The morning light seeped into the room giving a golden shade to the entire room. Seetha was sleeping, her white face glowing in the early rays of the sun. Sagar woke up slowly looked at Seetha smiling and to himself, he sat on the bed. He took a deep breath and reminded himself,
I am happy. 
I am satisfied.
I have a beautiful family and 
My life is good. 

He got out of bed, opened the main door, took the milk packet from the verandah and went to the kitchen. He started to brew his special coffee. After a few seconds of making coffee, he poured coffee into two cups and took it to the bedroom. 

“Hey, wake up baby girl.”

“Is it morning already?”

“Ah! The same question! Here have the coffee and get out of bed. Quick."

“It is weekend Sagu. Let me sleep a little more.”

“Have you forgotten our plans?” his face fell. 

Seetha froze. How can I forget that? Seetha thought to herself. Getting up quickly and grabbing the cup from Sagar's hand, she smiled lamely at him. Making a puppy face she told,

“Sorry."

“Don't talk to me,” Sagar said disappointed. 

The words cut deep into her soul. She held her hand open for him. Sagar turned away from her. She stood up and moved closer to him. Back hugging and placing her head over his shoulders, she told

“Sagu, shall we have Biriyani for lunch today?"

Pulling himself from her grip and he looked at her his face gradually changing from serious to happy look. 

“Ok. But I will decide where to eat.”

“Agreed.” 

“Fine. Now go get ready.”

It was raining when they left home. While driving Sagar told,

“Do you remember our wedding day?”

“What a dumb question is that! How can I forget that day?”

“Sarcasm. So funny. It was a rainy day too. Our marriage is the best thing that happened to me. So rain is my personal symbol of luck." 

“Saguu… You are sounding like my Grandpa.”

“Sweetu… I have had enough for today. No more mocking.” Sagar said firmly. 

They drove in silence for quite some time. 

“Sagu” Seetha broke the silence.

“Hmm…” 

“I am nervous Sagu. I just want to be cool and that's why I was kidding. Sorry, Sagu.”

“Am I not nervous Sweetu? Why can't you just say what you feel instead of beating around the bush? We are in this together and for god's sake, you are not alone Sweetu.”

Seetha slowly held Sagar's hand and looked through the side window. It has been ten years since Seetha and Sagar got married. The first two years were bliss. The third-year started with all the questions like “when are you having a baby?”  “When do we see little Sagar/Seetha?” etc. etc. At first, both Sagar and Seetha ignored the questions but a while after, on the 4th wedding anniversary, Sagar told Seetha he wants to have a baby. Seetha was planning to say the same thing to Sagar which both of them thought as an omen that would bring them their little one. 

What time had for them was entirely different from what they planned. The months that followed were none like the early days of their marriage. At a certain point, Seetha thought that her married life was over. After the dreadful visit to the “Mary Matha Infertility Clinic,” their life turned upside down. The test results showed that Sagar will never be able to have children. They were advised to try for artificial insemination which Seetha rejected then and there. 

The days and months passed without happiness. Sagar stopped talking altogether. Both Sagar and Seetha was detected with depression. The treatments, comments and even the talk of divorce came up in the years that followed. One day Sagar came over to her and said,

“Seetha, tell me where to sign. I will not object if you want a divorce.”

Seetha was shocked. 

“Sagar, are you out of your mind? How can you think that I will give up on you just because we can't have a baby? Will you go for a divorce if you were me?"

Sagar didn't say anything. 

“Now, look Sagu. I don't want you to feel bad about yourself. I married you because I loved you and I still do. If we can't have a baby, it is not the end of the world.”

“But…”

“What but? Are you thinking about why I told no when they said about the test-tube baby?”

Sagar nodded. Seetha sighed. 

“Do you know how many kids are orphaned every day in our country? Why should we waste that much amount of money when we can adopt a child and invest that into his/her future?”

“What? Are you talking about adoption? What will..”

“Sagu, stop. This is our life. And if we decide to adopt a child, that will be our decision to make not someone else's.” 

“Are you sure Sweetu?”

“If you are with me, yes I am sure.”

Sagar hugged Seetha. The hug felt like it lasted a lifetime. 

That hug has made this journey. Seetha and Sagar are on their way to adopt a child- a girl child. All the paperwork has been complete, the house was modified and the couple were given counselling classes. The car stopped in front of “Laya Orphanage Home”. Seetha and Sagar got out and slowly walked hand in hand to their new life. 

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According to UNICEF's report, India has 29.6 million kids who are orphaned or abandoned children As a result of the Pandemic, this number is now hiking. Why? Because adoption is taboo in our country. We are so obsessed with the bloodline and heredity that we often throw lakhs of money into infertility treatments. Remember, if having a child is God's gift, bringing up a child is also a gift. The money you waste in a clinic may be used to invest in a child's future. Think twice before you go to a clinic. Forget about what society taught you. Be brave and be the change. 

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