THE GAMES TWO SISTERS PLAYED
(By Subbaram Danda)
Kusum entertained grand desires. She wanted to live like a princess. Her lifestyle should be the envy of everyone around. She was prepared to do anything to realize her dreams. Just 25 years old, she wondered how some of her neighbours had overnight become rich. When would she strike gold?
The realities of her current position were starkly different. She was the wife of an ordinary farmer in a village near Delhi. She had a mother-in-law and a one-year-old boy to look after. A small tiled house, a three-acre farmland and a few head of cattle were all they possessed. She was a middle school drop-out.
Kusum’s elder sister Rashmi was lucky. She was ravishingly beautiful. Captivated by her looks, a rich businessman’s son had married her. A chartered accountant, he was a partner in a leading auditors firm, which had offices in all major business centres of the world. He headed the Dubai unit and took her there with him. Rashmi’s letters and photographs of her lavish ways of living added fuel to the fire of Kusum’s aspirations.
Tower of delights
When Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building at 2,723 feet, came up, Rashmi’s husband purchased a swanky residential suite in it and moved in there. She invited Kusum to spend a week with her and arranged for her travel documents and tickets.
Kusum was thrilled at the opportunity of visiting one of the wealthiest cities in the world. For the first time in her life she boarded a plane. From Dubai airport she was driven to her sister’s home in a six-door limousine. En route the sight of innumerable skyscrapers in incredible shapes made her feel she was in a world of fantasy.
She spent a full day savouring the delights of Burj Khalifa. Its 160-plus storeys, extensive architectural embellishments, posh restaurants, fitness facilities, azure swimming pools and dancing fountains amazed her. She was awe-struck by the Dubai Mall, a part of the Burj complex with over 1,200 outlets for shopping, entertainment and leisure activities. The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, twin attractions of the mall, featured a long acrylic walkthrough tunnel providing incredible close encounters with the marine species and a rendezvous with rare denizens. The high-speed elevators of the main tower were themselves marvellous. As she entered one and moved up whisper-free, its floor-to-ceiling glass walls all around enabled her to take an awesome view of the city’s landmarks, the desert and the sea. At the observation deck at level 124 called “At the Top” she walked along its entire perimeter and felt she was on top of the world. In the night from her sister’s suite at level 100 she could view sparkling lights of the buildings below and the twinkling stars above.
The sights and thrills
Rashmi and Kusum spent the next few days sight-seeing. The famous mosque in the Jumeirah area and Burj Al Arab, the luxury hotel with its unique sail-boat architecture, were picturesque. Shopping at the “City Centre” mall, Gold and Spice Souks was a memorable experience. The night cruise on the Dubai Creek, a major salt water channel that divides the city, in an ornately-crafted sturdy Arab boat with dinner thrown in, proved a fantasy trip. The “Desert Safari,” a roller-coaster drive in a four-wheel land cruiser up and down steep sand dunes, was excitingly spine-chilling. Watching the spectacle of the sun sinking below the desert horizon amidst fiery colours in the sky was exhilarating.
On returning to her village, Kusum became doubly determined that she should do something to change her fate. She wanted to uncover the secret behind the riches of her neighbours, but they would not oblige her. She decided to tap her friend Leela living a kilometre away, who had also made millions within a few years. She was only five years older than her.
Rolling in riches
One evening Kusum walked to Leela’s house, an architect-designed compact but elegant bungalow with a nice garden. After sipping tea in a silver cup Kusum broached the subject. Her friend was helpful. “It is all simple. But you should have grit, determination, patience and confidence.” Moving closer to her, she whispered a lot in her ear. Kusum was flabbergasted. “Fantastic,” she exclaimed, “it looks like a mantra to roll in riches. I am sure I can also do it.”
Next day Kusum told her husband: “I want to take some burden off your slender shoulders. I am going to get lucrative work in Delhi, thanks to my friend Leela, who has recently become affluent. Let the mother-in-law take care of our child till I come back.”
The man was aghast. She did not disclose to him her real plans. She just told him, “I will let you know everything once I settle down there. I seek your co-operation.” The next day Kusum left for Delhi carrying a letter from Leela.
The far side
In Dubai, Rashmi and her husband led a happy life, each caring immensely for the other. Every now and then they went on a holiday. They visited all the constituents of the United Arab Emirates and almost every country in Europe. Rashmi could not have asked for more.
However, one problem tormented them. Though they got married several years ago, they were childless. They consulted a leading lady doctor of Indian origin specializing in fertility matters. Tests and scans disclosed no physical abnormality in either of them. She referred Rashmi to a psychiatrist. After some personality and attitudinal tests, he subjected her to counselling. The first two of five sessions were of no consequence. During the third one, when he was making a suggestion, she screamed, “Oh, no, I don’t want to conceive. I hate getting pregnant. I am mortally scared of carrying and the process of delivery. That is why I have been skillfully avoiding the advances of my husband during those vital days in a month. I love him alright.” The remaining sessions failed to produce any impact on her.
The psychiatrist’s report provided details of Rashmi’s confessional outbursts on her attitude towards pregnancy and how the conselling sessions proved futile. It shocked and angered her husband. But he kept his cool. The psychiatrist recommended further intensive treatment. However, the fertility expert provided a different perspective. She advised them: “You don’t have to despair. You can have a baby biologically born to you two. But it will be carried and delivered by another woman called a surrogate. To use the modern terminology, it is outsourcing pregnancy. If you opt for it, how it actually works will be explained to you at the hospital performing the procedure.”
