It took five years, but two young sisters from India, now reside in Newtown with adoptive parents Ashni “Baba” Kumar and Priya Trivedi.
"I am so, so thankful for everyone in our local community who kept me emotionally afloat through these years. We had a kind of a village going until the girls came home," says Priya. "To watch them living here, and being very socially happy, makes it and the drama all worthwhile."
The sisters, Arya and Riya, 18 months apart in age, are both presently 11 years old. Priya states there's no formal, organized foster care system for youths in India. After she took custody of them during 2020, she says she took turns with her mother and sister as caretakers of them physically in India, based from a rented apartment. That level of care meant many trips back and forth between the two continents, and Ashni also stayed with them for two months in India.
Priya's story as an adoptive parent certainly is one of love, perseverance, anger, negotiation, heartaches, discipline, networking, strategy and persistence. She says she felt left in 'no man's land' plenty of times. But as iconic musician, songwriter, activist and Outlaw Country music pioneer Willie Nelson is fond of saying: "Don't take no for an answer. Keep going. A winner never quits. A quitter never wins." And, Priya refused to let Arya and Riya not be granted a life of love, opportunities and safety.
After exhaustive gathering of documents and navigating protocols in India, one day before Mother's Day, Priya says she was told her entire file of records was rejected by Indian officials, with no reasons cited. "I had to hire two different attorneys. Eventually, our entire years' of work had to be redone all in three months," she states.
"It was hard not to get mad, but I didn't give up. I've been living in the United States for 21 years. But, several times during the ordeal, I considered moving back to India permanently," she recalls.
She thought things were straightened out during September 2024, but again the process stalled out. It got delayed after Priya received word from US Immigration staffers that they needed original documents all over again to secure birth certificates and passports in her name as the girls' parent. "I woke up every day, working on this."
Finally, her tenacity and determination came to fruition. "The day after this past Christmas, I got an email from a US Embassy representative that the adoptions had been officially approved. It was the best Christmas present ever in my whole life!" she smiles.
However, even that positive news took five more months of intense effort, given that the sisters' birth certificates and new passports needed to be taken care of.
These adoption-related setbacks over such an extended period took their toll on Priya and Ashni's restaurant business. They currently are attempting to reorganize their restaurant operations and get back to typical lives of hard work, family plans and education for their daughters.
"We're trying to find our new footing. I appreciate our entire Newtown community holding us in their prayers and well wishes," says the new mother of two fortunate preteens.
By the way, during this same time period, Priya saved two blind horses, 14 bunnies, three cats and 23 dogs. She says she dreams of starting an animal sanctuary one day in the future; no doubt to continue offering a safe haven to all those who need a buoy and a kind-hearted advocate in life.
Chef Ashni “Baba” Kumar and Priya Trivedi own Guru’s Indian Cuisine in Newtown currently as a “takeout only” operation. While 203 N. Sycamore Street had been their location for 10 years, Priya says it became increasingly difficult to secure refinancing needed to maintain that physical location. They're pursuing new financing.