Author: Shelja Alawadhi

  • The pursuit of happiness

    The pursuit of happiness

    …….The happiness of giving!

    Looking at his father, the son Avium and his wife Ayesha were surprised. But after some time, Ayesha asked her father-in-law to be with them for a while and to have lunch with them. What was the reason behind this?

    Avium was the only child of their parents. His father worked hard to give him the best education and made all his efforts to make him settle in the new city after getting the job. Avium mother died due to kidney disease and his father was left alone in the home after his son moved to the city. Avium married Ayesha and they both had a son named Ritvik. Ritvik is 6-year-old and study in a very costly school. But his father never moved to the city. He stayed in the village only all alone.

    Avium’s father used to live in a village. He lived the simple life. He used to work in a post office but was retired a year before. So, he spends a lot of time in his fields looking for crops. He was a farmer.

    Avium and Ayesha worked in a bank and altogether earned a lot. They lived in a 3BHK flat in a very posh colony. They were rich. They had air conditioners in all the three rooms. They had two lavishing cars which used to drop and pick from their homes to banks. But Avium’s father used to go to his work by cycle.

    Often Avium’s father used to visit city to meet his son and daughter-in-law. He used to share the happy and unhappy moments with them and sometimes give them advice too. They also used to share sad and happy moments with their father.

    But from the past one year, he was very stressed due to crops that he planted in his fields. Monsoon was not good since the past two years so the crops didn’t get enough water. Therefore, he was not able to harvest them. He spent a lot of money and hard work in farming but all went in vain. Due to this, he was not able to meet his son and daughter-in-law from the past one year.

    Suddenly one day he went to the city and decided to visit them. He reached their home and asked them about their health and wellbeing.

    Avium and Ayesha both were on cloud nine when they saw their father was in pink spirits of health and was completely fit. But after a while, they both were stressed and were in a tension thinking that again their father had come for the losses in his money and could ask for money from them because his crops were destroyed due to the seasons.

    “It is by God’s blessing we are earning good amount of money. But we also need money, we also have stresses in our lives, we also have problems. We have taken the car loan, house loan, loan for higher studies of Ritvik and his EMI’s” said Ayesha in a very low tone.

    His father after listening all this went to the washroom to take a bath so that he will be fresh after travelling so much. He came out from the bathroom and sat on the chair of the dining table. Avium was sitting beside his father and was sad. Avium’s father asked him, “Why are you sad? Is there any problem? Tell me I will help you in that.” Avium replied in a very low tone with a smiling face, “Dad everything is fine. Avium asked his dad, “Are you fine? Do you have any problem and if yes don’t hesitate to tell me, I will surely help you in that!”

    When Avium was asking about his father’s well-being Ayesha looked at Avium in an irritated manner. Father replied, “No son, I have no issues. Only your problem makes me worried. Your problem is my problem.”

    After saying all this Avium’s father put his hands in pocket and drew out a bundle of 2000 rupees notes and handed it to his son. While handling this he said to Avium, “The crop of this year was good and I have earned so much out of this.” I got a lot of profit so I came here to give you. All because I wanted to share my income with you. Seeing all this Avium and Ayesha were spellbound. They were in a still because they never shared their profit with their father. But his father came all way long only to share his profit with them.

    It is correctly said that the father could only understand the happiness of giving, not the son. Father said to them, “You both should leave for your office, you might be running late. It is also the time for me to leave.”

    Ayesha convinced her father-in-law to stay for few days because he rarely comes to their home. Avium’s father declined. Ayesha again asked her father-in-law to wait until the lunch. Avium’s father still declined.

    He replied, “I cannot stay until lunch. I had breakfast and that is enough. You both and Ritvik are perfectly fit, I am happy in that only.”

    Avium father washed his hands and went to his village on a cycle.

  • In-laws

    In-laws

    She realized today that to feel the pain of relatives and other people, relation doesn’t come in between.

