Seema, from Ahmednagar district, had married Satish Gogate in the teeth of familial opposition in 1997. Said her father, Popatsingh Pardeshi, Seema's family warned her that Satish was a disreputable sort who would visit prostitutes. Yet, Seema eloped with Satish and tied the knot in a court in Ahmednagar, added Pardeshi.

After Bittu was born in August, Satish began falling ill and was brought to GT hospital in a very serious condition on November 6. ``The doctors say he is at the fag end of the disease, and may not survive for very long," said Pardeshi.

Seema had, by then, decided that Bittu would be put into an orphanage. But on hearing that Bittu's father was dying of AIDS, aparticular orphanage in the city refused to take the child, said Pardeshi. Seema then approached Dr Rohidas Waghmare, deputy superintendent of Cama Hospital, who referred her to the paediatric ward. Bittu was admitted there, and the doctors decided to test Seema for HIV. ``She was shocked when she was told that she was also suffering from AIDS, and at that point, she decided that she wanted to give up the child for his own good,'' added her father.

Doctors at the hospital are also testing Bittu to find out if he has contracted the virus as well. According to Dr Waghmare, doctors are also trying to persuade Seema not to give up her baby.

According to Indian Health Organisation secretary Dr IS Gilada, tests can be conducted on Bittu only after he is 15 months old. Though there are chances of the child having contracted the infection during pregnancy or childbirth, there is also a strong chance that the child might be HIV negative, he explained. Therefore, precautions can still be taken by not breastfeedingthe child, he added.

Gilada also cautioned that Seema should not give away up her child as he is not likely to get HIV by casual contact. Such persons need to be given counselling to help them understand and deal with their situation better, he felt.

Seema, though, is pretty sure of her decision. ``What else can I do?'' she asked. If it is found that Bittu has not been infected yet, then she would like him to `grow up normally', she told Express Newsline.

(The names of the couple have been changed)