Give a child a home

Raj Kumar 

You have not taken medicine for your blood pressure yet. Remember the words of your doctor. You may skip your meals, but not your daily dose,’ my son admonished me. ‘And what about your morning walks? I have been observing that you are not regular with that too,’ came another salvo, with a somewhat childish angst this time. His loving and caring attitude towards his fast-ageing and ailing father turns me nostalgic and I go back 30 years in time. 

Our only son was born to us with great difficulty. The problem was at my end — oligospermia. Thanks to the wonders of science, the problem was fixed by doctors, and after 10 long years of our childless marriage, finally, one day, we were blessed with a child. 

Though his biological father had undergone rigorous treatment and his parents had to frequent several infertility clinics, my son carried a well-developed brain and a robust and healthy physique. His arrival in our life was only due to the divine intervention believed my wife. She kept countless fasts to please her God. There was immense pressure from society, I would think.

From the day the diagnosis came on the table, declaring that the flaw lay with me, my loving wife would coax me to conceal my ailment and tried to convince me that I should heap the “blame” on her. But the qualms of my conscience did not allow me to transfer the problem on her innocent shoulders. 

Determined and uncaring about any social and familial stigmatisation, I spilled the beans in the manner they were required to be spilled. Perhaps, I was well aware of the mindset of most of the Indian mothers-in-law who often turn hostile to their daughters-in-law if the latter are unable to give the family an heir. I never wanted my wife to receive such treatment at the hands of my mother. 

Today, due to divine grace, or the miracles of science, we have the bliss of being parents. But there must be countless couples whose conditions are not curable. I want to leave a message for all of them that life does not end if they are incapable of bearing their own children. 

In a country like India, umpteen number of children languish in orphanages and are desperately waiting for the comfort of a home and a set of parents. The idea of adoption is an ideal option. 

By taking recourse to it, childless parents can bring joy, not only in their lives, but also the tender lives of many others. Only a small act of courage is required. What can be more satisfying than opening your home to let a child in?