    Jasmine used to work in a multi-national company and her job was from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Her life was very hectic. She doesn’t get a bit of time for her.

    It was the hottest day of the summer when she decided to come back from the office early. She came back from office to home as in the living room and lie down there because she was very tired and exhausted. Due to the sunstroke, she suffered from a headache. Her head was aching so much that she could barely open her eyes and grabbed her forehead very tightly.

    Her husband John was at the home only. He saw that she was suffering from pain. So, he gave her two painkillers along with aa glass of water. Maybe this could be some relief to her. But it takes time for medicines to work. She wasn’t getting any kind of relief. She wakes after 10 minutes and got up in a hurry because all her household works were pending. He woke up and rushed to her kitchen and started making dinner for her and her family.

    Seeing her father doing all this their daughter Rashida was greatly influenced. Rashida was 4 years old only. She left her drawing book and the toys with which she was playing. She wore her little cute slippers and just like dad pulled out the drawer and too out painkillers from the tablet box. She took 2-3 painkillers out from the box and went to the kitchen and gave medicines to her mom and said, “Mom, please take the medicines you will not feel any pain. It will give you some sort of relief.

    Her mom took the medicines and her eyes were filled with tears to see her daughter’s caring nature and her innocence. She pampered her daughter and blessed her for this act of kindness and compassion. Rashida moved out as soon as her mom nodded to take medicines.

    Suddenly Jasmine’s mother-in-law came from temple to home. So, after seeing all this she immediately went to the kitchen and asked Jasmine, “What happened? Is there any problem? Are you alright? Are you in your pink spirits of health? Are you fine? Rashida told me that she has given a few medicines to you.

    My head is aching said Jasmine to her mother-in-law. Jasmine’s voice was very low she could even utter a word due to this pain.

    Go and take rest. Just have a nap, said mother in law to Jasmine. I will prepare the food. Don’t take tension about this.

    Jasmine said, “But dear mom, you prepared the food in the morning only”. Let me prepare the food this time.

    So, what! I will prepare it to gain, it is not such a huge task and if in any case, I need help I will call John. Don’t worry about this. Go! Jasmine goes to her room and takes some rest. Her mother-in-law started picking up vegetables from the basket and started chopping them. Jasmine took a deep breath and was so relieved after hearing this that after all, she could take rest. She remembered while lying on the bed that at her maternal her mother asks her sister-in-law to make food even if she is suffering from fever or pain she was forced to make food. Her mother-in-law is far better than her mom. He was thinking all this when her mother-in-law knocked the room and came inside. She had prepared tea for Jasmine with some masalas and herbs that would cure her headache. She offered tea to Jasmine. While offering a cup of tea her mother-in-law said to Jasmine, “If in any case you are having any issue regarding your health or other things just tell me. I will be always there for you.”

    Jasmine nodded after hearing all this from her mother. Her eyes were filled with tears and she cannot control her tears. There were the tears of compassion and kindness of her mother-in-law.

    Mother-in-law got worried and asked Jasmine, “What happened?” Are you missing your mom and your home?

    No Mom. I was just thinking that why not all mothers-in-law are like you. You are too kind and loveable. Your heart is so soft and you are too caring that no one can ever imagine.

    My dear daughter listens, “I am a mom first then your mother-in-law. And before any mom, I am a woman first and therefore I understand all your pain and happiness. I will share all the happy and sad moments with you because I am your mother.

    Mother-in-law put her hand on the head of Jasmine and gave her blessing and told her to take rest. Go and sleep for some time my daughter said her mother-in-law to her mother.

    Jasmine kept talking with her mother until she falls to sleep. This was her best sleep ever.

  • Mother’s Love

    Mother’s Love

    Seeing mother’s love and kindness the tears gradually turned into the smile.

