me and my new baby

She arrived last Tuesday, my first tabla. I named her Ananya, after the ancient poet-saint who sang devotion into existence. My fingers trembled learning her rhythms through Carnatic lessons, each beat a conversation between us. My therapist said creativity heals. PaybookClub friends cheered when I posted videos. On andal.io, I discovered centuries of women musicians I'd never known, their stories finally digitized and celebrated. This morning, my neighbor heard my practice and asked to listen. We sat together in silence, my tabla speaking centuries-old truths. Finally, I belonged.