Sailing Together

Raina sat cross-legged on the double bed in her dimly lit room. Her two-month-old baby was sound asleep under the covers.  Her elder daughter, Sanya, was out with her father at her classmate’s birthday party. 

‘Sleep when your baby sleeps is what people say.’ Her mind raced back to when she had managed it all single-handedly with her firstborn. But this time, things were different. Now, they were a bigger family. They had a larger apartment. They had more space, which meant more tidying up and more maintenance.  ‘How did the older generation manage six - seven children?’

Just then, Raina’s phone flashed a notification from an old college friend, Hannah. 

Hannah: ‘Hey! How are you holding up?’

Raina: ‘The face recognition system on my phone has failed because I look like such crap,’ 

Hannah: ‘Hahahaha, believe me. Wait till you see me,’ 

Hannah’s selfie picture depicted a messy mom with a straight, haggard, tired face. Her shaggy eyebrows and dark circles were prominent. She had an upside-down smile plastered on her face. 

Raina: ‘If it makes you feel any better, I look even worse. I just want to take a nice hot bath. I smell of sweat and baby puke. Mira has done nothing but spit up milk. It has taken me three hours to settle her down. I’m exhausted.’

Hannah: ‘I’m drained.’

Raina: ‘I’m overstimulated.’

Hannah: ‘I’m overwhelmed.’

Raina: ‘I can go on…’

Hannah: ‘Sometimes I feel that along with the pregnancy, a mother needs to grow six arms so she can handle a hundred things at a time,’ 

Raina: ‘That would be too much for my brain to handle! I would just rather clone myself. Imagine four of me. One for my husband, one for the elder one. One for the baby and one for the endless haunting house chores.’

Hannah: ‘I desperately need a vacation.’

Raina: ‘I can’t imagine going on a holiday with the kids. I’ll go mad. At home, I have everything under control. At least, I think  I do. The thought of packing for the entire family scares the hell out of me.’

Hannah: ‘I was talking about a vacation alone, silly!’

Raina: ‘HAHAHAHA! You’re funny, as if that would ever happen. But wait… maybe we can go for a vacation together when the kids are older. Leave them with the husbands, and off we go.’

Hannah: ‘We should go to Goa and relive our college days.’ 

Raina: ‘Dude, you remember that night we went to our usual adda. On our way back, some jerk had parked his car behind us, and we couldn’t reverse. We couldn’t find that stupid guy for hours.’

Hannah: ‘I honked like mad that night. I’m laughing so hard right now.’

Raina: ‘That was one crazy night.’

Hannah: ‘Oh… we’ve had many crazy nights.’

Raina: ‘Remember your birthday?

Hannah: ‘Ohhhh…. That was one of the best birthdays. My house was such a disaster the next morning.’

Raina: ‘The house party was your idea. You were a hot mess when you woke up. If I close my eyes, I can still picture your home. It was so, so, soooooo pink! You had everything pink. Pink walls, pink scooty, pink clothes, hell, you even had pink dishes.’ 

Hannah: ‘FYI… many things in my life are still pink. I’m sure Sanya likes pink.’

Raina: ‘Duh! How’s the highness doing… the elder daughter?’

Hannah: ‘Naomi. Wait, I’m sending you her video. She’s such a drama queen!’ 

Raina: ‘I’m sure Naomi gets it from her mom!’

Hannah: I’ve not slept. Barely two hours. I’m so tired.’

Raina: ‘Then go to sleep.’

Hannah: ‘I can’t, man. Naomi is pissing the hell out of me. Her tantrums are at the next level!’

Raina: Who does her hair? I just saw the video. She is so you… it isn’t funny! And how the hell do you make her hair stay put? When I do Sanya’s hair, it lasts an hour and then boom!’

Hannah: ‘ME and water!’

Raina: ‘Wow!’

Hannah: ‘I want to cry. I’m going to lose my shit!’

Raina: ‘I cried this morning if it makes you feel any better. You aren’t alone. We’re in this together.’

Hannah: ‘Naomi is asking why I’m grinning at my phone. I’ve set up the playmat for Naomi to look after her little sister. I never knew she would be so in love with Rhonda.’

Raina: ‘Hahaha! Let’s see how long she can manage Rhonda. You know I love you… but I have to go. Hang in there.’ 

Just then, Raina’s husband, Vaibhav, walked through the door with Sanya. She was high on chocolate cake and all the sugary items from the birthday party.

‘Hi darling,’ Raina beamed tiredly at her elder daughter. She opened her arms and embraced her close. ‘How was the party?’ 

‘Oh, Mumma. It was fantastic!’ Sanya grinned, jumping up and down, clasping her hands together. 

As she continued to ramble about every tiny detail, her husband interrupted her and said, ‘I’m stepping out for a bit. I’ll be back soon.’ 

‘Wait, where are you going?’ Raina asked. 

‘I’m meeting the guys,’ he smiled sheepishly. 

Raina’s eyes followed her husband as he walked out of the house. She nodded her head in dismay and returned to the bedroom to check on her little bundle. Thankfully, the baby was still sound asleep. Sanya freshened up and made herself comfortable in front of the idiot box. It was her TV time. Raina grabbed her phone and soon picked up where she left off with Hannah. 

Raina: ‘Why do the husbands get to have all the fun?’

Hannah: ‘Because we are women. Because we are mothers. Because we are caregivers. Because we are… 

Raina: ‘Ok… ok… I get it!’

Hannah: ‘What’s up?’

Raina: The husband has gone out with his friends, obviously. It’s Saturday night. Does Alfred help you out with the kids?

