Everyday is a Miracle...

Jun 1, 2010

In the final days of pregnancy one can see the baby’s features and movements. Now and then you see a limb. Sometimes, you see the bulge of the head. I used to tap my wife’s pregnant stomach. Just like that; for no particular reason. For the baby, mother’s womb is like a swimming pool; most of the nine months it swims alone, in the darkness, unaware of the external world. 

One day, when I tapped, the baby kicked back. It realized that there are life forms on the other side. Subsequently, much to my wife’s annoyance, the baby would respond like a dolphin at the show – with much vigor and enthusiasm. It liked the attention. 

The baby doesn’t have a sense of time. Sometimes, in the wee hours, it would start kicking, in anticipation of a response. 

“You have spoiled her even before she is born,” my wife would complain. Her due date was around my birthday. This was a coincidence, not a planned thing. I don’t know if one can really plan a delivery date. 

My daughter and I were destined to share the same star signs; hence, possibly, similar characteristics. This alarmed my Mother – another difficult person in the family - she concluded. “I wish she would be exactly like you,” she chuckled, “that will make you realize the pains you had caused!”

My wife got admitted to the hospital one day before my birthday. I begged her all along: “Hold tight for one more day!”

That annoyed her. “You are crazy!” she said.

“I had warned you long back,” said my mother-in-law. 

Mothers-in-law, around the world, in spite of cultural and geographical differences, are the same: they are just great! My mother-in-law brought many interesting things from India, including but not limited to, a medium sized bottle of Parachute oil, 3 bottles of Gripe Water, a giant snuff box, a dry coconut-shell, a tiny Kajal box, a framed picture of Saint Anthony, 5 bars of Medimix soap, Dabur Chyawanprash, Iodex for black shirts and MOVE for white shirts - any one of these items could have got her into a lot of trouble at the airport. An intelligent person, with all these items, can make a crude bomb. My Mom can make a bomb out of all this – she is an intelligent person.

“Why the coconut shell?” I asked.

“To bathe the baby!” 

Life before the child

My mother used to say - instead of having a son like me she would anytime prefer not to have children at all. I am her third favorite child: she has 3 children. If she had 10 children, my position would have been 10th. I was a difficult child. Our neighbors compared their children with me and considered themselves lucky. I am mortified by the thought that my daughter would grow up to become my replica! I myself won’t approve a child like me!

However, having a bad child is any time better than not having children. In fact there are no bad children, only bad parents! How about that? I wish someone would tell that to my parents. 

Like everything else in my life, the child has arrived late. I had a long child-less period that was the worst period of my life. Accidental sex before marriage leads to pregnancy and well planned sex after the wedding leads to nothing! This is the law. People ate my brain so much that I had developed a phobia for people. Unlike animals, humans have emotions and language skills; equipped with these superior skills, humans are in a position to cause substantial harm. When the casual talkers realize you don’t have children, they suddenly assume the role of an authority on child-bearing. They give you a lot of unsolicited advice. I have patiently heard all these suggestions and thanked the morons. It is amazing how, in a casual conversation, people ask the very questions that hurt you the most. I guess, we all have a subconscious urge for other people’s misfortune. Germans have already invented a word for such a thing – Schadenfreude!

To avoid people, I spent much of my time at the office; and made my boss’ life miserable by constantly pestering him for more work. On Fridays, I would go to my boss and ask: “Do you really mind if I come to work in the weekend?”

I had so much free time, I used to read all the comments of every article on Daiji: only the comments not the articles! Comments are more interesting than the articles! There are morons whose only purpose in life is to oppose whatever the articles have to say. 

D-Day

There are two types of men in the world: those who were present in the delivery room at their child’s birth and those who were not. Being in the first category I am now a changed man. 

As I mentioned before, my wife was admitted to the hospital one day before my birthday. I prayed to God, and to my wife (who is also my God) to delay the delivery by one day. I was restless till midnight. At 12, I let out a sigh. Once again, I prayed to God, and to my wife (who is also my God) - This time not to delay any further. 

Finally, my daughter was born at about 2 am. We share the birthday! It’s the greatest birthday gift. I was born in the wee hours too, however, I don’t know the exact time. Last time when I asked Mom, about the exact time of my birth, she said: “What? Are you a celebrity now - to remember all the intricate details?” In fact I don’t have a birth certificate. Sometime back, the hospital people burned all the old documents. “There is no space for patients!” the hospital management had declared. They faced the painful dilemma of opting between patients and paperwork. With great reluctance and pain, they opted to get rid of the paperwork, although, they would have been equally happy, to get rid of the patients! 

