My Cute Angel - Part II

After five years of marriage, with continued visits to all the religious places and Doctor’s declaration that we can never become parents, I and Nihal had made up our minds for adoption.

On our way to the Mercy Home orphanage, I looked across to Nihal

“Will we be able to find our angel over there? Will our family be able to accept her? ....Nihal...What if she doesn’t fit into our culture? Woh...Nihal....Ek aur baath...What if others point out her as an adopted one?? “

I took a breath and continued.“Will she accept us as her parents?

“Just don’t worry dear; we will be able to...trust me!”

And he placed his hands on mine. The reassurance I required the most. He had been there with me all the way in taking this decision.

Adoption – the word not so accepted in our society. Mainly, because of the fear of the genetic inheritance of the child, whether the child might go on searching for his/her biological parents, whether the parents could consider them as their own child, the fear of the biological parent’s character….. So many kinds of these questions went through our minds.

But, it was him who told me that our angel needs us and not to think more on 'whether /will she' questions anymore. In future, It can happen that our angel might go in search of her biological parents but still if we love her more than anyone could she ever …………!

On reaching Mercy Home, we had found her - our cute little angel. She was just more than three years. Beautiful face with her hair neatly tied up in a pony tail. All the more, she was dressed up in a pink lace frock making her all the more beautiful! Her smile and her laughter took me away.

But on our way back, her eyes were filled with tears. Cute little one on my lap had given me more meaning to our life. From now onwards, we are also parents – Mamma and Papa.

Her caretaker had informed us about her routine -right from the food, her favourite doll, her sleeping time etc. Also that she tends to gel with others very slowly…But once, she mingles up she will be the centre of attraction. And that’s what we want ….she to be the centre of attraction of our family.
I could hear Ria’s laughter coming from the garden. I went outside and was surprised to see my father-in-law playing with her. The watch man was crawling on his legs like an elephant with Ria on top of him and papa was like a mahout.

On seeing me, papa came closer.

“Beti…. We could have taken her three years before itself… why did we waste so many years??….. She is my granddaughter…..from today onwards she has our family name along with her name….. Ria …Ria Walia”

Ria came running to papa and clutched onto his hands, on seeing me she hid behind him. She started playing hide and seek by looking at me every now and then. At last, She smiled at me. This is the second smile she has given to me.

I put out my hands to grab her. But she didn’t move.

Well….It’s not yet the right time.

I turned around. Just then, I heard her say “Mamm….aaa….Mamma”

The word I had been waiting for years to be called up my angel…. My cute little angel. I hugged and kissed her. And in return; she gave me a sweet kiss.

She is my angel sorry our angel!!