Hannah: He does. He tries really hard. The other day, I told him to buy diapers on his way back from work. Poor guy was so confused he bought size M. I asked him… what have I given birth to a baby elephant?’

Raina: ‘This is hilarious. Are you serious?’

Hannah: ‘I couldn’t stop laughing. But on a serious note. I can’t manage without Alfred. He slogs at work and is so hyped to look after the kids when he comes home. I don’t know where he gets the energy from?’

Raina: ‘When I see Sanya and Vaibhav, I think of me and my dad.’ 

Hannah: ‘The father-daughter relationship is one of a kind. Lots of crazy fun and lots of love.’ 

Raina: ‘Vaibhav has been a huge help with Sanya, especially with bath time. Oh, that is such a daunting task. Sometimes, I feel I have produced sloths. She moves in slow motion.’

Hannah: ‘Sloths? Are you referring to your children as sloths?’

Raina: ‘It’s true. You should see them.’

Hannah: ‘I disagree. Knowing you and your speed, you have high expectations. You’re too fast for them.’

Raina: ‘Am not!’

Hannah: ‘Wait. Why are we still texting? Let’s do a video call?’

Raina: ‘Oh yeah! Why didn’t we think about that earlier?’

Within seconds, the two friends switched to a video call. They shrieked loudly after seeing each other after such a long time. 

‘Dude! You look so messed up!’ Raina giggled. 

‘I told you,’ Hannah replied, grinning ear to ear. 

‘Show me the kids. I want to say hi,’ Raina. ‘I wonder what they should call me.’

‘Hmmm.. AUNTY!’ Hannah said. 

‘Aunty! The word itself makes one feel so old.’

Hannah’s daughter, Naomi, stared at Raina. She didn’t say hi or hello or utter a single word. She looked at her face as her mother urged her to say something. 

‘No point,’ Hanna said, taking back the phone. ‘Why don’t you go and get the puzzle Nana gave you for Christmas?’

‘Okay, mommy,’ Naomi replied, getting off the playmat and running to her room. ‘Keep an eye on my little sister. Rhonda is sleeping.’

‘I will,’ Hannah replied, continuing her conversation with her friend.

‘I found it, Mommy!’ Naomi announced excitedly, running back to the playmat. 

‘Slow down, sweetheart, you might fall.’

Just then, there was a loud thud followed by a loud wail. 

Hannah dropped the phone on the sofa and rushed to Naomi. Rhonda woke up with a start and began to howl. 

‘Hannah… Hannah! Is everything alright?’ Raina asked, gripping her phone tightly. 

‘Oh my god! Are you okay?’ Hannah asked, taking Naomi in her arms. Naomi’s loud cry was painful and worrisome. 

‘Hannah!’ Raina called out again.

‘She’s bleeding,’ Hannah shouted. 

‘I hit my head on the table,’ Naomi howled, unstoppable tears rolling down her face. ‘It hurts!’ 

Hannah swooped her daughter off the floor and placed her on the mat next to her baby. 

‘How bad is it?’ Raina asked. 

‘I don’t know. I don’t know what to do. There’s a lot of blood,’ Hannah panicked. 

‘Mommy, it’s hurting,’ Naomi said, holding her head. The sight of blood on her hands frightened her and made her cry even more. 

‘How bad is it?’ Raina asked. 

‘I don’t know what to do,’ Hannah said, trying to think of a quick solution. 

‘Put ice. Put ice immediately on Naomi’s head and hold it there,’ Raina said. 

‘Okay… okay,’ Hannah replied, holding back her tears. 

Hannah quickly placed a bag of ice on Naomi's head. The poor little girl let out a louder scream, howling and crying. 

‘I don’t want this. It hurts. It’s too cold.’ 

‘Hold it there,’ Raina insisted. 

‘The blood isn’t stopping,’ Hannah said. 

‘Take her to the emergency.’ 

‘How? I don’t have my car.’ 

‘Call your neighbor. She’s always ready to help you with the kids.’

‘Yes! I can call Mrs. Liew. You’re right. I’ll talk soon.’

In due time, Hannah entered the front door with both her daughters. Naomi had a bandage on her head. She had four stitches and was put on painkillers. Thanks to Hannah’s helpful neighbor, Mrs. Liew, Rhonda slept through the drama. 

‘You let me know if you need anything,’ Mrs. Liew smiled. ‘Don’t worry. Kids do crazy things all the time. My kids are all grown up. Both are studying abroad. Before, they always needed me to be at their beck and call. And now they just call me when they have the time. They are too busy in their own lives.’

Hannah looked at Mrs. Liew, imagining herself in her shoes. She gave her a tight hug and thanked her for all her help. Mrs. Liew smiled and headed across the hall to her apartment. 

Once Naomi was tucked into bed and Rhonda was sound asleep, Hannah finally had the chance to look at her phone. She wanted to update Raina, knowing she would have been worried. She sat down on her sofa and unlocked her phone. She had already received several texts from Raina. One of them read,’ 

Raina: ‘Sweetheart, this isn’t the last time you’re going to be overwhelmed, or tired, or drained, or exhausted. I feel we’re just at the beginning. But we have to enjoy the little moments of motherhood. Everyone keeps telling me they grow up so quickly. We have to let their cute little smiles seep in and remember them. My heart feels so full and so warm when their small hands wrap around my finger. I feel that I win the war when my little ones recover from the flu. And that moment when they see you in the morning, and their faces light up? And that cute smile they give you when you call their name. Oh, and seeing the love and kindness the older one shows the little one is just heartwarming.’

Hannah smiled and closed her eyes. This was exactly what she needed at this moment. She replied to her text, ‘Sailing together.’