46. I got my first grandchild on my birthday!

Thousand Moon: Tai Dandekar (90+)

Contributed By: Sharad Dandekar

Tai Dandekar is in her 90s. Lives with her sons and is living a full and contented life. She has a book of knitting patterns that  she had put together to help the ladies who came from India to visit their children and who had a lot of time on their hands and wanted to keep themselves busy. This book helped many to stay occupied in a creative way. Here is Tai’s experience in her own words.

I have been blessed with many happy occasions in my life. First and foremost was when I got married to the very first “Sthala” (a prospective matrimonial alliance) that my parents explored. There were many such incidents but the most joyous one was when we got our first grandchild.

                When my son Arun got married and our first daughter-in-law came home the entire household was brimming with joy. She was a good natured girl and she fulfilled the lack of a daughter in our family. She was a daughter to us and a sister to my other sons. The news of her pregnancy filled our days with pleasant anticipation of the arrival of our first grandchild. All our time was now being spent doting on our beloved daughter-in-law. We would hold traditional celebrations like “dohale-jevan,’ go out on walks with her, keep her happy and entertained by narrating interesting stories and anecdotes.

                Although her due date was July 19^th, my husband would always tell her that she would deliver on my birthday, 17^th July. On the 16^th night she started having labor pains. When I was taking her to the hospital my son Sharad asked me to inform him right away if the baby was a girl. I asked him what he would do on arrival of a girl, and he said,”I will get a Band to play music to mark the occasion…but I am sure that it will be a boy…” This was all because there was no girl in the family. In the morning my son Arun checked on his wife at the hospital but learning that it would be a while before he was needed, went to work. But soon after at 7:30 AM my daughter-in-law delivered a healthy baby boy. Just as my husband had predicted I got my first grandchild on my birthday!

                I was so happy I did not know what to do; I went on the balcony of the hospital to see if I could catch my husband on his way to work. He would take the same path every day going to work on his bicycle. I spotted him as expected. I clapped, called, waved my hands to get his attention but he did not hear or see me.

                I stayed at the hospital till everything was settled with the mother and the baby and then I went home. I called Arun and my husband from my neighbor’s home as they had a phone but could not reach either one of them. Hearing my excitement Tare Uncle from next door came and enquired about all the commotion. I offered some sugar as “naivedya” (an offering of food, usually sweets, presented to a deity or idol) and gave some to the Tares. Now as I was able to contain my joy to some extent. I rested a little and got back to the hospital after getting ready. The nurse said, “Where was grandma? We have to give the baby his first taste of honey…” As Uday was licking his first honey Arun and my husband came to the hospital and then I felt a little better. I had never been so excited in my life before. I experienced firsthand, how it feels when you are unable to contain your joy.

Tai Dandekar
3/9/2012
Translated by: Rohini