Over the period, not having a birth certificate has put me in many difficult situations. In the US, when I applied for a driver’s license, the man across the counter said: “For the record, without a birth certificate, you don’t exist!”

“I have a passport and 15 other documents that confirm my date of birth,” I said.

“I agree! But you don’t have a birth certificate.”

“I have a passport –”

“Sir! Without the birth certificate there is no proof of your existence.”

“Is it not proof enough of my existence that I am standing in front of you in flesh and blood and conversing in human language?”

No matter how hard I tried, I could not convince the automaton. This reminds me, I have never convinced anyone in my life – not even my daughter – who is barely 3 months old. 

Since I was in the delivery room, I was one of the first ones to see my daughter. I have often observed, people compare babies to parents or grandparents. At these times, often, I have failed to see the remotest resemblance. However, I must say, when I saw my daughter for the first time, I was awestruck by her uncanny resemblance to me. She was a miniature me! My bonsai. My zip file.

Most babies are born with eyes closed, which they open only when some moron introduces them to Sponge Bob - after that they seldom close their eyes – they become a part of the idiot box. However, from the very beginning, my daughter’s eyes were open. She looked around with great curiosity. I stared at her: she stared back with a penetrating look. I am not used to blank stares. This is probably what Nietzsche meant, in his famous and most mis-interpreted quote: “When you look into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you.” 

Did I just misinterpret Nietzsche? 

After the birth, the baby was taken into to the nursery. That gave us a few quiet hours. I was awake for 18 hours at a stretch; so was my wife. Only at this time we could take a nap. When I woke up, it was still dark outside. In the dim night-lamp I saw my wife sleeping. She was relaxed and content; all the labor pain was gone. 

I tapped her shoulder. She hardly raised her brows.

“Do you need anything?” I asked.

“Hm?”

“Do you need anything?” I repeated the question. 

“I want to check my e-mail,” she said. 

After the child birth

We have named the baby – Ria; Already people have told me, R-I-A is a wrong spelling; others have found it - uncreative, non-Catholic, too short, too common, run-of-the-mill etc. If I may, I want to kindly remind these people that this is my child and I will name her as I want. 

Since she is born in the US, she is a US citizen. She needs a visa to visit India. In fact she is the first US citizen in our family. We already have other anomalies: gays, transvestites, alchemists, dormant CIA operatives, former SS members, Knight Templars, Yakshagana performers, suicide bombers, unpublished authors (you know who), etc. If the US ever wages war on India, then the father and daughter would find themselves on opposite sides. In this case, I might say, in the lines of Aristotle, who had said, in a similar situation: “Plato is dear to me, but dearer still is truth!”

Only a few months before the child, I was seriously thinking about getting retired from the corporate rat race and settling down in my small town. I was thinking of opening a small shop near my home. Probably a Xerox shop, with a coined telephone at the entrance, some popular magazines for sale and SIM-cards at a concession for college students, etc. 

But the baby’s arrival has sky-rocketed my expenses. For the first time in my life, my monthly savings is in negative. The delivery cost is more than my wedding cost plus my parents wedding cost! Insurance is supposed to cover all the expenses. However, insurance companies hire some of the smartest people on the face of the earth. They find every loop-hole not-to pay the money. One needs to be a genius to understand how insurance works in the US. Einstein, who was in the US for sometime, could not understand it; frustrated, he took refuge in something simpler – and developed: The theory of relativity.  

I have become a paranoid after the baby’s birth. I drive in the slowest lane, 5 miles under the limit – lower than that would be a traffic violation! People, over speeding in the adjacent lanes sometimes show their disapproval by honking – Illiterates, I presume. The speed doesn’t give you much leverage - unless your destination is the Moon - in which case even a small rise in the speed would make a great difference. 

In Mangalore there is no speed limit. The Mangalore-Udupi express buses travel at the speed of light. I avoid these space shuttles; however one time I could not. I boarded at Mangalore, paid for my ticket, and was about sit down and relax – we reached Udupi international bus stand! 

