Saturday 7 November 2015

M's For (nothing but) MOM!







You are surfing (read googling), jumping windows, reading up, writing down, sipping tea. Scroll, scroll, scroll, like, like, like and dhan te nan, it pops up, that one notification! Dreaded by some teenagers, scorned by a few others, and simply causing some eye rolling for daughters like me who are way past their adolescence.

‘You have a friend request from Mamma.’ Feelings? I'd be lying to you if I said I was jumping with joy. It was much more. I felt a sense of pride. Why, you shall know.






For starters, let me tell you what my mom is like. She’s one of the most soft-spoken and elegant ladies you shall ever come across. And I don’t say it cos she’s my mother; it is something even the dogs and cats, the neighbours’ ‘bai’ or the gossipmonger ‘kaki’ in the society will vouch for.

Dad was the disciplinarian in the family, and mom more than compensated by never even raising an eyebrow. And that is a difficult task my friends. Who would know it better than I do? Even for a toddler as obedient as Master A, I am like the non-stop instructing mamma who can make up for the absence of any teacher.

So well, mom though not career-centric like dad, was a working woman. A sharp banker but more family-oriented, just like a typical Maharashtrian middle-class woman of her generation. One who supported the family income by working, and at the same time, rushed home in the evening to make up for the father’s long absence. Computers were not very common then and when they were introduced, mom chose to stay away.

At home too, for her, the pc was always a piece of furniture lying around, which her offspring toyed with. Until one fine day, when the children moved out of the house and into another country. The ‘food shelter clothing’ list had a new addition – video calls. My younger bro was the knight in shining armour. But it would obviously all depend on his schedule and not mamma’s.

After he moved abroad, dad was around. And then that one dark day of our lives made everything topsy-turvy.

The last few months have been difficult for her to say the least. For the whole family. Our pillar of strength, my dad, just vanished from the face of the earth. It was sudden, and so all the more shocking and indigestible.

I tried to find my solace in writing and my toddler, my siblings in their respective professions. Moving on shall never happen, but we had to be strong, fight, and put up a calm demeanour. There were no explicit discussions, no dialogues. We just knew that’s what we had to do. We believed that that’s what would help mamma find her peace. A person who can otherwise cry at the drop of a hat.

But we were so wrong. And I couldn’t have been happier about an error. Mamma’s not just appeared for destiny’s test, she’s passing it with flying colours. She’s doing what only a mother can do, putting her children above everything else.

One day I received a video call on my laptop. She was seated in a computer classroom. She had taken it upon herself to step out of the house and do something fresh. I cannot really describe my emotions. Imagine you had a shy child, who was going through a difficult phase, maybe bullying? And one day he went on stage and gave a super performance. Ecstasy? Pride? Much more? I had similar feelings.


There’s so much I can learn from you mamma. I know even if I tried I could never be like you. I just thank God for making me YOUR daughter. And the thank you note of course has three signatures. We are super-proud of you Mamma. Love you.


45 comments:

amruta said...

Excellent article. Mother is indeed the best possible teacher one can ever have :)

Unknown said...

Thanks Amruta! Moms are irreplaceable :)

Maniparna said...

I can always relate so much with your writing, Leena.This is just what life is and what an ideal woman like your mom would do to fill the gap of life! I'm feeling happy for her and for you...please convey my respect to her... :-)

Unknown said...

Thanks for those compassionate words Mani. I definitely shall convey the feelings to her.

shraddha singh said...

nicely described........
loving to read you....thanks for sharing.

Vishal Bheeroo said...

Mom is the strict disciplinary while I would get my way with Dad. When he passed away, Mom took over and managed the house with grace and it's something I can relate to. Your Mom is fab:)

sujata sengupta said...

Written from the heart and it touches a chord with your readers! My best to your mom.

sujata sengupta said...

Written from the heart and it touches a chord with your readers! My best to your mom.

Unknown said...

Thanks Shraddha dear! Glad you liked it.

Unknown said...

Thanks for those sweet words Vishal! Moms are superwomen, aren't they!

Unknown said...

Thanks Sujata! Yep it comes straight from the heart, so I'm really glad that its being liked.

Ashish Kumar said...

Very nice... Your writing can be easily related and that is the beauty of your writing... great work indeed...

magiceye said...

Years of coping makes mamas tough and when the going gets tough the tough get going!!

Good on your mama!!

Rat said...

I can relate so much with your post. Lovely writing. My wishes to your mom while I'm proud of mine :)

Unknown said...

Very well written!

Unknown said...

Thanks so much Ashish! I'm really glad you feel so :)

Unknown said...

Yeah Deepak, so rightly said!

Unknown said...

Thanks for your wishes Rat. Hold on to your precious mom, each one of us should!

Unknown said...

Thanks Savita! Welcome to my blog :)

Bilna Sandeep said...

Sorry to hear about your Dad..and you're lucky to have your super mom...let the Lord give her more power and strength every day

Unknown said...

Thanks a ton Bilna for those wishes!

Indrani said...

Wow! A brave lady!
My salute to her!

Rajesh said...

Good one. Mother is always special.

Sumandebray said...

No number of words are enough when you write about Mother.

D.Nambiar said...

It awesome to see that she's trying to keep herself so busy, more than that, moving out of her comfort zone during these tough days. I can see you are so, so proud of her. :)
Give her our well wishes.

Hey Leena, and big hugs to you. Take care. :)

Seenas Food Basket said...

I love to read anything related to Mother.. Well written article Leena..

JAMSHED AZMI said...

Mother is indeed the best possible teacher one can ever have. Very nice and very well written.

Unknown said...

She is trying to be brave indeed Indrani. Thanks for your sweet words.

Unknown said...

Thanks Rajesh. Yes moms are always and very special.

Unknown said...

Divya dear, means a lot. Very sweet of you. Thanks so much.

Unknown said...

Words shan't ever be enough Suman! I could go on and on.

Unknown said...

Thanks Seena. It's funny isn't it, how that one person holds a soft spot in everybody's heart.

Unknown said...

Thanks Jamshed. You're so right.

caterpillar said...

Beautifully written! I'm really happy for your mom!

Unknown said...

Hey Leena so true about kaki she's so soft spoken n gentle person. I know she started learning computer n den one fine day she did video calling with you even she was sooo happy dear when she was telling me about it. Be prepared to bread her own blogs in nearing future....

Unknown said...

Ooops spelling error its not bread her blog but its read her blog .

Unknown said...

Thanks caterpillar! Glad you liked it :)

Unknown said...

:)
Thanks so much Sonal dear for being around her.

Jyoti Dehliwal said...

लीना जी, जो मम्मी समय के साथ बदलती है उन्हीं पे बच्चों को नाज होता है। जैसा कि आपकी मम्मी ने कॉम्पूटर सिखने पर आपको हुआ। बढिया प्रस्तुती...

Unknown said...

Dhanyawaad Jyoti ji!

CYNOSURE said...

Mom's are indeed one of the most wonderful and best gift by GOD to us.

Unknown said...

True dat Sarabjeet! Welcome to my blog :)

Nisha said...

Mom's are indeed one of the most wonderful thing that has happened to us. :)

Unknown said...

Couldn't agree more Nisha!

Prasanna Dasari said...

Now i know why this post is in your favourites list Leena. It is written with heart and that's why very close to heart. Really very good post about your Mom. Much respect for her.