Pritesh Dave, 37, never had Lady Luck on his side because most women he met turned down his marriage proposal because he didn't work for the government. At the age of 35, he became aware, that he might not be able to realise his desire of having children because he had missed the life milestone of getting married. Not ready to give up on that, Dave started fertility therapy to become a single father. This time, Lady Luck was on his side, and this self-employed, Class 12 pass bachelor became father of twins - a boy and a girl - early last year.
Infertility specialist Dr Parth Bavishi of Bavishi Fertility Institute said that Dave is one of the last few men to have achieved these feat months before the new surrogacy law came into force. “According to the new rules, surrogacy is not allowed for single men, women, live-in and same sex couples,” said Dr Parth.
Dave divides his time between Surat, where his parents reside, and Bhavnagar, where he manages a Grahak Seva Kendra for a nationalised bank. "I know I got lucky as now a singleton like me cannot even qualify for surrogacy," he adds.
Dave says that his children Dhairya and Divya have become the life of his family. “Despite my genuine efforts, my parents were disappointed when I was unable to obtain a girl's hand in marriage. However, the arrival of the twins has filled our house with joy,” says Dave who spends hours playing with his children in the morning and evening. He says his mother is his pillar of support in raising his babies. “I may not have a life-partner, but I have got my family for life. This is the biggest blessing,” says Dave.