When I got down from the bus, I felt lighter, felt younger, more energetic, my watch was showing an old time, and the 50 Rupees note that I had given to the conductor was still in my pocket. All this happened because of Einstein’s stupid theory, that says, if one were to travel at the speed of light he would actually travel in the past! I had never believed in this bogus theory till I experienced it first hand. 

Sometimes, these Mangalore-Udupi space shuttles, veer from their orbits and kiss the innocent bystanders – a mortal kiss! A couple of traffic signals, at regular intervals, should suffice to check this intergalactic speed. However, so far no important person or a politician has received the deadly kiss. Action will be taken immediately after such an incident occurs. Mangaloreans are waiting patiently – like the wait for Godot. 
 

Everyday is a miracle

It is the fulfillment of some kind of a Murphy’s Law that the most complex project of my corporate life and the baby has come at the same time. Everyday, how I juggle a balance between the baby and the office work is a mystery, a wonder, a small miracle. 

Every baby is different and difficult. For outsiders babies are cute and angelic; however, managing a baby 24/7 is a nightmare. Babies have their own mind and space. They like the attention and exploit it. Just when I remove her soiled pampers, she proves me wrong. This is crazy; happens all the time. She wakes up at all hours. Sometimes, she cries long for no reason. On one such occasion, I tried everything, nothing calmed her down, till I accidentally played – Hips don’t lie. Nowadays whenever she is restless I play the same song that calms her down. The song, Hips don’t lie, is by Shakira, not by Emily Dickinson. Hence, there is no room for subtleties. The song means exactly what it says – I am hot tonight, my hips don’t lie! I am yet to meet a woman, who would say – she is hot and her hips won’t indicate otherwise; definitely not a Mangalorean woman. My daughter’s liking for this song has scared the hell out of me. No father, including Shakira’s, would want his daughter to be that candid! I am fine as long as she doesn’t understand it.

My wife, before the baby, had several short term goals: exploring Mexican underwater caves, a picture with Dalai Lama, bungee jumping, para-gliding, salsa, saving dolphins in Japan, controlling my weight, saving tigers on Facebook etc. Recently, upon asking her latest interest, she said: “The only thing I want in life is to sleep for 8 hours at a stretch.” Such is the change a baby has brought in her life. It’s like resurrection. 

Having a baby is addictive, though. As soon as you have one, immediately, you feel like going for the next one – resulting in Irish Babies. Since I have a baby - at the grocery store, I can avail the parking spot nearest to the entrance. At airports, I am now eligible for priority boarding. People will offer me seats in buses! All these little perks make a baby worth it! 

In a few weeks, my wife has become super efficient in handling the baby. She can hold the baby in one hand and operate a chainsaw with the other. I can not do that. I am very scared to hold my daughter. She is so small and fragile. Before holding my baby, I need to switch off the mobile, mute the TV, take the pressure cooker off the stove, role up my sleeves, tighten my belt – only after this I can hold Ria. 

In between there were some magical moments. The other day my daughter saw her first rain. So much water! That amused her. Looking at the mirror, she thinks there is another baby on the other side. Toggling the power switch on/off, and the effect that creates on the distant lamp, raises her curiosity. She giggle and laughs, while bathing – she doesn’t know, yet, that she is supposed to cry. I remember as a child I too was amused by all these simple things. But then my Mom put me in a school.

The whole baby business has freaked me out. I am on cloud nine. I am on Empire State building. I am on Pisa tower. I am in Taj Mahal. I am in Malgudi. I am in Shangri-La. I am in Atlantis. I am in Ideal-ice-cream parlor – oops! That was not required. But I am a Mangalorean. I am so happy I may just commit suicide. I have never been crazier before. If I continue typing I may write nonsense. I guess I will just stop here.

Ravi Lobo - Archives:

By Ravi Lobo
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Comment on this article

  • Namrata, Mangalore

    Thu, Sep 13 2012

    Hi Ravi,
    Lovely writing, I enjoyed every word of it. Especially your mom's reply "are u a celebrity" wen you asked for birth certificate :) Keep Writitng more:)

  • Vinod, Mangalore

    Thu, Jun 24 2010

    Great writing Ravi... My daughter is 1 year 3 months... You took me through the journey I went through!.
    God bless Ria baba..

  • Vincy Pinto, Angelore/Dubai

    Mon, Jun 07 2010

    Hi Ravi, I took time to read, its diffrent... took me USA to Ullal Sankda Ache (Mangalore)-Vincent(FB)

  • Estragon, Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 07 2010

    Great send of humor Ravi and excellent unexpectations ! Keeps the reader glued.. !

