Visited on 3rd July 2010
I visited Shaurya after a long time. Last time i saw him was on his naamkaran which was around a month back. He has grown and i have missed it again. He has started identifying things, identifying people and following sounds. Don't think he recognizes me as yet. Tried hard to make him familiar with myself. Held him for long time.
Journey to meet him this time was an adventurous one. When i started the journey it was already raining, but didn't look threatening. But by the time i crossed Chembur, the rain was sure to stay for long time. It increased in intensity with each passing minute and eventually turned out to be a heavy rain. One of the biggest downpours of this year which stopped the railway services on Central line and there was actually a small kayak on the roads.
I thought of going back to home mid-way but i continued. I reached vadala and just when i was going to the platform to catch the return train, the train for Bandra arrived and i ran for it. After reaching Bandra, ricks were as usual in their denial mode. Its so amazing to see that nothing changes the mindset of rickshaw-wallas. Anyway, finally one person agreed and i reached Manasi's place.
Shaurya was sleeping and as usual i sat right besides him on the bed. I watched him for some time but could not resist touching him even when there was a risk of waking him up. Kissed him on the forehead. Manasi announced that he would be getting up soon as its time for him to get up now. Great relief for me. But waiting patiently for things is not me. So i started poking him, caressing his cheeks and forehead and massaging his tummy. And in not time he was awake. But he was awake coz he was hungry and so i waited for another half hour. After that there was no stopping. I took him in my hands and played with him. Took him outside in the balcony to show him the rain and the green trees. Tried to talk to him. Manasi does it and i know that he recognizes her and her voice. So i also tried. Kissed him on his forehead and cannot tell how it feels. Cannot tell how it feels when he looks at you and smiles even if it is accidental. Cannot tell how good it feels to keep him close to your chest. There was actually a moment when i felt his heart right opposite to mine and both beat at the same time. I felt it.
Soon it was time to go. I wanted to leave early coz of rush in buses. I left at 4:30PM from Manasi's place. When i reached the stop i found that the bus hadn't arrived for last 1 hour. Generally, the frequency is 15 minutes. So there was every chance of it arriving very soon. But it didn't. Rain was mellow but continuous. I waited for around an hour and then decided to move by rick. But first i wanted to explore the new sky-walk. While walking after 15 minutes i saw the bus near Lucky restaurant. Now i ran back on the sky-walk to catch this one which would first go to Bandra station from where i had already set-off and then would start for Nerul. But i missed it. So i ran back to the bus stop at Bandra station. Fortunately the bus had not come yet. So i was waiting again at the same place where i was around half an hour back. Finally i bus came and after some struggle i could find my seat. But the trouble was far from over coz roads were clogged with traffic and it took me another 2 and half hours to reach home.
Every year rains bring me adventures and i guess this journey was of this year. Every year such adventures make me happy rather than spoiling my mood and this one surely did the same. I get to meet my son and see him after a month. Absolutely worth it.
