Rachna and Raghav had been married for 10 long years now. They had everything that they dreamt of - successful careers, a sweet home, a luxury car. But still they felt incomplete, incomplete because they hadn't become parents yet.;
Rachna got married to Raghav when they both had just started their respective careers. So both of them mutually decided to delay the decision of getting into the family way for a few years. Raghav was very ambitious and had equal respect for his wife's aspirations. Rachna was doing good in her job but somewhere deep inside her heart she had a longing to become a mother. But something or the other stopped them from taking the leap.
Few days back Rachna's friend and colleague Shruti declared in office that she was pregnant. Shruti was 7 years younger than Rachna. Everyone congratulated Shruti for the good news and some of their close friends also advised Rachna to follow Shruti on the same lines. Rachna was disturbed after this incident and Shruti could notice it.;
During lunchtime when everyone finished their tiffins and went back to their respective work stations, Shruti sat with Rachna and asked her why she hadn't planned a child yet. For the first time in life Rachna opened up to someone and admitted that they had been trying for a while now but hadn't been successful. She was nearly 35 and Raghav was nearing his 40s and they were gradually losing hope.;
Shruti was shocked to hear this because hers was a completely opposite story. She and her husband were just 28 and the conception had happened by mistake for them. They had considered even abortion as an option as they were married only for an year then. But somehow their families and the doctor prevented then from doing so. Shruti thanked all these people in ;her heart. Shruti ;got lost in her own thoughts and went back to work.;
Next morning Shruti greeted Rachna and handed her a visiting card of her gynaecologist who was one of the most popular ones in the town and just said "Maybe she can help you.";
In the next few months Shruti gained weight and was about to take a break from work as her due date was approaching. It was her last day at work when Rachna came to meet her and said that she and Raghav had started taking some treatment at the doctor's clinic where Shruti had suggested. Shruti asked some details and wished her luck.
In a couple of days Shruti gave birth to a beautiful daughter and friends and family started dropping in to congratulate the couple. Shruti was expecting Rachna's visit too but she didn't come. After a couple of months she met Rachna in a shopping mall where Rachna told her that they had 3 attempts of IVF treatment but all the three failed. And that now they were physically, emotionally and financially drained to try anything further.;
Shruti reached home and told everything to her husband. She was feeling ;very bad for Rachna. She went to the bedroom to change her clothes when her eyes fell on the stretch marks she had developed during pregnancy. She caressed them and thought how lucky she was to have them!!
This was the story of one childless woman. There are millions around us. Rather than judging them one should sympathise with them.;
And for the ones who are blessed to have become mothers, let's embrace motherhood with the post pregnancy weight, baby blues and stretch marks. Always remember for every stretch mark on your belly there is a woman out there who wants them but can't have them!!
Hearttouching. -Copied from a blog by Shilpa gupta.