  • Anita, Kinnigoli

    Sun, Jun 06 2010

    Hello Ravi,

    Very good writing. Ria is a lucky gal to have these precious moments captured. And we the readers are happy to read these wonderful moments. Congrats to you and Reema. I wish you were publishing a weekly / monthly bog, am sure you'll have lot of followers.
    In addition to what Renjith has mentioned, liked:
    ...opening a small shop near my home

    ...Mangaloreans are waiting patiently – like the wait for Godot.

    ...Udupi international bus stand!

    ... I am in Ideal-ice-cream parlor

  • Marvin, London

    Sun, Jun 06 2010

    Simply loved it. A great sense of humor I am allready a fan of Ravi

  • Elaine, Mangalore/Bangalore

    Sat, Jun 05 2010

    Hey Ravi.. Amazing.. you got a great sense of humour.. I liked your description about Mangalore-udupi buses.. ha ha.. Have a great time with baby Ria..

  • Arjun, India

    Sat, Jun 05 2010

    I agree with Sis, "The only thing I want in life is to sleep for 8 hours at a stretch"

  • Nisha lobo, karkala/Manglore

    Thu, Jun 03 2010

    Hellooo Ravi dattu..
    First of all congratulations on arrival of l'll angel Ria. How i came across ur article is that i found ur surname as "LOBO".. And it was a beautiful article i ever read, very pleasing n relaxed my mind amidst my revision holidays..It was the first time i came across ur article n i read it in one stretch.
    All the best and GOD bless Ria..
    Hope to see ur next article soon..

  • jane veigas, mangalore/KSA

    Wed, Jun 02 2010

    Nice article,your sense of humour is amazing,keep writing. Waiting for your next article.

  • vinod kumar, mangalore/dubai

    Wed, Jun 02 2010

    a author said "A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for".

  • Joyer Noronha, Kinnigoli

    Wed, Jun 02 2010

    Dear Ravi,
    Your article has sprinkled cheerfulness which we all badly needed.

    Thanks for sharing those touching moments and feelings.

    Article has come up too well,

    Best Wishes

  • D M D Souza, Bantwal

    Wed, Jun 02 2010

    Your experience & penning it, reminds me of the things & incidents in my life too. I would exchange any treasure to have these bundle of joys. I like your articles & wait for some more very eagerly, wish all the best for Ria & u all.

  • Khalil, Bhatkal/Dubai

    Wed, Jun 02 2010

    Dear R Lobo - I called my teen girls and asked them to read this article. They said it is fascinating and encouraging.He (Lobo) made writing so, simple easy , full of fun. They again asked why he is not wrting a novel if he has not written one so far. It makes us move along as we go on reading. They asked me to tell him that 'we God wiilling follow suit ( in line with) they also thanked you.

  • Krismorty, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 02 2010

    Excellent article,Ravi.
    You must not confine yourself to articles,must write novels.

  • Ronald, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 02 2010

    Nice article. When Ria grows up she can read all her dad's articles to know all about the past before she was born.

  • Anita Dsilva, Mangalore/Dubai

    Wed, Jun 02 2010

    CONGRATS Ravi on the arrival of baby RIA. Another Hilarious article from you....I just loved it and surprisingly these days my husband too waits to read your articles.

  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 02 2010

    Better try for the next baby at calculated pace, maybe which will collide with your wife's birthday. For your advance information the baby is at its best when she is of crawling/walking period. She will be like an entertaining robot and a great deal of de-stressor. With a girl child your wife will get an opportunity to dress her in different outfits. May God bless ‘Aishwa’-Ria and her humorous family.

  • Shalini Jane Fernandes, Pamboor/Dubai

    Wed, Jun 02 2010

    Congrats for having Ria.......good name.Your article was good,really i enjoyed reading it.

  • sabeeya, Udupi/Dubai

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Congratulations Mr.Ravi.Lovely Article.I had a broad smile on my face through out the article.The most cutest article ever read.Please keep writing.And Loads of love and blessings to RIA.

  • Susan-Veigas Lobo , Kadri, M'lore / Canada

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    That was indeed a beautiful aricle! It gripped me till the very end.

  • Herbert Joseph Menezes, Barkur

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Congrats Ravi. Nice article.

