On the day following the adoption, we flew back to New Delhi and I had most of the day to explore the city. (I will post more pictures from that later...) In the evening, Rebecca Walsh, the Tribune reporter, and I were invited to go along with the family as they went shopping in downtown Delhi.
Prior to leaving the hotel, I got a phone call from one of the Governor's security guards saying that Jon wanted me to come down to his kid's hotel room because Asha was asleep at the foot of the bed while the rest of the kids were watching an episode of Friends on their laptop. Not passing up this opportunity, I quickly went to their room and made a few frames. It was a nice quiet moment between the siblings and was topped off when Jon kissed his sleeping baby.
Afterwards, we all left the hotel and began walking towards Connaught Place, a central shopping/dining district in Delhi. Along the way, we passed dozens of street vendors selling everything from Indian spices, jewelry and souvenirs, to Adidas bags and knock-off Rolex watches.
As Americans, we walked through crowds of Indians and were immediately spotted and confronted by many beggars. Begging is officially illegal in India due to the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959, which makes begging in public places a crime and a punishable offence. Despite this law, beggars where everywhere and constantly bombarded us with their pleas for money. I also learned that some are "professional beggars," that work under a pimp, who sends them out and then later collects the money.
We spent a few hours shopping and then the Huntsman’s piled into an auto-rickshaw and headed back to the hotel.
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During the 16-hour flight from New Delhi to Chicago, I went up into the business class cabin and talked with Jon and Mary Kaye. Asha slept for most of the flight after they gave her a vial of mystery solution that the orphanage gave to them. When she got up, she got a breakfast of breadcrumbs and milk and was satisfied for the rest of the trip.
We landed at O'Hare at 4am and were herded through the immigration checkpoint. While we were waiting to go to the next terminal, Asha took her first steps. She wobbled as she walked from Jon to Mary Kaye, who promptly hoisted her up and gave her a kiss.
"How cool is that?" asked Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., beaming like any proud dad at the milestone. "Not only is she becoming a citizen, but she's taking her first steps."
The Huntsman’s were on a different connecting flight to Salt Lake so we said good-bye then parted ways.