    It was 2008 when I used to study in 8th class. The syllabus was quite tough and the competition was more. So, a lot of students used to take coaching at that time. I was one of them. I used to go coaching after school which was far away from my house. The coaching center was around 4.5 kilometers. Therefore, I used to go by cycle. At that time, we would go far places either by bus or by bicycles. We don’t have smartphones also at that time. My coaching would end at 4:30 p.m. and I would reach home by 5:00 p.m.

    But after the summer vacations, there was the huge pileup syllabus and we had very less time. So, our professor decided to take extra classes. Our extra classes took place on weekend. So, it was Saturday when I when for my math’s extra class. I was on my way returning home when the wind started blowing very fast. It looked like a storm was approaching. The wind was strong enough to move the tires of my bicycle. Suddenly I lost my balance over the bicycle and I fell. I got injured on elbows and knees.

    Accompanied by the storm it started raining heavily. I like to dance and roam around on the bicycle. Because I love to get the wet in rain. But at that time, I was injured and my bicycle was not working. Soon I got wet completely and the wind was in its huge rush. Therefore, I started getting colder. I was shivering out of the cold.

    It was 6:00 p.m. and it was dawn. The evening was turning into night gradually. My home was 2 kilometers still away from where I was. And the way was in between sand, mud, and woods. It was not a completely built tar coal road.

    I was having a lot of fun in the rain. But the rain started becoming more heavy and fast. It was 7:00 p.m. now. It was a stormy night. Also, my bicycle was not working. Somehow, I managed to repair my bicycle but it gains got struck into a swamp. The whole way turned into the swamp due to rains. The mud got to stick to the tire of bicycle and it was not moving even an inch. I was not able to understand that what should I do?

    If I left the bicycle there only and rushed to my home, then my mom would scold me a lot that I left my bicycle there only. I was also afraid that my bag including my books and stationary all will become wet so I should move as faster as I can.

    So, I decided to do something. As my bicycle was not moving even a single inch I pick my bicycle and somehow managed to keep it safe under a huge banyan tree and headed towards my home. In my mind, I was still frightened. As I was approaching my home, my clothes and my bag were completely wet and had stains of mud on them. I was scared that my mom would reprimand me a lot.

    As I was reaching home, I saw my mom was holding an umbrella and was looking for me. She had searched me in the neighboring localities but haven’t found me. She was tensed. When I reached near my mom I rushed towards her and hugged her tightly. She hugged be back and I began sobbing hardly. Mom said to me, “Don’t worry. I will buy you the new bag, new clothes, and new books. I will also give your bicycle to a mechanic to repair it.”

    After listening all this my tears turned into a very big smile. This was the best smile that I ever had. I never found that smile on my face.

    The sky was sobbing and beaming along with me. I don’t know when will that rain happen again. That day my mom’s love was more than the amount of water that poured in rain.

  • Father’s Day- Part 2

    Father’s Day- Part 2

    Afridi used to think a lot that whether he would come close to his father or not. It might be also possible that his father never had warm feelings for him in his heart.

    It was Thursday and my flight to Japan was on Thursday 7:00 a.m. Therefore, I had to leave early at least 3 hours before the flight because our home was far from the airport. So, I had to leave at 3:00 a.m. in the morning. So, I packed my bags in the night only. I packed all the clothes, accessories and the necessary food items that are home cooked. My mom helped me a lot in packing all the stuff. We both didn’t have sleep in our eyes all because that we both were upset. My mom cried the whole night and this made me so distressed and depressed. She kept crying. But my father after knowing all this was sleeping inside the room as if he is relieved from all the stress. Afridi couldn’t explain this to her mom that his father is not worried after knowing that I am leaving at 3:00 in this morning and all this is making me so stressed from inside.

    We reached at 6:00 a.m. in the morning. We booked a taxi from our home to the airport and reached there before the flight time. I completed all the responsibilities that one need to perform in the airport before boarding an airplane. Therefore, after completing all the accountabilities I need to go inside to board a plane. And because I need to go alone after this I took my blessings from my mom by touching her feet and was turning around to take blessings from my father… but I was scandalized to see that my father was not there.