  • Pranathi, Bangalore

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    congrates on this happy moment. nice article. i enjoyed a lot, exspecially the before marriage sex and after, :-)

  • Cyril Fernandes, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Ravi - Your article 'Every day is a Miracle' is an interesting read.

    Your wife a complained: 'You have spoilt her even before she is born' - How she knew that it's a girl before delivery?......!

  • Ram Kumar, Hyderabad/Singapore

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Ravi,Hearty Congrats to the proud parents on arrival of Ria,Though I was not there in the labour room when my wife deliverd,I was on cloud nine when I heard the news ,I call daughters as DD(Darling daughters),enjoy your parenthood

  • Caroline Saldanha, Bangalore/Bahrain

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    I AM reading an article by you for the first time Ravi. It brought back loving memories when i became a parent for the first time seventeen years ago. I must tell you, kids will fascinate and teach you lessons at avery stage of their growth. My son now leaves for university and i can feel my heart strings pulling! Congratulations on your new arrival. Enjoy all time that you can spend with her. God bless the parents and little RIA!

  • Shanti Lobo, Bondel/Cambridge

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Today I told my husband that I need to read Ravi Lobo’s new article, fist thing my husband asked is ‘Has his wife delivered???’  I said, I don’t know, I need to read and see… and indeed, its all about your wife’s delivery and your new born!!! Well written article, enjoyed a lot… It reminded my son’s childhood…still he is a child (6yrs)… Even he loved ‘Hips don’t lie’ (in 2006)… not only listening, but also watching !!!! Thank God, now he has started to listen Wilfy Rebimbus’ songs …. akong with Lady Gaga (to be frank, I don’t know who is she)….


    Wish you happy days ahead…enjoy your parenthood… it’s a treasure.

  • adshenoy, mangloor

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    That is R.I.A (Ravi In Agony) Correction please. Congrats again.

  • Vasant, Mulki/Dubai

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Ravi, Congrats for your lovly Ria, You are great Ravi.

  • Ida d'souza, kinnigoly/usa

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Congratulations Ravi. Are you still in QUINCY, MA? I saw you at a party in chelmsford 2 years back for nativity feast celebration but learnt that you were from kinnigoly after you both left. I had read some of your writings on daijiworld. You write great articles, keep up.
    Ida Dsouza.

  • Smitha Mascarenhas, Mangalore/Dubai

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Hi Ravi, first of all congratulations on arrival of your daughter. From now on both of you will celebrate the birthday together and save cost....I know she is 3 months of age but she must be teaching u lot of things which a school doesn't teach you. Nice article!!!! it is the first time I read your article in one go and enjoyed it. Aha!!!!! There will be one human being on this earth who will be blushing and furious at the same time because you turned her hot foot tapping pop number into a lullaby....yeah...its Shakira...but truly a baby's hips never lie.

  • Preethi, Mangalore/Abu-Dhabi

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    I really enjoy reading your articles not only this but even the earlier ones. When you asked your wife to postpone her delivery by one day, I remember my husband asking me to deliver on weekend so that he need not take leave. Like your God (wife) granted your wish, I too could not deny the humble request by my husband & I had delivered on weekend. God (wives)never make their believers sad!!!!

  • adshenoy, mangloor

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Ravi Congratulations . R-I-A( Ravi An Agony). Correction please, you are in US and its OUR baby. Everything 50/50. Right?

  • jessie dsouza, mangalore/japan

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    That was a mind blowing article Ravi. even my daughter too was curiously looking around soon after she was born. She is 7 months old now. Have great time with your little bundle of joy.

  • Rexon, Mangalore/Chicago

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Hey Ravi I just enjoy reading your articles. Please do keep writing.

  • Dr v.fernandes, Kirem/Dubai

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    congradulation Ravi,for having baby Ria as your B'day gift.Sincere wishes from Drs Fernandes& fly

  • Robert lobo, Mangalore/Kinnigoli

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    After reading the news about a plane crash, a train mishap, a bus accident with so many deaths and injuries, I was aghast with some sort of sadness and depression,and was afraid to open a TV news channel fearing for some very bad nasty news, and then as a blessing I happenned to find this article of yours, which, in a way cured my fear of confronting the bad news.

    By the way "Hips don't lie " should have been played while Reema was in labour pain, or did you did that allready. Well Love You All.

  • Cdr GP Mallya (retd), Kinnigoli/South Korea

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    This article had me in splits. Though I too have been through the same cycle long time ago (20 years to be precise) I think I could not have put down as succulent as Ravi...the thoughts...the experiences they just flow out from his pen like magic..Fabulous indeed ..as the little Ria grows up...you will definitely have many more occasions to tickle our funny bones...the best part of it is that you still find time to write this piece despite balancing the other two Rs and your office...Keep up the good work...we love you for such super contributions....We wish to Ria to grow to be the apple of your eyes and a deserving daughter to deserving parents....

  • Santhosh, Kateel/Caribbean

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Ravi, nice article. Wait for another year, people start asking the same again! Only one child?

  • Sona Alva, Karkala

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Accidentally I had read one of your article one day during my planning period. I think I never read anything so clever from an Indian after "The God of little things". I am yet to read Adiga's White Tiger. After I read your article, I ransacked the whole archives and finished reading all your articles and was rebuked by my chairperson for missing the afternoon meeting. I have been looking for your article ever since and it has been so long since I read anything from you. There has been a swamp of pickpocket writers. Sometimes its just a pain to read those articles and more so the comments always having the communal tone.

    I liked reading your article today. Excellent humor, neat thought flow, clever references and wonderful storyline.

    Congratulations!!!

  • Reshma Lobo, Kuwait

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Dear Ravi, I really enjoyed reading ur article....and liked it too.. Congrats for having a cute lil daughter Ria... and keep writing...

  • Ibrahim Karani, Shiroor/Dubai

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    very good article....i liked it...and i couldnt stop giggling...!!!

  • Priyanka Kamat, Dubai/Australia

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Excellent article, well said. Even My husband went through same sort of experiences and emotions when my son was born. You have spoken my mind. article is Very hilarious, witty and well written. God bless your baby and your family and keep entertaining us with more aticle like these.

  • Anitha, Cascia, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Dear Ravi, First off, Congrats on your bundle of joy...your article makes an interesting read, there were a phrase or 2 that caught my attentione BUT and a capital But on that, if you do want to pursue writing, i suggest you do a crash course on writing. You seem to have deviated form your original intent of writing(the birth of your baby) on more than one occassion. Your mention of your life in the US and resulting citizenship...your birth certificate? thanks for the info. but what does that really do tou your story of Life being a miracle?
    i do believe you have about 3 different articles in this one piece....yeah, i'm a moron...but a very good one at that.
    Congrats again....in the end...i quite enjoyed the article for all its flaws:)

  • Ivan , Kuwait

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Wonderful article. Congratulation, since long time i was waiting to hear from you. You are really a very good writer

  • Dr. Sharu, Riyadh/B'lore

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    ............gosh..... whose is this guy dude....this fellow is an epitome of humour...am flattered pal....i think we are on same wavelength n our frequencies for sure match...am looking out for a girl of this humour n frequency for marriage dude..for sure if ur were a gal i would have definately cajoled u into divorce n married u straight off ....i think precisely nothing prevents us from going ahead with the set plan i guess...wat u say... think abt it......hahaha...long live...

  • Kareem Kalmata, Riaydh /KSA Bandiyodu

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Another good article from Ravi ..
    started with humourous note.. made me read interestingly .. very realistic picturization when Ravi explained ...I was thinking of opening a small shop near my home. Probably a Xerox shop, with a coined telephone at the entrance, some popular magazines for sale and SIM-cards at a concession for college students, etc.
    ..... Waiting for the next one Ravi ji !

  • Clevin D'Souza, Pangla / Dubai

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Excellent article. Your sense of humor is amazing. Keep writing. I never miss reading your article.

  • Eddie Sequeira, Mangalore / Doha

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Once again an article full of humour. Dear Ravi, may your first God bless you, your second God and baby Ria. May all your Gods' allow you to write more so that we can enjoy, have fun reading them and writing comments. We need more writers like you so I am praying. may your daughter grow up to become your replica!

  • Sara Rasquinha, Mangalore/UAE

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    As always, totally loved your sense of humour. I cant seem to stop laughing... very well written. looking forward to your next story...
    and like a typical mangalorean let me say "my blessing to ria"

  • Glenn Vaz, Thottam/Dubai

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Intresting article! Congrats Ravi! you made my day.....you took me back in 2007 when my daughter was born. We both share the same zodiac sign.... went through similar experiences (but instead of Shakira's Hip's dont lie, it was sharukh khans "Om shanti Om"). By the way, I'm yet to find some of the answers. Keep writing....Cheers

  • nandeesh, mangalore

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    wonderful article Ravi,plain and simple yet very vivid..there was smile on my face all throughout,keep writing :-)

  • Anitha dsouza, Bantwal/ Abudhabi

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Nice article,i liked it.

