could afford a full-time maid to take care of the child and then once the school starts the child would start to have her/his own life. So, after a year or so they decided to go in for adoption and decided in favor of a girl child like Shashank’s friends did.

But unlike Shashank’s friends Paru could never prepare herself to disclose the truth of adoption to Seema in all these twenty-one years. Shashank’s friends had made this adoption fact a part of the growing up lore for their adopted daughter. And now the sudden pressure to reveal the fact to Seema who would soon be twenty-one come summer. Paru shuddered at the very thought.

She reflected on the numerous fights they have had with Seema during her teen-age days. All in the family were mercurial in temper. While Shashank and Seema had their fair share of fights, they seem to make up quickly. But in her case the bad taste lingered for a long time. Her career tension and Seema’s teen age coincided. Sometimes Seema felt out of guilt she was not a good enough mother. Be it about late night parties, sleep over, length of her skirt or the lack of it, revealing cleavage all these led to bad arguments. Never resolved and left to simmer.

 Shashank had moved to a part time job and had more time for Seema, accompanying her for her extra-curricular activities more which provided much more bonding times. Shashank would say Seema has been told about sex, pros and cons, precautions, whatever values she has picked up from her parents, friends, social media and in society in general. We would have to place trust in her, Shashank would argue. But an Indian mother is an Indian mother. Paru had seen funny memes about Indian mother and other mothers. An Indian mother would like to know who, when, how long, when is the return etc. She would worry till the daughter is home. Did Seema not know it?

Paru felt that she and Seema had drifted apart a lot. How could she disclose the truth about adoption at this juncture? What if, buts and whys crossed her mind. A can of worms like questions emerged in her mind.

She was unable to make up her mind and now the 21st birth-day was here soon and Seema would probably get herself a job where ever and move out soon. The final placement would begin anytime soon. Seema has been expressing her interest to move to Bangalore, start-up capital of India. Paru went for some counselling sessions too. The counsellor was also of the opinion that truth must be told. There was nothing to fear. If there was a reaction it would pass away soon. After twenty-one years of parenting had been put into. The mere fact of adoption could not erase the love and bonding.

So there the D-day came. Paru had a sleepless night. It was decided that Shahshank would take the lead and reveal the truth. There was the evening party with close friends and families. Seema had already got a placement with an emerging start-up in Bangalore based in the delivery space. The party went off very well. As they were winding up only the three of them were left behind. Shahshank gently revealed the truth as Seema was seated in the sofa between her two parents. There was pregnant silence. Seema then held both her parents’ hand and said “I had known it sometime for now. Mausi (aunt) had inadvertently let it out. A year back when you both were not there, I took the key and opened the cupboard and saw the adoption deed. It was merely some pieces of paper. I don’t know what is it to feel like an adopted child? How different that would be had I been your own. You both had given me love and care all through out. The mere truth of the adoption matter does not change anything. I love you both as ever.”

Paru sobbed in controllably while Shahshank and Seema hugged her and consoled her. Paru felt light and her burden forever was over for good. She felt like a new mother and eagerly looked forward to bonding with Seema.