    When I looked around I saw my father was busy in his phone calls. Afridi was sad as well as annoyed. O he moved his footsteps towards him. These were his heaviest footsteps. When he reached almost near to his father he could hear the sobbing voice. After hearing the sobbing voice Afridi couldn’t trust his ears. But Afridi was not wrong at this time the sobbing voice was his father’s only. He saw that his father was crying like a child. Tears were rolling down his eyes. But he was pretending to us that he is busy in his phone calls so that he could hide his tears. When Afridi’s father saw that Afridi is approaching him he tried to control the situation.

    “Oh! Why are you still here? Oh, I got it! Did you get the boarding call? Okay, Son. Bye! Take care! Have a happy journey” said my father in a very low tone showing that he was on the verge of crying.

    “Dad, but…you…!” Afridi was not able to even say the complete sentence and his eyes was filled with tears. He ran towards his father and hugged him tightly.

    “Son, my shoulders have ben due to responsibilities. I did everything that I could do to make your life happy, prosperous and easy for you. And now that errands have shifted on you. Your father will wait for you every moment of this course of every 5 years…..” My father was crying a lot and I could see all the pain that was amassed inside him for years. His heart melted like ice was melting. Afridi got to know about his father today only.

  • Father’s day- Part 1

    Father’s day- Part 1

    A father is one who always stands like a mountain for our problems and is the one who never expresses his emotions. But today when Afridi was leaving he melted the heart of his father.

    Where did Afridi want to go?

    Afridi had completed all the formalities of moving to abroad. He was done with his passport, visa, and all other accountabilities. Afridi was working with a multinational company and was the associate manager of that company. He has had a great hold over the company and was running it successfully. There was a great opportunity in Japan regarding a training and a project. Also, attending this will promote him. He was so excited as well as anxious when he was selected for the project. Excited because it will promote him and anxious because he will have to leave his family for 5 long years.

    Afridi belongs to a middle-class family and his career was of prime importance. It was a huge leap for him. This opportunity was a staircase of accomplishment for him. His mom was extremely happy with this opportunity but on the other hand, he was the single child of his parents and they were so attached to him. That is why on hearing about this project his mom was quite sad. Every time she talked to her son before leaving her eyes would fill with tears. I would every time console her that technology is on the peak, we will video chat daily and if that wouldn’t be possible I will every day call you. Don’t be sad. I am with you and will always be there for you. I will never me you feel lonely. Trust me!

    But my mom said, “Can touchscreen gadgets make you feel the actual touch of love?” “Can you taste your favorite food merely by seeing the pictures of food?” Those little and cute talks that we have by sitting beside each other, can messages and talks on phone replace them?

    These talks would make Afridi jiggered after all she was her mother. And she couldn’t control her emotions. Her eyes were always filled with tears. I could feel the pain of separation in her eyes and the immense love that she had for me. This was the main reason that was holding me back.

    My father was exactly opposite to him. He was extremely serious, was full of authorities and never expressed his emotions. He had the same expression whether he was happy or sad. No one could recognize that what was going inside him. He was subtle. So, after hearing the news of getting the job in abroad for 5 years he was neither excited nor unhappy. I was habitual with this since my childhood. My father always maintained a distance from me I didn’t get that much of love that I got mom, my mother. Although he loved me a lot from the core of his heart but never expressed this. I played very little with my father during my childhood years. He was very firm and strict. I never asked him to buy me a toy or something like this. He loved me a lot but didn’t pamper me like my mom would do. It was not like that he never completed his responsibilities. He always does with his full strength and heart. It was just his personality that he was like this. My mom would act a bridge between us two. Knowingly there was some kind of separation between me and my father due to his nature. This separation was always unspoken.

  • Real Psyche

    Real Psyche

    It is not easy to have control over repercussion, but how to handle it my son made me learnt that.

