Happy Birthday Mumma

Two years ago:

Me: Where is my white Punjabi?

Her: How am I supposed to know? Should be in your wardrobe

Me: Well it isn’t there; that’s why I’m asking

Her: Did you check in the trolley below or on the bed where your clothes are generally lying about, with you bothering to fold them

Me: Do you always have to bring it up when I’m getting late; I’ll do it when I get back in the evening

Her: That moment never comes

Me: Anyways found it, it was in the trolley and don’t say I told you so. What’s in the tiffin today

Her: Baingan Bharta

Me: Why, no other good vegetable?

Her: You don’t eat many that I can have a variety

Me: Where is my water bottle

Her: Here, you can’t even fill it

Me: Bye…see you in the evening

15 years ago:

Me: The plaits are not symmetrical

Her: Minu your bus will arrive in 10 minutes they look fine
Me: No they don’t, undo them and tie them again

Her: There done it

Me: Still not in line

Her: Minu the school bus is waiting, and I too have to leave for office. Here is your lunch basket, go properly

Me: Bye, but they are still not in line

I am an only child so you were my sister and my friend. I fought with you, threw tantrums and harassed you.

As a kid when I had holiday from school and you had to go for office I would not stop wailing. I know how guilty I must have made you feel.

After a tiring day at work I’ve seen you enter the kitchen without a crib and cook the best food in the world day in and out. Make hot hot chappatis for me as I loved them. You would set my tiffin, prepare my lunch basket, tie my hair, dress me up and pack me off to school. You would take me around for my dance and singing classes. You would take my Hindi and Marathi language lessons and I would give you a horrendous time over the grammar. My shopping visits were incomplete without you, still are! We both used to have a great time eating outside though you would always complain that I ate too much of outside food; but whenever we went out you made it a point to take me to my favourite places.

As I grew up I started spending lesser amount of time at home and more in college and with friends. A new world was beckoning me and I was enjoying it. You on the other hand were letting me do so despite missing my presence in the house. We would have umpteen fights over numerous issues and then I would not talk to you until Papa came and made us two patch up. I enjoyed that because you would just let go of all the anger and pamper me again. Saying sorry even though not your fault came so easily to you and why is it that I find it so tough?

You had a tremendous sense of discipline just like Papa which both of you inculcated in me. I was scared to go away from home for my first job and you gave me the courage to do so.

You just let me be, with all the faults and all the flaws. You missed Papa but you took care of us just fine. You were just glad he had been around till I was a grown up little lady. There are times when I’ve not been there for you and I feel really sorry for that. You would complain and then come back saying you understood that I had other things to do.

Now that I’m married, I know where I keep my clothes, my wardrobe is never a mess, I do my own cooking (they tell me I have inherited your taste), my room is as spic-n-span as you always stressed it should be. But when I get back to our home I will always need you. It’s not about doubling your work, but it’s about getting to see you do those things for me day in and out without tiring; which just about explains the love you have for me.

I hope someday when I have my own little one I’ll be able to do half of what you have done for me.

No daughter in this world takes her mom for granted even though all moms feel that, especially not a loving one like yours. I might not say it often but you are the best mom I could have ever asked for. I don’t need a special day to tell you this but since I don’t express often, I thought why not today?

So that is your little present and here is wishing you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUMMA