As I sit by the Ocean, watching
the waves touch the shore, waiting for the sun to set, unconsciously I start
reflecting on the year that just passed by. The first image that comes to my
mind is Ishaan (my son) first steps and my parent’s happiness in seeing him
walk.
The year 2012 did teach me a lot,
especially to enjoy the highs and fight the lows. The year was indeed memorable
and I am sure, I will never seize to forget this year. The year started with a customary
New Year party that finished at the wee hours of the morning, while our son was
fast asleep. Since he had just learnt to turn, the occasional check on him and
a prolonged moment of wondering ‘how can we love someone so much?’ and while we
did so, we had so many thought that passed through our minds. As the clock
struck 12 and the year 2012 started, me and my husband decided to go together
to check on our son. While doing so, the very look at my husband, whose smile
and a prolonged unwavering gaze at Ishaan spoke a million words. The next day
when I asked him about it, he simple shrugged and said “I just love him too
much”. Watching my in-laws play with Ishaan and relish every minute spent with
him, made me realize that happiness can be extracted from small things in life.
No amount of expensive gifts can be ever compared to the fulfillment you get
when you see your child smile at you and the unconditional love you receive
from him.
My husband asked me today, so
what were your high and lows of 2012 and surprisingly, I could only think of
highs and lows associated with Ishaan. I felt elated when Ishaan said his first
word, his first turn, his first step, his time with his grandparents, his first
day at school, his laughter on seeing children around, his million dollar smile
when he sees us from a distance and the list went on… What astonishes me is the
fact that, not at one point did I repent that personally I hadn’t achieved
anything this year. I think my greatest achievement was to hear Ishaan say his
first words, his first step to many more, to have been able to be the first one
to feed him his first meal and all meals. I thank god today for allowing me to
cherish the moments, which are irreplaceable. And I would also thank the
almighty for giving my parents the opportunity of spending time with their grandson.
The pleasure they took in being a part of his growing process, the contentment
they experienced when Ishaan did different things and the joy they got when he
use to look at them and smile, makes this year the memorable year.
The lows were hard hitting too,
the kind that you will never ever forget. The worst of all was when Ishaan fell
ill. Malaria was spreading and had caught Ishaan too. The seriousness of the
situation was not felt, until he woke up from his sleep, tried to walk and gave
a shiver. I still remember going to his pediatrician and seeing his fever touch
104 degrees. What came next was a nightmare that will never be forgotten.
Holding him down for his injection, while he cried his lungs out, is something
that I had never dreamt of doing. I think, this is the only low that qualifies
to be the lowest point of this year. No other situation, however bad it was,
can be compared to this one.
In all, as we all say, every
passing minute teaches you something and yes, I have learnt a lot this year. The
unconditional love from my husband, which could be felt every time he rushes
back home, so that I could go to the gym, The unreserved love from my child’s every
time he looked at me, the never ending from my parent, when they force me to eat
more and the wholehearted concern from my in-laws, who never failed to make their
daughter – in – laws feel like their own daughters.
I feel blessed to have all of you
in my life! The sun has finally set, marking the end of the day of 2012 and tomorrow
will be a beginning of yet another year with lots of pleasurable moments with
my loved ones.