  • Robert Fernandes, Udyavar / Dubai

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Hi Ravi,

    Very hilarious article. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it in one go, keeping aside all other works. Nobody writes like you do for sure. You have a fantastic sense of humour. Keep writing more.

  • Renjith P Sarada, Trivandrum / Bahrain

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Ravi Lobo, excellent article. Firstly, congratulations on the baby news.

    I am so happy to have you as my friend. I liked many, especially
    1 - "Accidental sex before marriage leads to pregnancy and well planned sex after the wedding leads to nothing! This is the law"

    2 - “The only thing I want in life is to sleep for 8 hours at a stretch.” Such is the change a baby has brought in her life. It’s like resurrection"

    3 - "Before holding my baby, I need to switch off the mobile, mute the TV, take the pressure cooker off the stove, role up my sleeves, tighten my belt – only after this I can hold Ria"

    and, more.

    Keep up the good work. Please do visit www.renjithps.blogspot.com once in a while.

    Best Regards,
    Renjith

  • Anil Pinto, Mumbai/Abu Dhabi

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Ravi, you have a knack for writing - I really enjoy your articles - in fact everytime I logon to Daiji I search for a new article from you.

    ( Just to let you know, I don't wish to be on the morons list since I've nothing to oppose about your article - only applaud it :)

  • Akshatha, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    One of the cutest n craziest article. I started my day by reading this and am damn sure that my day will go super fine. Thanks Mr. Ravi for this all the best to u n ur wife. Have a great time with ur kid......there's more to go!!!!

  • Anuradha, Mangalore/Bangalore

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Congratulations Ravi..!!! Its always nice to read ur articles..! Keep writing..!

  • Antony Herbert Crasta, Mangalore/Sydney, Australia

    Tue, Jun 01 2010

    Simply wonderful and enjoyable article by you Ravi Lobo! - you made my day! I was laughing throughout and nearly fell off my chair, going through it, when you vividly described and narrated the advanced pregnancy situation of your wife, and the birth experience of your first child. You are really a character indeed, Ravi, - a witty, hilarious and comical, I am not sure though, whether you are describing your actual situation or it`s just a fiction!. All the same, the delivery process of your first born baby girl reminded me of the birth experience of my own first baby boy, way back 35 years ago, when my wife went through the prolonged hard labour for almost 12 hours, which I witnessed patiently, sitting all along her side, with patience and anxiety, but ended up with joy in the end, -and that day I prayed to God not to bless me with another child to be borne with such difficulty and hard labour, but thankfully, giving birth to the second child by my wife, which we decided that we will have after two years, was like eating a peace of cake, so easy and smooth!. Anyway, back to your first born, once again, I laughed the way you described when your child cried, how you played the song `Hips Don`t lie` by Shakira, to calm her down, and she stopped crying!. All in all, it is a great experience to have the first born - the happiness,joy and the thrills the new born brings along, it`s altogether different and unique,and I wish you Ravi, your wife and your new born happy days ahead.

  • Pearl Fernandes, yedapadavu/dubai

    Mon, May 31 2010

    Wonderful article Ravi,it just felt like you were talking to us...couldnt stop giggling.

  • Vijay, Bangalore

    Mon, May 31 2010

    Dear Ravi Lobo, I started reading this article but I was not willing to finish it. But I couldn't stop reading until I finished reading it completely. You are crazy and the way you have framed this aricle makes you good writer. Thank you for such a nice article and keep writing.

  • Arshad Banu, Udupi/Dubai

    Mon, May 31 2010

    No,I am not going to oppose your article,just wanted to say that I dont even know you,but I seem to relate to everything that u wrote(does that make me a moron???)But I cant ever imagine putting it down so interestingly on paper(or computer).Yes only thing I would change is the Ideal ice cream part...It would have to be Diana for me!!!In short a very nice read...thanks for making my morning!!!

  • Diana Jyoti Noronha, Mangalore

    Mon, May 31 2010

    One of the craziest article i have come across, thanks for making me smile.. Congrtas bro for having a lovely daughter.May God Always bless u and ur family.


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