    I have a ten-year-old son named Ravin said his mother Namrata. He gets irritated and aggressive very soon when he looks that all the things are not going right according to his mind. It was spring season. The sun was shining so bright that we can feel that the radiations were literally touching our skin. It was so hot. So, my son was getting ready to go to school. It was 7:00 a.m. in the morning when I along Ravin was standing at the bus stop waiting for the school bus to come. Ravin was in his deep thoughts. His thoughts generally put me into question the reality. They were astounding into bewildering me.

    Coming back to reality from these mind-bobbling thoughts, he questioned me regarding one of his books. I answered him that probably I would have kept that book in his bag. He grabbed this “probable” word in his mind and that was sufficient enough to make him hostile. I could see it from his face turning red.

    He bends down, I wasn’t aware of that what he is up to. The slippers were lying on the floor. He grabbed one of the slippers and threw at me. I was scandalised by his act. Fortunately, the slipper didn’t hit me and it passed into our neighbour’s house. After doing all this he went to the school. It was his absurd reaction to a simple conversation. I was startled by his all of a sudden behaviour. I was in an outrage along with the remorse thinking about his reaction. What should I do for him? What would be best for him? How can I teach him a lesson without any pain?

    Leaving all these doubts in my mind, I was waiting for him that when will he come back from school. Finally, when he came back from school to home. I was waiting for him to come back. And in less frequent cases whenever he comes back I am at home. Luckily, this time I was not at home when he returned.

    He called me on my phone. I picked the phone on the very first ring. He asked me, “Mom when will you return to home?” Come back soon. I am waiting for you. I started bothering again with his behaviour.

    As soon as I reached home, and opened the door. He was standing at the door waiting for me. He grabbed me with his little hand and gave me a tight hug. I was mesmerised. He said sorry to me. He asked me that, “Did I took slipper back from neighbour’s house.” I replied, “Yes, I did.”

    After hearing Yes from me, he told me that he was not able to devote to his studies in the school due to this incident. I did wrong. I am a bad boy. I talked to you in a very aggressive manner. I was angry with you. How can I do this?

    Did you know that I simply want to rush from school to home just to say sorry to you?

    I will never behave in such an aggressive manner. I was startled and kept looking at his face. It was filled with innocence. Also, I kept thinking about his beautiful and innocent mind. His mind was hard as ice and sweet as sugar. He had the purest soul.

  • A Relation

    A Relation

    My son was doing nothing. What could we have done?

    “how do you like the girl? Avram asked his friend. I already have done the investigation from head to toe regarding this relation, I have told you about this. Instead, you people should tell me what is your opinion?” said my friend.

    Chiayi took the side of her husband, “Listen, brother, she belongs to our city and if we said something else then you will feel that we are taking her side again”.

    The ceremony of first you – first you continued. In the end, Avram took a conversation to a stable state, “Every boy has wishes regarding his marriage life. He always wants that his in-laws should stay happy and prosperous. He wants his upcoming bride family members to have all the long and lustrous cars and other automobiles, but did the bride family members had all this?”

    “If in case they don’t have all this, does it matter? We had all this”, said the boy.

    ‘That means you have no problem regarding this.’ “I made it all because I want to listen to it from your mouth that you agree with this RELATION and you really like it,” said Avram while giggling aloud.

  • The House with a Banyan Tree- Part 2

    The House with a Banyan Tree- Part 2

    ……..Whenever there is any ritual or pooja that need to be done in our house, all the men would sit in the front room. Ladies and children used to sit in the middle room. When the middle room when out of space the children would rush to the room that was in the left corner of the house. It was the third and the last room of our house and we used to call it, “The radio room”. Because at that time during the old days a very few people had the radios and the people who had the radios they carried the license of having the radio. In the past days, you need to have the license even for the radio. After every six months, we need to renew the license of keeping the radio and it would charge us a considerable amount. My father used to sleep in that room. The radio was kept on the rack which was fitted on the wall. The radio was kept there because children couldn’t reach that radio. The songs used to play from the radio all day making the house alive.

