My daughter was a few weeks old when a friend dropped in with her child and nanny. As my friend sat cooing to the baby, her nanny started chatting with me. Within a few minutes she asked me when I was planning a second baby. My pregnancy and delivery traumatized body actually shrunk away in horror from her words. I laughed and said I wasn't even sure if I would have a second baby! Before I knew it she had scooted near me and told me in no uncertain terms not to be foolish. According to her if I didn't have a second baby (read son) then who would I leave everything to? I didn't know whether to be shocked or amused but told her I would leave it to my daughter. I can still still see the look of horror on her face. She told me in no uncertain terms that daughters weren't supposed to be left anything to, they belonged to their husbands. When I asked her what if my second baby was also a girl she said so keep having till you produce a son. She apparently had 4 daughters and h
The ringing of the phone cut into Aadya's concentration. She sighed in irritation, she so wanted to finish this portion of her thesis before Ankit came home from school. "Hello? Yes, this is Aadya. Oh hello, Mrs. Gupta. Really? Today? Oh wow. Yes, yes, of course we will be there. Give us a couple of hours please. Thank you!" Aadya hung up in a daze. It was happening. It had taken five long years but they had finally got a call. She couldn't believe it. With trembling hands she dialed her husband's number. "Sunil? Its me. We got the call. They want us to come as soon as possible. I'll ask Papa to pick up Ankit. How soon can you pick me up? Perfect. I'll be ready. " Sunil and Aadya were married since 2007. They had been blessed with a baby boy Ankit who was now seven years old. One of the main things that had cemented their relationship was their shared desire to adopt a baby girl. They both felt very strongly about issues of gender discrimination