My heart is full.
The day started differently from how it usually does. I woke up early, at 5 a.m. Not that I am a morning person, but we had a flight to catch at half past ten. The little human beside me was still dozing off soundly. I swiftly reached for my phone to set an alarm, hoping to catch a few more minutes of sleep.
But to my surprise, the munchkin had his big eyes wide open and an even wider smile enough to melt my heart. What a beautiful way to start a hectic day, I thought.
My eyes turned to my support system, who was lying on the floor next to me. He had woken up hearing our munchkin’s little giggles. Though he has never been a morning person, he woke up just to grab a few more minutes of playtime with his mini version.
I hurried for a quick freshen-up followed by a cold shower, handing my little Krishna to my mother-in-law. The noises of the other family members could already be heard. Velyachan, my brother-in-law, and a few others were keen to squeeze the little one with love.
I heard the vessels banging against each other as Velyamma was busy preparing breakfast and lunch for the whole family. Ammooma was strolling around, heading towards her morning ritual of washing clothes. That’s her unending love for washing clothes.
I was all dressed up and decided to bid goodbye to Achan.The area was covered with yellow petals, as if they were smiling. Achan must be watching. I was sure Achan was listening.
As I started conversing with him, tears rolled down my eyes. Words could barely express how hard it is to accept that Achan is no more. I am not yet ready to accept that the person who always kept checking on us is not available anymore.
Ammavan and Ammayi came to drop me at the airport, as neither my better half nor my brothers could join us because they had pooja at the same time.
In a great hurry, I had three pieces of steamed banana and a glass of milk that Velyamma had prepared for me.
I bid goodbye to one family member after another.
The baby was crying because it wasn’t his usual time to wake up. The car door closed, and my check-in bag and carry bag were stacked into the vehicle. The trio ; my husband, his brother and Kuttu Maman (that’s what the baby calls him) stood in front, waving their hands and trying hard to keep a smile as the car started moving.
My heart was heavy.
Too many thoughts rushed into my mind, and I was unable to process the moment. The little one stopped crying as soon as he was held by me. I knew he was sleepy. I started patting him gently as his little eyes slowly began to close.
The car stopped at the airport departures terminal.
As I started approaching the door, pushing the trolley, I could hear my heart beating a little faster. It had been a while since I had travelled alone, and this was my first time travelling with my three and a half month old infant. I can’t remember the last time I travelled without my husband. I’m so used to switching off my brain and simply following his lead whenever he’s with me.
As the baby had slept in the car, he was hungry by then. Before checking in and getting the boarding pass, I searched for the feeding room.
A woman from the Emirates team appeared out of nowhere to help me and guide me to the room. The lady asked another tall gentleman to take care of us once the baby was fed. After feeding, I was guided to the priority lane for check-in.
By then, the baby was comfortably resting in his carry bag.
The duo appeared like a kangaroo mama and baby as we walked towards immigration clearance. Everyone was attracted to the little human hanging in his mama’s carry bag.
Immigration and security checks were cleared quickly, and it was just 8:25 a.m.
We had enough time to stuff something into my hungry stomach.
I took the escalator and walked towards the lounge, which read Earth. I was welcomed and seated near a glass window. Flights were taking off in front of me.
Oman Air took off, and it was raining heavily as I stared through the large window big enough to be called a door.
Was it Achan’s way of talking to us?
Maybe he was saying, “See you next time,” I wondered.
The staff were attracted to the little human and came to play with him, asking for a chance to hold him. Though I am a very protective mother, I allowed them to hold him.
That wide smile was the reason everyone was attracted to this little munchkin.
I had a masala dosa followed by a piece of cake and tea.The baby started giving hunger cues, and I fed him again.
A woman noticed that I was struggling while closing my bag and came running to help me. She even asked if the mama bear had everything she needed in hand : water, biscuits, any other snacks? Mama bear smiled and thanked her.
I walked towards the resting area of the lounge.
It was 9:25.
Boarding started at 9:50.
I called my husband, and by 9:35, I descended to reach my terminal. The gate was open, and I was welcomed aboard.
I noticed a medium-tall gentleman sitting next to me as I tightened my seat belt.While the baby was fussy and cranky at times, he helped me with a blanket and made sure I was comfortable. I thanked him.
When the flight landed in Dubai after four hours, my shoulder bag felt heavy with the baby in my arms. The same person helped me get a buggy.
To my surprise, during the security check in Dubai, one of the security staff themselves took me to the next gate to catch my flight, which was about to take off in less than an hour.The tall gentleman took my bag, helped me clear everything and dropped me at the gate.
While the flight from Dubai to London was taking off, I realised something. My gold chain which I couldn’t remember whether I had worn or left at home was nowhere to be seen.I started panicking.(This is a whole other story to be narrated in another blog.)
Alexandra, a lady from Emirates, introduced herself to me. Seeing the baby and me travelling, I could read the empathy in her eyes.
From bringing the bassinet for the baby to offering to hold him when she noticed that I was exhausted, the Emirates staff were undoubtedly the best.
Now, you know what?
Where does the baby go when mother needs to poop?
Yes.
Not ready to leave her baby alone, the mama bear took her baby with her to change his diaper and ended up pooping herself too.
Sounds awkward, but that’s exactly how it was.
After about seven and a half hours of travel, the flight landed at London Heathrow. Almost 13 hours of travelling with a baby, I wondered how I was even still standing. I was knackered by then.
I could feel the ache in my arms and legs, but somehow, a mother finds strength she never knew she had.
As I moved outside, pushing my trolley with a carry bag and a check-in bag, with my baby on my shoulders, a woman walked past me and said:”You are a very strong lady, Mama.”
I smiled. Am I strong enough? Maybe yes, maybe not. But one thing I know for sure, I’d do anything for my baby.