    Our house was in the countryside, where no other house was in close vicinity. All the houses were in the main village. So, it was a mesmerising and a calm place. Our house was the only one standing away from the others. Our house was the secluded one. At the night, few dogs along with their puppies would come under the shelter of the tree and would sleep there without any worries. My mother used to feed them the leftover food early in the morning. The very first flatbreads would go the cow and the last flatbreads would go to the puppies and dogs. My mother learnt all this from my grandmother and now practice it.

    Because it was a dreary and secluded place if ever there would be any unfavourable circumstances the dogs soon get aware and will start barking. Knowing or unknowingly the dogs were attached to our house and even with that banyan tree. The birds living in their nests on the banyan tree slowly became a part of our everyday lives. When the birds came to their nest in the evening my mother would burn candles, lanterns and diyas near the tree. The birds had started becoming a part of our daily routine. Whenever my mother used to enter the home after visiting the market, she would take a deep breath before entering the home. It looks like that she wants to take in all the air purified by the tree in one go. She would take in the exact amount that she needed. Besides giving the fresh and purified air to mother the tree still had enough pure air to give to every member of the house.

    My father came back from the work at that time only on the cycle. The Banyan tree got the news of him returning to home before anyone else in the home. We then tell us to our mother that our dad is back! And when my dad parks his cycle in the verandah of our house, then all the children of our house would surround him. This was a ceremony that we started doing when we were too little to welcome him. He would then bless us by moving his hands on our heads. After all this, we would rush to the radio room. He would then go to the bathroom to freshen up a little bit. He used to be his hands and face. I along with my siblings would open our books and started studying before he came to that room. He had a satisfying look on his face when he would see us studying.

    We would make our both ends meet in studying to make him happy. We used to play around that banyan tree during our holidays. It was very peaceful. In vacations, every day I would practice it hard to climb on the branch of Banyan tree but could never make it. My younger brother would climb up that branch in a steady manner without having an inch of fear. We all grew up in the shade of Banyan tree. The banyan tree was playing a great role in our education too. Up to higher secondary school, we never study with a new book. We used to get second-hand or third-hand books because they were available at the half price. The Banyan tree shade made the old pages of second or third-hand books rigid in our education. The Banyan tree shade showed us that either the paper is brand new or wrinkled with dark shades, it doesn’t matter. All that matter is what knowledge the inked paper gives us. We always felt that The Banyan tree is present in each page of our books.

    The Banyan tree which was residing in every corner of our house. The Banyan tree was with us in all ups and downs of our life. It was there with us in every moment. We came to know all this about the Banyan tree when our grandfather died and went to heaven. The neighbours and the people who pass by the tree started saying “… Grandfather of the house with Banyan tree is no more.”

    Some people started saying, “The father-in-law of the lady who lives in the house with Banyan tree is no more.”

    My friend Rutan was saying to friends of our group that, “Do you know my friend who lives in the house with Banyan tree, his grandfather is no more.”

    My father’s friends were telling their friends that, “Our colleague who lives in the house with Banyan tree, his father is no more.

    That day we all felt that… Banyan is not merely a tree. The Banyan tree is one of the most lovable, valuable and the respected member of our family. The is the constant in our family. The tree is the eldest member of our family. This banyan tree is revolutionary. This banyan tree is the one and our only one recognition.

  • The House with a Banyan Tree- Part 1

    The House with a Banyan Tree- Part 1

    Trees always stay. For men may come and men may go, but trees will always go on forever. They always stand….
    Until when the men’s greed destroys them.

    When the construction of Benson’s house was taking place, there was a huge banyan tree with its branches spread to a large extent. The banyan tree was just opposite to where our house was constructing. It was a vacant plot. The branches were too wide and large that the whole plot always remains in the shelter of the banyan’s branches even if it was too hot outside.

