Meeting with the Department of Women and Child Development

We were instructed to be at the Adoption office by 11:00, and we were. (We were actually early; I had wanted to have the driver stop at the phone kiosk to discuss the SIM card issue with the owner, however, it was closed.) So we waited. And waited. And waited. LiJun discovered a bird's nest with babies and watched the parents feeding them. Office workers came and went. A sweeper lady came along and swept all the trash into the courtyard. Then she went into each office and emptied the trash cans into the courtyard. Meri and I walked up and down. LiJun got bored watching the birds, and discovered that it was hot. I woman walked up and asked if I was the mother of Vindya. I said yes, and she walked off. More people came to wait and pushed us further and further down the bench. Someone set up a display of photos of happy adoptive parents, and instructions on how you, too, could add joy to your life by adopting a child. LiJun melted down. A man came and raked all the trash in the courtyard into a large pile and wandered away. We waited. Finally, we were asked to come into the office.

Once in the office, we were given chairs on a platform, which was at least air-conditioned. Then we waited. Meri played Angry Birds on her cell phone. LiJun sulked that I wouldn't let her run down the battery on my cell phone. I stared at the ceiling and wondered why I hadn't brought my e-reader. We waited.

Eventually, a lady came over to talk to us. One of the office workers jumped up to put out a chair for her, and she introduced herself as the assistant to the director. This is one of the names Deb gave me, so I was pleased. We chatted, and she said that we could not take Vindya. If we had asked yesterday, they would have prepared papers for today. I tried to explain that we did ask, and she just kept going, talking over me. She said that we would have the court date on Wed., and that in one week we would get the written order. It would be better for us to stay in Hyderabad, as things would be smoother. One week is MUCH shorter than I had been led to expect, so I was delighted. She asked if we had spoken to the lawyer. I said no, we didn't have a phone, and the lady yesterday said that she would be at this meeting. Much discussion in Telegu (this was all happening in one big room, with the other workers at their desks around us), and Mrs. A. told us that she would have someone call the lawyer about meeting with us in the afternoon. She suggested that we visit with Vindya again, as it would give the judge a good impression. Then she left, asking us to wait. So we waited.

After a very long time, Mrs. A. came back and said that she had talked to the lawyer, and she did not want to meet with us today. She would meet us tomorrow. She also said that, because the court has been on vacation the last six weeks, there is a large backlog and no telling how long we must wait. I asked about taking Vindya with us out of Hyderabad. She asked where we might go, and I suggested we might visit the Taj Mahal. Much discussion, and she finally said that we could do this, but we must take Vindya back to the orphanage while we were gone. I said that I would not go, but stay here with Vindya. However, everyone seemed fixated on the idea that I was leaving.

I was given a piece of paper and pen, and asked to handwrite a letter to the director, requesting custody of Vindya after the court hearing. They wanted my phone number, and I repeated for the 500th time that I didn't have one. I explained, again, about the bad SIM card, and there was much more discussion in Telegu. Finally, I was told to write down the hotel phone number and my room number for contact information, but it was clear that this wasn't a good option. They kept asking how many days I wanted to keep her, and I kept saying until her passport was issued. I finally figured out that they meant how many days until I went away to the Taj Mahal, and explained that I wouldn't go if Vindya couldn't. Much more discussion in Telugu, and they finally told me to write that, if I were to leave Hyderabad for any reason, I would return Vindya to the sisuvihar. I am actually somewhat curious to see if I do get custody today.

I asked several times what I need to bring to the court, and she told me several times that I don't need anything, they will bring everything. I'm curious to see if that is correct, as well. We were told to be there by 10:30, no by 10. I asked where, and there was much more discussion. I asked if someone would call Ganesh and tell him, as he would pass it on to whatever driver we have tomorrow. Mrs. A. asked the lady who was with us yesterday (the one who said that she would file the paperwork so we could take Vindya today) to do it, and she was visibly annoyed. I gave her the number, and she and another lady argued a lot. When it was time to leave, I asked for my notebook back, and asked if she had called. She had not, because there was no reason to. I asked her to write down the address, and she, still annoyed, wrote down "Family Court, opposite Circle Office, Secunderabad." And again, I'm curious to see if we make it.

Then we went to the sisuvihar, where they told us that we would need to wait, because Vindya is eating lunch. Rather than wait, we went out to lunch. We also went to a grocery store, where we bought lots of candy, anti-itch cream, and some bottled water. Then we went back to the sisuvihar.

After a few minutes, Vindya came out. She was in another cute dress, and delighted to see us. We gave her the candy, which she was happy about. Some of the candy came with little toys, that she and LiJun put together and played with a little. She was happy, but not really focussed on us. The doctor and nurse were there, and several babies and young children had been brought in to see them. There were also other children hovering at a distance, watching us and whispering her name. She would run to them, and hand them candy, toys, or whatever, and then run back. We took some pictures, and then she ran back into the back with the other girls. (Note to Deb: the curtain was open and the corridor goes all the way to the back of the building. It was empty, except for cubbies built in along the wall (where Vindya and company were stashing stuff). There were several doors opening off, but we couldn't see into them. I didn't have the nerve to follow her down there. Sorry!)

The documentary filmmaker was there again, and we chatted a bit. He has spent a lot of time in the US, and asked that we call on Saturday, and on Sunday he will take us on a tour of the countryside, the real India. Meri and LiJun will be gone by then (if any of my plans work out, which at this point I don't expect), but I think that Vindya and I will go.

Then we went back to the hotel. We spent a lot of time stopping at banks, until someone finally told me that I need to go to a foreign exchange to cash travelers' checks.

For dinner, we decided to go to a restaurant at another local hotel, listed in Meri's guidebook. It was super fancy - there were armed guards checking the car inside and underneath for bombs, and everything was absolutely gorgeous inside. The restaurant was on a patio by their private lake, and served traditional Hyderabad kabobs and other local specialties. It was wonderful, and we enjoyed it all. LiJun and I were almost asleep by 7pm, but Meri was wide awake. I can tell that she usually travels in more exciting company.