I ask the nurse to let me see the boy. She assures me with a smile that he is with his father, and they will only allow me to go after a couple of hours. After a C-section, they had to wait for me to completely recover from the anaesthesia. In pain and feeling dizzy, I waited. As I am wheeled out from the OT, hubby is there to hold my hand. I am taken to my room and get to hold him in my arms for the first time. My first interaction with him was hazy. I still recall his luscious lips that won my heart at first glance. Tiny hands over his eyes, his lips beckoned, and I could not wait to see him in person. This was at my full-term ultrasound. Just a few days later surrounded by a battery of people on the Operation Theatre table, alone and knocked out by the general anaesthesia, I have blurred images of happiness all around. Someone thrusts something in my face, screaming, “It’s a boy!” I remember the “boy” part registering along with a teeny regret at the boy not being a girl. Wheeled out later, the boy was gone. I found that my throat hurt, and my voice made no sense to me. I seemed to be floating away from my body and lurking somewhere near the ceiling.

Can words describe what I felt when holding that tiny baby, my perfect creation in my arms? The baby staring back at me with luminous eyes. His 4-year-old brother holds his granny’s hands. He is so happy to have his own little companion. He is impatient to hold him. And, then at night while being dropped home with granny by dad, the elder brother christens his younger brother “Gautam.” Just a wonderful name that coincidentally means the same as his own name Siddharth, a wonderful precursor of the things to come including umpteen mischievous escapades!

This shy child of mine is so different from his elder brother. I always find this fact amazing and amusing. Shy to Sid’s gregarious nature, more inclined to creative pursuits to his brother’s academic mind; the siblings complement each other perfectly. Gautam will do anything and go anywhere as long as Sid accompanies him, not mom, not dad :). Amidst their incessant yelling and quarrelling, the fun and the camaraderie they share is something that warms my heart. All the hard work and pain has been totally worth it. This is how Gautam came into our lives on 5thSeptember 2006. And, what an amazing moment that  was!

This time around, both parents had been there and had done that. The struggles were of a different kind this time. Just like the first time, it was hubby and I who held the fort. Managing a tiny baby and another toddler was not easy, but we did it one day at a time, interspersed as each day was with happiness and tears. The picture taking was not as crazy as it was with the first child but the joy of each tiny moment was no less. Gautam has enriched the life of each one of us. The parents are not obsessed with their one child, and the elder son has a playmate, a companion, a friend and a brother for life.

Gautam and Sid
Partners in mischief!

Perceptive to the core, this little one is sometimes even able to read what is on my mind. Blessed with an analytical mind and eyes that we call “binoculars,” he is a beautiful child. And, he has a family that is wrapped around his little finger ;-). Naughty as hell, he gets away with bullying his indulgent brother and sometimes parents as well. Don’t get fooled by his quiet ways; he is a dynamite no less :). But one blessed with such a loving heart, his day ends with “I love you” and he leaves the school mouthing “I love you” to his parents!

He turns an year older on Teacher’s Day tomorrow; here’s wishing this little fellow a very Happy Birthday!

114 Thoughts on “The Apple of My Eye!

  1. My best wishes.Pease wish him a happy birthday on our behalf.
    A piece of cake remains due …….next visit

  2. How lovely <3 wish your little boy a very very very happy birthday!! hugs xxx

  3. Happy Birthday to the little Prince! May God shower him with blessings, today and always!

    Amazing post, loved the pics:)

  4. A very very happy birthday to little Gautham 🙂 God bless him and all of you in your sweet family Rachna!

  5. I so much loved your children and your post… Kind of made me mushy sniff!!

  6. What a wonderful birthday post ! Here’s wishing the little fellow a great birthday, a wonderful year ahead, and a lots of lots of blessings !

