On March 13th 1992, I was heavily pregnant with my first and little was I to know then, my only child. My hormones were playing were going crazy and I was ready to deliver anytime now. It was Friday morning and we were in our first marital home in Penwortham when my husband, Ketan, received a phone call from a female work colleague. I was not amused that he was laughing with her on the phone and being jovial and here I was looking like an African elephant. As the phone call ended, I asked who it had been on the phone ... and could not believe how jealous I was feeling...it sounds crazy but my jealousy got the better of me and I have no idea how but before I knew it, a frying pan was a flying pan... hurtling in Ketan´s direction. "Are you mad?" he shouted.... I just burst into tears.... What was going on? I had never felt so uptight....
The phone rang again and my husband refused to pick it up... for fear of being the target of another UFO. I answered the phone.... It was the police... "Oh my god!" I thought. "That was a quick response, have they got spy cameras in the house? Would they arrest a heavily pregnant, hormonal, elephant shaped woman?"
"Hello Mrs Gandhi," said a placid voice "We were wondering if you would come and translate for us today. We have a man in custody who only understands Gujarati and we need his statement." I sighed with relief and thinking how I needed to take my mind off my tender situation, I jumped at the opportunity and said yes. My husband anxiously asked me if I was sure that it was a wise thing to do, with only three days to go before baby´s due date. I knew it would help me to do something positive and told myself well if my waters break, at least they could wizz me down to the hospital quickly in a flashing lights panda car.
I spent the whole day in the cells with a prisoner, finding out what had happened and translating his statement. Ironically, I felt calm and really at ease and the morning´s outburst seemed so distant.
When Ketan came to pick me up, I couldn't believe how hungry I was...we headed for our local chippy and got a huge bag of hot, thick cut chips, mushy peas and I had a pickled onion. I scoffed it all down and enjoyed every bite.
In the early hours of Saturday 14th March, my waters broke and we rushed to hospital. After only three hours of huffing, puffing and pushing, suddenly a little head with a mop of thick black hair popped out. The midwife shouted that baby had arrived and she exclaimed at the sight of so much hair. I couldn't´t see a thing but Ketan peered down below and screamed with delight... it´s beautiful... and finally the midwife cried... "It´s a girl!".
All this time the radio had been playing pop songs... it was Radio 1 and as my little girl arrived, the radio went pip, pip, pip and it was 12.30pm.
As I look back at that memorable 24 hours which changed our lives forever, I am smiling and wishing I could do it all over again. Now today on March 14th 2011, my little girl who we named Krisha Kay Ketan Gandhi, is 19. Nineteen... where did all those years go? She is everything a daughter should be... she takes after her mum of course!... hardworking, kind, caring and clever... she is compassionate, loving and funny... I am biased of course because she is my little girl... but truly she is everything and it is just so difficult to express how much we love her.
For the first time in 19 years, we are not celebrating her birthday with her... it is odd. So this blog is dedicated to Krisha... everyday with you in our lives is a celebration. Thanks for making our lives complete... Love you more than words could ever express.
Your oh so proud mum and dad! xo
PS 19 years on and no more domestic UFOs in site!
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