Untold Stories

I had completely forgotten how interesting it was to spend time alongside her. Caught up in studies, duties, computer, mobile phone and maybe my thought that I had outgrown “mummy times”. I don’t even remember how long it had been since I spent more than a single hour with her. 

In between our fights and disagreements, the troubles and tears (both her and mine), I had quite forgotten the hilarious jokes she cracked on the weirdest topics when we were together and alone; the laughs she couldn’t herself put a stop to however hard she tried; the craziest ideas that formed inside that tiny head; the courage to try out new things and meet them at what they turn out to be, and the humour sense to laugh at her own blunders; the strength of mind she possessed that made her plunge headlong into a job and never give up halfway; the joy that radiated from her (and infected those around) when she got into something she simply loved to do; the trust she placed in those she loved that made her value their opinion over hers, the beaming satisfaction of completing the work she had set out on… 

There were moments in the day when I missed that woman whom the child in me once believed (and still does sometimes, I guess) nothing could break down; years have worn her down a bit – tiring her more easily than yesteryears – though not in the spirit. But added to those beautiful white streaks in her hair there were new wonders too to look at and marvel, like her faith that stands like unshakable rock even after all the earthquakes that threatened it (and still does) and her deepening comradeship with that other mother who has seen the other end of sorrows.

I was discovering her all over again, and cherishing all those moments. As we worked side by side, hauling soil and manure, refilling pots, uprooting the plants and giving them a new and better home, my mother told me that for a few days they’ll droop down their heads coz losing roots is a big deal. Within a few days, the plant finds that the new home is not as bad it thought, and slowly adapts itself, thriving in the soil and manure in that little pot. Little did she know that she was giving me my life’s lesson, that after these 21 long years at home, uprooting myself and planting me in new soil will do the same to me… As she watched me closely and came quickly to my aid whenever she felt that I was overdoing my work and tiring myself out, she was silently reminding me that this was what she had been doing all these years and she’d continue doing it forevermore.

As we sat down with our coffee in the evening and simply talked rubbish, she accidently let slip a lil phrase which revealed to me the pain she must’ve felt everytime I fought with her and left home – for school or college or for even longer journeys – without the customary goodbye kiss… No idea how many more kisses it’ll take to take that pain away, or if I’ll ever be able to ?!

And I will not forget the other person who made the day even more easier. We had forced him out of the job for he would definitely have overworked himself out. His powerful hands have been my strength for as long as I can remember, but as I grew up I identified another side to my father; he loves like a mother, fussing over littlest things that escape everyone else’s notice. He’s the reason I learnt to be punctual no matter what, he’s the one who showed me that raising your voice against what’s unjust is never a crime, but at times it’s good to act a fool if it makes life easier for others. This man, who makes the best coffee and cool drinks at home, who manages home quite as well as his wife in her absence, who brought us drinks and snacks at regular intervals in between our works so we wouldn’t become too tired…

This doesn’t mean that we are always on the same side, we do have our differences; we disagree on lots of things, shout at each other, remain unfriendly for long spells of time, but in the end a smile and a hug does it all!

Sometimes i wish i could leave home and live life on my own terms, and get irritated at the thought of their calls that’ll definitely follow me there too. But then I remember those few days during the flood when I was trapped elsewhere unable to go home (both parties safe, of course) and the panic I had felt at the unprecedented separation. They irritate me, infuriate me, scold me and are old fashioned in many ways; but if it wasn’t for these people who sacrificed all they had for us (their kids, then and now) where would I be?

©mar:ter
01/09/18