She pointed out: “For several high-flying women this is currently the preferred mode of begetting a baby, though they and their husbands are perfectly fit physically. It is like getting one’s own child by placing an order. Their reason is simple – in this fast age, when they are occupying top positions, they don’t like going around carrying for ten long months. In fact, it is slowly becoming the fashion of the day!”
Most desired destination
The doctor continued: “This is one of the miracles of modern medicine. Surrogate pregnancy has several variations. The first surrogate birth, a baby girl, was reported in the United States in 1986. Since then thousands of births have taken place globally. In India the first one was in 1994. In recent years the country witnessed rapid progress and is now the most sought-after destination for couples worldwide opting for this procedure.”
The two listened to her carefully. She went on: “According to an unofficial estimate, about 1,000 fertility clinics in India out of a large number have developed expertise in surrogate procedures to assist child-seeking couples in this way. More than 2,000 surrogate births take place every year. It is currently a highly flourishing industry. Anand, a town in Gujarat, has acquired the reputation of being the surrogate capital of the world.”
The specialist, however, warned them: “One should be very careful in choosing a clinic for the purpose. Bogus advertisements and touts are aplenty. There have been dreadful failures and untoward developments. If you are interested, I can refer you to a renowned hospital in Mumbai, where the doctors and the staff are really capable and truly devoted. Without any hassles, you will have your own sweet baby delivered to you. But be prepared. It is expensive, though significantly cheaper than elsewhere in the world.”
The procedure
Without losing much time, Rashmi and her husband visited the Mumbai hospital recommended by the Dubai specialist. After going through their medical reports and subjecting them to new tests, a senior doctor told them: “In your case it is going to be what we call gestational surrogacy. Under this procedure, sperms of the husband will be fused in-vitro (in the lab) with the eggs extracted from the wife. When a fertilized egg becomes an embryo, it will be placed in the womb of a surrogate, who has already been screened and prepared for the purpose. She will go through the full course of pregnancy.”
The doctor explained further: “The surrogate mother will stay in our residential homes for better monitoring. She will get necessary food and medicines, including vitamins and nourishing supplements. Her own children can stay with her and her husband can also visit her periodically. She will sign an agreement that after delivery, she will hand over the baby to the biological parents.”
About expenses he said: “We have different packages, which will cover doctor fees, test charges, costs of mother’s accommodation, food and medicines, delivery and legal expenses. You can pay the amount in installments also. A high rated package will ensure a high level of comfort for the surrogate. You pay nothing else.”
He continued: “We have on our registers about 100 would-be surrogates, all medically and psychologically screened. You can meet and choose any one of them. If you desire, we can also suggest the best woman suited to you.”
Confidentiality sought
Rashmi and her husband opted for the most expensive package of Rs.15 lakhs. Half of it would go to the surrogate mother and for her upkeep. They wanted the doctor to select her. She could belong to any religion or caste. Even after the delivery, they would take care of her interests. Money was no constraint for them. They would meet her at the time of taking delivery of the baby. Rashmi’s husband was particular that the matter be kept a closely-guarded secret, as he did not want to expose his wife’s reservations on pregnancy at least for a while. They stayed in the hospital only for the days of the procedure involving them and then rushed back to Dubai.
When they received reports that the entire implantation process went off well and the surrogate mother was making good progress they felt jubilant. They sent clothes, gifts, sweets and flowers to her.
Two days before the projected delivery date, Rashmi and her husband arrived in Mumbai. Early in the morning on the predicted day, they received a call that a baby girl was born to them. “The infant is very healthy, cute and charming. The mother is also doing well. She is waiting to meet you both.” Their joy knew no bounds.
The climax
The two rushed to the hospital. The resident medical officer led them to the room where the surrogate and the baby were resting. It looked like a cosy suite in a star hotel. They entered the inner enclosure and what they saw there stunned them. The surrogate mother was none other than Kusum. She was also shocked.
For a few moments they kept looking at each other in disbelief. Then smiles lit up their faces. Kusum kissed the baby, as tears swelled in her eyes, and handed it over to her sister. The little one appeared to smile oblivious of the mysterious ways of the world around.
The next day Kusum disclosed to her sister what all happened. “In my anxiety to become rich at any cost, I applied to this hospital’s branch in Delhi to be a surrogate mother. After extensive tests they accepted me. They also called my husband and got his consent. I stayed there waiting for my turn. Within a fortnight the chief doctor asked me whether I would be interested in moving to Mumbai for a surrogate pregnancy. I was their choice because I had everything they were looking for. I accepted the offer as the terms were very attractive. Immediately I shifted here, though my own child remained in the village. My experience here has been very pleasant. The rest is history.”
Soon, at the invitation of Rashmi and her husband, Kusum and all members of her family relocated to Dubai. One day, while fondling the baby, Kusum crooned, “I am very lucky. My dream has come true sooner than expected.” The baby smiled back as if refuting her claim. The little beauty appeared to convey, “I am the luckiest. I am enjoying the care and love of two mothers!”
September 15, 2012
(2,190 words)
