My wife and myself settled down in a company flat in Jamshedpur. It was the aftermath of dreaded smallpox outbreak in Bihar and present day Jharkhand area in the 70s. The flat was in the sprawling colony complex of TATA company. For the past 3-4 years we were on the move. First in Bangalore and then in Hyderabad. During weekends I used take my wife to Kolkata for shopping and sight seeing. Those were the memorable days. I still remember sitting with my wife and gazing at the stars in Birla Planetorium.
One day my wife was grumbling,whether we would be settling here or again moving. I asked her,"Why?"
"I was planning to visit Udupi Krishna Temple while in Bangalore" wife replied.
"OK, we shall visit Jagannath Temple in Puri. After all Krishna is Krishna here they call him Jagannath"
We made a plan to visit Jagannath Puri in Odissa.
Just after Ganesh festival and before Durga Pooja festivities we went to Puri by overnight train. Wife and myself stayed in Puri for two days. My wife offered prayers to Lord Jagannath and other Gods in Puri. We went for sight seeing in and around Puri. My wife was very much pleased with the visit and was in a happy mood.
After several weeks, I noticed my wife was having morning sickness. I was quick to point out that she was consuming a lot of foods from street vendors without any regard for food hygiene.
She used to smile and continue with her household work. I was a bit alarmed when this morning sickness became a bit too much. I took her to Company Main Hospital. After several tests and waiting for a long time we were called inside to face Dr. Vijayalakshmi.
"You must take care of your wife" she, a sort of demanded. I was a bit apologetic and was trying to protest.
She smiled and elaborated. My was pregnant and required special care during this formative stages. Dr. told me not to wake her up early in the morning. She had learnt that my wife would get up early in the morning and go to fetch milk from street corner. She prescribed a lot of vitamins and iron tablets and told me to bring my wife for regular check up.
That winter was heaven in Jamshedpur with picnics and parties. This in addition to weekend movies in the club. My wife was drawing all the attraction.
My brother-in-law wanted to celebrate baby shower function in the native place. I took my wife during the early spring to our native place and left her there for delivery.
Summer was very severe in Jamshedpur. I would wait for my wife's letters regularly. On Ugadi day I received a parcel from my wife 'Bevu Bella' a sort of sweet meat consisting of jaggery and neem flowers.
One day. while I was in the club reading room, a got a message that a telegram had come. I went to the post office and received the telegram announcing the arrival of our fist child. My son was born. Message was from my brother-in-law.
There was celebrations and parties.
During the same period there was Jagannath Ratha Yatra in Puri.
One day my wife was grumbling,whether we would be settling here or again moving. I asked her,"Why?"
"I was planning to visit Udupi Krishna Temple while in Bangalore" wife replied.
"OK, we shall visit Jagannath Temple in Puri. After all Krishna is Krishna here they call him Jagannath"
We made a plan to visit Jagannath Puri in Odissa.
Just after Ganesh festival and before Durga Pooja festivities we went to Puri by overnight train. Wife and myself stayed in Puri for two days. My wife offered prayers to Lord Jagannath and other Gods in Puri. We went for sight seeing in and around Puri. My wife was very much pleased with the visit and was in a happy mood.
After several weeks, I noticed my wife was having morning sickness. I was quick to point out that she was consuming a lot of foods from street vendors without any regard for food hygiene.
She used to smile and continue with her household work. I was a bit alarmed when this morning sickness became a bit too much. I took her to Company Main Hospital. After several tests and waiting for a long time we were called inside to face Dr. Vijayalakshmi.
"You must take care of your wife" she, a sort of demanded. I was a bit apologetic and was trying to protest.
She smiled and elaborated. My was pregnant and required special care during this formative stages. Dr. told me not to wake her up early in the morning. She had learnt that my wife would get up early in the morning and go to fetch milk from street corner. She prescribed a lot of vitamins and iron tablets and told me to bring my wife for regular check up.
That winter was heaven in Jamshedpur with picnics and parties. This in addition to weekend movies in the club. My wife was drawing all the attraction.
My brother-in-law wanted to celebrate baby shower function in the native place. I took my wife during the early spring to our native place and left her there for delivery.
Summer was very severe in Jamshedpur. I would wait for my wife's letters regularly. On Ugadi day I received a parcel from my wife 'Bevu Bella' a sort of sweet meat consisting of jaggery and neem flowers.
One day. while I was in the club reading room, a got a message that a telegram had come. I went to the post office and received the telegram announcing the arrival of our fist child. My son was born. Message was from my brother-in-law.
There was celebrations and parties.
During the same period there was Jagannath Ratha Yatra in Puri.
