A House for Happy Mothers: A Novel by Amulya Malladi Page B

worry is really. I mean someone is taking care of your child there; it isn’t like you left it on the street. I believe that when women use surrogates they feel the need to be extra hysterical because they don’t have the baby growing inside them.
     
    Mommy8774: That is a horrible thing to say. We are genuinely upset about not being able to see our babies grow. Why are you even on this message board? This is a supportive board and if you can’t be supportive, please don’t participate.
     
    LastHope77: MummiBest24, I’m sure you didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings, but to call women who use a surrogate hysterical is truly unfair.
     
    MummiBest24: I have had two children through surrogates and I know exactly how it feels. I was worried but not crying and crying all the time. That’s just insane and this is obviously not the right message board for people with a brain and a strong disposition. You losers can all sit and cry. It’s best for you.
     
    Prietysmommy: OMG, what a bitch! Can we block this person from using our message board?
     
    Mommy8774: I’ll check with the moderator. BRB.
     
    Trying1Time: One more question. What kind of presents can I send to the SM? Should I also send something for the father?
     
    CantConceive1970: I sent big boxes with stuff. Clean underwear. It doesn’t have to be Victoria’s Secret, just good stuff from Target or Walmart. Toys for the children. Nothing too expensive, simple stuff. Things like that. I never sent anything for the husband, but it’s a good idea. It’ll mean he feels good about the whole thing, too—if he doesn’t already, that is.
     
    NobuNobi: My in-laws think we shouldn’t send the SM anything. After all, we’re paying her already. But I think we should send something. But it’s just so hard with my husband saying no all the time.
     
    UnoBaby: My friends said the same thing, but really, can we pay a woman enough for carrying our baby? I sent perfume, silly woman stuff that she can’t even dream of buying and yes, underwear, too.
     
    Prietysmommy: My SM keeps asking for stuff. I worry that if we say no she might hurt the baby. Next time we want another SM; this one is just too mercenary. We send whatever she asks for but nothing extra.

CHAPTER SIX
    Doctor Swati had a box waiting for Asha when she came for her regular biweekly checkup.
    “Priya and Madhu have sent this for you. They have called every week since they left to check up on you,” Doctor Swati said. “They have asked if you wouldn’t mind talking to them once in a while. I can set it up so that they will call here after your next checkup.”
    Asha licked her lips. She didn’t have a problem speaking with the parents, but she didn’t know what she would say to them.
    “You don’t have to talk to them if you don’t want to,” Doctor Swati said when she saw Asha’s reluctance.
    “No, no, I’ll talk to them,” Asha said, and then paused. “But what will we talk about?”
    “They might just want to say hello and ask you how you’re doing,” Doctor Swati said. “They won’t interrogate you. They’re just worried about their baby.”
    Asha nodded. “I don’t have to talk to them now, do I?” She needed to prepare herself to speak to the parents. It would probably be the mother who would talk to her. She had seemed so worried when they had met.
    “For now, just take this home with you and open it with your husband and children,” Doctor Swati suggested. “It’s gifts for all of you.”
    “But they’re already giving us money,” Asha said. “Why should they send us gifts?”
    “Let them,” Doctor Swati said. “It makes them feel like they’re taking care of their baby as they take care of you. And it’s also a way for them to say thank you.”
    Asha felt uneasy taking the box home, but she was also curious to see what was inside. Something from America, obviously, and that was exciting.
    The box wasn’t heavy, and in any case, Asha wasn’t pregnant enough