by Jay Shree

Created on: June 06, 2010

I promised myself that I'll never forget her smile. She took a peep at me, a very quick one, shut her eyes once again, and then I saw it, her first cheeky smile. It was so beautiful. Her own smile. I held her close to my chest, in that pink blanket she looked like a doll, so small yet so perfect. She turned her head sideways facing me, yawn for a few seconds and went back to sleep. It was as though she knew she was safe, she knew she was ready to see the world after her nap and she knew she was my whole world now. I lifted her head slowly and as gentle as I could, trying my best to ignore my pounding heart saying out to my ears that I am a mother now. My first baby nevertheless my own blood heritage. Somewhere in her, I sensed a part of me and I wondered if my mother felt the same about me. I lifted her closer to me and placed a kiss on her forehead, she moved her fist and lifted her chin as I brushed her cheeks.

I guess she hated being disturbed while having her nap, just like me. The first few things I noticed about her that she was indeed a heavy sleeper. There was one time, a clumsy nurse that entered my room and accidentally broke the vase that was placed beside my bed while replacing the pillows. That loud noise gave me a shock, I quickly turned to Esha, who was sleeping in my arms, worried that the sound might have frightened her and she would start crying any moment now.  But I was wrong, she just continued sleeping, she didn't show the slightest move that she was disturbed by that sound. The baby from the next room started crying the seconds after the vase hit the floor, but just not Esha. I recalled the time my mother shouted at me for not picking up the phone when it rang although I slept at the couch right next to it. When I woke up, I told her that I didn't hear anything ring, and all she said was,” You are like your Dad.”

I giggled thinking of how my dad's habits were passed down to me and now little innocent Esha has inherited it. From the time the doctor allowed me to cuddle her, I never left her out of my sight. It was as though she had some sort of magic that kept me enchanted to her. Her little palms were always covered by the little fingers and I loved placing my thumb into her palm and watching her grip my thumb tightly. Morning after morning I would wake up before the sun rises, just to peep into a cradle and see if she's awake. I remembered cuddling her and talking to her, telling her how adorable she was and asking her when would she start opening her eyes and smiling to me again. The nurses at the hospital told me it was normal for all first timers to get that feeling of joy when they cuddle their newborns, but I was more that joyful that time, I felt happy that heaven had blessed me, that someone up there is smiling to the both of us.

Learn more about this author, Jay Shree.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.