  7. So beautifully written, thanks for sharing, Rachna! Happy Birthday to Gautam!

  8. When I had seen the title I had assumed it was abt ur new pressure cooker 😀
    Such a sweet post Rachna and I hope he reads this post.
    Here’s wishing him a Happy birthday from B, B and T. I had always wondered why you have given the same name to both of ur sons. the mystery is clear now. 😀

  9. Best Wishes Rachna and thanks for sharing the joy of being a mother second time!

  10. wow..such a cute story of the younger one’s journey..may God Bless him!
    Happy Birthday to Gautam in advance 🙂

  11. Happy Birthday to Gautam. You are indeed blessed with a beautiful family. 🙂

    This is one of my favourite songs too. Such a lovely movie it was!

  12. Anonymous on September 4, 2012 at 11:49 am said:

    Just a little correction. The year he was born must’ve been 2006?

  13. Happy birthday in advance to Gautam! What a sweet way of wishing him a very happy birthday 🙂 I am sure he’ll grow up to be as adorable and creative as he is now. May all his wishes come true.

  14. Such an adorable post. The pic of birth, that is so gorgoeus, difficult to express that in words, and the feelings the mother goes through. Wonderfully expressed. Happy birthday to Gautam. He shares his birthday with best friends for years.

    First time on your blog page and I am already loving it 🙂 will be back for more 🙂

  15. Big birthday wishes to little Gautam! Thanks for sharing such wonderful memories 🙂

  16. Convey my best wishes to Gautam on his birthday. I really liked the way you have narrated about his arrival and his growing up years till date.

  17. I am coming over tomorrow.. for the birthday partyyyy

    MANY Many happy returns of the day to the little one .. Happy happy Birthdayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy …

    Bikram’s

  18. I remembering how I kept pestering you for a sister when I became envious of Aarushi and Yash for being brother and sister and the result was Gautam and I don’t regret that Gautam came instead of a sister.

  19. Such a sweet piece of writing about a darling boy, Rachna. I’m sure he’ll love reading this again and again – another reminder that he is so loved.

    • Thank you Corinne! I just showed him the post yesterday. He will hopefully enjoy reading about how he came into the world and the love his parents have for him.

  20. Wishing Gautam a very very happy and fun filled birthday.

  21. Rachna,

    Please give him a hug from my side first thing tomorrow morning and wish him HAPPY BIRTHDAY. May God bless him with all the happiness and success in life. Sid and Gautam both are about same age as our daughter’s children.

    Take care

  22. Lovely tribute to your son – I remember that out of body experience when I had pethidine during the delivery of my first born. I decided against anything for the birth of the second and found I recovered much more quickly!

    • Thank you Jane! I had specifically instructed the hospital to give me an epidural and not general anesthesia. But, idiots that they were, they did it against my wish. I had even complained to the hospital. My recovery was pretty good, but the immediate experience after coming out of anesthesia was scary.

  23. What a lyrical post that only the heart of a mother could have written! Without doubt, it is one of your best pieces; a masterpiece. Here is wishing a Very Happy Birthday to your Priceless Pearl!

  24. Lovely read, Rachna. And a very Happy Birthday to dear Gautam. I wish him good luck, happiness and riches today, tomorrow and beyond….God bless 🙂

  25. Such a lovely post o your son! Am sure he will cherish it. Happy Birthday to Gautum!

  26. Happy birthday to the little one … such a lovely tribute //
    God bless him.. he has lovely big eyes 🙂

  27. Oh good that I didn’t miss wishing him. Wish him a very happy and cheerful birthday from me. Give him a warm hug. A very sweet post Rachna. Btw, he looks so innocent, not naughty at all and I know looks deceive..:)

  28. Only a mom can write up like that. Happy birthday handsome little fella! Rachna, a very heartfelt post, my daughter turns 3 this october 🙂

    • Thank you so much, Poonam, and welcome to my blog. And, how wonderful that your daughter is turning 3 next month. Wish her loads of luck and love on my behalf.

  29. Such a beautiful boy!! Happy birthday to him…and I love Lakdi ki kaathi too!!!

  30. Wishing Gautam happiness and love.. 🙂 I loved the post. When I will come to Bangalore, I am going to have the cake 🙂

  31. Happy b’day to the li’l one:)

  32. Happy birthday to your little Gautam, Rachna. God bless !

  33. Happy birthday to Appleji 🙂 He ran away without talking to me 🙁

    • Mausiji, Appleji is overwhelmed with all his toys and loads of attention that he is getting today :). When you called, he had just come home from school and was in a rush to test all his trucks, planes, helicopters etc. :).