    It was the tree that came first. The tree was present there even before my birth. Later Benson came to know that the banyan tree was present since the time when my there and mother was born even far longer than when my brother and sister was born. He came to know about the tree’s age when the workers were discussing during digging in the soil before the construction on that plot. They came to know about this by seeing the tree’s roots that were spread to a larger distance. Their house was in the close vicinity of that tree. There were many trees all around the plot within one kilometre of range. There were Neem, Ashoka, Peepal and many species of other trees were present. The trees surrounding the plot were uncountable. But only the banyan tree was close to their plot. One and the only one that was strong enough to stand independently.

    When the construction of the house was complete, it looked so beautiful that Benson could only gaze at it. Later, he realised that the house was standing not on the cement or bricks but on the roots of the Banyan tree. Many birds had built their nest on the banyan tree because the tree was huge enough to accommodate many birds. At that time, there was no built other than our house. It was only our house that was built in that area. With the passage of time, our house got a name which was called, “The house with Banyan tree”. People no longer remember the address of our house they only knew one name that was, “The house with Banyan tree ”. Everyone that visits our house had no confusion in finding the way to our home. Because the recognition of our house was clear and didn’t match with others. Every person was clear cut about the name of the house. That was sufficient! Every new person that came to our house without any issue of finding the way. We came to know by birds chirping that someone has arrived at our home, even before that person knocks on the main door. When the birds start chirping, “Mother always said to me, “Son, someone has visited us, go and see who has arrived.” I along with my other two siblings would rush to the room that was beside and the main door and would peep into the window and see, someone actually has visited us.” In front of the door, someone was every time found to be waiting.

    Each day early in the morning, the Banyan tree always played a huge role in waking up everyone in the house and helping us in washing our faces. My mother used to wake up at dawn. Later my father would wake up. My father would go outside the house and would break a tender branch from the banyan tree. And then he would give everyone pieces from the broken branch so that we would brush our teeth with that branch. In past days, we would use to brush like this. My mouth would always develop a bitter taste, but days passed and I got habitual to it. We couldn’t have imagined our morning without that tree. Whenever my father had gone for the business trees I would break the branch and distributed pieces of it to my family members. So, this is how our morning was spent with the Banyan tree. We along with the tree was a complete and a joint family. The tree was a part of our family now. My father income was not that much that he could construct a house. He was the only one in our family that would earn and rest we all were to spend that money. But even after having such low income, he had a habit of saving every penny that he could. And by that, he solely was responsible for building such a huge and a beautiful house. Earlier we used to live in a rented house. We all left behind the pains that we used to have for living in a rented house.

    Our house was neither huge nor small. Our house had three rooms along with a kitchen. The name of every room was decided. The very first was named as, “The front room”. In this room, the shelter of the banyan tree would penetrate even inside the windows and doors. In the front room whether our family members were present or the not the banyan tree was always present there. The second was named as the “The middle room”. It was the central point of our house. Every ritual, every pooja, even the inaugural pooja happened in this room. The birth ceremony of my younger brother took place in this room only. Mine and my elder sister birth ceremony happened in some rented house. My mother who used to suffer maximum due to our shady, untidy rented house; now haven’t complained even a single time in our new house. My mother believes that every dark is followed by light, every sad moment later invites the happier ones. Her all beliefs come true.

  • Bequeathing

    Bequeathing

    The son was afraid of fulfilling his incumbent, what if his mother asked a favor or something more than that, but mom has always learned to give. Melancholy kept rising but love wasn’t it’s wanting…

    It was 5:00 a.m. in the morning. The sun was rising. And I got a call from my father, I wake up in clutter. I saw Meara was in Kitchen. I came outside the room in very hurry manner to pick up the call. My father when heard my voice on the call, he blessed me. He asked about Meera and our children about their health and wellbeing. After this he told me that, “Son, it was one month ago when I went along with your mom to an eye specialist because your mom not able to see from the right eye. We both went to Delhi and operated eyes of your mother. We must go for regular checkup again to Delhi. Now-a-days my health is getting worse due to age. I cannot afford to travel, can you…? My father spoke all this in a single breath. “When we should go?”, I asked. “We have a doctor’s appointment after fifteen days” my father told me. I told him the answer just in their words, “Okay, I’ll go” And I cut the phone.

