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Baby ‘brought family closer’ ((Names have been changed) Nina Martyris | TNN Mumbai: On the warm summer evening of April 23, 2007, Gordon and Florence D’Souza drove carefully from a suburban orphanage to their flat in Mulund, with Florence cradling the newest member of the D’Souza family. They christened her Mallika, because “Mallika means princess and she is the princess in our family and will always be treated like one,’’ says Florence. For the 40-year-old double-income couple—Gordon works on the rigs, Florence is a web master—adoption was something they had always considered, and so, after trying for a few years to have their own child, it seemed the most natural thing to adopt one instead. “Initially, the other family members had some reservations,’’ says Gordon, “but once we brought her home, all that changed.’’ Florence adds happily, “Everyone, my mother-in-law, mother, sisters, brother and Gordon’s family have been extraordinarily supportive. In fact,Mallika has only brought the family closer.’’
HOUSE RULES The age difference between the child and adoptive parents should not be more than 45 For NRIs: No relatives can be adopted—only abandoned children No adoptive parent can be over 55 years India does not allow gays or lesbians to adopt Couples with up to three children can adopt Families may choose the sex of the first child. Two adopted children can’t be of the same sex Couples must be married for at least five years. One divorce each is allowed The biological mother has two months after giving up the child to reclaim him/her Courts have two months to approve the adoption |

