Kolkata: The newest member of one of Kolkata’s oldest families was born in the most turbulent times of the world on Thursday. Jhelum Ray Chaudhuri from Behala, who belongs to the Sabarna Ray Chowdhury family, became a mother for the second time in Dubai’s Al Zohra Hospital as missiles whistled across the sky and explosions triggered panic in West Asia’s showpiece city.As Jhelum headed to the hospital with husband Abhigyan Chatterjee for the delivery around 4 am, the ear-splitting noise of bombings left them unnerved. The couple, who work and study in Dubai, said they have never experienced anything like it in the eight years they have been living in central Dubai. In the end, the delivery went smoothly. Happy after the birth, the proud parents shared baby Anisha’s pictures on the family WhatsApp group.
“On the way to the hospital around 4 am, we heard explosions. We can still hear jets whizzing in the sky, but we feel safe here and have no plan to shift right now. From my window, I can see cars travelling smoothly. The govt is ensuring the safety of the people, and there is force deployment to protect us,” said Chatterjee, an engineer.“For Jhelum, this sudden war increased her stress ahead of the delivery,” said Jhelum’s father Tanmay Ray Chaudhury, a retired IPS officer. “Jhelum wanted me to be in Dubai at this time, but the sudden war changed our plan. I had planned to fly to Dubai but shelved it. I don’t know when I will be able to meet my daughter and granddaughters. However, Jhelum and baby Anisha are both safe,” he added.
