Came back from college and called up home. The conversation between ma & me:
Ma: What’s new?
Me: Nothing.
Ma: Tired
Me: Not really. In fact I am excited. Just a half day tomorrow, then two days off.
Ma: You are going to college for a half day?
Me: Yeah, we’ll still get full attendance.
Ma: You have enough attendance. Bunk tomorrow. Have a three day weekend. Chillax.
Me: Ma, I have to go to class tomorrow.
Ma: Your wish but you can easily have fun for three days. Your sessionals & vivas just got over. Have fun. Hang out with friends. Plan something or just go on hibernation mode for three days.
Me: Ma, thanks. I love you. Though I am still going to college tomorrow, I will make sure I sleep the next two days away.
Ma: Don’t take so much tension. Sooner or later they’ll hand out your MBBS degree. You don't have to die for it. Enjoy. Don't take life out of living. And the most important thing – Whatever you do, BE HAPPY. Anything else? Something you want to say? Am I missing out on any latest gossip from college? Any updates on the guys or girls at college?
Me: Naah, nothing new. Same old. Will chat over the long weekend. Allah Hafiz.
Ma: Sure, Allah Hafiz. Be Happy.
Yes, Mum never raises an eye when I talk about bunking. Rather according to her well-timed bunks are necessary to cool off.
At school, whenever I worried whether my preparation for an exam the following day was complete or not, Ma was always the one who told me to shut my books and go to bed. According to her my tension was unfounded. For me, it was satisfying enough to know that in ma’s eyes I had already done my best. Nothing else mattered.
Most of the mum’s friends go for morning walks or yoga classes. Not my mother.
Mom captains her school faculty’s cricket team, takes match-winning wickets and wins trophies.
This reminds me that both my parents are cricket addicts but dad can never cheer his team like mum does.
Rather it is dad who says, “What are you so serious about? It is just a game”.
Ma, you can never do the ordinary, can you?
Ma always tells me she doesn't want to push me to my limits or anything. She wants me to take life as it comes, one thing at a time.
On the other hand, there is no way she is going to accept even a hint of mediocrity from me.
According to her when I have a mother who is still adding medals, trophies and certificates to her treasure trove, there is no way I can rest on my laurels. She sure knows how to get her point across.
The moments that I love the most are when I am all serious and elderly and ma asks me to take the risk. Give things a try before going for the tried and tested.
Ma: Why don't you get your ears pierced?
Me: No need ma. Don’t feel like I am losing out on anything.
Ma: You are missing out on the infinite choices of earrings that complement your dresses.
Me: Ma, please. I am not really missing out on anything.
Ma: As you like it. We can get it done whenever you want.
Me: Thanks ma.
Ma: Why don't you try contact lenses?
Me: I don't want to.
Ma: I am not going to say no, if that is why you are refusing.
Me: I know ma. You rarely refuse anything to me. But, seriously I don't want to.
Ma: As you like it. Do give it a thought. I know most of your friends do use contacts. May be you too would like to try.
Me: Sure ma. I'll tell you if I want to.
Ma is always up to date with all the latest fashion, fads and everything. So all I do is trust her blindly. If ma likes something for me, it has to be excellent.
Ma, it’s wonderful when I think about something, try unsuccessfully to explain it to you and you get me something even better than what I was trying to get in the first place. You just know what is perfect for me.
People often say a daughter is the reflection of her mother. I don't think I am your reflection yet. There is so much I have to do before I can even be compared to you. However, one thing's for sure. I know where I get the dynamism from.
I rarely conform to orthodox rules and regulations.
I question anything & anyone when they are wrong.
I respect but don't fear authority.
People around me always wonder how someone can be so much a live wire. How someone can live like they want to without thinking about what people say.
They do not know, it is your influence, ma.
Ma, you are my secret-keeper. I have nothing to hide. Nothing to worry about. I am amused at how efficiently you fill in any part that I edit while telling you about something or someone.
I know your prayers always surround me, protect me and are with me. At the end of the day if something does go wrong, you are there for me. You make the world seem alright just by talking to me. Going without talking to you even for a day is like being in a room without oxygen, there is just no way to survive.
I have been writing this article for so many months. I kept editing it since it never seemed right. There is still so much more I had to add to this. I didn't want it to coincide with Mother's Day when the world would be telling how much they love their mums. Anyways, I decided to go ahead with it today because I realised that I can never really say how much you mean to me.
I just remembered the incident of a man who came to the Prophet (PBUH);
He said he had helped his mother perform Hajj (Muslim Pilgrimage to Makkah) seven times, by carrying her on his shoulders. He asked whether he had repaid his mother for all that she had done for him.
The Prophet (PBUH) said he had failed to even repay his mother for one night that she spent awake when he had fever.
Ma, I can never really do anything for you. I just hope that Allah makes me the pride of your eyes, the prayer on your lips, the warmth of your heart and the coolness of your mind.
Love you ma for everything forever and ever.
PS. Only one person is responsible for all that I am. You are to blame, Ma!