  34. Happy birthday to the beautiful child of yours!!! Such a sweet post, Rachna..one that your son will love reading when he grows up. At some hidden level, my eyes mist…it is beautiful the way you wrote it…

    • Thank you Bhavana! You have met him. You know how much time he takes to open up. But, he observes and later asks a million questions. This post was so close to my heart, and I hope he will remember these words long after I am gone. I guess we need these moments to remind us how precious they are no matter how much hard work we put in. Thanks for connecting with the sentiments. When I look back, it is these sweet memories that overwhelm me.

    • -:)-:) that was a very emotional response, Rachna–and you make me teary again…

    • Thank you Bhavana! Strangely while writing it, I felt tears welling up as well :). Emotional beings — aren’t we?

  35. MAny happy returns Gautam-live long & be happy!

  36. A beautiful post Rachna..wish your little one a Very Very Happy Birthday..he has beautiful expressive eyes..

  37. that’s a really sweet n touching post. Wishing the apple of your eyes the very best rachna 🙂

  38. Happy B’day to the lil champ !

  39. Happy Birthday to Gautam. Lovely post.

  40. That was such a lovely post!

    Belated Happy Birthday to Gautam!!

  41. Those eyes speak volumes and of course betray the mischief plots being hatched in that little head of his! What wonderful name given by a doting brother and how sweet of you to have retained it, despite them meaning the same. Give him another hug and a kiss from me when he is all of 6 years and 1 day old 🙂

    • Sure, one more hug and kiss is welcome for him :). Thank you for your warm wishes yesterday and today! And, their names to me reflect that they are two different sides of the same coin. Wish they would endow some of Buddha’s fine qualities as well :).

  42. A quieter second born? That seems different from my own experience 🙂
    Many many happy returns of the day to him. Wishing him all that is best. 🙂

  43. Aw! such a sweet outpouring of maternal love. I see a mother-child relationship as the purest. Only a mother can love her child so selflessly.

    A big hug to Gautam and may he continue to bloom with your love.

  44. how sweet Rachna ji….
    may almighty give him health and fulfill his all wishes….

  45. missed meeting the little sweet guy in blore..god willing next time..wishes always

  46. Such a sweet post. I am a little late in wishing Gautam but ‘Happy Birthday Gautam’.

    Hope he had a fun filled day.

  47. Awwww, such a sweet baby and a lovely post!
    Belated birthday wishes to the big boy! 🙂

  48. Awww, such an emotional and warm post. And that song is a perfect tribute to a child, I hope he likes it. Belated happy birthday to him.

  49. Of course he tags along with his bro. After all he was named by him 🙂

  50. He is such a gorgeous boy and I love the name Gautam (wondering how I didn’t think of it while frantically searching baby names for my own productions).

    Happy birthday to the little fellow and a very happy day for the parents too.

    • Thank you so much, Sakshi :). And guess what, when I was expecting the second time around, so desperate were we to have a girl that we had zeroed in on 3 girl names. The boy names were also written but more as an after thought.

  51. Reminds me some thing once my teacher said that u look calm but U r not 😛
    Enjoyed reading it !
    Many happy returns of the day to ur lil one
    God bless 🙂

  52. Many happy returns of the day Gautham. This is best gift he could ever get. He looks sweet in all the pics 🙂

  53. Aww… beautiful post. Happy Birthday to Gautam. And Siddharth named him? How cool is that! Love those names. 🙂
    Hugs to your beautiful boys. 🙂

  54. A very happy birthday to Gautam!

  55. Happy birthday to Gautam! It is so lovely to read how their names match and how their temperaments complement each other. Best wishes to both your babies and their proud and happy parents 🙂

  56. Happy budday to the cool dude, Gautam. Loove this priceless post and what better birthday gift from his mom. You genuinely expressed ur emotion as a mother. May they bloom together:)

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