Me and my daughter: taking one step at a time

I always told my Gynecologist – “make sure it’s a girl”. After a challenging high risk pregnancy and a battling labor, the doctor decided to go for a c-section delivery. I was thinking why did I go through 6 hours of labor then? While lying on that operation table, I was telling myself mentally – just in case if it’s a boy, please love the child as much as you would have loved your girl. And through the green curtain, the doctor said exactly what I wanted to hear.

The epidural and oxygen made me feel as if I was inebriated . But through that haze, I was excited. However in reality, I wasn’t even smiling, so the doctor came to me and said- hey it’s a girl. I gazed at her, she was confused, gave me a doubtful look and got back to her work. That day, as I lay semi-conscious, I remember seeing a very long baby, with a round full moon face, clear skin, beautiful hair, and overgrown sharp nails trying to open her eyes. I gently rubbed my cheek against her and gave her a kiss.

One boon led to a trail of challenges that lay ahead. Being the sole earner in the family, I had no choice but to get back to work five and a half months after my daughter was born. This took a further toll on my health, making me take a hard call of quitting in just a few months, pack my bags and move back to my hometown Nainital for good. After a brief sojourn at Nainital, the itch to get back to Bengaluru made me give another try in the city I call home. As soon as I landed, I started consulting for an event agency. But I always dreamt of having my own setup, and thanks to an angel investor, thatcame true soon.

Little did I know how tough lay the road ahead! Juggling high pressure work and single motherhood can literally make you tear your hair apart. I remember an incident during an event by YourStory on entrepreneurship and startups. While people were asking questions to Mr. Mohandas Pai, I reluctantly raised my hand and asked him – Mr. Pai how does a woman manage being an entrepreneur and a single mother? There was silence for a while and he said I’m sorry young lady I don’t know what to tell you.

Later Shradha Sharma, Founder, YourStory came to me and advised me to take one day at a time. I was really disappointed, because may be I was looking for some magic potion and an answer that would cure all my quandaries. But what she told me that day somewhere worked for me. There is no point in worrying about how you will take care of your child and your other baby i.e. your company. Both demand enormous sacrifices and are unpredictable and strenuous. You inhale stress, exhale anxiety. But in the milliseconds between the two, you feel pure joy – the joy of being alive and doing your best every moment. All it takes is the will to see it through and to derive joy out of the journey that unfolds every day.

Even before I founded Avant Events and Entertanment (yes it’s not entertainment but entertanment, because our Service Tax Department likes that spelling better!) work started flowing in from major liquor and lifestyle brands. As it is with me and my daughter, growth comes from loving what you do, and doing what you love – one day at a time.