    I was jiggered, I really wanted to know the reason behind this problem, that why wasn’t my mom not able to see, but I was quiet. If I asked these questions, my father and mother could come here due to my few words of compassion. Because then it would be in a fix because Meera doesn’t like them. Today only Meara’s mother has arrived, I can see how happy she is. I will not involve any impediment in her happiness.

    After the confirmation of the reservation, I told my father about the coach and berth number. Because after knowing about all the details of traveling he would make assure that my mom gets into correct coach of the train on a specified date from the village. That train crosses the village before coming to my city. In this manner, I will sit on the same train from the city railway station. I told my father and mother to not come to the city instead follow this plan. After explaining them all this I completed my incumbent with my satisfaction.

    I gave an excuse regarding my office work to Meera and went with my mom to Delhi to the hospital. Doctor was giving medical advices to my mom. I was paying no concentration on the advices and suggestions that doctor was giving to my mom. My mind was deviated to my home and Meera. My mother-in-law’s birthday was on that day. I compulsorily should reach home on the occasion of birthday. If I could not manage to go I am well know about Meara’s wrath and offense on this subject. After all I have some duties towards my wife.

    After returning from there, deep in my mind I was afraid of my mom coming along with me to my home. I thought I will give tickets my mom which are up to village and will silently shove up from there. But my heart was weeping inside.

    In the midnight, how my old mother will go home. She even cannot see from her eyes. Rapidly, my thoughts were deeply engrossed in Meera. That I she saw my mom along with me returning to the home. She will then utterly say a word due to the anger. How will I then manage to make my mother-in-law to visit to local sites in my city. She came to my house only for this purpose to travel and visit sites that my city is famous for. I also had taken a long leave from my office only due to this purpose. What will I do then, should I take care of my mom due to her health issues or should I go along with my mother-in-law to roam around the whole city. Suddenly I then very abruptly shake my head. I then made soft corner of my heart into a stone.

    From very far I could see a light coming from the city. Train’s speed went slow on reaching the platform. The train then stopped on the platform. I gave ticket to my mom and said,” I have called dad and he said he will come to the village’s station to pick you up.” In hurry, I pick up the bag and get off the train without even greeting my mother.

    At that time only, my mom called me off from the window, what if my mom came along with my mother”, thinking of this only made my heart beat so fast. My mom took out a cloth wrapping some material out of her torn bag and said, this cloth contains flavored flatbreads, I know you are very fond of the flatbreads that are made from my hands.”

    I am not able to see properly but I had made best of my efforts to make these flatbreads in a round shape, but it got an irregular shape, but they have the same taste and are made with love”. She kept her hand on my head and blessed me. While blessing she said, “Son, reach safely to your home. Thake care of Meera and children” If anytime so get free from your daily up and downs please visit us, to your village. Your father always memorizes the time we spent with you and is eagerly waiting to meet you. After listening to all this my eyes were filled with tears. My heart was filled with remorse. I felt that my mom was complaining about my behavior. I said my mom the sour and bitter words that I could have but my mom is unbigoted lie the mother earth and have a very mammoth heart that it didn’t had a breakdown for my bitter behavior and words. From her eyes, I could that it is filled with the vast ocean of immense and pure love for me. Her lips were filled with the songs of love. Her face had a mile full of love. Why it shouldn’t be she was bestowing, she has always learned to give with her full heart.

    The train blew a whistle, train started moving with a slow speed. My mom kept looking at me until when I was vanished from her eyes. She was raising her hand to give me more blessings. Her lips kept repeating blessings and was filling my heart and thoughts with her blessings.