Happy news from across the building!

From the windows of my fourth floor home, I always get a clear view of the fifth floor home in the neighbouring building. Over the last few months, a young girl and her husband have made it their home.

In typical Mumbai fashion, we watch happenings around their home, rather nonchalantly at times. And at times out of concern. Probably they do too! And go about their lives anyways.

A few months back, my husband noticed the girl probably in her twenties, crying away on the phone at their hall window. The next day, there was a flurry of relatives at her place. And she has not been alone ever since. At times when I am working at my kitchen, I feel happy for the girl relaxing on her bamboo swing in their living room. Her elders, probably her mother and grandma, help out in the kitchen.

`Pregnancy brings with it such delights!' I would think, and get on with my work. Between that family and mine, there is no interaction across the windows. A certain familiarity exists. And we do get concerned if we see some disturbance out there. Probably they do too. But it stays at that.

Two days back, I saw this young girl crying, walking around between the hall, kitchen and a bedroom, while a young man (probably a cousin or friend) was trying to console her, cut jokes and make things light for her. An elderly lady seated on the living room swing, would look in the direction of the kitchen and bedroom, and get back to watching TV. Not sure if she was worried or confident.

My guess: She's into labour. Her mother opened the cupboard in their bedroom and was stuffing some clothes into a bag. My own ill health and my husband falling sick in the meanwhile, kept me crouched with my room curtains closed for nearly two days after that.

This evening while I was arranging things in my bedroom, my husband ran in happily. ``You know that girl has given birth to a baby! She's holding it, and there are so many people around her,'' he said.

Wow! So she was indeed into labour the other day. And she's back so soon! ``Her delivery must have been normal! No wonder she is up and walking about,'' said my husband.The two of us reason to feel joy, although that family remains a distant canvas, a dais with a set of characters that we watch, in most ways. Through the evening today, their living room's door has been open all the time. And friends and relatives around. Flashes of camera keep the new mom busy!

Without being there for a minute, without knowing them beyond their appearances, without exchanging words with them, we know, and can feel that joy out there!

There were times in these past few months when watching her brought stupid thoughts in my head. ``If everything goes right with her and she has a baby easily, it could be a sign of good tidings for me too, despite the health issues I am going through.'' And I would pat my head for thinking so foolish!

Sometimes, happiness and happy news can flow in from across a neighbouring block, from complete strangers and with a sheer personal happy moment in their lives! In an odd sort of way, the girl and her baby have brought me...hope.