Stolen motherhood: A story by Preethi Warrier

                                                                     

It’s gentle cries reverberated all around the ward as it slipped out of her, into it’s new world. She smiled weakly, the labour had been long, but gratifying.

She lifted her arms to cradle her little bundle of joy, but they hurriedly took it away. She called out, “Could I see it just once?”

There was only a stoic silence, clearly indicating their refusal. She sighed, crestfallen.

She was back home in a week, her family happily welcomed her. She held her two sons close and wept. The little ones wiped her tears, unable to fathom what had gone wrong. 

“Did we have a little sister Amma?” they queried, but seeing her copious tears, they decided to keep mum.

Night fell and her husband sat down beside her, “Please don’t be so upset, cheer up.”

How couldn’t she be upset, nine months and they had bonded for eternity. She had listened to it’s heartbeats with joy, she had rejoiced every time she felt the tender kicks, she had carried and nurtured a tiny life inside her. And now, it had been snatched away from her, as if her motherhood didn’t matter at all. 

“Moreover,” her husband went on, “Thanks to you and the baby, all our debts have been paid off. You have given a new lease of life and hope to so many people.”

She rested her head on his shoulders. Surrogate mothers did it for money, but little did the world understand. That they always gave up a part of their heart and life forever, in their journey of Substitute Maternity.