My Mother.
“I have a special mother, this I truly know. I could not ask for better, my mother, I love her so.” — — — Julie Hebert
My mother recently shared this picture with me. The first person I looked at was the woman in the picture. The image captured a moment of joy and pride to have given birth to an innocent piece of life.
The woman in the picture is my Mother, and you guessed it, the boy is yours truly.
But what is so special about this picture? Why is this article worth your time?
Now, I know that we all know, our mothers are great and we should all love them. But I am not here to propound the obvious. Instead, I am here to ask ourselves, do we “really” love our mother?
I had a quarrel with my mother a couple of months ago and it was the biggest we ever had. Surprisingly this incident was something that made me realize the innocence, curiosity, and kindness of my mother.
If I can express this feeling it’s something that's ……………… hmm I can’t seem to find a word for it. It’s something that's heavy, warm, emotional, and I guess ………. more.
Let me tell you the story of my Mother and how her story ties with mine.
It is the results day for the Class 8 students today. My mother is the crown of the family for securing the first position during the annual examination. By slight of her hands and immense craftsmanship my mother successfully aced the exams.
She is a lady who is surrounded by humor, laughter, and curiosity. Even at an early age, my mother is meticulously mimicking her mother's rituals in her praying room.
In her village, people are all carnivorous and most of them smoked cigarettes, including her. Even after being married, she continued smoking and consuming meat whenever she could.
Note: In no manner or form I am ridiculing a diet. It is a personal choice and we should all take care of ourselves. The story shares a parallel of her internal struggle.
But one night a strange dream haunted her. The next morning all she felt was disgust and dizziness. The smell of meat was unbearable. To this day she is puzzled by the sudden change of taste. From that day, she never had any form of a carnivorous diet. She started cooking by herself and consuming an all-vegetarian diet.
It was after I started running, that I visited deep trenches of the jungle. Deeply worried about possible dangers my mother sent me to the city of Kathmandu to live with my relatives.
Being separated from her child must have been painful but her motherly instincts would not let any harm to me.
I remember she used to send me toys and chocolates to distract me from the separation. But I knew, I knew she was my mother and she was away.
The city itself was very young in its formations so I played with other human monkeys and forgot about the separation.
After 4 years she finally moved to the city and lived with me. During this time I got to observe her every day.
Every day she woke up early, cleaned the house, prepared breakfast, and lunch. Later I would rush from school and find my mother waiting for me. She prepared some snacks and I would later follow her to the praying room.
The room was filled with pictures. Pictures of human-like figures. Some had 4 hands, some were like a monkey, some were sleeping on the coil of a serpent, some were living in the mountains with his family. These pictures inspired reverence within me. My mother called them gods and instructed me to bow down and perform the ritual with her.
Closing our eyes, She sang the song and I played the bell.
After the ritual was over she went to prepare the dinner and I went upstairs to practice self-taught Kung fu, sort of.
The days went on and on but my mother never missed a day without her rituals.
Later I moved to a military school and had to leave my mother. I came for 2 days a month. Every day she still practiced her rituals.
After finishing middle school, my family faced a major financial collapse. I stayed with my mother and got enrolled in a high school nearby.
During this period she had a herniated disk and had to be under operation table. This was the only time in her life she did not practice her ritual. But when I asked her about it, she said she had been doing it mentally.
Every morning and every evening, she practiced her rituals.
After high school, I came abroad for university education. But to this day she does her ritual every morning and every evening.
In no manner of form, I am telling you she is enlightened, or am I full of answers. No, my mother and I have many problems, many many misunderstandings, many many happy times and this is amazing.
If I ever had the option to re-live my life, It would be spending more time with my mother.
This article reminds my gratitude and love towards my mother. Her innocence, humor, and curiosity are as radiant as ever.
I know for sure, you and your mother share a bond that is indescribable.
And you know what, It’s a miracle to start our journey inside another person’s body and be alive.
I am trying many crazy things in my life and It’s only because my mother’s love will be there to catch me in my falls.
It is a great fortune to have a mother full of humor, innocence, and curiosity.
